Eternal Night

(I) Chapter 15: Of Rants & Eavesdropping

The following evening found Frankie moving about her kitchen in the most agitated manner.

She hadn't spoken a word since earlier that morning, but Carmen could only guess what had caused her friend to go suddenly mute and it made her smirk as she quietly nursed her mug of blood, the hemo spiked with a shot of espresso. Vesper, on the other hand, had no idea what had caused her favorite person in the world to be so upset, and as the state of quiet made her antsy, she had chosen to listen to music instead, her headphones in as she munched away at another delicious breakfast.

It was when Frankie tossed a dirty pan into the sink that Carmen finally decided to speak up.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, thank you," the woman quickly snapped, tossing a few more dishes in before turning on the water, waiting for the sink to fill.

Carmen rose carefully from her chair before making her way into the kitchen.

"It might help."

"No, it won't," Frankie insisted. "That man has stolen enough of my energy. Talking about it will only validate the existence of the problem."

"True, but denial has never suited you," Carmen pointed out casually, and she took a seat on top of the counter next to the sink, legs crossed as she continued to sip at her beverage. "You might as well get some of that pent up frustration out now."

"But talking about it is not the way I'd really like to get it out," Frankie groaned quietly, turning off the water.

"Says the woman who swore off men only a few weeks ago."

"That's not what I was referring to."

"If you say so," Carmen said with a smile.

"This isn't funny!"

"I'm not laughing."

After about fifteen seconds of silence, Frankie finally relented.

"It's just... the man is so infuriating!" she exclaimed, running her trembling fingers through her hair before giving the roots a light tug. "I got absolutely no rest because of him."

"What, did he sneak back into the flat after I fell asleep?"

"No, of course not... it wasn't that kind of... stop smiling!"

"What I don't understand is why you're letting him get to you in the first place. Can't you just... you know, shake him off?" and the Spaniard did a little shimmy in the hopes that her silliness would at least help lighten the mood.

All it did was have Frankie washing the dishes with more vigor.

"It's hard to shake off something that's already under your skin," she admitted with sudden deliberation.

"What, already? Damn, that was..."

"Quick? Yes, I know. I'm still reeling." Frankie tossed the sponge down for a second and looked up at her friend. "I mean, honestly, how on earth is Rémy even friends with someone like that?"

"You mean why is he friends with a highly-connected, intelligent, charming, wealthy, well-educated man with similar interests, who also just happens to be attractive? Geez, Frank, I have no idea!"

"I don't need your sarcasm right now."

"Fair, but you do need to let this go. Your brother isn't going break off the friendship any time soon. If anything, I think your rows with Leinhart only make him respect the man more."

"I wish he would break it off. If I didn't have to see him every night, it'd be easier."

"Well, technically you don't see him every night, and when you do see him, you're barely in each other's company for more than a few minutes at a time. You two seemed to get along okay when you tracked down Bartos. Maybe what you need is to be around him more often, but without other people present?" Carmen offered with teasing smile and lewd wink. "Maybe try arguing naked... see if that helps?" She innocently took another sip from her mug.