||Drowning Lessons|| Frankie Iero |Info|

"Alisha? Where have you been young lady? First you leave without telling me where you're going, then burst in here and take the car." My mother started on me as soon as the door opened. I felt tears well up again, and ran to my room. I flipped the privacy sign I made myself and locked the door. I laid on my bed and let the tears silently fall, holding my pillow close. My shoulders heaved, and the lump in my throat rose, and I jumped off the bed and made it to the toilet just before the little food I had came back up.

"Alisha Marie Hart you open this door now and tell me what’s wrong," My mothers voice demanded. Just three more days, I reminded myself. I brushed my teeth, washing the vomit taste from my mouth and laid back down, where I almost immediately fell into a deep sleep.

"Alisha, I don't know if you can hear me or if your even awake, but Orianna and Nikki are here to talk to you," Mari's voice announced softly as I stirred. I dragged my body to the door and opened it a crack. Nikki hugged me tightly.

"Orianna told me. I'm so sorry, we shouldn't have said all that." she blurted out in my ear. I just felt more tears well up.

"She was very persuasive to get it from me, honestly," Orianna covered, also giving me a hug. I just silently retreated to my bed.

"What's happened to me?" I asked no one in particular. They sat on my bed, taking my hands. "Before Frankie, anyone that even came close to try and kiss me would get a severe beating. Now look at me. I'm crying more than some cheerleaders, I got knocked up and had an abortion, and openly show feelings." I ranted. Nikki squeezed my hand. "I gotta stop it. I can't move in with Frankie. I can't see him." I said to the blanket on my bed.

"You two are going to move in together?" Orianna nearly shouted.

"We have an apartment we are going to move into on my birthday. His mom is paying for it right now until we can take care of it ourselves. But I can't do it," I explained. Orianna took my face in her hands.

"Alisha, listen to me. Frankie is a deity to me. When I was here, you were free loving and would express feelings whenever you felt like it. I leave, and you became this walking heartless zombie. He's brought it back out. He's made you love, and its amazing seeing you with him. You two are so happy together. Don't fuck it up and run." she lectured, and it snapped me into being alert.

"Orianna, I'm scared i'll get hurt. I haven't known him all that much. I mean it was what, three days before we started dating?" I confided. Nikki hugged me.

"You two were meant to be. I can tell. You're so perfect. An abortion will mess up any relationship, but you know what? He's still with you. He was with you the whole time. He doesn't want to be without you now that he loves you. So if you decide to back out of this relationship, just to warn you, he might go into major depression, maybe suicide. Just to warn you. He told me himself, 'I don't know what I'd do without her.'" Nikki joined. I just stared at them.

I don't feel good. What time is it?" I asked, rubbing my stomach.

"Its 2pm."

"Wait, I went to see you in the hospital at 4, it can't be."

"Hun, you've been in like, a coma. Tomorrow is your birthday, so it's been 2 days." Orianna filled me in. I eyes went wide with shock.

"If tomorrow’s my birthday, then I have two days to finish Frank's present for christmas!" I shouted, standing up and throwing on some clothes. I spritzed some body mist on for extra protection, and started to run down the stairs.

"Orianna, Nikki, help me, please?" I asked, grabbing a scarf. They were already passed me and in the car.

"So, what are you doing for him?" Orianna asked while I sat around a table at a small corner cafe.

"Well, I got him this guitar case he was eyeing all day when I went shopping the other day, and some patches I put on it. But I want to do something really personal for him. Since we are going to be living together, maybe something, you know, fun," I said, and Nikki smiled.

"I know what he's doing for you. So I can help you do him." she offered. My jaw dropped.

"What is he doing?" I asked, but she motioned a zipper across her lips.

"Can't say, secret. but you'll love him. Ok, so he A: loves silver; B:boxers; C:-"

"Rings. He loves silver rings. I know," I interjected.

"Yes. And for something fun, A: handcuffs, B: silk scarves, and the other two he's got covered," she said, standing up and tossing her portion of the check on the table. Orianna and I covered our parts and walked out. Nikki steered us into a silver store and sat on a bench outside. Orianna and I found a nice sterling silver ring, and had a quote from Romeo and Juliet inscribed on the inside of the band. Walking out of the store, Orianna took off running across the street. I was completely lost until I saw who it was; Gerard.

"Hey Alisha, Nikki, what are you guys up to?" He asked, an arm still around Orianna.

"Shopping. What are you up to, wondering the town at random?" I asked.

"Shopping. Hey, have either of you seen Frank? I know he's a bit upset since you took off from the hospital, and that he tried to call you like, four hundred times Alisha," he paused, hearing the door behind him jingle and saw Ray and Mikey walk out of a nearby store.

"Uh, shit, gotta run," he said quickly, and the three boys took off. Nikki and I looked at each other. I shrugged.

"Well, whatever that was about. I think I'm ready to go home now." They nodded in agreement, and walked back down the street.

Nikki was the first to peel off to her house, with a quick goodbye. Orianna was next, giving me a hug and walking up her driveway. I finally got home, and went to work wrapping and hiding the new present with the others. I jumped in the shower, and missed the phone ringing. A loud beep echoed through the house, and the message began recording.

"Hey Alisha, its Dr. Jeski. I have a Mr. Iero here, and he's not looking too good. He's been asking for you, so if you can, come down here. bye." I stepped out of the shower just as the machine clicked, and I got dressed. Wrapping my hair up, I played the message. It took me a moment to realize what he was saying, and for the second time within a week I was driving down to the hospital before the message finished playing a second time around.