The Boy Who Lives Downstairs: Frank Iero

Chapter two: I Promise

She likes the boy who lives downstairs



She had lived there two weeks now. He had lost interest in her. She had a slow but steady growing interest in him. Irony is never easy on the heart.

Katie stepped back and admired her handy work, she had just finished painting the final room of her new home. The kitchen was done, and now the apartment was finished as far as painting goes. She rinsed out her brushes in the sink and stripped off her top, eager to take a shower and rid her body of the filth that was paint and sweat.

Stepping lightly into the bathroom she hummed softly to herself. As she sat on the side of the tub, testing the temperature of the water thoughts began to weave through her head. Dismissing her silly and idle whimsies she turned on the shower and stepped in after removing the other clothing articles she had on. Showers were always relaxing, so she took her time. When at last the final remnants of paint were nowhere to be found she turned off the water and put on her bathrobe.

Toweling her hair off she walked over to one of her two windows that looked onto the outside world. Looking down at the streets, the people, wondering about their lives until she spotted one that interested her far more than others.

"Frank," she said quietly to herself.

She ran into her room and grabbed her blow-dryer. She needed something to do, and drying her hair seemed logical. With her brush she carefully dried her hair and flipped out the ends this way and that. To her dismay it took only around five minutes. She needed something else to keep her mind occupied, preferably on something other than the boy who lived downstairs.

"Get dressed," she said to herself, "duh."

She turned on a B-52's CD on her way to the closet. Flipping through clothes while Planet Claire played in the background. Wonderfully interesting scene I must be. Finding a pair of black capris and a stretchy red tank top to be a good choice she changed into them. The song was annoying her at this point so she skipped ahead several until she came upon Love Shack. Good enough. She grabbed a black patch covered messenger bag and threw in several items: sketch pad, eraser, pencil sharpener, case of different drawing pencils and her favorite pen. Slipping on her black and white vans she headed for the door, stopping only to grab her wallet and keys from the small end table near the front door.

She descended the stairs slowly, so as not to fall. She had a not so good equilibrium and preferred not to test it any further than what it already was. She came into view of Frank's door. Frank. Should I knock?

From inside apartment 13, Frank was staring at his door. Willing it to sound and let him know someone thought of him, someone other than the manager who only really cared if he paid his rent. He sighed deeply, no one was thinking of him least of all her. His girlfriend had just broken up with him. Told him that he seemed distracted, that their relationship wasn’t going anywhere other than down, that she needed something more than what he was giving her. Well, to hell with her. As if he really needed her, or wanted her in fact. That’s right, take that Jenna.

She paused briefly, but decided against it. What would I tell him anyways? 'Hi Frank, I'm lonely and I was wondering if you wanted to do something like now.' No, she'd just look like a fool. Maybe later.

Sitting on the couch all day collecting mold wasn’t his idea of fun. Frank was feeling restless. But what to do? He'd get a coffee. He'd go in his kitchen and make some coffee or just go down the block? Which to choose...



"I'd like a large white mocha please," Katie said to the man behind the counter.

"Four dollars please," he said sticking out his hand. She handed him a five. As he was getting her change he decided to hit on her, "You don’t sound like you’re from Jersey."

"I'm not," She said politely.

"New here?"

"I just moved two weeks ago." Frank walked in. Not that anyone noticed, no one ever notices.

"Where from?"

She let out a sigh, "California. Northern, a town called Chico."

"Ah so got many friends?" he asked giving her his attempt at a sexy smile, it only looked goofy.

"Not really," she said honestly. He handed her the change of one dollar. "Thanks."

"Hey, I get off in a hour. If you want we could maybe go-"

Seeing where this was going Katie was quick to cut in. Frank also noticed where it was going, this guy was hitting on Katie. "I really couldn’t. Thanks and all, but I'd just like my coffee," she said as politely as possible.

"Look I was only being nice, no reason to get all stand-offish with me missy," the man said rudely.

"I wasn’t trying to be rude or anything sir. I just want my coffee," she said as she raised a hand to her forehead, slowly rubbing her temples with her thumb and middle finger while looking at the ground.

"Well you-"

"Look, she was being polite. This is a business, get her the coffee. She gave you money, you give her the drink. Simple concept, if you don’t get it though I'm sure your manager can explain it to you after I've had a word with him," Frank spoke up. Katie spun around, shocked at first then smiling brightly. He stood up for her.

"This is between me and her mister," the cashier said to Frank.

"Yeah well, I'm sure your boss will understand," Frank said as he started for the back. He didn’t have to take more than two steps before Katie got her drink. "Thank you," Frank said with a tone of finality, placing his arm around Katie's shoulders and exiting with her.

She laughed loudly once they were out of earshot. Smiling she looked up at the clouds and took a sip of her coffee.

"What was that about?"

"Today is strange."

"How so?" Frank asked, interested.

"Well, I almost invited you to come with me and then you showed up at the coffee place."

"Why didn’t you?" Frank asked. Katie looked with sudden interest at her shoes.

"I don’t know, I just didn’t want to annoy you or anything," she said quietly.

"It wouldn't have annoyed me," Frank said honestly. Katie looked up quickly when he said this, smiling.

"Okay, goodie. Anywho, like I was saying, then you showed up. And you stood up for me. Nobody does that, at least not for me. You don’t even know me. So I guess what I'm getting at is, thanks. That meant a lot and was a pleasant surprise."

"Your welcome," Frank said smiling at her. She smiled back. He felt, weird and why he quickly looked away.

"I'd like to get to know you better," Katie said out of the blue.




Author's Note: Rate and message. Thanks!