Crimson And Clover

4

The next morning came all too quickly and Frank was awoken by the sound of an irritating voice shrieking into his ear.

Oh, god, the Nestors had arrived.

They were family friends of his grandma, and every year they brought their grandkids, Evan and Jamia, over to help with the café. Evan was alright-pretty cool, didn't say much and smoked. But Jamia was like hellspawn. 19 with a screechy voice, bad manners and a not so subtle crush on Frank.

And now she was in his room.

"Rise and shine, Frankie!" She yelled, grabbing his arm and yanking it hard. Frank groaned.

"Fuck off, Jamia." He mumbled. "Get off me." He tugged his arm back and glared at her. She frowned.

"Now, now, that's no way to speak to a lady." She tutted.

"Shame you're not a lady then." Frank muttered and got up, walking straight past her and into the kitchen. "Mornin', grandma, grandpa, Evan." He smiled and made himself a coffee and some cereal.

He sat down at the table just as Jamia came bounding in, smacking into the table and almost knocking Frank's coffee flying. He groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Jams, calm down. You know it's too early for this." Evan sighed. Jamia got herself a glass of milk and perched herself in the chair next to Frank's.

"Wanna go to the mall later?" She asked and Frank shook his head.
"No. I have something called work to do. Considering I practically took the day off yesterday to spend some time relaxing. Grandma and Grandpa would probably prefer me staying in the café today and helping Lindsey."

"Ew, her." Jamia wrinkled her nose. "She's so old and boring. How can you like her?"

"She's 27, actually. Not that old. And she's more entertaining than having to babysit a nineteen year old." He frowned and ate his cereal.

He looked out of the window. The sun was out but threatened to be covered in puffy white cloud. There didn't seem a chance of rain, and Frank was hopeful there wouldn't be. He'd got plans to go visit Billie later and get a new tattoo. Or maybe just look at the designs and mull over what to get. He was thinking of maybe getting a little cartoon ghost on his thigh or something. Something trivial. He just wanted to feel the burn of ink on his skin again.

He finished his breakfast and changed clothes before he headed to the café. Lindsey had just opened up. He sat on the counter, expression annoyed, and Lindsey came over to him.

"Let me guess. Jamia arrived today." She frowned, pursing her lips as she dried off a coffee cup. Frank nodded.

"Yeah. Turned up this morning and I want to kill her already." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His fingers moved to play with the ends of his Joy Division sweater and he tugged at his lip ring with his teeth as the door opened and Jamia barged in.
"Fraaaaank!' She screeched and charged over. "Mrs. Iero says we have to go to the mall together."

He cursed under his breath. "I'm telling her otherwise. I'd rather die a hundred deaths than go with you." He frowned and sighed, rolling his eyes.

He heard the door open and looked up, smiling when he saw Gerard. He walked over and smiled. "Hey, Gee." He grinned and Gerard smiled.

"Gee? That's a new one.' He smiled and Frank nodded.

"Who's that?" Gerard pointed to Jamia.

'Jamia Nestor. She's a family friend. With a crush on me." He wrinkled his nose and sighed. Gerard nodded sympathetically.

"She's trying to get me to go the mall with her." Frank sighed. Gerard chuckled softly, nose crinkling. Frank thought that was kinda cute. He chuckled lightly and Gerard smiled.

"I could always tell her we're going on a date." He laughed and Frank raised a brow.

"But we aren't." He nodded. Gerard nodded too. "We aren't. But she doesn't know that."

Frank laughed a little and looked back at her. She was talking to Lindsey, who earlier was the bane of her existence. He raised a brow and let them get back to talking.

"What do you want to order anyway?' Frank asked. Gerard shrugged.

"Cinnamon roll?' He shrugged. Frank nodded and took the $10 that Gerard had offered out, giving him $8.50 change and getting him a cinnamon roll. He studied his fingers for a moment, noticing that they were webbed, just like that Graham kid's. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind as Jamia called him over with a screechy demand for something.

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After about seven tries, Jamia had just given up and gone to the mall on her own in a huff, leaving Evan and Frank on their own, playing Mortal Kombat on their break hour in between going into the café for some strong black coffees courtesy of Lindsey. 

"Your sister's fucking crazy." Frank stated and Evan nodded, running a hand through his hair.

"You're not the first one to notice. She used to have a crush on this football player and so she stalked his sister until she got his phone number."

Frank's eyes widened. "Holy shit."

Evan nodded and sipped his coffee, relishing in the bitter taste.

'Nobody knows where she got the batshit crazy part of the family from. Mom said it was grandma, dad said it was mom's sister.' He laughed a little. Frank looked at the clock and set his controller down.

'Time to go back in."

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Frank hated Friday afternoon shifts with a passion. Friday was when most people were either starting or ending their holidays and so the café would be filled with a plethora of angry, irritable and impatient customers.

'How long will my panini take? I have to be at the airport in an hour!"

Frank sighed as a middle aged woman charged towards the desk.

'Table three? Your order won't be done for another twenty minutes. Like it or leave it."

The woman scowled and smacked her hand on the desk.

'I want a refund then.'

"Sorry, we have a no refund policy." Lindsey chimed in from the back, walking up to the desk, cup of tea in hand. 'Table fourteen!"

The woman huffed and stalked off, leaving Frank to shake his head. "Customers..."

Lindsey nodded and tapped her nails on the desk before quickly applying some crimson lipstick. She turned on the coffee machine, hearing the low rumble.

"Fancy a coffee?" She asked Frank, who hardly seemed to notice. In fact, he was distracted by something. Well, to be more accurate, someone. Gerard had just walked into the cafe and Frank had become distracted by watching him draw.

Lindsey chuckled softly and tapped Frank on the shoulder. "Oi. Frank. Coffee?"

He almost jumped out of his skin before nodding. "Oh, yeah. Sure."

He was almost thankful Gerard hadn't seen him or the ridiculous blush on his face.