“Do you want to watch a movie?”. I had no idea why I was suddenly so nervous. But Franko had a way of always making the butterflies dance in my stomach.
I made sure to lock the door once we were both inside. Again, I had no idea what I was doing. Was I taking the leap? Was I finally quietening the voice in my head and doing what I really wanted?
“Least Alice and Tommy are gone”. He laughed.
“Yeah, and she knew to leave the key under the mat”. I grabbed the tv remote and turned it on.
“You mind?”. He asked picking up a slice of pizza.
“No”. I shook my head. “What do you want to watch?”.
“I gotta talk to you”.
Instantly my stomach dropped. I kept my eyes on the tv as I continued to scroll for something to watch. When he started a conversation like that I never knew where it could lead.
I settled for the horror channel. A nightmare on Elm Street to be exact. Horror films didn’t bother me that much and Franko seemed the type to like a horror.
“I asked you to dinner tomorrow cause I gotta go away for a few weeks”.
“Away where?”. I asked.
“It’s to do with the club darling. Can’t be a prospect forever”. He laughed.
“So, what does that mean?”.
“I’m getting patched in Aubrey. No more shit taking, no more shit jobs. I’m getting my patch babe. I’ll finally get my proper cut”.
“But what about school?”. I frowned. “A few weeks away and you’ll fall behind”.
He shrugged. “School ain’t for me so I got nothing to worry about”.
“What?”. I made a face. “You’re not seriously thinking about staying here and being in the club for the rest of your life, are you?”.
Didn’t he want bigger things? Didn’t he have goals?
“Fucks wrong with that like?”. He glared. “My old man did it and his before him. It’s my legacy Aubrey. The club will be mine one day”.
“But that’s not a life, it’s not a job or a career. How can you-…”. I bit the inside of my cheek. I had to remember what I was saying and how I sounded saying it. Franko’ lifestyle was a whole lot different from mine but that didn’t mean it was wrong.
He knew nothing better than what his family are and what they do. But that didn’t mean they were bad people. And who was I to say he couldn’t follow in his father’s footsteps.
It was the job he had to do.
But wasn’t it a life full of crime?
“It’s in my blood Aubrey, it’s my family, it’s all I’ve ever known”.
“Doesn’t have to be”. I whispered. “You can do anything you want to. You don’t have to follow in your dads’ footsteps”.
“Think it’s best I get out of here”.
Yeah, I was treading on thin ice, and it was probably best he did leave.
“Franko I-…”.
“See you in a few weeks yeah?”. He spoke getting to his feet.
I didn’t bother to walk him out and when the door slammed shut, I winced. Probably should have kept my mouth shut. Franko’ choices were nothing to do with me.
And yet why was I so bothered by it?
I got up and locked the door again making sure to take the key out. So, much for having fun this weekend. I did nothing new and still ended up alone in my own company.
But I had no one to blame but myself, right?
Switching all the lights off I headed upstairs to bed. How could one weekend turn out to be so shit?
It felt as if I had just closed my eyes when I jumped awake. Heart hammering in my chest I jumped again when the knocking got louder.
Who the hell was that?
Reaching for my bedside lamp I switched it on catching the time on my alarm clock. Who was knocking on my door at 2am? Groaning I pushed my covers off and made my way downstairs.
“Aubrey”. She yelled her hand thumping against the door. “You awake?”.
I switched the hall light on and looked through the peephole in the front door. Sure, as hell Alice was leaning herself against our porch or more like the porch was holding her up.
I wasn’t in the mood to deal with her when she was like this. Not when she was full of alcohol. I unlocked the door and pulled it open.
“Do you know what time it is?”. I whispered.
“I know it’s late and I’m sorry, but I lost my key and couldn’t get in. Mom’s nightshift”.
Oh, so maybe she wasn’t drunk?
I moved to the side letting her past.
“You didn’t walk this time, did you?”. I had a quick glance outside before closing the door.
“No”. She shook her head. “Tommy dropped me off before heading to the clubhouse”.
“Let me guess he’s going away for a few weeks?”. I rolled my eyes a yawn falling from my lips.
“Yeah”. She nodded. “I’m guessing Franko told you?”.
I nodded.
“It’s exciting for them don’t you think?”. She asked.
“I guess”. This wasn’t a 2am conversation and I wanted to go back to bed.
“They’re finally getting patched in Aubrey. This is a big thing for them”.
It didn’t make no difference to me, so I had no idea why she was so excited about it. But what I was curious about was what they had to do to get patched in. That was a question that was circling my head.
Why did it take a few weeks for them to earn their patch?
A yawn fell from my lips as I ran a hand down my face. “I’m going to get a glass of water and then go back to bed”.
“Are you okay?”. She asked.
“It’s 2am”. I sighed. “I’m not really in the mood for conversation”.
“Right, but are you okay? Did something happen between you and Franko?”.
“No”. I emptied the glass and left it on the draining board. “And I’m fine I’ll see you when you come up”.
I cut the conversation and headed back to bed. I didn’t want to talk about Franko, I didn’t even want to think about him. I wasn’t sure I was still invited to dinner tomorrow after how we left things.
I got back into bed and pulled the cover up and around neck. It didn’t take long for my body to relax and for sleep to take over.
It was morning before I knew it.
I was grumpy, tired and my head felt like it was going to explode. Rolling over I clocked sight of Alice’ thick brown hair, she was rolled up in a ball on the floor snoring her head off.
The snoring being partly the reason I was tired. Groaning I threw my arm over my eyes and rolled back over so I was facing the wall. I didn’t want to get up, didn’t want to move but I knew it wouldn’t be long until my parents would be home.
Another thing I didn’t want to face. My mom and all her questions of what I’ve been up to while they were away.
“I’m starving”. Alice groaned. “You wanna go for breakfast?”.
I rolled over so I could face her. “No, but yeah, I need to get up”.
“Are your parents back today?”. She asked.
I nodded. “No idea when though”. Pushing my cover off I got into a sitting position and leaned my back against my headboard. “I could sleep all day”.
“I think we should go to the diner for breakfast”.
“Is Tommy meeting you there?”. I asked.
“Yeah”. She grinned. “He wants to see me before he leaves”.
“Then you go, you can take my car and bring me something back”.
“You don’t want to come?”. She frowned.
“Not really and your snoring kept me awake most of the night”.
“I don’t snore”. She huffed. “But if you’re cool with me taking your car, I’ll be an hour or two tops”.
“Cool”. I pulled my cover back up and got comfortable. “Just bring me eggs and bacon and a strawberry milkshake”.
“And you’re sure you don’t want to come with me?”.
“I’m sure”.
Once I heard the door to my room open and close, I closed my eyes praying sleep would take over.