Near To You - Page 3 - The Black Parade

Annee. · 04-25-2008, 07:37 AM

loving this... great update xD
more please when you have the chance

Minerva Flautist · 04-25-2008, 01:08 PM

Amazing update. =] I'm so glad Frank showed up.

**Katelyn McFly** · 04-25-2008, 03:46 PM

yay! she found frank again

Sazor · 04-26-2008, 01:37 AM

finally an update! awesome!

Trish · 06-14-2008, 05:22 PM

Sorry I haven't written in a while. I've been terrible with fanfiction updates. But, here you go.

Chapter Four

They walked briskly down the crowded sidewalk, Mel trailing behind Frank.

"Where're we going?" she asked, struggling to keep up. Why had she worn heels?

"I know a place. Trust me." He looked back at her and grinned. "It's much more cheerful than that bar."

What in the world? He led her through the front door of a McDonald's, the noise of many people talking at once filling her ears, the smell of salty French fries wafting seductively their way.

"Seriously? Micky D's? I haven't been here in years." When had she been here last? She could remember going there with...Louis...once or twice, but she hadn't even heard from Louis in a year. She could feel her heart breaking a bit, thinking of him, and she found herself missing her nothingness period. Sure, she hadn't felt anything--but at least she hadn't felt this.

"What do you want? My treat."

"You sure?" she asked, tucking a strand of messy blonde hair behind her ear. A haircut, she was compelled to answer. "Uh, I guess I'll have...a bigmac."

Frank ordered, while Melena found a seat near the back of the little food dive. Waiting for her new friend, she zoned out, thinking about her recently-received news. Littly Mary, with her wide blue eyes, girlishly-round cheeks, and curly golden locks, was getting married? To who? Was she still with Daniel? Or had she found herself a new boyfriend? Good Lord, how old was she now? Mary couldn't be older than twenty-two. Which meant that Mel was twenty-four, she mused, finding it a bit funny that she didn't even remember her own age. Twenty-four-ish, and still not married. Still all alone.

Frank plopped down across from her and handed her a burger, a concerned look on his face. "You look upset. What's wrong?"

Mel shook her head, sighed. "My little sister's getting married."

"That's great!" Frank got a thoughtful look on his face, seemed to reconsider what he'd said. "Or is it?"

"She's getting married first." And suddenly, she was unloading all of her supressed feelings on this practically stranger. It was word vomit--Mel couldn't help it from tumbling out, and she struggled not to cry again. "And I was the one who was going to get married! I was engaged! And my mom approved, and my sister was jealous, and he was perfect. But she...and he...She beat me to it!"

"Hmm. Well. Whatever happend to this fiancee of yours?"

"He left me." She cast her eyes down to the table, staring at her hands. She'd once loved her hands--long, elegant fingers ornamented with strong, lengthy fingernails. Now they were dry and cracked, fingernails bitten below the finger.

"Why?"

"Blunt."

"I'm sorry." He seemed genuine with his apology, so she continued on.

"I dunno. I guess I began to...bored him. I caught him, in our bed, with the neighbor." It had been hard to say, but at least she'd gotten it out, at least she'd told someone.

"God, what an ass. I'm sorry that happened."

"Thanks."

"You finished?"

Mel looked down, realizing that she had, in fact, finished her burger. She nodded, helped him clean up their garbage. "So...What now?"

"Well, what would you like to do?"

She thought for a minute. "I need to get to a store."

"Alright." He grinned, a grin that Mel was beginning to find familiar, comforting. Soothing, and adorable. "Wal-Mart it is."

**Katelyn McFly** · 06-14-2008, 06:06 PM

I missed this. loved the update. ha, they're going to wal-mart. my mom still refuses to take me into wal-mart after my last little escapade

Julia · 06-14-2008, 07:16 PM

Ah, I saw this story by you and had to read it.
It's just as amazing as your others.
<3

Elena · 06-14-2008, 08:01 PM

Oh, man, Trish, I missed a lot! x___x Awesome updates, I'm going to steal Frank from Mel. xD

<3

Kaley · 06-15-2008, 07:54 PM

Aww, amazing update.

Trish · 06-26-2008, 03:32 AM

Chapter Five
"So, what're we here for?"

They were standing in the enterance of the nearby Wal-Mart. The sun had already been long gone, and any sensible person was in bed by now. The store was deserted, the occasional person just getting off a late shift wandering around.

It was Frank's favorite time of the day. He and Mel, and a few other people, were the only ones awake. It made him feel special, almost invincible. He lived for the nighttime. It was when he felt most comfortable, most alive.

He watched Mel stand for a moment, a considering look on her face, raise a finger, and go forward. He followed her as she made her way to an aisle with hair products. She threw dandruff shampoo, conditioner, and blonde hair dye into a basket. Then, she went to the next aisle, where she added a bag of pads to her collection. Frank smiled, surprised--Mel did all of these personal things, right in front of him, without so much as blushing.

"Haven't been shopping in a while?" he asked, amused, as she made her way to the next aisle. Soap and face wash.

"Hush, you." She glanced behind and smiled at him, and he found himself breathless, astounded. It was possibly the first time he'd seen a true, genuine smile pass across her face. Yes, Frank had found Melena beautiful since the first time he'd seen her. But he'd only ever seen her sad, broken beauty. Never before had he considered that there was a happy beautiful behind this mysterious new person who occupied the majority of his thoughts. But when she unleashed her happy side, she glowed, beamed, radiated. She was like sunshine.

"Is there something stuck in my teeth?"

"Huh?"

"You're..." She blushed. "You looked like you were staring at me. Sorry."

"Oh, uh..."

They let it drop.

...

"I don't want to go home," Mel said with a sigh, as they stood outside of the store. This was where they would part.

Frank saw her sad, broken beauty creeping across her features, and panicked. No. He wanted her to be his sunshine again. He wanted to wipe that frown off of her face. But how? He found himself answering her, without thinking, "Then don't."

"What?"

"Um. Stay over. For the hell of it. Just as friends, don't worry. I won't rape you as you sleep."

Melena beamed again. "Sure!"

...

"You can have the bed," Frank said, throwing his keys onto the kitchen counter.

Mel had only been in his house one other time, and she had been too hung over to take it all in. Now, though, she did, her eyes lingering everywhere. It was small, cluttered, a mess--but it had a nice feel to it. It was warm, homely--and it smelled just like Frank.

"No, I couldn't do that," she said, shaking her head. For some reason, she didn't feel awkward at all at his house. In fact, Mel felt more at home here than she did where she lived. She dropped her bags on the small kitchen table, glanced at the clock on the microwave. It was one in the morning, and she was wide awake.

"I'll take the couch," Frank said firmly, putting a solemn expression on his face that made Mel giggle. It had been so long since anyone had made her giggle. "I insist."

"No point in argueing?"

"None whatsoever." Frank giggled, his wide brown eyes lingering on her for a moment too long. Mel felt herself blush, butterflies softly flying about her stomach. Butterflies? "So, do we go straight to bed, or...?"

"I'm honestly not tired at all."

"Me neither. What do you want to do?"

"Up to you."

"You're the guest."

"It's your house."

"Hmm...Well, we could see what's on TV."

"Sounds good."

Mel followed Frank to the couch, plopping down beside him, smiling. The couch was small, so their shoulders were touching, and if she moved her legs an inch, their knees would be too.

They settled on watching a marathon of The Simpsons reruns, until Frank finally nodded off.

Melena glanced at him and smiled--he was so cute when he slept. His mouth was slightly ajar, snoring softly, and his head fell to the side. She could smell the scent of his hair, feel his soft breaths on her neck. He was so close.

The clock said quarter to three, meaning that it was probably time she get to sleep. But she didn't want to get up and go into his bed, all alone. So, softly, quietly, she scooted closer to him. He stirred in his sleep, sending her heart pounding. But she sighed, relieved, ecstatic, as he rested his head on her shoulder and ceased movement. She laid her head over his and closed her eyes, finally truly happy.