Fever Dream || Frank Iero

.19.

MELISSA

(cont.)

I didn't give him any time to ask questions before I rushed in past him, begging him to close the door behind us. All I could do was stand in the middle of his room gasping in hopes for a full breath, clutching the over-sized cardigan I was wearing to my chest.

"Bambi, calm down, what is going on?" Frank shut the door and turned the deadbolt, rushing over to me. He placed his hands on my arms and looked at me, but I couldn't look back at him. "You're safe, you have to tell me what's wrong so I can fix it."

"Its- Sam, he- oh my god," I couldn't get my words out, still shaking with anxiety. I didn't want to speak what happened into existence, because I still didn't quite grasp what exactly it was.

"Come on," Frank said, motioning me toward his bed and setting me down on the edge. "Just breathe, tell me what's going on."

I took in the deepest breath I could, trying to relax my body.

"Sam, he tried to..." I couldn't make myself say the rest, and I finally looked up at Frank. His eyes shot to my neck, and although I didn't know what it looked like, judging by his expression it looked bad. Frank's eyes grew wide and he immediately craned my chin up with his finger.

"Did he fucking do this to you?" Frank said, anger dripping off of every word. He grazed his thumb against my neck and I winced, the physical pain beginning to set in now that some of the panic had worn off. My neck felt raw and my wrists were terribly sore. I tried to discretely look down at my wrists to inspect the damage without Frank noticing, seeing bruising in the corner of my eye.

Frank saw through me and looked down at the red rings around each wrist. His breathing shook for a moment, looking away before looking back at me. He collected himself quickly, though I could tell he was angry regardless. It scared me, not because he made me uncomfortable, but because of what trouble I may have just started.

"Did he..." Frank didn't finish, taking a deep breath. "Never mind. Hold on."

Frank turned and walked into the bathroom. I did my best to breathe even, my hands still shaking. I could hear the water running and I folded my hands together anxiously, my feet hanging off the bed. I was still so shaken from what happened that I couldn't even begin to speculate why Frank was being so kind to me. All I wanted was a sense of security.

Frank came back with a glass of water, handing it to me. He knelt down and placed his hands on my knees softly as he looked up at me.

"Are you okay?" He said, running his hands up and down my calves softly.

I didn't know how to answer, still fearful that Sam was somewhere near. Frank didn't break eye contact.

"Bambi."

I looked at him, a sudden flutter rushing through my stomach. The feeling of his hands on my knees made me feel safe. I couldn't understand why I couldn't just cry, when it was all I wanted to do. Nothing would happen. All I could do was look at him and try to control my breathing.

I could tell he was holding back his anger while trying to comfort me, his eyes shooting to the side occasionally when he needed to take in a breath.

"I have to go do something. Are you okay here?" Frank asked.

"Frank, I don't think-"

"I have to go do something," He said sternly, his hands gripping my knees. "Do you feel safe going back to your room?"

I shook my head without even thinking.

"You're staying here."

Frank stood and walked over to his suitcase, grabbing a pair of sweatpants. Setting them on the bed next to me, he knelt down again at my feet at looked up at me, grasping my knees.

"I'll be back. Do you need anything before I leave?"

"Frank, what are you going to do?"

"It doesn't matter. Drink that and lay down, i'll be back soon." Frank said, beginning to stand. Without a thought I snatched at his hand before he walked away, and he looked back at me.

"Frank, don't do anything stupid please," I desperately sputtered.

He merely looked at me as he grazed his thumb against my hand and turned away, storming out of the hotel room as it locked behind him. I looked at the pair of sweatpants next to me and sighed, wishing the night could be over. I thought about calling Jessica but decided not to.

I was angry. Angry that I trusted too easily. Angry that I put other people in danger. Angry that I still couldn't cry.

Part of me wanted to go after Frank and make sure he didn't get himself arrested or even killed, but my body felt so heavy that all I could do was stay put. I put on the pants Frank left me and got under the covers, curling into the tightest ball I could.

The amount of times I've had to question Frank's displaced kindness toward me popped in my mind. I had to ask myself if maybe he wasn't as bad as I thought he was- but in the same breath, he had made such a vulgar bet against me. I was conflicted by all of the feelings I was having in the past few weeks. I couldn't deny the electricity that shot through my body when he touched me, but I couldn't deny my first impression of him either. It was all too overwhelming to face.