Concrete Angel

Chapter Three (40 oz. to Freedom)

(Two weeks later)

Frank and Mary had spent most of the day at the Williams Park Summer Market, but he still couldn't get over Georgia's tough remarks. Although he had been judged most of his life by his mother, he still made it a point to be easygoing and confident in himself. And maybe he was self-assured at times, but he figured that it was part of his charming nature. He just couldn't understand why she was giving him such a hard time when all he wanted was to help her land on her feet. And then he wondered if other people saw him in the same light. But sadly his thoughts were interrupted with a blast from the past.

"Hi Miss Stevenson!" Mary said in a singsong tone.

"Whoa! You've gotten tall young lady!" Bonnie responded cheerfully.

Frank ducked inside one of the tents hoping to avoid her. Even though their tryst ended a while back, it was still awkward to see each other. Bonnie was equally embarrassed since Mary had caught them together, but she ignored his nervous energy and she decided to break the ice.

"Hey Frank! Long time no see!"

"Hey...you!" he awkwardly replied right before he knocked over a random display.

The crash startled the other customers, and he noticed a skinny hipster glaring at them with his arms crossed. Bonnie glanced over her shoulder and said that they were together, and that he was actually a music teacher at the elementary school. Then she revealed that they had just bought a house last month.

"Oh how sweet!" Frank sneered.

Bonnie claimed that her date was grumpy that she dragged him out in the heat while he wanted to sleep in, and then she asked Frank if he was seeing anyone special.

"Nah, but I'm still keeping myself busy."

"I bet!" she giggled and then she rolled her eyes.

The two shared an uncomfortable silence before Mary cleared her throat, indicating that she was ready to go. Frank told her to wait by the front gate, and then he invited Bonnie out for a drink so they could catch up.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why? I thought we were buddies."

"Buddies that have seen each other naked." She whispered.

The two shared a good laugh, and he said that it shouldn't matter that they slept together because they were consenting adults. Still she remained apprehensive about it.

"Well if you change your mind you know where to find me!"

"Still hitting up Ferg's every weekend?"

Frank said that it was sad but true, but only because he was a creature of habit. Then he gave her a sly smirk and that swayed her just enough to reconsider.

Afterwards, Frank and Mary returned home, and she packed her overnight bag so she could have her weekly sleepover at Roberta's. And she was ecstatic to show Maya the new project she was working on for girl scouts, hoping it would encourage her to sign up. Yet as Frank headed to his garage to put away some of his tools, he saw Georgia sitting her car and she was banging her head on her steering wheel.

He cautiously walked over and asked if needed a hand. She revealed that her car battery had died, and she was freaking out because she needed to be at work in the next ten minutes. Then she got out of her car, and she kicked her front bumper.

"I can't believe I traded my 4-Runner for this piece of shit!" She groaned.

"Well if it's really the battery I can give you a jump. I mean that's if you're okay with me helping you out."