XOXO// Frank Iero

Thirteen

Tuesday

I think it was around two o'clock when Frank called me. I didn't have anywhere to really be for another four hours or so, so when he invited me out, I said yes.

"Record shopping? Ice cream? Coffee?"
He rattled off his list of ideas.

"Hmm.." I thought for a moment. "I blow too much money on records, I'm not too hungry, and I need the extra boost, so coffee sounds good to me."

Frank arranged plans to meet me at a coffee shop about five minutes from my house, and a bit of a further distance from his.

I arrived at the coffee shop, and Frank was already there, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. He smiled when he saw me, and for a moment, everything felt easy and familiar.

We ordered our coffees and found a spot on a bench outside. The weather was perfect, sunny but not too hot, and there was a light breeze.

"So, what's new with you?" Frank asked, taking a sip of his drink.

"Not much," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Actually, Marlowe and I are going on a double date tonight with Mikey and his friend. Mikey finally made a move, but I guess he wants some support."

Frank looked at me and made a face I don't think I'd ever seen him make before that moment. His smile faltered, and his eyes got smaller. "A date? Like.. romantic?"

I chuckled nervously and nodded. "Yeah, well.. I don't really know the guy, I just know that he likes me. Or thinks I'm attractive, at least."

Frank's jaw tightened. "It's that fucking Ryan dipshit, I know it is. He mentioned you a couple times to Mikey and I. Fucking asshole."

I wondered what was going on. If "Ryan" was a bad person, or even at that, was he even the guy I was going on a date with.

"Is he not nice?" I tilted my head.

There was a tense silence between us before he finally spoke again. "Kit, I thought there was something between us. Didn't you?"

I felt a pang in my chest. "I used to think so, Frank. But you never made any sort of move on me, so I guess I gave up on it." I lied.

Gave up on it? If Frank had kissed me any time during that last week, I would've kissed him like we were saying goodbye on the Titanic. I had far from given up on Frank, but his lack of anything reciprocated told me that maybe taking up Marlowe's offer was probably a good idea. Get myself out there and all that.

"Gave up? We've barely known each other two weeks." He looked at me, and there was anger in his eyes. It was dark, and it made me feel scared.

I looked at him for a moment, overwhelmed and confused. I scanned his face for any kind of clue as to what he was feeling, or what he was trying to tell me, but he was unreadable.

"Not gave up.. I mean more like..." I try to find the best words but fail. "Like.. Like as if I got impatient."

Frank laughed, sarcastically. He lost my eyes and instead turned his head to face the wall.
"Impatient? God, Kit."

Frustration bubbled inside me, feeling like there wasn't enough words in any dictionary for me to explain to Frank what I meant.

"It's fine anyways." He said, reaching for the cigarettes in his pocket. "Tony fucked my ex. That's the only reason I kissed you in the first place, to get back at him. You were just revenge that I grew too fond of."

His words stung, cutting through the confusion and frustration like a knife. I stared at him, unable to process the mix of emotions swirling inside me. Anger, hurt, betrayal—it all piled up, threatening to spill over.