Chapter Two

The bright morning light seeped into Ally's room and she smiled widely, welcoming its warmth with a little spark of joy.

Today was the first day of her and Frank's junior year of high school and she couldn't be happier. They were no longer fourth graders and she still couldn't believe they stayed best friends after all these years. 

The day Frank had saved her from Carson and Johnny wasn't the last day he had saved her or helped her or stood up for her. Of course now she could fight her own battles but it still made her smile to think of how far she and Frank had come and how at first it was saving her from kids who were mean, then as she got older from boys who all of a sudden wanted to go out with her because they thought she was cute, and sometimes he'd even stay by her side and support her while most of the other girls in her class glared at her or called her names.

Sometimes the girls were even worse than the boys. But either way she had Frankie to help her get through each brutal year and each annoying grade until they finally made it to this one and she couldn't wait for it to start.

Allyson rolled out of bed and went into her bathroom to take a shower. She already had her clothes picked out for today and had set her alarm early so she wouldn't be rushing and could eat breakfast and still have time to wake Frank up so he could get ready too.

Ally couldn't help but smile as she thought of Frank, who was most likely still sound asleep in her guest bedroom. Sure, he slept over all the time but the weird part she was still getting used to the fact that her parents were fine with it. Heck, her dad loved the kid and said so every time she and her dad had a discussion about him. She figured it was because Frank took care of her when her dad wasn't able to and also because he trusted him.

Her mom was a different story, though. She loved Frankie and was glad he was Ally's friend but she worried way too much that her daughter didn't have any other friends, specifically ones that were girls. She didn't find it natural for a guy and a girl to be friends all their lives and exclude themselves from ever making any other friends. What her mom didn't know though was that Frank and Ally were fine on their own; they chose to accept it that way long ago. Since they were kids guys didn't really like Frank and girls didn't really like Ally.

One of the main reasons Ally stayed clear of the girls in her grade was because of middle school. In middle school most of the girls would give her dirty looks and whisper stuff about her. Ally couldn't help but be curious as to why they were talking about her.

It was because of Frank. They were jealous.

According to mean girl Malory and all her little followers, Frank was a "hottie" and way out of her league. Of course Ally couldn't tell if they were right or not, she never looked at Frank that way. Sure, he was cute, but he was Frankie, her best friend. 

Then when they both entered high school as freshmen and then sophomores Ally noticed that Frank got into way more fights than usual, even with guys that were older than he was. Yet he still managed to do more damage because he had grown out of whatever scrawniness he carried with him as a kid. Now he was tall and a bit muscly and his hair had grown out and swept a bit over his eyes. He was a total bad boy now but only Ally ever saw what was underneath, she was the only one he let himself get close to.

She remembered asking Frank why he always got into fights but he wouldn't tell her. She'd then become frustrated and try to get info from the guys he had beaten up. 

It didn't take her long to figure it out when she started noticing the way the other guys would look at her. And her guess was that, knowing how teenage guys could act, they had said something about her to each other and Frank overheard. Always defending her and sticking up for her.

Guys carried with them a sense of security. They exuded strength and protectiveness and Frankie was definitely strong and protective, especially when it came to Ally.

In return Ally was the only one who made Frank laugh and smile and be himself. She was nice to him, kind, and understood him more than most two people ever get to know each other. And she wouldn't trade their bond or Frankie for anything or anyone else in the world.

After her shower, Ally got dressed in the clothes she had laid out on her bed and then did her hair and makeup before opening her door and wandering down the hall to the guest room.

As Ally walked on the wooden floor she couldn't help but smile as her cozy socks made her feet feel warmer and softer against the cold surface.

She stopped at the door and gently turned the knob, trying her best to be quiet so she wouldn't wake Frank up if he was still sleeping.

Of course he was sprawled on top of the covers with his hair covering a majority of his face while he rested atop one of the big pillows. 

Ally smiled and closed the door behind her as she stepped into the room and couldn't help but smile at Frank's expression. Aside from looking serene his mouth was agape and he had a spot of drool coming from his mouth and seeping onto the pillow. For some reason this didn't bother or gross her out, it never had.

Ally took a deep breath and prepared herself for the impact of Frank's loud wakeup call.

With a bit of a running start Ally hopped on top of Frank's back and screamed, "Wake up, sleepy head! The day must begin!"

Predictably, Frank groaned and attempted to throw one of the big pillows at her, which she dodged with ease since she was expecting it. This was their usual routine for wake up calls.

Failing with his first throw Frank attempted to throw another pillow which Ally caught and then put over his head before lying down beside him.

"Time to get up, Frankie," she stated as she removed the pillow and ruffled his hair so she could at least make out some of his face.

Frank made another groan, this one lighter, before wrapping his arm around her and holding her immobile next to him. 

"Five more minutes," he grumbled and Ally sighed as she uncovered his cheek. For a moment she almost caught herself thinking how hot he looked. 

Wait! Hot? Frankie?

Even if she could mask her thoughts, Ally couldn't help her reaction as she moved closer to Frank and ran one of her hands gently through his hair. At first she tried to sort it away from his face and when it resisted she gave up and just smoothed it back, running her fingers through it absently.

"That feels good," he murmured before turning one of his stunning hazel eyes at her and giving her a warm smile. "You're going to put me back to sleep."

Ally moved her hand back to her side and gazed at Frankie with a smile of her own.

"I really like your eyes," she mumbled as Frank turned his head fully to look at her.

"Mine are boring compared to yours," he stated as he moved a strand of hair from her eyes. "Blue and green are a perfect combo."

"So are green and brown; I love your hazel eyes." 

Frank smiled widely. "You do?"

Ally bit her lip and nodded, wondering why her stomach was getting butterflies as Frank gazed warmly at her. It's not like he's never given her that look before. But still, something about this time tugged at her heart. It felt so different from before. Not like all the other times. Something in the air between them was different now. 

Before Ally could even process or analyze what was different about this moment, Frank leaned over to rest his forehead against hers. 

"I'm glad you do," he murmured, his voice a mere whisper she felt all throughout her body. She couldn't describe what it was she was feeling, but she knew they had to get to school.

"You should get ready," Ally said as she shot up out of her lying down position and hopped off the bed and onto the floor before heading to the door. 

As she was reaching for the door handle she stopped herself momentarily and forced herself to turn back to Frank.

"My mom's making us breakfast. When you're done getting ready I'll meet you in the kitchen."

"Okay," Frank responded. 

His reply was simple, easy, but Ally couldn't help but feel like it was more withdrawn than it usually was. She shook off the feeling and left the guest bedroom to head into the kitchen. 

The first person Ally was greeted by when she entered the kitchen was her dad as he leaned against the counter.

"Morning, sweetie," he said with a cheerful smile. "Where's Frankie boy this morning?"

"I'm assuming he's getting ready," Ally replied simply. "I just woke him up."

"I don't know what that boy would do if he didn't have you as his personal alarm clock," Ally's mom, Angela, stated as she entered the kitchen and strode to the stove to check on the eggs and bacon she left cooking.

"Angie, he's a boy. A teenage one at that. He likes sleeping in. It can't hurt him unless it makes him late for school." Ally's dad met Ally's gaze and she smiled, knowing how fond he was of Frank. "He isn't late is he?"

"No," Ally said. "He's never late because I make him get up, whether he's here or not." 

"You two are awful close," Ally's mom stated a bit worriedly. "If you can't get him up I don't know who can."

Ally laughed lightly and her dad joined her.

"I think they're perfect together when it comes to building each other's strengths and weaknesses. Ally's an early bird, Frank isn't. Ally gets good grades and if Frank struggles she helps him. Frank is strong and tall and Ally is small and can throw a punch if need be but I'm glad Frank's there to watch out for her. They even out for the stuff they don't share in common," Ally's dad stated.

"I know that, Richard, but sometimes it worries me," Ally's mom said just as Ally looked away and glanced down the hallway in the direction she just came from.

Ally tried not to smile as her parents went on and on about her and Frank. Of course her dad was able to get her mom to see reason when it came to them being friends, especially because there was nothing going on between them aside from friendship.

Still, she couldn't help remembering when Frank had first met her parents and how she had told them she was bringing him over for the first time.

"Oh, um, and can I bring a friend over?" little Ally asked timidly, not sure how her parents would react to the news.

They were all sitting at the dining room table and she was getting ready to head to school while her parents went to work.

"A-A friend?" her mother asked in shock, almost like she didn't believe her.

"You made a friend?" her dad asked cheerfully. 

Ally nodded. 

"Who?"

"Frank. He's a boy in my class and he's really nice," Ally rambled quickly.

"A boy?" her mother asked in the same tone as before, only now it sounded worried.

Luckily her dad was more encouraging and supportive.

"That's great, sweetie," he replied happily. "Bring him by after school. I'd love to meet him." 

"Okay. Thanks." Ally smiled widely and left for the bus. 

She always had been daddy's little girl.

...

"Come on, Frankie, they won't bite," Ally urged as she practically dragged Frankie up the walk to her house. "They just want to meet you."

Ally told Frank how important this was to her and with lots of pleading and fake tears he finally agreed to come with her to meet her parents. But now he was scared and hesitant.

When they made it to the door Ally ran inside with Frank by her side and called for her parents. They were in the living room and each looked up from what they were doing to gaze at Frank and Ally.

From beside her Ally could hear Frank swallowing loudly as he gazed at her parents for the first time.

"H-Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Averson," Frank greeted them politely. 

"Mom, dad, this is Frankie," Ally responded happily. "He's my best friend."

Ally's dad got up from what he was doing and walked over to where Frank was standing to offer him his hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Frankie. My daughter seems to like you a lot." 

Frank shook Richard's hand and smiled over at Ally, clearly relaxing and loosening up once he saw how nice her dad was.

"It's nice to meet you, too. Ally talks about you a lot."

"I'm sure she does."

Ally smiled widely and knew that everything was going to be just fine, her dad liked Frankie and Frankie seemed to like her dad too.

"Ally, what's your first class?" Frank asked curiously, appearing from the long hallway she had just been staring at until Frank snapped her out of her train of thought.

Ally shook herself mentally before turning to meet Frank's gaze as he strolled into the dining room and took a seat. She joined him and tried to sort through her thoughts before answering him.

But even as she gazed over at him and met his gaze she couldn't help but notice that his hair was still dripping wet and he was staring at her with an expression mixed with amusement and a smirk combined. 

"Your hair's still wet," Ally stated gently. 

Frank looked up at his hair that settled over his forehead and replied, "So it is."

Ally shook her head at him and tried to focus.

"I have Econ with you," she said as she met his gaze. "And English with you last."

At Ally's response Frank's smile grew ten shades of adorable and Ally looked away.

"Kids, your breakfast is done and I put toast in the toaster that should be popping up soon," Ally's mom said as she removed her apron to reveal a business suit. "I have to get to work now. Hope you two have a good day!"

Ally smiled as her mom gave her and her dad a kiss goodbye and hurried out the front door.

"Guess that means I should get going too," Ally's dad retorted as he set down this morning's newspaper and finished his coffee from the kitchen counter he was still leaning against. 

"Have a good day, dad," Ally replied with a wide smile. "Love you."

Richard smiled and said, "Love you, too, kiddo. Have a great day." He then turned to Frank and added, "Take care of her for me."

"Always," Frank responded. "Bye, Mr. Averson."

"Bye, kids. Be good," he said lastly as he hurried out the front door. 

Ally sighed and stood to get plates to serve the food with for her and Frankie while Frank got the glasses and poured orange juice for both of them. Since the table already had a set of silverware for each of them, Ally sat back down and handed Frank his plate and set hers down just as the toast popped up.

Frank laughed as Ally rolled her eyes, clearly forgetting the toast was in the toaster, and wandered back into the kitchen to get it before rejoining Frank at the dining room table.

Frank was still smiling when she took a seat next to him.

"What?" she asked a tad bit annoyed as she met his gaze. 

"Nothing," he laughed. "I've just never seen you this frazzled in the morning." 

"I'm not frazzled," Ally muttered before she began taking bites of her breakfast. 

From the corner of her eyes she could see Frank watching her but chose to ignore it.

"My mistake," he murmured and began eating his food with her. 

For a few moments they ate in complete silence. But soon Ally finished and found herself gazing at Frank as he put more ketchup and hot sauce on his eggs. 

He looked so concentrated on not pouring too much that she smiled at his expression. Then she glanced up at his hair that had moved to cover his right eye and was still a little wet.

If Ally was being honest with herself she thought Frank looked good, cute. 

No! He can't look cute! He's my best friend! Ah! I'm losing it!

"What?" Frank asked curiously, noticing her gaze on him.

Crap!

Ally shook herself. "Uh, nothing," Ally replied as she got up and put her dishes in the sink before returning to the table.

"I saw you staring at me," Frank stated. "And it looked like you were enjoying yourself too." 

Ally rolled her eyes and stood back up from the table.

"You're delusional, Frankie," Ally retorted as she headed toward her room and collapsed onto her bed.

When she checked to see if Frank hadn't followed her she sighed and grabbed her big, fluffy pillow and held it close to her.

She wasn't sure why Frank was all of a sudden affecting her but she refused to think she liked him. She couldn't. She could not see him like that or be with him. Right?

Feeling frustrated Ally clenched her pillow and brought it to her face as she screamed into it.

"Didn't know you liked me that much."

Ally jumped out of her skin and shot her head up to glare at the owner of the voice. 

"Don't scare me like that, Frankie!" she yelled as she stood up from her bed. "And what are you- wait! What?! I don't like you!" she insisted. 

Frank gave her a shy smile and walked into her room hesitantly until he was standing right in front of her. 

"There's no need to freak out, Ally. I-I like you too," Frank admitted shyly.

What?! He wasn't being serious, was he? No, he couldn't be. He's always been like-like my brother. And brothers can't possibly like their sisters. Of course he's messing with me! Just to see how I'll react.

Ally smiled and shook her head at Frank. "Good one. Come on, let's go to school," she said as she grabbed her backpack from off the floor and rushed to her door.

"I'm serious," Frank stated in a tone Ally wasn't able to decipher. For all she knew he could just be saying he was when he wasn't.

"Yeah, and I'm serious too! Let's go!" Ally grabbed Frankie's hand and pulled him along with her. 

"Ally!" Frank groaned. 

"Come on, Frank, it's time to learn about Economics."

He whined and said, "You like torturing me, don't you?" 

"I love it," Ally replied cheerfully. "Now, let's go!" 

Ally and Frank piled into Ally's car and buckled up before heading to Christensen High School which was about five miles down the street. 

Ally turned the radio up not only because she and Frank loved KROQ, but also because she didn't want the topic of Frank's "serious" confession to come up. For one, she couldn't tell if he was really serious or not. And two, she wasn't sure she could handle it if he was. Thinking he was cute was one thing but confessing feelings for him was something else entirely and Ally didn't want to have to go there and cross the line that separated her and Frank from friends to more than friends. Because if she crossed it, she was sure that if something went wrong, she wouldn't be able to handle re-crossing it.

Frank was quiet the whole way and only glanced out the window and sighed every so often. But the silence wasn't uncomfortable, not when their favorite song Smells Like Teen Spirit played and both of them sang along to it and smiled widely at each other.

"Amen to Nirvana," Ally said as she pulled into the school's parking lot and unbuckled her seatbelt.

Frank unbuckled his and Ally turned to him and smiled radiantly, excited to finally be an upper classman.

"So are you finally ready for an über fun day?" she asked Frankie cheerfully.

His eyebrows pulled together and he sat up in his seat as he repeated the word, "Über?" like it was some sort of disease. 

"What?" Ally asked, a little offended by his tone. "You've never heard anyone use that word before?"

"I don't even think it qualifies as a word, Ally." 

Ally rolled her eyes at him and grabbed her backpack before getting out of the car.

Frank followed her and started laughing.

"Shut up, Frank." She crossed her arms at him. When he didn't she added, "I'm going to kick the über hystericalness right out of you if you don't shut up."

"Ally, seriously, that isn't a word. It's a fast growing company."

"It was just a word before it was a company."

"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" Frank quieted his laughs as he dramatically felt her forehead. "On my gosh!" he exclaimed.

"What?" she asked, even more annoyed than usual.

"She's alive!" he announced to those who were filing into the school from the front entrance. 

Some gave them weird looks and others just ignored them. What else was new?

"Frank, seriously? Grow up." 

Ally turned away from him and walked confidently into the school and tried to find her locker. When Frank caught up with her he reached out for her wrist to stop and slow her down.

"Hey, I was just messing with you. I'm sorry. I thought you'd laugh." 

Ally gazed into Frank's eyes and saw that he really did look upset for hurting her. And she could never stay mad at him.

She sighed and said, "It's okay. You were just being you." 

Frank's smile returned and he asked, "And what's me?" 

Ally smiled and ruffled his hair. "You are an obnoxiously annoying young man who never knows when to be serious."

"I can be serious," Frank retorted defensively. Like earlier.

Ally was about to respond again when a sharp pain went shooting through her head. Of course she wasn't paying attention to where she was going and so she walked right into the door of an open locker. 

"Ow," she said, lightly rubbing her forehead as she stepped back a bit.

Ally was trying to determine whose fault it had been that a locker had swung open and hit her. The only way it could happen would either be if the person who had that locker was really evil or because she wasn't paying attention to where she was going.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" 

Ally squinted her eyes to gaze at a big, tall guy who appeared on the other side of the locker door that had hit her. 

"No sweat," she muttered as she continued rubbing her forehead. 

"You want to watch where you swing that thing?" Frank asked hostilely, getting protective of Ally. It's what he was good at. 

"I'm really sorry," the guy repeated. "I'm just running über late for class. Not only that but I have practice to get to."

As Ally gazed more intently at him she realized she was staring at Aidan Riley, captain of the baseball team and remembered him also being on the football team but couldn't remember what position he played. She just knew he played offense.

"Über?" Ally heard Frank mumble under his breath; as if he couldn't believe someone else besides her used that word.

"Okay, cool," Ally managed simply as she removed her hand from her head to gaze at the big, tall and friendly looking Aidan. "I'm Ally, by the way."

"I'm Aidan. Nice to meet you, and sorry again." 

She nodded as she looked into his eyes. 

He didn't seem like the usual jock. And he appeared to be nice. All the other jocks usually ignored Ally and Frank but Aidan didn't seem to mind either way. She knew he was Vice President of the school and also really popular but she figured it was because he was good at sports. She had never talked to him before, but now that she had she felt that maybe he wasn't the average jock. He was still smiling at her and talking to her like an actual human being after all.

"What grade are you in?" Aidan asked curiously as he continued gazing at Ally.

"Uh, I'm a junior." Ally glanced over at Frankie who was glaring at Aidan but Aidan didn't seem to be paying attention to him. "We both are." 

He nodded and gave her a warm smile, "Senior." Aidan then lifted up his right hand and glanced at the watch on his wrist before he turned back to smile at Ally. "One who has to get to class." 

Ally shook her head quickly. "Oh, yeah, um, bye." 

"Bye, Ally, nice meeting you."

As he started walking away Ally remembered something.

"Wait!" she said and waited for him to turn around, which he did. "Is locker 254 near here? Or did they end up building more like they said they were going to do and move them there?"

Ally had been going here since freshman year but for some reason they decided to add more lockers and confuse some of the numbers to be pushed back into other buildings.

At her question Aidan smiled widely, showing off a brilliant, heart stopping smile and drawing dimples that complemented his nice brown eyes before pointing directly behind her.

"It's the locker right next to mine," he responded simply. 

Ally found herself blushing and said, "Thanks." 

"Anytime, cutie," he replied before walking down the hall and disappearing around the corner. 

As he walked away Ally couldn't help but smile at his words. 

He thinks I'm cute! And he's-he's...gorgeous.

"I'll kill him if he lays one finger on you," Frank muttered darkly as he stood protectively next to Ally's side as she hurried to her locker and began dumping her books in, keeping only a notebook and pen in her backpack for notes.

She slammed her locker shut and rolled her eyes at Frank.

"You'll do no such thing, Frankie," Ally said sternly. "I like him." At that she turned away and began walking hastily down the hallway to their first period class. 

And she did. He was the first guy in a while not to have been a jerk to her and Frankie. Not only that but a senior and what she definitely would consider a "hottie". 

Maybe nothing would ever happen with Aidan but Ally didn't mind if something did.