The Catch

When we were at my place, Ronnie let the engine roll
and waited .

"Are you gonna talk to me or..?"
I asked, biting my lip.

He looked out of his window and then turned his
head towards me with a smile.

"Of course. Want me to walk up with you?"
he asked, killing the engine.

"Sure. I need you to help me, anyway."
I said, opening the door.

"Help you?"
he asked, while also getting out of the car.

"My zipper."
I said, smiling at him and then making my way up
to my apartment.

I unlocked the door and let it open for Ronnie.
He'd kept a distance between us.

When I heard the door close I turned around and saw Ronnie
standing there, looking awkward.

I sighed and turned around.

"Can you please unzip my dress?"
I asked, biting my lip again.

I wonder what made him act like this.

He cleared his throat and I heard his footsteps.
"Of course."

When I felt his hands touch my shoulders,
I relaxed.

They were, again, so warm against my skin.

"Your hands are warm. It's nice."
I said, hoping to break some of the tension that was
surrounding us.

"Hm."
he just said and then gently pulled the zipper down.

I sighed and held my dress so it wouldn't fall down.
"Thanks. I'll be right back."

"Actually, I think I'm gonna go."
Ronnie said.
As I turned around, he was walking towards the door
backwards.

"Why?"
I wanted to know.

"I'm tired."
he said, shrugging.

"Bullshit."
I replied.

"No, it's not."
he said, shaking his head.

"I know you. You're only tired in the morning.
You're like a vampire, you love the dark."
I said, still holding up my dress.

"Well, tonight, the vampire is tired so he's gonna go."
Ronnie answered and opened the door.

"If you leave I'm going to kick your ass, Radke."
I said, mad at him for acting this way.

He sighed and closed the door.
"What?"
he asked, confused.

"You heard me. Leave and you'll get your ass kicked."
I replied, looking stupid for holding the dress up.

"Oh, really? How do you wanna do that? You've got
to hold onto your dress."
he said, smirking.

"I didn't say I'd kick your ass right now, did I?"
I said, arching an eyebrow.

"True."
Ronnie said, nodding.

"What the hell, Ronnie. Seriously."
I said, looking at him.

"I'm not following.."
he said, genuinely confused.

"What's wrong? What makes you act so distant all of
a sudden? One moment we're fine and the next you don't
talk to me, you don't look at me and you're acting weird.
Is it something I did? Because I'm sorry. I don't know what I
did but I'm sorry. Can we just go back to being Ronnie and Frank?
Please? Just.. Please?"
I asked.
Pleaded, almost.

He sighed and shook his head.
"You didn't do anything, Frankie. I just said something
I shouldn't have."

"About you always catching me?"
I wanted to know.

He cringed a bit.

"What's wrong with that?"
I asked, confused as hell.

"I just.. I don't want you to take it the wrong way."
he said, looking at me.

"Ronnie, I'm sorry to say this but.. You sound like a chick.
Just tell me what's up."
I said, smirking a bit.

"I shouldn't have said it, that's all."
he said, shrugging.

"But why not? There's nothing wrong with being there for
someone."
I said, still a bit confused at the whole scenario.

"I know."
he said, sighing.
"Go put some clothes on, we can watch a movie."

I smiled and walked over to him.
"I love you, Ronnie."
I said, while wrapping one arm around him in a hug.

He sighed and I broke away slightly.
I looked into his eyes and sighed as well.

"You're sad."
I whispered, looking at the emotions in his eyes.

"I'm fine, Frankie."
he said, smiling a bit.

I shook my head.
"You can lie all you want but your eyes betray you.
If you don't want to talk about it, fine. But I'm here
if you need me. Okay? Do you promise to talk to me if things
get rough?"

"Sure."
Ronnie replied, smiling half-heartedly.

"Say it."
I said, smiling at him.

"I promise, Frank."
he replied.

I nodded and hugged him again, with two arms.

"You do realise that if I let go right now, you are pretty much
screwed?"
he asked, smirking.

I laughed and nodded.
"I trust you, though."

He kissed my bare shoulder and I broke away again,
pressed against him, still.

"Thank you for always catching me, Radke."
I said, thankfully.

"Anytime."
he said, his smile disappearing somewhat.

I rested my forehead against his and closed my eyes.
"I hate knowing you're sad."
I whispered.

"Don't worry about me."
he replied, kissing my forehead.

"I always do."
I replied, opening my eyes.

"Why?"
he asked.

"Because. I just do."
I replied, shrugging.

I grabbed my dress again and sighed.
"I'm gonna take this off. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Ronnie nodded and watched me leave the room.

Before I reached the bedroom, I heard footsteps behind me.
I turned around and Ronnie was closer than I thought.
Almost losing my balance, he caught me.

"You caught me, again."
I said, smiling.

"I love you, Frank."
he said, staring into my eyes.

"I love you, too."
I said, smiling.

"No, I mean I'm in love with you."
he said, looking a bit scared.

"You.. You what?"
I asked, dumbfounded.

"It hasn't been this way for long but tonight you
looked so beautiful and.. That Brian guy.. I.. God, I sound
like an asshole."
he said, shaking his head and turning around.

"No, you don't."
I said, grabbing his hand and making him face me again.

I waited for him to look up at me again,
what took a while.

"You do know that shoes don't have the answer, right?"
I asked, trying to hold back a smile.

"Frank.."
he started but I stopped him.

"Nope. You gotta look at me first. Don't be such a wuss."
I said, trying anything to make him look up.

It worked but I could see I hit a nerve.

"I just told you I'm in love with you. How the fuck
am I a wuss?"
he asked, trying to get his hand out of mine.

"I got you to look up, Radke. I win."
I said, smiling.
"Ronnie, just tell me what you need to tell me.
I won't laugh at you, if that's what you're afraid of."

"I know. It's just weird. I never really felt like this
and it's taking me by surprise. And not only that, you're
Frank. You're my Frankie and I'm in love with you. How
will that ever work?"
he asked, looking sad again.

"Have you ever thought that maybe it would work out fine?"
I asked.

Ronnie stared at me.

"Hypothetically speaking. If you and I were together, wouldn't
that be the meaning of amazing? You know me through and
through and I'd like to think that I know you somewhat, too.
How could it not work out?"
I said, smiling.

"Because you're Frankie and I'm Ronnie."
he said, again.

"That doesn't have to be a problem, you know.
Besides, when you say it like that.. It kind of fits."
I said, still smiling at Ronnie and then winking at him.

I released his hand and walked further into my bedroom,
trying to find my comfy sweater.

"You totally lost me. I have no idea what you just said."
Ronnie said, still standing in the same spot.

"I'm just saying. It couldn't hurt to try, right?"
I said, dropping my dress on the floor and putting on
my tanktop.

I wasn't facing Ronnie but I could hear his breath stop
for a second before he regained his composure.

I turned around again and I just waited for his response.
His mouth was slightly open and his eyes held the confusion
he was feeling at that moment.

So I decided to walk up to him.

"You're everything to me, Ronnie."
I whispered before gently pressing my lips against his.

Ronnie stood still, not moving an inch before I felt his arm around
my waist and his hand against my cheek.
I felt his lips move against mine and I smiled before breaking
the kiss.

"See? It's easy."
I said, smiling.

"But.."
he began but I interrupted him.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him again
with more force than before. He didn't hesitate to wrap his arms
around my waist and kiss me back with the same passion I felt.

Somewhere along the way he lifted me up and I wrapped my legs
around his waist, while pulling his shirt off.
We broke the kiss because of that but our lips connected
again, soon after.

He walked over to the bed and slowly lowerd me on the bed, with
him on top of me.

All of a sudden his lips stopped moving and he sat up.
I sat up, putting my weight on my elbows.

"What's wrong?"
I asked.

"If we do this.. Everything will change."
Ronnie said, his hands on my upperlegs.

"Change is good."
I replied, shrugging.

"Not all change is good."
he countered and smiled a little.

"This kind is. Just go with it, Ronnie. I wouldn't be
doing this if I didn't have faith in us. Trust me."
I said, placing my hand in his neck and pulling his lips
to mine.

---

I was lying in his arms, satisfied with the outcome
of the night.

"Wow."
I said, smiling.

Ronnie laughed and I did as well.

"Shit, Frank. I had no idea it was gonna be like that."
he said, his fingers moving through my hair softly.

"Me neither. I liked it, though."
I said, wrapping one arm around his waist.

"You really think this could work?"
he asked, draping his arm over mine.

"Mhm, I do. We'll just see where it goes from here."
I said, leaning on my elbow.

"You're amazing."
Ronnie said, after looking at me for a while.

I laughed and rolled my eyes.
"Duh, I totally had sex with you just now. You're biased."

"I would have been biased anyway!
You're such a wench."
he said, shaking his head.

I laughed and kissed him again, ready for another taste
of good times with Ronnie.

I let all reason go and enjoyed the moment.
I was curious to see what would happen between us and
I couldn't wait for everything to start.
A future with Ronnie would be amazing so I welcomed it
with open arms.