Fever Dream || Frank Iero

.17.

MELISSA

After my conversation with Frank, I went off to find Jessica. The look on her face when I had approached her was one I will never forget- it was like all of the color in her eyes came back to life. Despite immediate tears in her eyes, her smile was wider than I have ever seen as she took my hand and followed me into our bus.

The conversation was difficult, but in the end worth it. We talked for hours, leaving no details behind. Jessica was undyingly apologetic. My ex had approached her one night while she was drunk, and told her that I had broken up with him, which she believed. If he wasn't acting so strange toward the end of our relationship, maybe I would have questioned Jessica when she told me how much he pressured her. She told me that when she found out the next day that he lied, she didn't know how to tell me.

Though a lot of trust had been broken between her and I, I believed every word she said. I told her that it would take some time to get back to the way things were, and she understood. All she wanted was to talk to me again. The amount of pride I swallowed to accept her apology was unheard of, but so much weight was lifted off my shoulders when I did. I was so thankful when I realized that our relationship could be salvaged, as hurt as I still was.

"God, I feel so much better," Jessica sighed. "I missed you, Mel."

"Jessica, it's only been a week," I laughed, leaning back into the single bunk we were both shoved into.

"I know, but I did. Did I miss anything? I saw that boy you were talking to earlier..."

"Oh my god you stalker," I laughed, hugging a pillow to my chest. "I mean he is kind of cute."

Jessica screeched like a teenage girl and sat up in excitement, waving her hands around.

"You like him! Oh my god, what's he like? What's his name? I've never seen you with a blonde before..."

"Okay, okay, calm down," I giggled, feeling happy from the normality. "His name is Sam. It's not a big deal, we're just hanging out every once in a while. Keep it hush hush for now."

Jessica smiled, trying to hide her excitement, even though she was terrible at it.

"Is he friends with Frank, too?" She asked. "I saw him sit down with you guys earlier."

"Oh!" I jumped up, suddenly realizing I finally had someone to talk with about the secret I had been keeping. Hopping off of the bunk, I began digging into the duffel back hidden underneath it, grabbing a book. I opened it up to reveal the note I found in Frank's flannel pocket and hopped back into the bunk.

"Listen, the morning after everything happened I woke up wearing Frank's flannel," I said. Jessica's eyebrow raised in question, but she waited silently. "This fell out of his pocket, and I kept it. I know I probably shouldn't have, but..."

I trailed off as I handed Jessica the note, waiting for her response. She stared at it for a moment, a confused expression spread across her face.

"Um... what?" she said, looking up at me again, dumbfounded.

"Yeah. I know."

"Mel, I think this is some sort of bet."

I took the paper from her to look at it myself, and looked back up at her again.

"That's what I was thinking, but I don't know for what. Pete hasn't mentioned any of this to you?"

"No, he hasn't," Jessica said, biting her lip. "You don't think..."

"Don't even go there, they can't be that gross."

Jessica looked at me, raising her eyebrows at me.

"Fuck, could they?"

"I don't know, Melissa. Frank has been known to be kind of a player..."

I sat for a second and tried to digest the idea of someone betting on whether or not i'd have sex with them. It was gross, obviously. I wondered if that's why it felt like so many games were being played with me. Even for Frank, that seemed so low. I didn't want to believe it, but at the same time- If it were true, I had leverage now.

Jessica locked eyes with me, and I knew we were thinking the same thing. She smiled in a devilish way, and I couldn't help but smile back. I missed our juvenile antics, and I could them creeping on again.

"If this is what I think it is... and now that we know..." I began.

"And they don't know that we know..."

I couldn't help but laugh, the feeling of a sick thrill radiating through my body. I couldn't even be mad in that moment- the opportunity to fuck with them was too good to pass up. The strange feelings I had when Frank did or said something charming all made sense now. I was right in knowing he was just playing games.

"Want to have some fun?" I smirked.

"Oh you know it, sugar."