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₊.ෆ*˚* 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 ⁎ෆ*˚‧₊
JUNE 23, 1962 ↳7:48 pm.
"hey, guys, sorry i'm late." scotty apologized. "my mom made me put on my jacket. and then she made me do the dishes."
the boys giggled as they messed with him before there was a light knock on the small wooden door that opened the treehouse.
"hi, guys." frankie said entering the small room.
"your mom let you stay with a bunch of boys?" squints asked.
"mhm, surprisingly."
"you're late."
"—sorry." she frowned.
and with that all the boys went into their own convos. frankie laid on her stomach at the entrance, looking up at the sky. the moon had been bright that night and was beaming down on her pale face. it defined all her features quite well and complimented her hair. suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by chatter.
"shh!"
"quiet! are you trying to wake it up?" squints said. "it just went to bed."
"what?" frankie asked.
"what went to bed?" scotty questioned.
"the beast."
"shh! jeez." yeah-yeah pleaded.
"guys, i'm sure it's just a animal." frankie started, knitting her eyebrows together. "i mean how harmful can it be?"
the rest of that night squints told his silly story, that at the time everyone in town believed. although it was more than likely not true, frankie couldn't help but listen. and as she did benny watched her. he watched her imagination grow.
and it was beautiful.
***
"benny?"
"—hm?" the boy asked, rolling over to face the blonde.
"did you believe the story, you know that squints told?"
"you're not scared, are you?"
"—no, no, not at all. i was just wondering."
"i mean, i guess, i'm not so sure." he answered. and truthfully. he spent so much of his time on baseball, he never realized if he believed any of the stories or not. he didn't have time to think of that stuff anyways. he was devoted.
"you confuse me, benny." she sighed.
she didn't know why he confused her. it took her some time to realize, and it surely wasn't long. she was just blind and her imagination took the blame.
"what do you mean i confuse you?"
"i don't know, i guess my imagination is just too big."
"no way, you're a catch goldilocks." he smiled.
frankie felt her stomach turn. she didn't know why, but it did. that night she spent her time wondering and talking to benny. until eventually, the both of them fell fast asleep. that night meant a lot to her. just being with friends sparked her happiness. and being with benny she felt safe. she just didn't realize it.
***
"i like storms." frankie said, sitting up from her spot on the floor as she rubbed her eyes.
"well goodmorning, sunshine." ham said.
frankie stretched her arms, freeing her muscles from the small position she was in all night. her long legs accidentally kicked squints, knocking off his glasses. he grunted, falling back asleep right after.
"yeah, but storms mean you can't go outside." benny said to the two, ham and frankie.
"flowers and rainbows come afterwards, and those are some of the prettiest things." she started. "plus, splashing in puddles and playing the rain is just as fun."
"your sleeping wasn't too pretty." ham said with a laugh followed up by it.
frankie threw her pillow at him, knocking the s'mores out of his hand.
"son of a monkey ass!"
benny and the blonde looked at each other before breaking out in laughter. her head seamlessly fell onto his shoulder as she covered her mouth with her hands. the twos laughter died down as they saw squints wake up.
"shut up, dipwits. i'm trying to sleep."
the laughter began again.
❝ why do you build me up buttercup baby just to let me down.❞
