Frankie

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

As soon as I get to my room I close the door and sit on my bed pulling out my phone to finally see who it is. “Oh yeah sorry, it’s Keyon.” Wait! Keyon Blackhawk has my number. How would he have gotten it? I’m too shocked to answer him at first. I scroll back to is other text and understand that he is asking about our joint speeches, but don’t understand why he cares if it upsets me. I call Ella in a panic. Ella’s phone rings 3 times before she finally picks up.

“Hey Frankie, what’s up?” I finally heard on the other end. “Oh, nothing much”, I start then I begin to freak out and start to yell, “Keyon Blackhawk is texting me! I don’t know how he got my number and now he wants to know if I’m upset, I have to share the spot light with him.” She squeals at first then I hear her deep breaths and she starts in, “ok calm down, there has to be answers to all of this. I definitely think it starts with a sleep over.” She says with a laugh, but I can’t help but agree. I ran to tell mom that I need Ella’s help prepping my speech and want her to stay over. Putting the phone up to my ear again it tell Ella, “mom says cool, see you as soon as you can get here.”

Before Ella arrives, my phone vibrates again. Keyon: “you must be really upset with me you’re not even answering me.” Well, I guess I better not wait for Ella I better tell him something. Frankie: “Hey, Keyon, sorry was at dinner with the ‘rents’”. Stalling, stalling, Ella where are you? This girl never moves this slow. The doorbell rings and I hear dad, “Hi doll it’s been a while. Frank is in her room, go on up”. “Thank you, Mr. Reed,”, finally it’s Ella. Moments later I almost pulled Ella into the room yanking my door open. “Wow Frank misses me much”, Ella smirks at me. Taking her overnight back from her hands and shoving my phone in her’s as she steps in my room I tell her, “He thinks I’m ignoring him I need your help now.”

Ella reads my phone and sits on my bed looking up at me. “Girl you better say something now! I know”, say scowling. “I have to play this cool, no before you ask I don’t like him, but I’ve come this far being invisible. I can’t be a b***h to the cool guy everyone will have it out for me.” I sit next to Ella as my head starts to hurt. “Frank, are you mad?” Ella asks. “Yes, but not at him. I just worked really hard, and the stupid board picked our class to change things up. It’s not his fault.” I’m always honest with Ella and in times like this it helps me be honest with myself. I take my phone from her, look at it then back up to her, “do I be that honest with him thought?” Ella scrunches her brow, then sighs, “Yes, you do. It’s who you are you are always honest, almost to a fault sometimes.” Ok here goes. Frankie: I’m not upset with you, it’s the board who changed things. You’ve worked hard too and should be recognized for it. I hit send and felt like I’m going to throw up.

It’s still somewhat early yet, but Ella and I get into PJ.s and start hitting Netflix until we get hungry then I run down and grab us sodas and snacks. By the end of our first movie my nerves are settled, and I start letting my mind wander in other directions. “Hey Ella, any idea how’d you get someone’s cell number if they don’t give it to you and only 3 other people, have it?” After some silence I’m sure Ella is about to fess up to giving out my number, when she finally looks at me with scrunched brows, her answer is not what I expected. “Well it has to be one of the people who have it or the cell phone company, or”, she trails off. “I know you are asking about Keyon getting yours, but I didn’t give it to him, are you sure it’s not on file at school?” She has a point, it could be on file at school, but I don’t remember putting it there. My parents would have had to. “Who are the other 2 people?” Ella asks me, pulling me from my thoughts. “Mom and Dad, of course. It’s because of emergencies, well and you are they are the only people who I let see me. Everyone else is used to me being invisible they have no reason to ask me for it.” We watched another movie and started a third to drift off to sleep to when my phone goes off again.

Keyon: I’m glad you’re not upset with me. We should get together before Wednesday to make sure our speeches aren’t too similar.

Frankie: I don’t think they will be. I mean we both handled High School totally differently. But I have mine almost ready. Let me know.

Keyon: Great I’ll finish mine and get with you before Wednesday.

Keyon: Hey sorry, I didn’t realize it was this late. Hope I didn’t wake you. Have a good night, sweet dreams.

Ella and I stare at my phone. “What does he mean by that? Frankie, I hate to be the one to tell you but I think he is crushing on you. Wow Ella, as your best friend I knew you were crazy, but I’ve always hoped you would use your power for good.” We both laugh. Then Ella looks at me trying to be serious, “you have to answer him and make it a sweet gesture in return to his”. Well crap Ella is right taking a deep breath I force myself to answer and keep some honesty in it.

Frankie: You didn’t wake me, I’ve been binging movies, but thank you for asking. Good night, sweet dreams yourself. TTYS

Hitting send I giggle showing Ella in an effort to see if I succeeded in being “cool”. She giggles giving me two thumbs up. We continue watching our rom-com until we are both out.