I walked out of my dorm in my freshly ironed suit and found Frank's car there. He stood beside it and looked up at me and smiled. His suit was dark grey with a black button up and a black and white tie. The red parts of his hair looked freshly dyed.

"You look great, Gee," he said.

I blushed as I looked down at my plain black outfit with the red tie.

"I-I thought Jamia was picking me up," I said quietly.

"She was but there were some technical difficulties with rides and she ended up having to go pick up her grandparents," he said.

I looked around a little nervously as he opened the door for me and I slid into my suit. Frank shut the door and walked around to get into his side. We were quiet as we drove to Jamia's house and my stomach dropped when I saw the cars.

"Wait, don't get out just yet," he said as he shut off the engine.

Frank got out and ran around the car to open my door for me. I blushed, walking inside with him. We went out to the backyard where everyone was talking and laughing. Music was playing and there were lights strung up everywhere. I stood awkwardly with Frank as he said hello and hugged people.

"This was such a nice idea, Frank," a lady said.

"Yep, there's food," he said, ushering her away.

We got a secluded corner on a bench under a large tree that had lights hanging down from it.

"What does she mean this was your idea?" I asked. "I thought you guys do this every year."

"Uh, yeah," he said. "We just do it in a banquet hall in New York usually and I didn't wanna spend a weekend in New York now that I'm in college and busier so Jamia and I suggested we do it here in her backyard."

"This is a huge backyard," I mumbled.

The entire thing looked like it could be the size of a football field, it was at least an acre. There was the huge grassy area here behind the large stone patio with the built in stone fireplace, fire pit and pizza oven. There was a playset on the left with currently some kids playing on it while their mothers asked them to be careful and not ruin their nice clothes. A stone path on the right led you down a small incline to a fence where the pool area was.

"Yeah, it is big," he said. "It felt a lot bigger when we were young and all running around."

I glanced at my phone but saw no notifications.

"Everything alright?" He asked.

"Yeah, I just haven't heard from Andy in a while," I said.

Frank nodded but didn't say anything more.

"Do you want something to drink?" He asked. "We've got some punch or water or pop. I'm sure I can steal some alcohol."

"I'm okay," I said, looking down at my lap as I tapped my middle finger against my thumb.

Frank glanced down at my hand before smiling.

"Do you wanna play a game me and Jamia used to play?" he asked as I looked up at him. "So the game is called kiss or no kiss."

"I-I don't wanna kiss," I mumbled.

"No, it's an observation game," he said. "We're all, like, super Italian. Like Hollywood movie, Michael Corleone type of shit. So basically we pick a random adult and we have to guess if they're the kissing type or not."

I looked at him in confusion. 

"Okay, okay, sounds weird, I know," he said. "But it's actually pretty common, I think Italians just don't know personal space."

"Um, okay," I said.

Frank but his lip and scanned over the crowd before pointing to an older guy with grey hair.

"Kiss," he said.

"No kiss," I said.

"What reasoning, buddy?" He asked.

I shrugged. "I-I mean, he just looks like a business man who wouldn't do that."

We watched as the older guy went up to someone and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh, ew," I mumbled. "I-I'm sorry, I don't mean that. I don't wanna insult you if that's like normal to you."

"It's okay, I don't like it," he said. "Oh shit, I have our next victim."

He pointed into the crowd and I saw Jamia emerge in her beautiful gold dress with her makeup all done.

"No kiss, Jamia doesn't kiss," I said.

"No kiss," he agreed.

Jamia spotted us and came over, giving us both hugs.

"Gee, you look so good," she said.

"What took you so long?" Frank asked.

"Traffic, it's rush hour," she said.

We hung out until the sun started to set. People were dancing and Jamia went to go help her brother get more ice from the garage. A slow song started playing and frank smiled.

"I love this song," he said. "My parents used to listen to it all the time growing up."

"It's nice," I said.

"Do you wanna dance?" He asked.

I looked at him before looking around.

"I don't think I should," I said. "Your family and all, I don't want them to think badly because two boys are dancing."

Frank held my wrist and pulled me down the little stone path to what I assumed was a pool house. He shut the door and we were alone in the dark. We could still hear the music, though.

I felt Frank's hand on my waist gently. He paused. I think he was waiting for me to say something to stop him but I never did. He held my waist fully now and I gingerly wrapped my arms around his neck. We swayed together in the dark as I put my head down on his shoulder. There was something so comforting and safe about being here with him that made my heart flutter but it was also bringing tears to my eyes.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked as I sniffled.

I nodded and just kept dancing with him. I never wanted this moment to end. But when the song drifted off it was replaced by an upbeat one, crashing the perfect moment 

"Do you have a bathroom?" I asked.

Frank nodded and showed me where it was. I shut the door, turning on the lights and sat down on the toilet seat. I tried calling Andy but his voicemail was full. Instead, I tried calling his mom.

"Hello?" She answered.

"Hi, it's Gerard," I said. "I was just wondering if you've heard from Andy."

"Oh, yes," she said. "We found his pot stash and sent him to military school."

"M-military school?" I asked. "He's an adult."

"There are college level academies," she said.

"Um, d-do you know when he'll be back?" I asked.

"He won't," she said.

"He won't?" I asked.

"His aunt lives down there, he's living with her after he gets out," she said. "He doesn't have a phone or anything. It's probably best to move on."

I took a few shaky breaths as I hung up. I tried to calm down before going out. The lights were on now and Frank was sitting on the couch.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked.

I sat down next to him, wringing my hands together.

"Andy moved away, he was sent to military school," I mumbled.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"You didn't even like him," I said.

"Yeah, I'm sorry that this was so abrupt and you're upset," he said  

I was trying to hold in my tears but as soon as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, I broke down crying. I cried into his shoulder as he rubbed my back.

"Alright, I think I need to go," I said.

"Can I show you something first?" He asked.

I nodded and followed him out. I stood to the side as he said goodbye to family members. We walked over across the yards to his house. We went up to his room and I heard squeaking. I looked in the corner to a little playpen and saw a kitten.

"Y-you got a cat?" I asked.

"You recognize her?" He asked and I looked at him.  "It's Matcha from the pet shop."

"You got Matcha?" I asked.

"Not for me, I'm kind of more of a dog person," he said. "For you, that's what I was talking about with the workers the other day, filing an application."

I went over and sniffled as I picked up Matcha. She meowed and sniffed my face, her tiny, cold nose brushing against my cheek.

"You got me a kitten?" I whimpered.

"You always wanted one and your brother is allergic so I thought she could live here," he said.

I sat on the couch and sobbed as I hugged her. Frank sat beside me quietly as I cuddled and pet her. I let her down to run around and explore before looking at Frank.

"I'm sorry about how everything worked out," he said.

I nodded as he rubbed my back.

"Why are you so nice to me?" I asked. "I don't deserve it."

Frank reached forward and tucked my hair behind my ear.

"I don't want you thinking that," he whispered. "You shouldn't have to worry about anything. You deserve more than what anyone could ever give you."

I blushed and looked down. Matcha ran over, jumping onto the coffee table. I smiled and scratched under her chin. She pushed back down into my hand as she closed her eyes.

"Thank you for getting her for me," I said. "I'll pay you back for the supplies and adoption fee."

"It's okay," he said. "Don't worry about it. You've paid me back enough already."

"How so?" I asked.

Frank smiled softly but didn't say anything as he stood up. Matcha started chasing him as he walked to the closet and I laughed.

"Let me change and then I can take you back," he said.

"C-can I stay the night?" I asked.

Frank walked out with a smile, tossing some pajamas to me. I blushed, looking away when I saw his jacket and tie were off, shirt unbuttoned and his belt and pants undone.

"I was hoping you would ask," he said.

He left and I got dressed before crawling into his bed. Frank came out in pajamas and picked up Matcha, setting her next to me on the bed before going to lay on the couch.

"You can sleep on the bed too," I said.

Frank looked at me before turning off the light, crawling into the bed next to me. The pure safety I felt for the first time in a long time surrounded me as he reached over to hold my hand as I fell asleep.

~~

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