One Way or Another

Frank’s POV

I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel in an attempt to keep myself entertained enough to not fall asleep. I was startled by the door of the back seat being open. Turning myself around I saw it was Mikey.

“Dude, what the fuck?!”

“Good to see you too Frank. Can I get a lift to the train station?”

He was already buckling his seatbelt, the door already closed.

“What do you think this is? A cab? I can’t, I have to take Nicole back. What the fuck is happening??!”

Mikey’s eyes grew big due to the amount of questions I was asking him.

“Uh…she can go back with Gerard and…..I rather not talk about it.”

I sighted, assuming he was right about Nicole. I yawned, once again due to the lack of sleep I had, and started the car.

“Ok. But you gotta give me instructions. I haven’t been much out of Jersey.”

I saw him nod, through the mirror, and start pointing out and explaining me which streets to take.

**

After dropping Mikey off at the station, I went back the way I had went to stop by at his and Toro’s apartment. Just to see if they were still there, and also cause I had no idea how to cross the bridge back to Jersey.

I parked two streets away, since at this time of the morning it was hard to find a free spot on a street with so many clothing stores on it. I pulled my phone out of my jean pocket and dialed Gee’s number.

“Hey Frank, where are you?” he picked up after the third ring. He must have had my number saved on his contact list.

“Hey Gee. I’m right out of your bro…Ray’s apartment.” I didn’t want to name Mikey, I got the feeling something was not ok between them.

“Oh. Well, we’re still here. We’ll be down in a minute. Or you wanna come up?”

I hesitated. Did I really wanna go up? Or did I just wanna get back to the house and throw myself at the couch to continue sleeping for a few more hours?

“I’ll wait for you guys down here. I parked two blocks away.”

He agreed and told me they would be down here in a matter of seconds. I hung up and took a seat on one of the cold footsteps of the building’s entrance.
The air these days was colder, it was usually cloudy. It tended to rain these past days and I wouldn’t be surprised if it snowed soon. Winter was just around the corner. There were no leafs on the trees almost, and the humidity was pretty intense the last two days.

“Frankie! There you are!”

Nicole’s voice woke me back up, I was slowly starting to drift off to sleep. Her arms snaked around me, as she placed her chin on the crook of my neck.
I wasn’t expecting her to be so…so… um, close to me??

“Here I am!” I imitated her child-like tone as I tried to get up.

I took a hand that was offered, this being Gerard’s. He smiled at me. He seemed to be in a good mood as well. Which to me was something even more unexpected, after what I had presumed was a fight that had occurred between him and Mikey.
Nicole placed her hands on her face, trying to warm up her rose like cheeks from the cold. Gerard watched her, a huge smile still on his face. That’s when I noticed.

“Holy shit! Are you guys engaged?!!”

I grabbed her right hand pulling it close to my face to examine that huge diamond ring on it more carefully.
She giggled as I was trying to catch my breathe. I was acting as if I was the one getting married. That only caused her to laugh some more. Gerard soon joined in on the giggle fest.

“Dude calm down, I think you’re about to pass out. And we need a ride home”

I did as I was told, trying my best no to pass out of the excitement.

“Wow. It’s just that….wow, congratulations you guys. And baby” I patted Nicole’s small baby bump softly, earning more smiles from both of them.

“Well, I think we should get going. You drive. I can’t even hold my eyes open continually for more than a minute.” I handed Gee the car keys as we starting walking down the street.

*****

I finished doing the dishes, after having some Mac & Cheese for lunch. Gerard had said he had some sort of work interview in the city. So it was just me and Nicole. And the baby of course.

“Fuck. You guys are getting married!”

I exclaimed again as I tried to get the soap off the last plate. She giggled from behind me, sitting on a stool next to the island counter.

“Yes we are Mr. Iero. And I was just thinking if….you would like to be one of the men of honor?”

I was taken aback by her offer. I have never attended a wedding before, less been someone important in it. I placed the just washed plate with the others to dry off, and turned around facing Nicole.

“Are you fucking serious??”

She nodded, standing up and walking towards me.

“I fucking am. So, what do you say?” her hands were on my shoulders as she waited for an answer from me.

I nodded, grinning like crazy. She giggled at my expression.

“Very well. I’m thinking about asking Ray as well.”

I felt an awful feeling at the pit of my stomach. Was it jealousy?

“What? I thought I was the ONE”

She laughed some more at my words, her finger playing with my lip ring.

“You are. Listen here’s the thing. I think it has to be one man of honor for the bride and one for the groom. So I'm choosing you and I’m most certain Gee will choose Ray”

I smiled again, feeling that awful feeling inside me disappear. I placed my finger on her lips as well, just running it along the bottom one.

“You have really pretty lips, you know?”

I felt her stiffened at my comment, but also noticed her pale cheeks turning a bright pink shade.
I placed my other hand on her hip, pulling her closer to me.

“Frank, I don’t…”

“Shhh”

My other hand, left her lips, now caressing her soft face. I didn’t know why I felt what I felt, but this girl drove me crazy.