Finding Franco

16 | lost

The middle school looks exactly as it did when I was a student here. There were kids dancing and having the time of their lives before high school torture hits.

Franco and I walk hand in hand, familiar teachers smile at us, some with worry and some with pure happiness.

"I'm gonna go get some punch," Hayley winks at the word 'punch' and I knew she meant alcohol. God bless she wouldn't be giving it away.

I see a familiar face dressed like I've never seen him before. "Carlos?" I call out.

He turns to his name. "Oh, hey babe!" He comes over with the concierge cougar. "This, is Amanda, my girlfriend."

Amanda smiles and takes my hand. "Sorry for my terrible first impression," she says, embarrassed.

I wave her off. "It's okay, not a big deal. Just watch out for this one here," I point to Carlos. "He's an animal."

Amanda laughs. "Oh, I will." She asks Carlos to dance with her and he winks at me before glaring at Franco.

I turn to Franco and intertwine our hands. I lead him to the dance floor, there was a slow song playing, giving us a perfect time to talk.

He wraps his arms around my waist and I put my hands behind his neck and peck his lips. I lay my head on his shoulder. I hum to the song while Franco brings our bodies closer.

"I should explain," he randomly says.

"Please do," I say.

He kissed my neck. "I was drunk and Brandon gave it to me straight. He's been tense lately, and I don't blame him. Things are going rough right now."

"What's wrong with him?"

"His girlfriend, Lana, is in rehab for drug addiction," he informs me. "She's been clean for months now but her parents are suing him for giving her the drugs but it's not true. They just think he's a bad influence on their daughter."

"Oh my God, Franco, I'm so sorry." I had no idea he was going through so much. And to put me on the list...I feel awful.

"It's okay baby, I have you." He smiles.

I tap his shoulder. For how long? I wanted to ask but didn't want to ruin the moment.

"Caroline looks beautiful," he says, looking over my shoulder. "The resemblance in uncanny."

I look to Caroline and a smile blooms on my face. "Wow," I breathe out. "She's so beautiful."

I see Brandon in the middle of the crowd. I frown when he looks around for someone, most likely Franco.

"What's Brandon doing here?"

Franco turns to his brother and leads me over there. Brandon tenses. "What's wrong?" Franco asks.

Brandon suddenly grabs Franco tightly and hides his face into Franco's shoulder. "She's gone," he cries into his shoulder, though it sounds muffled. "I went to get her food and when I came back...she was gone. They took her."

Brandon cries into his brother's shoulder and sniffles. My heart clenches seeing Brandon so broken. I've never seen him like this before. He was always so strong and quiet. He must've been too hurt to care that I'm here.

I walk over to Franco's side to see silent tears rolling down his face. His eyes look at me but it's as if they're looking through me rather than at me. They were so filled with pain, it hurt me to see them like this.

I'm sorry, he mouths.

Everyone always is.

♠♠♠

Carlos brings his cancer stick to his lips and does what men do with cigarettes. They slowly kill themselves.

Logan brings the vodka to his lips and drowns himself in alcohol. I won't let him drive home tonight.

Franco lays on the roof, looking at the stars. Sulking in his thoughts in misery. I couldn't demand answers from him now.

And here I was, with my three guys in silence. I have a thing with being on the roof at night, sulking in sadness.

Hayley, Amanda and Brandon were inside my house, resting. Caroline was still having a fun time, I didn't want to ruin it for her.

I lay my head on Franco's chest, feeling it go up and down. I enjoy listening to his heartbeat, it reminded me he was still alive. For a while, I thought he was dead.

He pats my shoulder and hums to me. I close my eyes and smile. He used to sing to me all the time.

"Well, I'm beat." Carlos stands up and adjusts his tie. "See you soon."

Logan stretches. "I should probably take Hayley home."

"You're drunk," I state.

"Fine," he rolls his eyes. "Then the other way around."

Logan and Carlos leaves, leaving Franco and I alone. "Well, tonight sucked," Franco says bluntly. "But right now is the only perfect moment."

I trace patterns on his chest. I grab his wrist to read the time but his tattoo caught my attention.

"What's this?" I ask, tracing over the date.

"The first day we met," he says nonchalantly.

I grab his other wrist and see my name. "How come I've never noticed this?"

He chuckles. "Baby, you're not observant."

I huff, "I am so!"

"I thought it was the anniversary of the person you killed," I whisper.

He looks away, sinking in my words. "That was a couple days ago."

I frown. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You don't need to worry."

"You always worry," I throw back.

He smiles and caresses my cheek. "I can handle it, baby."

"There goes that nickname again," I tease.

He clears his throat and looks away, almost...sadly? "Franco," I urge.

He shakes his head. "Yes, baby?"

I look at him for a moment. "Nothing," I brush off.

Nothing at all.

♠♠♠

"What do you think about our future?" Franco asks suddenly.

I shrug. "It's a miracle we lasted two years."

"Any kids?"

I think about it for a moment. "Five."

"Five?"

I nod and repeat, "Five."

"Five kids in total?" he asks. "Can you handle five little me's?"

I laugh. "I haven't thought of it that way."

"Well you know what they say."

I frown. "No. What do they say?"

"Happy endings are just stories that haven't ended yet."

"Is that what you think?" I ask, not hiding the hurt in my voice.

Either way, he was right.