Life is Better

Chapter Eight - Frank and Rachel

"Okay, looks like you're ready to lock and load" Chloe said and got up. "I don't know about this..." Max said clearly insecure. "Are you afraid of getting in trouble? Oh, boohoo, Max is afraid! I know you can handle this. And I'm here to guide you. Make me proud, sista!" Chloe said and although that wasn't the nicest thing she said, I was kind of jealous of her calling Max sista!

Chloe handed Max the gun as someone approached us. Max hid the gun behind her back. "Hey, it's Thelma and Louise" He said. "Excuse us, Frank" Chloe said. He didn't seem to have noticed me just yet. "Oh, sorry, Chloe. Don't let me get in the way of your bonding. I heard the gunshots and the breaking glass. It's cute that you're playing with guns. Just like me at your age" He said and I laughed quietly. I remember him telling me about that. He and his buddy Damon trying to impress the new girl. She didn't want any of that shit. I would pay money to see that. "We're not anything alike, man" Chloe said. "We both need money and we both care about Clare. By the way, you need the money so bad you owe me a shitload, don't ya, Chloe? Huh?" Frank asked. "You'll get your money!" Chloe said. "Don't they all say that? Y'know, even when they're broke as fuck and acting tough" He said.

I decided to just sit down and let them talk. I was going to step in when I'm needed, but not yet. "What're you hiding there, girlie? Let me see!" Frank said. "Where did you get that bracelet!?" Chloe asked. I did notice that bracelet before, but I never questioned where it would be from. "A friend and it's non of your goddamn business! You're my business and I-" Frank said, but Chloe interrupted him again. "That's Rachel's bracelet! Why the fuck are you wearing her bracelet?!" Chloe asked. Say what now?!

I got up and walked closer. "Calm yourself, it was a gift, alright!" Frank said. "No, it wasn't! You stole that shit! Give it to me right now, asshole!" Chloe said and tried to take the bracelet, but Frank pulls out a knife. "Frank!" I yelled and hurried over to him. "You better step back before you regret it, girl. I mean it. You want me to cut you, bitch?" Frank said. "Frank stop!" I said, trying to calm him by looking at him. Yeah, it didn't work. "Frank, listen to me. You don't want to hurt Chloe! You don't want to do that to Clare, do you?" I asked and I noticed a change in his face expression, but he still didn't let go "Clare's gone!" Frank said.

"Please... please step back" Max begged. "You're kidding. Put that thing down. Come on, girlie. Shoot me!" He said, letting go of Chloe. I wanted to go and help her, but that's something Clare would do and not Ronnie, so I tried to get in between Max and Frank. "Max don't, Frank let's go!" I said. Frank grabs the gun from Max "Oh, Christ. You're more like Abbott and Costello. Nice piece. I'll consider this interest on your loan. Thanks. You have until Friday to pay me. Or I'll track you down with this interest. Have a good play, kids" Frank said and walked off.

"I'll catch up with you guys later" I said and followed Frank. "Can you tell me what the hell that was?!" I asked as I entered the RV. Frank was just standing there. "You're asking me that? You're the one hanging out with your sister!" Frank replied, taking a seat. "I made friends with Max, or how you call her girlie. I didn't know it was the same Max that used to be friend with Chloe. I was shocked myself!" I told her. "So why do you have it?" I asked him. "What are you talking about?" He asked. "Her bracelet Frank! Why do you have Rachel's bracelet?" I repeated my question. "It's not hers" Frank said, but I knew he lied to me. "Frank, I mean it! Tell me know or I'm gone!" I threatened. "Fine!" He said, got up and went into the bedroom, then came back with something. He handed it to me.

"After you were gone, Rachel and I bonded over what happened. We had something with each other" He confessed as I was looking at the photos of her and read the letters he had of hers. "And you kept this from me?" I asked him. "I didn't know how you would react. After all Rachel was your friend" He said. "Rachel was more than just my friend. God is! Rachel is more than just my friend! Rachel was also dating Chloe, which made her part of my family!" I said. "And that's exactly why I didn't tell you" He said and took the bracelet off. "I love her, but if I'm losing you over this, it's not worth it" Frank said and handed me the bracelet. I held it in my hands, not knowing what to do with it. I looked at it, every inch of it, then looked back at Frank. "She meant a lot to you, didn't she?" I asked him. "She did, but she isn't you. No one can even reach my feelings towards you" He said.

"Keep it" I said and handed it back to him "Rachel gave this one to you, which mean she wanted you to have it" I said and looked down. "Where do you think she is?" I asked him. "I honestly don't know. Maybe getting sunburned in California" He said. "I think she's too smart for that. Rachel is from Long Beach, I'm sure she knows how to apply sunscreen" I joked to lighten up the mood. "So, why are you hanging out with Chloe? What if she recognizes you? Are you ready for that?" Frank asked and I sighed "I basically told her that it was me and she didn't get it. I said things to her no one could have known except for Clare herself" I said and handed him the rest of his things back. "If you could drive me to school now, that would be great" I said and he put the things back where he got them from and got help from me to close the bracelet around his wrist again.

"Clare, I.." He started saying, but I went to the back, closed the door and lied down in the bed. I just needed some rest. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The RV stopped and I woke up. Frank sat down at the end of the bed. "Can we please talk?" "You know, I don't really feel like talking. All I want is to get to class and get it over with. I'm done with today" I said and got up. "Come on Ronnie" She said, trying to convince me, but I couldn't. "You pulled a knife on my sister Frank, I need time to progress that" I said and left the RV, I just needed to get away from that scene.