The Heart Beats in its Cage (A Strokes fan fiction)

Fabrizio, My Dear

I cleared my throat and tried to collect myself. Although I don't know how I can act like nothing happened.

"Um, Fab. Where's your bathroom?" I asked quietly.

"Down the hall, second door to the left," he said whilst washing some vegetables in the kitchen sink.

I followed Fab's directions but became distracted by a gallery wall made up of family pictures in the hallway. I couldn't help but study all of them carefully, looking for a possible cute picture of a young and adorable Fabrizio. I must have lolly gagged because after a while I heard Fav call out to me.

"Hey Lucy? How big do you think I should I chop up these mushrooms?" I heard Fab say from the kitchen. "Dude, where'd you go?"

"I'm over here!" I shouted back in response. I continue to admire all of the photos. It was his family tree. Some of the photographs look like they were from the 1920's, while others were much more modern. One photo in particular catches my attention, as Fab finds me in the hallway.

"Sorry Fab, I became distracted.  This gallery wall looked too intriguing, I just had to come over here. Is this you?" I point to a Polaroid of a little boy who looked to be about three years old, with dark short curly hair, dressed in denim overalls and eating an ice cream cone. He was smiling sweetly at whoever was taking the picture.

"Oh, man. Can you tell because of how cute I am?" Fab gushed.

"You're so fucking cute, are you kidding me? You have the most adorable smile!" I say. "This wall is awesome Fab. I can stand here looking at all of these all day."

"Please don't," he said blushing. "I don't want you looking at the ones during my awkward teen years."

"You mean, like this one?" I say, pointing at a picture of a younger Fab wearing a black suit with a yellow tie. He was smiling, and had his arm around a cute elderly lady dressed in an elegant plum colored outfit.His big smile showed off his mouth full of colored metal.

He laughs and says, "That's me and my Minny. Er uh, ahem. That's my grandmother."

I laugh and say, "She's so stylish! I especially love her hat."

"Yeah, she's pretty cute." He says.

"Those are some gnarly braces," I say poking fun at him. "No wonder you got such a pretty smile."

He flashed a big goofy smile at me, squinting his eyes shut.

We return to the kitchen and I begin to stir the noodles into the boiling water. In another pot, the sauce is simmering.

"You can go ahead and sit down dude. I got this. Just call me Chef Fab-boyardee!" He said in a fake exaggerated Italian accent. He also made a finger purse hand gesture and kissed it.

I burst out laughing. "Oh shiiiit, watch out!"

I walk over to his side of the counter and stand a couple of feet away from him so as to not get in his way. I watch him as he begins to put everything together.

"So, you got a date for the dance yet?" I ask him.

He takes a deep breath. "Ummmm... No, not yet honestly. But, it's funny you should mention it. My mom was telling me this morning that I should ask one of her friends' daughters out to the dance."

"Oh, really?" I ask, trying to hide my immense curiosity. "Do you know her?"

"Yeah, kinda, not really. I've said a hello and a goodbye here and there. Small chit-chat whenever our moms run into each other. She actually goes to Valley Prep across town." He turns to me to ask if I want Parmesan cheese mixed in. I smile and say yes.