Vanagon

The Talk

As Frankie woke up in the van, he realized Lucy wasn't there. He jolted off the bed, as fast as he could.

"Lucy!" He yelled.

"I'm outside." Lucy replied.

Frank opened the door, he swiveled his head in panic. He searched for Lucy, his eyes landed on her. She was sitting on a rock not too far. Smoking a cigarette, slowly she stood up.

"What? You thought I left you here for dead?" She joked.

"I was just worried Lucy, bump me one yeah?"

Frank's face relaxed, and his wrinkled forehead became smooth. He joined Lucy on the rock. They were both smoking in silence, enjoying the dewy morning.

"So what happened Luz?" Frank asked.

Lucy took a long draw from her cigarette, holding it in for a bit. She looked off into the distance and released the poisonous smoke.

"I was too high Frank." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Lucy don't give me that crap and just shrug it off. Something fucking happened, you don't have anxiety attacks from being too high."

His father voice started to come out, they sat in silence a bit longer.

"A guy approached me in the parking lot while I was loading the groceries."

"What did that fucker do, I swear I'll find him an-" Lucy cut him off.

"I'm ok, I was really high when it happened."

"Details Lucy." Frank scolded.

"He was hitting-"

"That fucker!"

Frank stood up and began to pace. Puffing his cigarette like a train going full speed.

"Frank-"

"What did he look like? Where did he hit you? Do I need to take you to the hospital? Lucy."

Frank frantically padded Lucy, looking for signs of any bruises.

"Fuck-Frank stop."

Lucy grabbed his hands and looked him in the eye. Her eyes were full of reassurance that she wasn't hurt. Slowly Frank calmed down, he went to take a drag. He realized what was left of the cigarette was only the bud. Lucy shoved the rest of her cigarette into his mouth, she sat back down on the rock.

"Frank, he was just flirting and shit. He was tall and I- I kept my cool. Pulled out my knife and he just left.."

"Are you fucking shitting me? Was it because he was tall?"

"I don't know."

Lucy began twiddling her thumbs, looking at the ground like a child that had been scolded for writing on the walls. Frank sighed, rubbed his face, then looked at Lucy.

"What the fuck am I going to do with you Luz." Frank said as he sat back down.

"Nothing Frank." She replied.

"Luz I am not going to be there when this shit happens again. You do realize that right? I can't be running behind you, I'm too fucking old."

"Yeah, I know..."

They sat in silence till Frank finished his cigarette. He stood up and dusted himself off.

"Let's go get breakfast, I want some damn coffee."

They both went into their cars, Lucy followed Frank into town. Her eyes began to tear up once more. She realized what Frank said was right. That truth terrified her, she hadn't realized how much Frank had wedged himself into her life in such little time. She began gasping for air, and with one hand she quickly rummaged through her bag. She felt the familiar cylinder, quickly she swallowed two pills. Her body relaxed, and she wiped away her tears. Frank made a right turn, and Lucy followed behind. They pulled into a small local diner. Lucy just sat in her van. A small knock from the window made her head turn. Frank opened the door, he stared at her.

"How many?" He asked sternly.

Lucy threw herself at Frank, she hugged him. She held him like a child's first day of school that couldn't handle being away from their mother.  Frank pulled Lucy away.

"I'm sorry." She sobbed

"Hey, let's get breakfast. Ok?"

Frank wiped away her tears, and they walked into the diner, Lucy holding onto Frank's hand. By anyone else's eyes, they were father and daughter, coming in for a nice breakfast. When given the menus Frank began reading the specials out loud.

"Well pancakes sound nice, and so do the biscuits and gravy. They have oatmeal with fruit."

Frank read the menu out loud because he knew when Lucy was high she couldn't read. Her vision was blurry, and her eyes squinted. If a stranger bumped into Lucy and didn't know any better. They would've thought she was Asian.

"What would you like to drink?" The waitress asked.

"Two coffees please," Frank replied.

"Alright, I'll be back with your coffees and take your orders." She jotted down the drinks and walked away.

"Have you made a choice Luz?" Frank asked.

"Pancakes sound good right now."

Lucy laid her head on the table, closing her eyes. Frank began playing with her hair with one hand as he continued to look at the menu. She almost began to purr, enjoying the feeling of her hair being played with.

"Well, here ya go, your coffees. Now ya ready to order?" The waitress offered.

"I'll have a biscuit supreme and she'll have the fruity french toast special."

"Sounds good!" She said cheerily.

"Why fruit french toast?" Lucy mumbled into the table.

"Cuz I know what you want more than you do yourself." He said.

Lucy sat up, her hair a mess. The "bedhead" look many hairstylists spend years to perfect. And here Frank only had to play with her hair to achieve it.

"Give me your hat," Lucy demanded.

"Why?"

"Dude, you see my hair? Needless to say, I need it more than you."

Frank thought, waiting for Lucy to get irritated. Finally, Lucy reached across the table and yanked the hat off his head. Plopping it on her own head.

"Wow, thanks Luz." He chuckled.

"Here."

Lucy reached over the table and began to fix Frank's hair.