Chapter 3

“Sweetheart, you look beautiful! I could have bought a new dress, though.”

“It’s okay, Mom. We are saving money, remember?” Frankie smiled as she twirled in the mirror. “Besides, Faith gave me this dress. So, for me, it is a new dress!”

“Remember how I used to try all the latest braid trends from the internet?” Rachel’s eyes teared over, “Can I fix your hair for you?”

“Oh no, you don’t! You can’t do a braid. Remember when you made me like Wendy from the fast-food chain, I still don’t know how you managed to get my hair to curl up like that!” They giggled at the memory.

“Okay, I promise, no braids.” Rachel conceded. “How about a few curls and an updo, then?” The doorbell buzzed and interrupted the potential disaster of styling Frankie’s long locks.

“Saved by the bell!” Frankie sang out as she headed down the hallway, stilettos clicking on the floor.

“Comin—” Frankie managed to get out before splat; she landed face-first near the end of the hallway, sliding into the front door, head first, with a loud thud.

“Frankie! Oh my God, are you okay?” Rachel ran towards her daughter. Frankie was splayed out across the hardwood in the most unladylike manner.

“Owww, owww!” Frankie cried out, holding her ankle with one hand and rubbing the knot growing on her head with the other.

“I told you not to wear those heels.”

Frankie groaned. Undoubtedly, Steve heard the commotion inside the apartment and her squealing.

“Frankie?” Steve called from the other side of the door. “Frankie, is everything okay?”

“Just a second.” Rachel sang out as she did a cursory inspection of her daughter for any bones protruding through the skin.

Rachel stepped over Frankie gingerly and opened the door to let Steve in. Frankie was rocking back and forth on her bottom, rubbing her ankle. “I twisted my ankle and bumped my head in one fell swoop. I am such a klutz.”

“No, you aren’t. Accidents happen.”

Her first date with Steve—actually, her first date ever, and she ends up injured. She was pretty sure this would be their first and last date—a football star and a klutz—not exactly the peanut butter and jelly kind of couple. From her spot on the floor, she made awkward introductions. “Mom, this is Steve. Steve, this is my mom, Rachel.”

“Uhm, hi, Mrs. Montgomery.” Steve stared at the ground, avoiding looking either in the eye.

“Hi, Steve.” Rachel extended her perfectly manicured hand, “And it’s Ms. Montgomery, but please, call me Rachel.”

“I should probably leave. You might need to go to the Urgent Care or something.” Steve mumbled, biting the inside of his cheek.

“No, you don’t need to leave. If you would like, you can come with us.” Rachel was pouring on the sweetness for her daughter’s sake. “It doesn’t look too bad to me. A quick check with a doctor, and maybe you can salvage some of the dance. Without the heels, young lady!” Frankie groaned, crimson flooding her cheeks.

“That would be great.” Steve stammered.

Frankie pulled the heels off; one heel was broken, and she attempted to stand. The first sign of pressure on her ankle, and down she went again. “Ouch!”

“Here, I’ve got you.” Steve gingerly picked her up like a newborn kitten and headed out the door, Rachel in tow.

Frankie looked back at her mom over Steve’s shoulder with a grimace and saw Rachel wink and mouth, “He’s a cutie.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Frankie held on tightly with her arm wrapped around Steve’s neck and thought: This is not how I imagined being in his arms.

☙☙☙

Frankie hobbled into the gymnasium on crutches three hours later with Steve by her side. One foot was wrapped in an ACE bandage, and the other adorned a clashing yellow dirty sneaker.

“What in the world happened?” Faith and her boyfriend, Hunter, rushed to Frankie's side. Faith wrapped Frankie in a cautious embrace. “I have been so worried about you! Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

“I sprained my ankle in those red heels from Hades!” she cringed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “My phone was off while in the Emergency Room.”

“Oh, my goodness, the shoes I lent you?”

“Yup. Those are the ones.” Frankie lamented. “Now I’m stuck with these babies for the next couple of weeks,” indicating the crutches. “They don’t even match my dress!”

“I am sorry, but I assumed you could walk in heels.”

“Heels, yes. Stilettos, no.”

“She took a nasty tumble in her hallway.” Steve filled in the gaps in Frankie’s story. “She hit her head and was knocked out for a few minutes.” Steve exaggerated. “She even had temporary amnesia in the E.R.”

“No way!” Faith was beside herself with guilt. “I am so sorry!”

“No, he is just kidding,” Frankie glanced at Steve sideways. “But these crutches are irritating my armpits. Now I wish I hadn’t worn a strapless gown. Can we find a place to sit down?”

“Sure, there is a table in the corner.” Steve placed his hand on the small of her back and led her across the dance floor. An electric shiver ran down Frankie’s back, making her giddy. Her stomach did an annoying flip-floppy thing that she was totally unaccustomed to. However, she mused, it wasn’t at all unpleasant.

Steve and Frankie sat at a table facing the dance floor. Bales of hay, pumpkins, scarecrows, and twinkle lights disguised the gym well. The decorating committee had even set up a small wagon with a miniature donkey to provide old-fashioned hayrides around the perimeter of the space. Pumpkin Spice was being diffused from candles on each table. The smell was heavenly, although Frankie suspected it was more to cover the smell of the donkey than to add to the ambiance. For that, she was thankful.

“Wow, I am impressed with how well this all looks and smells” Frankie marveled at the transformation and took a deep breath of her favorite scent. I would swear we aren’t in the school gymnasium if I hadn’t been running laps in here yesterday.”

“Yeah, Miss Battleaxe Steele will have a fit if every sign of fun isn’t gone by Monday morning.” Steve groaned. “She is one brutal gym teacher. She is even worse than the football coach.”

“Battleaxe Steele is still here?” Hunter plopped in the chair beside Frankie, overhearing and joining their conversation. “I thought for sure she would have keeled over by now. She was hardcore.”

Hunter and Faith had been dating since she was a freshman. Everyone thought he and Faith would never make it since Hunter graduated two years earlier. Even though he was in college now, they were still going strong. They seemed to fit together. Even her parents were okay with the age difference. Most parents would freak but not Faith’s. They were kind of hippies, though.

Frankie envied Faith’s family. The Hager household was a real family. They came complete with a mom, a dad, 2.3 kids, a dog, and a white picket fence around their house.

“I think she has gotten worse since you were here.” Faith offered, and everyone agreed in unison.

“Hey, does anybody want a drink?” Hunter opened his suit jacket and flashed a shiny flask hidden in the pocket. He cut his eyes around the room. Teachers were everywhere. ”It might help with the pain, Frankie.”

“Hunter Lively! Put that away!” Faith scolded him in a loud whisper. “You can’t have that in here!”

“I am not going to spike the punchbowl, Babe.” he closed his jacket to protect his precious cargo from prying eyes. “This is just for us…later.” He winked at Faith flirtatiously.

Frankie shifted in her seat. “No, thank you. I will pass.”

“I will pass too.” Steve drew his arm tighter around Frankie’s shoulder protectively.

The evening was catching up with Frankie quickly. She suddenly felt exhausted and lightheaded, forcing her to rest her head on Steve’s arm.

“Steve, I am sorry to be a joy kill, but can you take me home now? My ankle is starting to hurt.”

“Sure, Frankie. Let’s go.” He flashed an apologetic smile at Faith and Hunter as he helped Frankie stand. “Nice to see you again, Hunter.”

Using Steve for support, Frankie limped across the gymnasium. Steve had his arm around her and drew her closer. “Do you want me to carry you?” He whispered against her ear. His warm breath made her shiver slightly. She smiled weakly and shook her head. “No, I can make it.”

“Are you cold?” Steve questioned Frankie, concern filling his voice. “Here, take my jacket.” Frankie started to protest, but Steve wrapped her up in the softness of his sport coat that smelled heavenly of his cologne. She buried her nose in the lapel and inhaled deeply.

Upon opening her eyes, she was horrified that Steve had caught her taking in his scent. She felt like a creeper all of a sudden. Steve, always easing the tension she created, responded lightly, “It’s Drakkar Noir, in case you are wondering for a Christmas idea,” and chuckled softly.

The magic of the moment was shattered when she heard Faith scolding Hunter. “What is wrong with you? You know Frankie doesn’t drink.”

“I just thought –”

“No, that is your problem, Hunter. You never think!”

That is the last thing Frankie heard before everything went black.