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𝗧he house was quiet in a way frankie didn't like. not the peaceful kind of quiet. the kind that felt like something was missing. the kind where even the ticking of the hallway clock felt too loud.
lucas had been there since yesterday afternoon. he didn't say much. just sat with her, close enough that their shoulders touched, flipping through channels they didn't watch and not eating the snacks abby brought in. no one was really hungry.
now, it was past nine. frankie was curled up on the living room couch, hoodie sleeves pulled over her hands. lucas sat beside her, one foot tucked under him, eyes on her more than the tv.
addison walked in first, holding two mugs of chamomile tea, handing one to frankie. "you okay with us talking for a bit?" she asked gently.
frankie gave a little nod.
franklin followed, looking like he'd aged ten years in seven days. abby came last, sitting on the arm of the couch beside frankie, one hand resting lightly on her sister's back.
frankie didn't look at any of them at first. just clutched the mug and kept her eyes down.
addison spoke first. "tomorrow's going to be hard. but you're not doing it alone."
"we're proud of you," abby added, her voice soft. "danny would be too."
lucas reached over and quietly took frankie's free hand.
franklin cleared his throat. "frankie... i know we haven't really talked since that night." he shifted awkwardly, hands clasped between his knees. "but i need you to know—i've been thinking about you every minute. i just didn't want to push."
frankie looked up slowly. "you didn't push. you left."
silence. addison closed her eyes.
franklin nodded, accepting the hit. "you're right. and i'm sorry. i didn't know how to fix it, so i stayed gone. that's on me."
frankie's lips pressed into a tight line. her fingers were trembling around the mug. lucas's thumb rubbed gently over her knuckles.
"i'm not saying anything will magically feel better," franklin said. "but if you want me there tomorrow—"
"i do," frankie said before he could finish. her voice cracked. "i do want you there."
