Chapter 4

"Frankie!" Steve caught her as she slumped to the floor. "Frankie! What's wrong?" panic filled his voice. Ignoring the stares of the entire gymnasium, Steve gently picked Frankie up and carried her to the small wagon pulled by the donkey, which was now stopped in the far corner. The band stopped playing as he walked through the crowd to the wagon. Loud murmurs of concern filled the air, but Steve only cared about the unconscious girl in his arms. He laid her carefully on the back of the wagon, the sound of the nearby donkey munching on hay now loud in the absence of music.

"What?” Frankie asked wearily as she resurfaced to consciousness. “What happened?” she shook her head slightly, clearing her vision.

“You passed out as we were leaving. Don’t you remember?”

“No, I don’t.” she groaned inwardly. She was mortified as she remembered the pink polka-dot panties she wore, sporting the words “Free the Unicorns,” and secretly prayed a picture of her bloomers wouldn’t end up on anybody’s Twitter feed. She had an eerie feeling that the internet would be flooded with memes of her graceful collapse to the gym floor tomorrow. Being the center of attention was her worst nightmare.

“You probably should have eaten something before taking the pain medicine.”

“Yeah, probably.” She rested her head in her hands.

Faith suddenly appeared at her side, her brow creased in concern. “What happened?” she echoed Frankie’s earlier question.

“She needs to eat something,” Steve explained, taking command of the situation. “I will take her through Mcdonalds drive-thru on the way home. She took her pain meds on an empty stomach.”

“That’s a good idea.” Faith held Frankie’s hand protectively. “I will stay with her while you get your truck. Hurry up, though.” Steve dashed through the doors into the night.

“This has got to be the worst first date in history!” Frankie lamented, laying her head on Faith’s shoulder. “First, I twist my ankle before leaving the apartment, then we spend several hours in the Emergency Room, and when we finally get to the dance, I pass out! How embarrassing.”

“Oh, honey, it’s okay.” Faith crooned. “Look at the bright side; Steve is taking you to dinner!”

“McDonalds doesn’t count as ‘dinner,’ Faith.”

Faith shrugged slightly, trying to make light of Frankie's embarrassing situation.

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“Here we go.” Steve had returned to the dance, his car parked outside the gymnasium’s double doors. “I’ve got you, Frankie,” he said as he swooped her up in his arms.

“I can walk, Steve.”

“That’s what you said last time.” As he carried her outside, the corner of his mouth turned up in a slight smirk, making her stomach's butterflies come alive. “Oh, and just so you know, the unicorns are already free.” He winked as he settled her in the front seat of his Tiyota Tacoma.

She tried, unsuccessfully, to shield her flaming red face from him. The last thing she needed was for him to see her blushing. He had seen too many of her blunders already. It was no use, though. The McDonalds sign was as bright as the beacon on a lighthouse, and there was no escaping it. She was mortified. Instagram was probably swimming in photos of her pink and white panties. She wondered silently, What else could go wrong on this date?

Steve made her eat a Quarter Pounder, french fries, and a strawberry shake before he would agree to pull out of the parking lot. Frankie tried to protest. Steve had ordered more food than she usually ate and was getting pretty full. The seatbelt around her waist was starting to get uncomfortable. Steve was insistent, though, as he scarfed down not one but two Big Macs, a double order of fries, and a large chocolate milkshake. Frankie marveled at the amount of food he could put away. Then again, he was a football player.

“There. Are you happy now?” She asked incredulously. “I finished every last fry.”

“Extremely.” Came his curt reply. However, relief was evident on his face. He no longer had worry lines on his forehead.

“I am glad I could oblige.” She retorted mockingly. The corner of her mouth tipped up in a shy smile.

The food made her feel much better, and she was beginning to feel more comfortable with him. They sat in the parking lot listening to the radio for a long while. It was a beautiful night; even though half of it was spent in the E.R. and she passed out at the dance, she enjoyed the evening anyway. Steve didn’t even seem to mind the plentitude of embarrassing moments the evening had been plagued with.

Frankie shifted in her seat because her ankle began to throb again. The sudden movement caused her handbag to slide to the floorboard, spilling the contents all over her feet. “Oh no!” she burst out and lurched forward before Steve could see the lipstick tube, her keys, and a tampon shining brightly against the black floormats. Leaning forward to retrieve the contraband was too much on her full stomach. An enormous burp erupted from within her. She clamped her hand over her mouth, eyes wide as saucers, and wanted to die of embarrassment.

Sheepishly, she turned to look at him, hiding behind the hair that now draped across her face. “I am so sorry!” her face glowing like embers in a dying fire.

Steve’s smile was broad, and he belched out a burp that could rival a drunken sailor on shore leave. Steve burst out laughing.

“Frankie Montgomery, you are the best.” He said in all sincerity once the laughter had subsided. “I’m sorry you got hurt, but I had a good time tonight.”

“Thanks.” She squeaked out, not sure if he meant it or not. She sure hoped he did, though. However, she didn’t have much time to ponder the thought because Steve suddenly leaned over the gear shift in the center console and kissed her softly on her left cheek, and Frankie’s eyes bugged out. For the remainder of the ride back to her apartment, she kept her left hand against her cheek, not wanting the kiss to escape into the night.