Call Me Frankie

The beginning

I woke up, and looked to my right on my oak coloured bedside table straight to my black alarm clock. It read 6:30 am, my alarm clock usually goes an hour later so I can get ready for college. I pulled the cover off my bed, facing my wall length mirror a few feet away. My pitch black curly hair unlocked from its spirals, messy like a birds nest, looked weird with my grey t-shirt and black sweat pants. Not that I cared about what people thought of me. Stepping into my warm shower, in the attached bathroom, I thought of the day ahead. School life sucked, and my friends; outright mad.

Having dried the tangle that is my hair, I picked out my clothes for the dreaded day ahead, a nice off white blouse , dusty off colour jeans, a load of uncoordinated bangles, a horde of rings that covered my hands and a small alice band to tie it all together. I picked up my bag that contained my books and equipment for the day.

I walked down the stairs past the different portraits of my family, and reached the kitchen. I slumped down onto a chair of the dining table opposite my elder sister. My sister, Jemima, was a rare dark red head, tall with perfect proportions. Being 24 meant that she had a lot of experience with everything, including making me feel like a blank canvas. Jemima was busy on her laptop doing something for the big company she worked for, MasterCor, and had her bowl of yoghurt and berries nearby. Next to her sat my elder brother, Marcus. The 27 year old was talking on the phone noisily, he worked for a big company as an accountant, sitting in his suit with an empty plate in front of him. My family of five was only together at brief moments like this. My father was next to my mother at our island, he was chatting to her while she worked. They were both dressed up and ready even though my mother didn't have work today. 

Sticking with coffee and some toast, I chewed silently waiting for someone to maybe start talking to me. This was a daily scene at my home, us all being grown up and all. Finally my sister looked up acknowleding me, "Morning monster, start of school today huh?" she asked looking back at her screen. 

I swallowed the bit of toast I had in my mouth, "Erm, yeah. And it's uni, not school," I said quietly.   She smiled and looked at me, "I forgot you grew up,  wow, uni already?!"

"I remember those days" my brother said with his deep voice, finally off the phone he looked at it for the last time before putting it away, "That's where I met Megan. Although I expect you to focus on work, okay?" Now looking at me with a stern look. I nodded, my brother was always scary, how Megan coped with him I would never know, but she had to do it well, she is his fiancee. 

"What is it you're studying again?" Just like my sister, getting told something and then forgetting. 

"Computing." I took a sip of my orange juice. "A.I"

"Oh, sounds cool." She looked at the corner of her screen." Well, I gotta go now. See you guys later," She got up put her laptop away grabbing the coat that hung on the back of her chair and her car and house keys. She turned to our parents, " Bye mum, bye dad." As she was opening the door, she turned to me " Have a good day!" 

I shook my head, my sister as busy as she was, managed to make time for me. Even though we didn't share rooms, sometimes we'd stay up and talk and then crash on the same bed. I looked up my brother, he just finished and was waiting for my dad. The company my brother worked for right now was our own family company of businesses. Having studied in accounting my brother thought it made sense to work in the accounting department only partaking in few big office decisions. 

I heard a car honk. That would be my best friend, Finley, waiting for me in his car and right on time too. We managed to go to the same university, Cambridge. Not because we 'had connections' but because we both worked hard for it. Our families had been close since forever, because our fathers were and still are best friends. 

"Bye everyone. I'm off now." My brother responded bye as did my parents. Heading out I was greeted with a rush of cold air, I wrapped my coat around me. I spotted Finn's car across the road, his red stood out amongst the greys and blacks. 

"Hey you." I climbed into the passenger seat. "No girl today?"I asked, putting my heavy bag into the back seat. 

Finn smiled, "Of course not! Although, only because I was at hers tonight and I snuck out." He winked at me. "Ready to go? First day an' all wouldn't want to be late." he said in a sarcastic, preppy manner. 

"Yeah yeah, drive" And with that we drove off. We'd gone to an induction day a couple of days ago and of course we live in the area so we knew the way meaning we got there pretty quickly. In the 20 minute journey we chatted about our usual, any plans we had for the weekend, what we planned to do at school, life, family. We had mutual friends and so went to everything together like parties, people often say we look like a couple... AS IF. 

We parked. And walked in to the green court yard of our college. As Finn held his books in one hand he popped his collar with the other, trying to act like he's cooler than everyone. Finn holds up his elegant facade of being arrogant and a douche-bag only because of  what people thinkabout him. I know the truth - that he's actually the exact opposite. My dear Finn is the most 'popular' guy in our college, known by everyone and anyone. Even though today was our first day everyone managed to identify Finn. I guessed it was because everyone knew Finn was the popular one at our Sixth form too. So word gets out about his life quick quickly. 

I wonder what I did to deserve such a friend like him, he was mean and kinda egotistic but no matter what he stood by me. My thoughts were snapped by me tripping but was caught by strong hands. 

"Thanks Finn-"I started, but as I looked up I noticed he wasn't Finn. It was a guy with dark brown hair, and brown eyes. He had a plain blue t-shirt on with a red checkered shirt. I was holding onto his collar and his face was inches from mine, I could smell his minty breath and see my reflection in his eyes. He pulled me back up to my feet and I picked up my bag that had fallen down."Thank you.."

He smiled at me, "Samuel, but you can call me Sam. Are you okay?"

"Frankie, and I'm fine you err, kinda saved me from falling flat on my face" I joked. I looked around nervously for Finn, he was across the green grass centre of the college entrance with a group a guys I didn't recognise. 

"Yeah you seemed quite confused then. Are you alone?" 

"Well, I wasn't no. My friend he's over there" I replied pointing across to Finn.

"Oh right. I'm obviously guessing you go here right?" 

"Yeah my first day. I'm studying A.I. What about you?"

"English Literature. I quite like my Shakespeare and Brontë."He smiled at me. "Would you like to meet up after your first lecture? For lunch maybe?" 

"Yeah, sure I don't mind." For once someone wants to be friends with me. Without knowing about my family or Finn. 

"Cool. I'll meet you outside the science-tech block later. Bye." I replied with a bye too and he waved back at me. 

Now that I look at him from a distance he looks like quite the cutie. I now look forward to lunch. I looked at my watch I had to get going for my class. I looked at Finn but he was engaged in conversation. Guess I'll find him later. Somehow.