What You Mean to Me

Lena.

Maybe I should tell Frank I like him… okay, well, love him. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? He'd get freaked out, say I'm the worst friend in the world, and never talk to me ever again?

Okay, that's pretty bad…

But I can't help the way I feel about him. Just the way his arm brushed against mine today at lunch send sparks running through me, singeing ever fiber in my body. They way he smiled at me, saying how much he really did like the artwork I had come up with, sent a swarm of butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

Speaking of the artwork, I need to show it to Gerard next time I'm over at his place, note to self.

But Frank looked so damn cute today, seriously. He's totally that gorgeous Italian boy I knew he would be. But his goddamn girlfriend is always all over him! Seeing him today walking over with his arm around her made me so mad. I tried to not let it show, but I couldn't help but give them a cold glare. I know I shouldn't let it bother me, but it does. It bothers me a lot. But I guess that's only because I care so much about Frank, and want him so much.

But I'm happy for him and Nora, I really am. They are perfect together, because they make each other happy.

I leaned back against the pillows of my bed with a sigh. In my hands was the artwork that I had shown the guys earlier today. I was doing some finishing touches on it, but at the moment, was chewing on the tip of my pen, lost in thoughts about Frank.

Then there as a tap at my open window. I glanced over to see Frank smiling on the other side. I waved him in, and he climbed through, pulling his shoes off, before flopping down on my bed next to me.

"Hey Lena," he smiled.

"Hey Frank."

"What 'cha doing?"

"Just putting some finishing touches on the drawing," I shrugged, showing it to him.

Frank rolled his eyes. "Lena, I already told you-- it looks fine. You don't need to be adding anything to it. It's perfect… just like you."

I tried to hide the little blush that was forming on my face. "Thanks Frank, really. That's sweet of you to say."

"Well, at least I know I'm a good liar."

My mouth dropped open in shock as I turned to face him. He grinned, before quickly getting up off the bed, probably afraid of what I'd do next.

"Frank!" I threw a pillow at him.

He ducked it, then stuck his tongue out at me. "Ha! You missed!'

I grabbed another one and threw it, this time, it hit him right in the face. "Didn't miss that time, did I?" I asked smugly.

Frank stuck his tongue out at me again, before going over to my computer and un-pausing iTunes, folloed by the music of Daddy Yankee's Reggaeton beats.

"Ew, what is this?" Frank made a face.

"Lo Que Paso," I answered. "Daddy Yankee's song."

Frank made another face, slumping down into my chair, but knew better than to change the song. I knew this wasn't his style of music, but he would put up with it.

"How do you listen to music like this?" he asked.

"Easily?" I asked. "I mean, it is so easy to move to this music."

He have a very unbelieving look on his face. "Right."

"Come on, I'll show you," I said getting off my bed.

Frank looked at me like I was on crack. "What?"

"I'll show you how you dance to this."

"Um, no… I-- I don't dance."

"Oh come on Frank," I pulled him up. "Everyone can dance."

He stood firm, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Just try-- it's only me," I reminded him. "Only your dorky best friend. You're not gonna look like a retard to me, I swear. Please? Please?"

He finally gave in after the fourth please, unfolding his arms.

"Fine," he said. "But you can't say I'm not a good friend to you."

"Yay!" I jumped up.

"So what are you gonna make me do? That whole grinding thing?" He asked, a slight bit of
hopefulness lingering in his voice.

"Um, no offense Frank, but you seem waaay too tense to try that," I said, even though that was a lie-- I was way to nervous to try grinding on him. "Let's get you loosened up before that."

I took Frank's hand in mine, while his other rested on my waist, mine on his shoulder. Frank seemed a bit afraid, nervous maybe. I couldn't help but laugh at this.

"What?" He asked, a bit annoyed.

"Frank, you're so stiff!" I continued to giggle.

Frank smirked. "Well, Lena, I didn't know you thought about me that way…"

"No!" I laughed even more. "Not like that!"

He started laughing with me, nodding. "I'm kidding…"

After getting serious again, Frank and I started moving back and forth, swaying to the music. This was my try at loosening him up. It didn't work so well. He was as straight and stiff as a iron rod… and no, not in that way…

After a bit of bouncing, I showed Frank the basic steps to the front and back, which he picked up easily. Once he loosened up, Frank caught on to the moves quite well, actually. Pretty soon he was dancing me around my bedroom, in whatever few Merengue moves I had just taught him, but also making up the moves as we went.

"You're pretty good at this," I nodded in approval.

"Why thank you," He smiled back. "This isn't as bad as I thought it would be."

He twirled me around once more, then caught me against him, my back against his chest. He held me there, and we began to grind on each other.

"See? Now you've got me doing this grinding thing," Frank muttered.

"Well I don't see you complaining," I shot back, still moving with him in time with the music.

I could tell Frank was smiling, because wrapped both his arms around my shoulders, hugging me tightly, burying his face in my neck, and just swaying back and forth with me.

"Thanks Lena," he murmured.

"For what?"

"I wasn't in the best mood when I first got over here, but now I'm really happy. Thanks."

I stopped moving with him and turned around to face him. "Frank, what's wrong?" I asked, concern washing over me.

"It's no big deal," he said. "I'm fine now."

"No, Frank, what's wrong? What happened?"

He shrugged. "It's nothing… just-- me and Nora got into another fight."

"About?" I asked warily.

Frank looked directly into my eyes before looking away. "The same old thing…"

"And what is that?" I asked. "That's all you ever tell me. I ask, 'Oh, what were you guys arguing about?' And then you say 'The same thing', but you never tell me what that same thing always is."

Frank sighed. "It's complicated."

"Yeah, you could definitely say that again," I agreed.

Frank smiled. "Nora jus thinks that I'm… too distracted."

"From and on what?" I asked.

Frank's eyes averted away to the ground as he shrugged. "I dunno," he mumbled.

I knew he was lying to me, but I decided not to make a big deal out of it. If he wanted to tell me, he would have.

I smiled. "When the sun shines we'll shine together," I sang along to the Rihanna song that was now on iTunes. "Told you I'll be here forever-- said I'd always be a friend-- so you know I'm gonna stick it out to the end-- now that it's raining more than ever-- know that we'll still have each other-- you can stand under my umbrella-- you can stand under my umbrella."

"I can stand under your umbrella?" Frank asked, clearly amused.

"Yep," I nodded. "I'm your best friend. I'm here for you."

Frank smiled, hugging me. "Thanks Lena."

I nodded again. "Anything for you Frank… anything for you."