Always Yours

I never made it to school. My intentions all along were to skip today. I had to see for myself that Franko was okay. I had barely any sleep at all, couldn’t seem to switch off and when I did finally fall asleep, I woke in a panic and in a pool of my own sweat.

I had a dream that Franko died and it’s all I’ve thought about all morning.

I was currently parked outside the diner. I didn’t know what I was doing here but I didn’t want to drop by the clubhouse unexpectedly. That would be weird right? It’s not as if I was family and I didn’t need people questioning why I was there.

I know I should take nothing to do with this and I should have gone to school, but I was set on seeing him. I was digging a bigger hole for myself, but I couldn’t seem to stop. I at least had to see for myself that he was okay.

I cared for him and in the past few weeks he had become a constant in my life. I wasn’t paying attention again I was too focused on Franko so when Jen tapped on my window, I jumped a scream falling from my lips.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Come inside for coffee”. She spoke.

She didn’t wait for me she just about turned and headed back inside. I didn’t think she worked at this time and if I’m being honest, I was hoping I’d be able to avoid her until later.

And I mean that in the nicest way possible. I loved Jen, we got on well, but I wasn’t sure I could handle the constant reminders of how much of an idiot I was for not giving Franko a chance.

Everyone was team Franko.

Heading inside I instantly regretted my decision when I spotted Franko’s mum Maria. Lovely woman but what was I going to say to her if she spoke to me? She had already warned me about their lifestyle.

It wasn’t for everyone and by that I actually think she meant it wasn’t for me and she was probably right. But no matter what I did I couldn’t shake him. I knew the path I was heading down wasn’t the right one and yet here I was. Skipping school because I was worried sick about a boy that I apparently hated.

I couldn’t do this. As I about turned, I bit my bottom lip when I heard my name being called.

Dammit.

“Oh, it is you”. She smiled. “Shouldn’t you be in school?”.

I nodded. It’s not that she scared me, but she held a presence, a strong one. I knew she was someone not to be messed with.

“Then why aren’t you?”.

I chewed the inside of my cheek. Do I tell her the real reason, or do I lie and make something up? I felt put on the spot, that she’d be angry if I tell her why I’m here. She didn’t seem like the angry type, but her son had just been shot so who knows what she’s capable of.

“I-… is-…”.

“Come and sit-down Aubrey. Do you want some coffee?”.

“Yes please”.

She knew. I didn’t need to say anything because she already knew why I was here. The knowing look on her face gave her away. Yes, I was here for her son because deep down I cared.

“School’s important sweetheart”. She placed a cup of coffee in front of me before sitting in the seat across from me.

“I know I just-…”. I paused. “I can’t stop thinking about him”.

“You’re a good girl Aubrey with a big heart. I would want nothing more than for my Francis to be with beautiful girl like you but”. She sighed. “I’m afraid all he’ll do is break your heart”.

“Oh”. My stomach dropped as the lump appeared in the back of my throat. I wasn’t expecting her to say that, and I wasn’t sure why I felt offended by it. I thought she liked me?

“I love my son very much Aubrey and I’m sorry if you feel I’m speaking out of context, but I don’t believe you will be good for each other. Don’t get me wrong I’ve noticed the change in him when he’s around you, but I’ve also noticed the shift in his mood when something has happened between you”.

I didn’t want to hear anymore. She was right. We were no good for each other and I knew this from the start and still pursued this thing between us. But the more I tried to stay away something always brought us back together.

It was impossible to avoid him but now that his mom had shared her views, I didn’t have a choice but to stay away from him.

I felt deflated.

“I know you care deeply for my son Aubrey, but I don’t fully believe you know what you would be getting yourself into if you were to pursue a relationship with him”.

“Did you know what you were getting yourself into with Blue?”. I asked.

A laugh fell from her lips as she placed her hand on top of mine. “He stole my heart when I was sixteen and has yet to give me it back”.

Her smile was infectious. I also noticed the way her eyes lit up when she spoke about Blue. It was clear she was very much in love with her husband.

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen but the more I got to see the more I wanted to see. He’s managed to break down my walls and bury his way into my heart”.

I don’t know why I was telling his mom this, but I couldn’t seem to stop. “I always thought I hated him that we hated each other. He would tease the living daylights out of me every day and then one day everything changed. I’m not even sure how it happened but we ended up hanging out”.

“You really do care for him don’t you?”.

I nodded. “I do but-…”.

“There’s no buts sweetheart all I ask is that you be careful and please don’t hurt each other”.

“But we can never be together”. I spoke.

“That’s exactly what I said about me and Blue”. She squeezed my hand before getting to her feet. “Are you hanging around?”.

I had nowhere to go other than school and showing up now was only going to raise suspicion as to why I was late in the first place. I had to follow through on skipping for the day and maybe if I hang around long enough, I will get to see Franko.

I made a face at that ridiculous thought. Of course I wasn’t going to get to see him. He had been shot; he was injured. It’s not as if he was going to walk into the diner.

“Aubrey?”. She spoke.

“Sorry”. I blinked. “I’ll finish this and then head out”.

“Okay sweetheart well it was nice seeing you”.

“Miss Mendez”. I paused. I wasn’t exactly sure how to say it but if I didn’t ask, I would never know. “Would I be able to see him?”. I chewed the inside of my cheek.

“Unfortunately, he doesn’t want to see anyone, but I’ll tell him you were asking for him”.

“Okay”.

…

“Refill sweetheart?”.

“Yes please”. I didn’t plan to stay at the diner, but I had nowhere else to go. I had been sat for the better part of an hour nursing the same cup of coffee.

Maria had left not long after our conversation. Another conversation that made me question everything. Did she want me to be with her son or not because I was getting mixed signals.

Wait, did I even want to be with him?

If I did this there was no turning back. If I pursued my feelings and it went wrong, I would lose him forever. Wasn’t it better to have him in my life as a friend than not at all?

“Franko is okay, he’s on the mend”. She spoke.

I was thinking way too much about this or should I say overthinking. He may not even want to be with me.

“That’s good”. I gave her a small smile.

“It’ll take more than a bullet to wipe that kid out”. She laughed. “He’s a strong one”.

No, what he is, is lucky.

“Shout on me if you need anything sweetheart”.

“I will”. I smiled.

I was minding my own business. Jen had refilled my cup countless times but this time she brought me a burger with fries and a strawberry milk shake.

“You’ve been here for hours and I’ve yet to see you eat something”.

“Thank you”.

I wasn’t imagining it. I knew he was watching me, could feel him staring. The shades covering his eyes didn’t fool me. But I was safe here I knew that much.

My breath caught in my throat as I watched him leave the booth he was sitting at and walk in my direction.

Oh, no.

I diverted my gaze, lowering my head.

“He sure knows how to pick em”. He smirked. “Mind if I sit beautiful?”.

Who the hell was this guy?