Always Yours

It was nice sitting under the stars feeling the warmth of the fire, but it all ended too soon when the light drops of rain began to fall from the sky.

“Well shit”. He laughed. “How bout we get out of here and I take you for a milkshake?”.

“Sounds good”. I smiled as he helped me to my feet. I slipped my shoes on grabbed the blanket and made my way into the truck.

It was colder than before.

“You need to get the heating fixed. It’s freezing in here”. I wrapped the blanket around my shoulders and moved closer to him. Body heat was the best way to stay warm right?

“Aye darling I’m on it”.

“Good”. I slipped my arm through his and lay my head against his shoulder. It would take us an hour or so to get back which was enough time to get a nap in.

Closing my eyes I smiled when he kissed the top of my head.

Yeah, I liked this way more than I should.

..

I woke just as he was pulling into the diner. Stretching out my arms a yawn fell from my lips. As the car came to a stop my stomach dropped when I noticed the crowd hanging around outside.

As if he could feel my discomfort, he reached over taking my hand in his.

“How bout we get a milkshake and then go somewhere else?”.

It was getting late and my shift at the diner was over soon. I didn’t want our date to end but if I was late home that would lead to questions. Questions I didn’t want to answer.

I didn’t need my parents becoming suspicious of my whereabouts.

“My shift at the diner will be over soon”. I chewed the inside of my cheek. “I really can’t be late home”.

“Still got half an hour to go though right?”. He asked.

I nodded.

“Stay here I’ll be right back”.

He locked me in. Whether he meant it or not he made sure I wasn’t going anywhere. No one approached the truck and that was weird because usually the minute they saw Franko they swarmed like bee’s.

But not tonight.

I jumped when there was a knock on my window. I spoke too soon. But it was Alice standing with her hood up trying her best to avoid the rain.

“Are you okay?”. She asked.

“Yeah, are you?”.

“Could you give me a lift home tonight?”.

I had a feeling something had happened, or she genuinely needed a lift home. Either way I wasn’t going to ask. I would give her a lift home because I wasn’t a shitty friend.

I would never leave her stranded.

“Aubrey?”. She spoke.

“Yeah, sorry. I’ll meet you inside?”.

“Yeah, thanks”. She about turned and made her way across the parking lot and into the diner.

It wasn’t long before Franko was back carrying two strawberry milkshakes.

“Is something going on with Alice and Tommy?”. I asked taking my milkshake from him.

“Back to this shit again princess?”.

“She asked me for a lift home, so I just assumed something had happened”. I shrugged.

“Fuck if I know”.

“Right”. I took a sip of my milkshake as we fell into a comfortable silence.

“You really care if somethings going on between them?”. He asked.

I shrugged. “She’s my friend and I don’t like when she’s upset”.

“Did she seem upset?”.

“Maybe, I don’t really know”.

A sigh fell from his lips. “Go take your friend home darling. I’ll see you tomorrow at some point”.

He didn’t like Alice, so I wasn’t expecting him to say that. Was he pissed I was cutting the date short? To be fair I would be going home soon anyway.

“Are you annoyed?”. I asked.

“Never babe I just don’t like her”.

“She’s not that bad”.

“Whatever you say darling. Now get out my truck before I change my mind and take you home with me”.

Grinning I leaned over placing a kiss on his cheek. I had no idea where this newfound confidence was coming from around him, but I liked it. I liked who I was when I was around him.

“Thank you for tonight”. With my hand on the door handle I paused when he grabbed hold of my other hand and laced our fingers together.

“We doing this darling?”.

My heart was racing. The voice in my head was screaming yes and yet there was still a slither of doubt in their somewhere. But it was now or never. We couldn’t keep going round in circles and carrying on with the back and forth.

“Yeah”. I smiled. “Yeah, we are”.

“Aye?”. He grinned.

“Yes”. I laughed. “Now let me go so I can go home”.

“See you soon princess. Real soon”.

I hopped out the car and made my way across the parking lot and into the diner. Alice was sat in the first booth nursing a cup of coffee.

“How come you’re in here and not out there?”. I asked sitting opposite her.

“Aubrey, sweetheart, do you want some coffee?”. Jen asked stopping by the booth.

“Yes, please”.

“I’ll never be treated the way you’re treated”. Alice muttered. “Everyone already respects you”.

“What are you talking about?”. I frowned.

“You’ve been accepted, and you’ve not even been his girlfriend 5 minutes. I’ve been going out with Tommy for months and still haven’t been inside the clubhouse. It’s not fair. They don’t treat me the same as they treat you”.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

“Alice what the hell are you talking about?”. I asked.

“Nothing it doesn’t matter”.

“No don’t do that. You can’t just say all of that and then not explain what you mean”.

“I’m his girlfriend but not really. I’ve never been in the clubhouse, never met his parents. I’m basically someone that keeps his bed warm”.

“Wait, this is all because you’ve never been inside the clubhouse? Trust me it’s nothing special”.

“You don’t get it. I want to be seen like you. Nobody knows that I’m Tommy’s girl. I just want what you’ve got”.

I thanked Jen as she brought me my coffee.

“So”. She grinned. “Did he do good?”.

“Thanks for your input. I had a really nice night”.

“Anytime sweetheart. It’s nice to see you smile”. She squeezed my shoulder before walking off.

“See”. Alice huffed. “I wish Tommy cared like Franko does”.

“Why are you even with him if you feel like this?”. I sighed.

“To feel important”. She shrugged.

I rolled my eyes. She was in too deep already if this is the way she was acting. She wanted to be with Tommy to feel important? Important to who? What was she gaining out of it?

“Important to who?”. I asked.

She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Can you take me home?”.

“Sure”. I was done talking about this nonsense. She was being silly and hopefully she’ll realise that soon. If she wasn’t happy with Tommy, then why not just pull the plug on it?

Being important wasn’t worth the way she was feeling. She obviously wasn’t happy.

The full journey to her house was quiet, her only words being bye when I dropped her off. Once I saw her go inside, I took off down the street. By the time I got home only my dad’s car was parked in the driveway. My mom was obviously working late.

Turning off my engine I made my way inside. My dad was on the couch with a beer watching the football.

“Mom working late?”. I asked taking my jacket and shoes off.

He nodded. “How was work?”.

“Busy”. I made my way to the kitchen for a glass of water. “Did you make dinner?”. I asked. My dad wasn’t big on cooking and when my mom worked late we usually had takeout.

“There’s pizza in the oven if you’re hungry”. He spoke.

“No, I’m good”. I emptied out my glass, said goodnight to my dad and made my way upstairs.

..

By the time I got out the shower my mom was home. I was making my way to my room when I heard her on the stairs.

“Hey sweetheart”.

“Hey”. I smiled.

“Going to bed?”. She asked.

“In a little bit”. I wanted to read a few chapters of my book before I settled for the night.

“Don’t be up to late Aubrey. You still have school in the morning”.

“I won’t be”. I closed the door to my room and fell onto my bed. I had a good night a little weird with Alice at the end but hopefully she’s in a better mood tomorrow.

Alice could be mean when she was in one of her moods and frankly, I couldn’t be bothered dealing with her. I still didn’t fully understand what she meant tonight with the whole being accepted.

Being accepted by who?

What was the big fascination with wanting to be and feel important?

It wasn’t a big deal that Franko and I were dating. It was two people that liked each other enough to try something. But whatever tomorrow brought I was ready for it.

I changed into my pyjamas, got my book from my backpack and got into bed.