Book Wørm (Frank Iero AU)

Poetry And All That Shit

Over the next few weeks, each stop Frank made in the store became a more and more familiar thing, we talked a little bit every time, and we slowly found out various things about the other.
He places a handful of thin books onto the counter.
"So like, what's all this you read? How're you going through these so fast?" I ask in a friendly tone as I scan the books.
"Oh, you know, poetry and all that shit. I can't get enough. It really helps me think differently. It makes me feel present." He nods his head as he stands awkwardly.
"You're quite the book worm, Frank" I smile as I watch him separate the correct bills from the wad he pulled from his pocket.
He sets the bills down and joins his fingers together to show his "book wørm" tattoo while remaining silent.
"Oh wow!! That's really awesome" I say with widened eyes.
He grins like he's proud yet still remains silent, handing me the correct amount of money.
"Alright, Frank. There's your change. See you in a few days" I place the coins onto the counter then go about cleaning off the desk as he picks up each coin individually and places them into his leather jacket pocket.
As he gathers his things and heads out the door I realize, I've adapted to his personality without even realizing it. With another customer I'd drop the change into their hand, but with Frank I place it on the counter so he makes sure it doesn't have any visible dirt on it.
"Chance!!" Ashley shoves my shoulder as I stop frantically cleaning the desk.
"Thinking too deep again" she grins.
"Always" I laugh.
"You're free for today, have a good day, girl"
I hop in the car and look to the clock, it reads: 4:12pm.
What do I do now? 4 on a Tuesday..
Thoughts of being social arrive and then exit from my mind as I drive home.
Sudden anxiety flutters in my chest as I walk in the door, so, sadly, I'm gonna have to light up one of those cancer sticks. The first inhale then exhale brings relief, sitting on my porch as I normally do, I shake my leg impatiently as I wait to finish the cigarette.
Once I finish it I press it into the small tea saucer I use as an ash tray, but something catches my eye while I was walking away:
I didn't finish it, the cigarette was barely smoked, it looks like I took maybe two drags.
I blink my eyes and then walk into the kitchen to find something to eat.
I reheated some chicken and rice, forgetting my small senior moment I had on the porch. I sit and read a book while I eat, trying to ignore all the noise coming from the fellow broken down apartments around me. I clean up the dishes and then pace, left and right. Right and left. Thinking. Until I finally had to stop. I check my phone to see that it's 8pm. I decide a spur of the moment walk to put my mind at ease and maybe work off this odd extra energy.
I walk through the streets, the sky growing darker and darker, through my not-so-nice neighborhood. But what did I care, it's safer out here than it is alone in my apartment.
I walk through a side street of run down houses when I hear something I shouldn't have, I hear a woman moaning the name "Frank!" "Frank!" Over and over again and it stopped me in my tracks. But why? Why would he be the first person I think of. I'm so tempted to see if it's really him, but if it is, what is it gonna do for me? What's the point?
I walk to the back window and hold onto the window sill, pushing myself up quietly to see what I can.
I peek into the window and see exactly what it sounded like, two people going at it.
But neither of them were the Frank I was thinking, so I slid down the wall with relief.
I arrive at home at 10pm, shower my stressed-out-for-no-reason-body, and then read until I fall asleep.