Make Me Better

I couldn't take this anymore. My dad would come home and just mope around. Sure, that was normal but it was really starting to annoy me. He needed to stop it. It was just bringing me down. I was starting to do the same. I would sit in my room and just think of my mom for hours. All the things we did up until she left. It was killing me. I didn't need to mope around me room. It wasn't helping any. I needed a distraction.

I thought of calling Frank but he had told me that he was going out with Jenna. Which sucked for me. I didn't want to bother Lindsey since she wouldn't understand due to the fact that she didn't know about my mom leaving.

I walked out the house to meet the cold air. Walking wasn't really going to help but it was better that staying locked up in my room all day. I kept my gaze on the wet sidewalk as I walked through the neighborhood. I wasn't really thinking of anything in particular. I was just keeping my mind on the sidewalk. Of course, until I bumped into someone. I looked up quickly to meet bright blue eyes. I took a couple steps back.

I knew those eyes.

"Hey." Cooke smirked. I didn't say anything as I tried to gain back my composure. I felt a rush of emotions hit me as I stared up into his face.

"Hi." I squeaked out.

"Why are you so nervous, doll?" He asked. Oh, that accent. I shook the thought out of my head.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Visiting some friends." He smiled.

"You came all the way here? Isn't that a bit crazy?" I asked slowly.

"Finished school early. Not much to do in London. We're actually going up to New York."

"Oh." I nodded. Well, this wasn't awkward at all.

"Well, what are you planning to do up in New York?"

"Party."

"You don't change, do you?" I asked with a smile.

"Nope." He shook his head quickly. I was bit uncomfortable with the way he was looking at me. I blushed and looked over at the street behind him. I was right by Frank's house.

"How have you been, Olive?" Cooke asked, snapping me out of my daze.

"Oh, me? I...I...I've been ok, and you?" I stuttered. Ii didn't mean to but it just happened. I never stuttered. It was starting to get dark out.

"I've been fine." He reached over to pull my chin up lightly, " Well, listen. I better be going now." I nodded, expecting him to let go of my chin but he didn't.

"You want to come along? I'd like to spend more time with you."

"Oh, I'm not so sure about that." I pulled away, carefully. It would be nice to spend time with Cooke but I knew that he was off to some party and I knew what he did at parties.
He raised an eyebrow. I changed my mind. I wanted something to keep my mind off things. I needed it.

"Actually, yeah. I'll go." I said quietly. Cooke smiled triumphantly.

"Alright, let's go."

I was right about the party. It was Cooke's type of party. A shit load of booze and drugs. It wasn't the usual weed at this party but instead it was cocaine. I could barely hear Cooke because music was blaring.

"I'll be right back." Cooke whispered into my ear. I nodded. I walked around the druggies and made my way into the hall which was less packed.

"Oli!?" I turned quickly to find a very surprised looking Frank.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I could ask the same exact thing. What are you doing at a party like this?" He asked. He came closer.

"Umm, I came with someone." I said over the loud techno music.

"With who?" Frank questioned.

I decided to avoid his question, " Are you here with Jenna?"

"No, she's at home. I came here with a friend but I'm leaving now. Shit is getting pretty heavy here." Frank said. I looked back into the living room. Everyone was stoned.

"Olive?" Cooke walked into the hallway. I looked over at him with a warm smile. Frank was also looking over at Cooke.

"Who's your friend?" Cooke asked.

"This is Frank, Frank this is Cooke." I said quickly. It was getting harder to breathe with all the smoke. They didn't say anything to each other. I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Cooke? You want a line?" Someone shouted from the living room. Frank had a look of disgust on as he looked at Cooke.

"Yeah, I'll be there in a bit." Cooke shouted back.

"Let's go, Oli." Frank said as he laced his hand with mine.

"Frank." I sighed.

"You really going to leave with this guy?" Cooke questioned as he grabbed my other hand.

"She has no purpose here." Frank interjected.

"Who are you to say?" Cooke asked.

"I'll see you later. Frank's right, I should be going my dad will be home soon." I said to Cooke.

"Yeah, later." Cooke nodded with a smirk. Frank tugged on my hand. I turned around and followed Frank out the house.

"Who was he?" Frank asked, darkly.

"My ex-boyfriend."

"Why would you go out with someone like that?" Frank asked. I looked over at him, he looked disappointed.

"I don't know." I shrugged as I pulled my hand out of his grasp.

"You shouldn't be at parties like that." Frank mumbled.

"I think I can take care of myself, Frank." I scoffed. Why was he being so annoying.

"Yeah? Is that Cooke guy going to protect you?" Frank mocked.

"Why do you even care?" I asked annoyed. We were getting closer to Frank's house which made me happy. I wouldn't have to be having this annoying conversation.

"I just find it weird that you went off to a party like that with someone like him." Frank wasn't looking at me. He was looking at the ground. Someone like him? What was that supposed to mean?

"He was around, ok? I just needed someone to talk to and take my mind off things. Cooke isn't all that bad." I snapped.

"I'm not around? I'm here for you whenever you need me. " Frank said, obviously hurt.

"You're with Jenna." I corrected, " You aren't always around, ok?"

"Olive, come-"

"No, Frank. Forget it." I mumbled as I walked off. I wasn't going to tell him to his face but I needed Frank alot. He was Jenna's, though. I couldn't change that. He wasn't always going to be there for me at least not the way I wanted him to be.

I wasn't going home, I was going to find Cooke. I was right about one thing. He sure did take my mind off of things