Finding Franco

13 | wake

After the lying incident, Franco had to go back to Brandon.

I decide to explore more than just some broken hearted museum and take the elevator. I hate elevators but I was too exhausted to take the stairs and it was getting dark soon and I want to explore more and take some photos.

I walk past the lobby and see Carlos by the concierge to see a familiar female face.

Carlos.

I hide behind a plant and try to make sure I'm not going crazy. I grab my phone and dial his number.

"Wassup?" Carlos' cherry voice answers.

"Where are you?" I ask. "I want to hang out."

Carlos doesn't hesitate. "Sorry babe. But I got a lot of tests coming up and I gotta study. Wanna reschedule?"

I can't believe he was lying to me. I fake cheer in my voice. "Sure! See you soon buddy."

I storm my way over to Carlos and grab his ear.

"Ahhhh, owww, Aurora!" he growls, gripping my wrist. "Stop, stop, stop, stop."

I laugh like a maniac. "So why are you lying to me, Car?" I question. "Afraid I'd get my feelings hurt? Well, too bad, cause now I'm pissed."

"I told you I was seeing a girl," he defends.

Suddenly the pieces stick together and I look around the concierge. "You're seeing the bored monotone no-bribe lady?" I ask incredulously.

He nods vigorously like a little kid trying to get out of trouble. I let go of his ear and he rubs it, looking at me apologetically.

"I'm really sorry for lying babe—" Carlos starts.

I wave my hand. "Don't worry about it..." I see the lady come back. "Just...don't do anything weird with her." I cringe my face in disgust.

He nods with a grin. "Enjoy the beautiful city."

"Don't mind if I do."

"And I'll enjoy her beautiful city," Carlos smirks.

"Gross, Carlos!"

♠♠♠

Hayley and I sit in a small cafe where they have tables outside. We met when I accidentally walked into a lesbian bar and she decided to become my traveling buddy.

Hayley stirs her coffee and takes a sip. "You know, you're glowing. What kind of highlight do you use?" She puts her hands under her chin, eagerly waiting for my reply.

I smile awkwardly. "I don't wear highlight."

Her eyes widen. "So it's natural for you? Damn it, aren't you lucky!"

I laugh and put sugar into my coffee and stir it. "I guess...I'm not sure what that is."

She laughs. "It's for your cheeks."

I nod, pretending to understand what she's saying.

"Either it's natural or you recently got laid," she comments.

I choke on my coffee and wipe my mouth.

She gasps and shakes the table. "Who's the guy? Is he foreign?" she smirks. "There's a lot of French sausage here."

"Nope. Just my boyfriend of two years," I assure her.

Her lips form an 'o' and she smirks widely. "He must've gotten you well."

"It was hours ago," I state. I'm not even sure why we're talking about this.

"Yeahhh..." she trails off suggestively. "So are you new here?"

"I'm just staying for a day," I say. "For vacation."

"Yeah, I'm not from here either, just visiting my old man."

"Hey, do you know anyone at the rehab center?" I ask. I want to surprise Franco. More importantly, I want to see if he wasn't lying. I still had a gut feeling deep in my stomach.

This catches her attention and she slowly sits up straighter. "...How did you know?"

I laugh. "I'm not a stalker or anything, I just wanted to check on my boyfriend. I have a bad feeling."

"Oh," she says. "Is he cheating?" She looks at me in pity.

I scoff. "No."

"Wow, um, okay." She stands up and pays the bill. "I guess I could visit for a while enough for you to spy on your boyfriend."

I beam. "Thanks stranger!"

♠♠♠

The place looks the same the last time I came here with Carlos. Hayley and I get in together and she signs in.

We part our separate ways and I ask Carlos if he remembers which floor Brandon stopped on last time we came here.

He threw a hissy fit when he found out I was here, stalking my boyfriend but told me the fifth floor. The elevator takes me there quickly and I recognize the hallway and the bathroom.

I stop right next to the door and peep through the small window. Brandon and Franco sat on a couch next to a bed. A girl around my age was on the bed, smiling and talking to them. They nod at everything she says and I felt a pang of jealously in my chest.

Franco's eyes bore into mine and I freeze. It's as if he knew every time I was looking at him. He looks confused before turning to his brother and excuses himself.

I quickly walk into the middle of the hallway, pacing back and forth, hating myself for being so stupid today. First the forgetting the pill and now stalking my boyfriend? What the hell is wrong with me?!

Franco comes out of the room and walks over to me, looking my body up and down. He covers my shaking hands with his. "Are you okay? What's wrong? What happened?"

I sink into my shoulders and smile sheepishly. "Nothing's wrong...just wanted to check up on you. It's getting late." The lie burns through my teeth.

He nods and scratches the back of his head. "Do you want to go home? I can leave Brandon here—"

"No," I say too quickly. "You don't have to."

He checks his watch. "It's almost ten. Come on." He takes my wrist and pulls me inside the room. Brandon looks me up and down before looking away. The girl on the bed smiles and holds out her hand.

"Hi! I'm Lana," she introduces.

"Aurora," I shake her hand.

"Wow, you're really pretty Aurora," she gushes.

I smile nervously, feeling Brandon and Franco's intense stare on me. "Thank you, you too."

Franco says his goodbyes and walks us back to Brandon's hotel room. I jump into the bed, landing on my back with my legs and arms spread out.

Franco climbs in after me on his stomach and snuggles into his pillow, gazing at me.

"What?" I ask quietly.

He shakes his head and gives a lazy sided smile. "It feels as though I'm in a dream..." he whispers, trailing off. I knew he was about to fall asleep.

"And I'm not sure if I ever want to wake up."