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Post by Tiff on Mar 7, 2011 0:46:25 GMT -5
If he was shocked at the kiss, I was blown away and knocked over, I hadn't meant to do that. I pulled out of the second kiss and looked at the tinted glass between us and the driver. "Can he see?" I asked, my voice breaking, I wasn't anything like my slutty classmates and yet just looking at me now you wouldn't have been able to tell that. "I...I don't know what I'm doing." Yes, I was curious, but I was also confused.
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Post by kristay on Mar 7, 2011 0:57:26 GMT -5
I shook my head once she pulled away. Words were failing me and I was just staring at her in shock, the same confusion clear on my face. I tucked a strand of hair that fell in front of her eyes, behind her ear and looked at her. "Is that really what you feel?" I was afraid that because I seemed to be the only steady foundation in her slowly crumbling life, she claimed to be falling for me. I would have become a laughingstock if my fear and doubt in myself were made known... But I knew that I could ask Frankie because I trusted her for some inexplicable reason. "I'm afraid Frankie... I'm afraid that this is just your confusion talking and that you don't really feel what you feel for me..." I shook my head and lightly caressed her cheek with the palm of my hand. "I like you... I really do. But..." What if you don't?
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Post by Tiff on Mar 7, 2011 1:16:18 GMT -5
I raised my hands to my ears and shook my head, closing my eyes and leaning into his shoulder. "Don't." I said softly. "Don't!" A little louder, just loud enough to get his attention. "Don't ask me those questions, don't tell me I'm making such rash decisions because I'm confused, you'll only just confuse me further." I'd started crying somewhere in there and it was too late, he'd placed yet another confusing thought process into motion. I let myself cry it out though, I didn't say anything to him and then once the tears stopped flowing, my head remained on his shoulder as I thought it over. It wasn't an easy process, I had to take into consideration Frankie's feelings for him, there wasn't much there, she thought he was attractive, she wouldn't have been disappointed if her parents arranged a marriage between them, but Frankie wasn't interested in any guy. I tried to recall what I would have thought of him, but that was just too difficult, I didn't know the old me. "I like you and that's the end of that discussion." I finally said, lifting my head off his shoulder. "Frankie is indifferent and I don't know Maggie and Joe's daughter, but in my current consciousness I like you and even if I learn how Maggie and Joe's daughter would have felt about you, I'll still like you. Don't question it, please, I don't need that turmoil."
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Post by kristay on Mar 7, 2011 1:24:59 GMT -5
I didn't mean to make her cry; I guess I just didn't know how to act around a girl and I was even more stunned when tears started to flow down her cheeks. I tightened my grip around her waist and let her cry on me, murmuring apologies until the tears had subsided. "I'm sorry..." I broke off to press a gentle kiss against her mouth, hoping it would help in any way. "And I'm glad that you like me... Because I like you too." I cared about her, that much was the truth and if we ever got out of the mess that we put ourselves in to, I swore I'd get to know her and I hoped she'd be the one that I'd fall for and stay with for all my days.
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Post by Tiff on Mar 7, 2011 1:35:28 GMT -5
I nodded after the kiss and nodded as he spoke about me liking him and him liking me back. Honestly, it wouldn't have been such a big deal if he didn't like me, but his questioning whether or not I liked him was just removing all traces of the identity I was trying to establish. "Do you think it'll break Maggie and Joe's heart if I make myself a new person?" I asked, it was kind of a confusing question, I had an idea of what I meant, but I wasn't sure I could get the idea across to anyone else. "Like if I just start completely over? I won't be Frankie Conrad or who ever I was before."
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Post by kristay on Mar 7, 2011 1:42:32 GMT -5
I smiled too happy to not smile after what had transpired between us. "People change all the time... I think Maggie and Joe just want you to become the person you were meant to be. Not Frankie Conrad. Not who you were before you were taken. But whoever you're supposed to be." I chuckled when I realized that sounded a bit strange but I couldn't say anything else because we were pulling into the driveway of Frankie's house. I offered her the handkerchief in my pocket to wipe at the tearstains that ran down her cheeks. "You ready?"
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Post by Tiff on Mar 7, 2011 1:51:42 GMT -5
I nodded at his response and took the handkerchief to clean myself up, the Conrad's would suspicious if I looked miserable. I took a deep breath and nodded. "I am." I put on a brave face and searched out his hand, I was going to need his strength. "I wish you really knew me before I tackled you yesterday, I'd feel more comfortable going in this, knowing that you could guide me back to myself if I started to act differently than how Frankie would respond." I hoped I had enough of the girl left in me to convince these people. I sighed and got out of the car, still gripping his hand, though the nervous and tension I was battling wasn't present in my poise, it simply looked as if he were helping me out of the car, my hand relaxing in his.
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Post by kristay on Mar 7, 2011 2:08:18 GMT -5
I smiled at her encouragingly. "Alright then..." I gave her my hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze, chuckling at her complaint. "I'm sorry; I'll make it up to you somehow." We walked towards the front door of their house and their butler opened it, bowing low and I felt my mask move back into place as I barely nodded my thanks to him. I squeezed Frankie's hand, only then realizing how nervous I was of what would take place. I glanced at Frankie and grinned. "You think your parents will like me enough, fiance?"
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Post by Tiff on Mar 7, 2011 2:19:05 GMT -5
I didn't realize I had a mask as well, that I had a snotty disposition when I was in a familiar environment, he nodded at the butler and I walked past him like I didn't even know he was there. This behavior shocked me as we passed through the grand foyer and I lead him by the hand to the living room where we entertained guests. "They already love you, dear." I said, the words rang true, but they felt weird coming from my mouth. I should have known that Carter and Victoria would have been in the living room already. Carter stood and Victoria looked close to fainting as she saw the two of us entering the room, hand in hand. I watched as her eyes went straight to the ring on my left hand. I met her eyes and smirked, but made little commotion about her noticing it. "Mom, dad..." I began, turning to look at Alec. "We have something we'd like to share with you."
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Post by kristay on Mar 7, 2011 3:03:48 GMT -5
I watched Frankie from the corner of my eye and could see how easily she fit back into her old environment. Her parents were already waiting for us in the living room and I mentally girded myself for whatever awaited us. "Yes... Mr. and Mrs. Conrad, I've found myself deeply in love with your daughter several months ago when we met at the annual business gala that we attended. I asked her to keep our relationship a secret but I've found that I can't survive without her and I asked for her hand in marriage." I smirked as my gaze purposefully flitted to the ring on Frankie's finger. "And she said yes."
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Post by Tiff on Mar 7, 2011 3:42:48 GMT -5
I would have told them myself, but it felt better that he actually did the telling and I was able to sit back and watch them respond. My mother had obviously already heard the news from one of her gossip friends so her elaborate response to Alec's news was humorous to watch. My dad would have heard as well and only looked mildly displeased, but I knew beneath that facade a celebration was taking place. He gave Alec a good look over and then nodded his head in approval. I was trying very hard not to laugh, these people were familiar enough to me but since learning if my real past I wanted to rub it all in their faces and still I could see and sense what he was thinking. He was thinking he would have liked to have been asked for his daughter's hand in marriage like the old days. He would have liked to have thrown us an engagement party, one where Alec would propose in front of dozens upon dozens of our closest friends and most important business partners. I could also see him weighing his fortune, this however, did not amuse me.
"Well congratulations." My mother began. "Frankie we should start working on the details..." I knew where this was headed, she would want me home for the night. "Mom, honestly we haven't set a date yet." I glanced at Alec. "I want to finish school first..." I had no where else to go with that, we were coming close to the end of my last year in school at least at the Academy, there was talk of attending an Ivy league school, but girls only attended a university long enough to secure a husband or in the case the girl was past reconstructive surgery for her ugliness, only then might she attend school for the actual education. My parents would see no need for me to attend now, especially with my left ring finger sporting the ring of the most eligible guy on this side of The Great River.
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Post by kristay on Mar 7, 2011 4:18:40 GMT -5
I watched the play of emotions on both of Frankie's parents and had to bite down on the laugh that threated to erupt out of me. I looked at Frankie when she squeezed my hand and felt the charm dripping from my smile. "Mrs. Conrad, your daughter and I both feel that a wedding cannot take place until she graduates from the academy. I feel quite strongly about this. We both thought we could stay together at my house until she graduates and decide on a date then. I wouldn't want the demands of preparing for the wedding to hinder her in her studies." I lightly lifted a brow as if in arrogant curiosity. "Unless of course, you believe my home cannot provide the substantial care that you would expect for your daughter and my fiancé." It wasn't really a question but more of a challenge. Now they couldn't say no without the risk of insulting me.
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Post by Tiff on Mar 7, 2011 16:45:21 GMT -5
I turned to look at him as he challenged my parents, a smile spread on my face, but I had to force it down a notch, he was far more brilliant than I could ever hope to be and he was right, there was no way my parents would challenge him and risk losing this amazing opportunity, an opportunity no one saw coming. I watched as they started to squirm. "Well sweetheart, I'm so happy for you. Alec, welcome to the family." My mom said, standing and going to the door. She called for one of our servants and advised her to bring drinks to celebrate. The woman came back with a cart. "Alec what's your poison?"
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Post by kristay on Mar 7, 2011 17:06:14 GMT -5
My smile brightened as they grudgingly accepted my proposition. "Thank you Mrs. Conrad, I'm very glad to become a part of this family." A woman came back with a cart for mixing drinks and when Frankie's mother asked me what I wanted to drink I grinned at her and asked for whatever she was having. I squeezed Frankie's hand and leaned close to her, brushing my lips lightly against her ear so I could also whisper. "We did it; now you can relax... Half the battle is won." I was just as relieved because it meant that they wouldn't question why Frankie was away and why no plans for the wedding had taken place yet. It gave us a longer time to prepare and maybe we wouldn't even have to plan for the wedding.
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Post by Tiff on Mar 7, 2011 22:16:51 GMT -5
I was aware that he'd successfully secured my stay at his place without further questions until further notice, but I was still far too nervous to relax. On the outside I was perfectly relaxed, but on the inside I was still frantic, so afraid that I'd slip out of character and wind up blowing the entire thing. I watched as my mother passed Alec his drink and then went back to the cart to make my dad his and bring me a Shirley Temple. I took the glass from her, but let it rest on my knee, unsure. "So Alec how's business?" My dad asked as he came off a sip of his drink. I circled my finger around the edge of my glass, this was a question I would have thought rude to ask him. "Dad..."
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