Finding Franco

05 | storm

05 | storm

My wet tears were staining my face and I'm sure Franco feels it too. He didn't seem to mind. Our kiss became more passionate and aggressive as if he's been waiting too long for this. Well, so have I.

A sob broke through me and Franco pulls back, examining my face, pain in his eyes. He wipes my tears with his thumb.

"Shhh, baby, don't cry, I'm sorry," he whispers. "I'm so, so fucking sorry."

I slowly back away from him, wrapping my arms around my self, seeking comfort. Franco's eyes sadden at my movements.

"You don't get to apologize," My voice was scratchy and I clear my that. "I don't remember anything, Franco, so I need you to tell me everything."

He looks away angrily. "I just got back and you're already demanding things from me. Is that why you've been searching for me? Because you wanted answers and not me?"

My jaw drops at his accusation. "You're a fucking idiot if you think that!" I nearly shout. I remind myself to keep quiet since I wasn't home alone.

Franco's eyes flares in anger and in that moment, he looked exactly like his brother. He runs a hand through his hair and sighs loudly. "Baby, I'm sorry."

I nod. "Yeah, you've been saying that a lot." I laugh bitterly. "Got anything else to say, baby?"

He narrows his eyes at me and shakes his head. "You don't get to put the blame on me."

"It's your fault!" I scream. "It's all your fucking fault! I don't know how, but I just know! For months, I kept blaming myself but now I know it's not me, it's you."

I could tell my words hurt Franco by the look on his face. I tighten my hold on myself and look anywhere but him and breathe heavily in and out.

I held my chest and walk inside the bathroom, looking for my pain pills. All the yelling is giving me a headache where I can hear ringing that could possibly make me loose even more memory than I already lost.

I shake the bottle and three pills came out. I shove them down my throat eagerly and swallowed. I hear the floorboards creak and I knew Franco was standing by the doorway.

I grip the sink tightly, refusing to look at him. Before I could say anything, he speaks.

"I killed someone."

I don't move.

"That's why I left."

Silence.

"I killed someone that meant everything to us, but you don't remember. I wanted you to keep a good image of me in your head as the perfect guy who loved you wholly, not someone who killed an innocent person."

He continues, "I would've done anything for you. And that's why you were in the car and got hurt. Because you made the decision we were fighting so strongly about. Because I would rather sacrifice my happiness and make you happy rather than seeing you suffer because I didn't like your decision."

"What were we fighting about?" I whisper, looking at the sink. I couldn't look at him after knowing all this newly found information.

"I can't form the right words, baby," he says softly I barely heard him.

I stand straight and wipe the tears from my eyes. A tear fell down Franco's face and I know it kills him to see me like this. So...hopeless in my worst state.

He looks down shamefully. "Do you still need the pills?"

My head felt fuzzy. I stumble on my feet and Franco immediately wraps his arms around me before I could fall.

He looks at me worriedly. "Baby, are you okay?" He examines my face to see what's wrong. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

I open my mouth but couldn't form words. I raise my hand slightly to point at the pill bottle and his eyes follow.

He grabs the bottle and reads over it before throwing it against the wall. "Fuck, baby, fuck."

He carries me bridal style and lays me on my bed. "You took sleeping pills, Rory." He pats my hair and looks at me lovingly. "It's okay. It'll all be okay."

My eyes flutter close. Franco puts my blanket over my body and I took all my energy I had left to grab his wrist.

He looks at me, hope in his eyes. "Yes, baby?"

"Stay with me, please," I whisper.

He nods and kiss my forehead. "I won't leave you again. I promise."

Don't make promises you can't keep.

♠♠♠

A vibrating sound wakes me from my sleep. I feel a hand wrapped possessively around my body. All of a sudden, I remember everything from yesterday.

Brandon.

The rehab center.

The bathroom fight.

Franco.

Franco.

I feel Franco move and I pretend to still be asleep. He groans and kisses my cheek. I couldn't help but smile but I quickly hid it.

He shifts on the bed and answers groggily, "Hello?"

God, his morning voice.

It was silent for a moment. "Yeah, I'm here," he responds tiredly. "I didn't tell her yet." Pause. "She'll hate herself when she finds out. I can't let that happen." What was he talking about? "I'll tell her when the time's right." Another pause. "I can't leave her. I made a promise."

I'm assuming he hung up because I feel his arms wrap themselves around me again. I snuggle into my pillow and sigh in bliss.

"You awake, baby?" he whispers.

I nod, my eyes still closed. Just when I thought I had my answers, he made me have new questions.

Why did Franco say I'll hate myself? Was our relationship built on secrets and lies?

He turns me over so I'm laying on my back. He rubs his hands up and down my side, gazing at me with an unreadable expression.

"How are you feeling?"

I give him a thumbs up. I was too tired to talk unless necessary.

He chuckles and pecks my nose before nibbling on my collarbone. I squirm under him and squeal since it tickles.

"Stop it!" I giggle. It reminds me of old times when we'd wake up together.

He rests his hand on my stomach and places a kiss on it. He stares at my stomach for a moment, I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

His tongue lingers for a moment before he makes his way up the valley of my breasts and pecks my lips.

His touch was bringing back painful memories. I couldn't forgive him so easily. I had to make him wait.

But it wouldn't hurt to have a nice moment with him before the storm hits. I deserve this peace and quiet while it lasts.