-Frank's Fate-
Ch. 8:  Unsure

I knew I was short on time but also knew I wanted to be presentable for Ivy so I rushed to take a quick shower.

With a bind for time I couldn't be too choosy about my outfit of choice for the evening...she'd have to settle for slacks and a nice button up instead of one of my nicer suites I had originally planned on wearing.

I grabbed some fresh boxer briefs, a pair of slacks and an undershirt and by the time I got that on I heard Ivy knocking.

I grabbed my towel and began drying my hair vigorously before answering the door. "Hey." I sounded and smiled.

"Hey yourself...I'm sorry, did I catch you at a bad time?" She asked, a small line of worry forming between her delicate brows.

"No" I tried to assure her, "No...Please, come in." I said with a smile as I moved to the side to let her into the lake house.

She walked in and I went on to explain what had happened.

"My sister and her friends came over earlier this afternoon...Apparently She had to talk to me."

"And it required an entourage?" Ivy asked with a smile.

"Moral support I guess...I don't know." I sighed.

"Sounds like it was an eventful morning then."

I nodded, "To say the least...truthfully they only just left."

"I..." she hesitated as if taking a moment to think things through or something before she decided to continue "I may be out of place in saying this...but you seem, out of it or unsettled by your earlier conversation with your sister?" She sounded spot on.

I sighed and nodded once more. "It was a weird conversation." I admitted before shaking my head, "but that's neither here nor there... let me just grab a top and we can take off."

She held her hands up to stop me and shook her head, "Maybe it would be better if we just stayed here again...you look like you need to talk about whatever happened this morning."

I shook my head now. "Honestly talking about that shit is the last thing I want to do."

"Humor me?" She sounded a little pleadingly. "Go get more comfortable and I'll order us a pizza."

Once again I sighed and nodded as I relented to staying in, I really wasn't in the right headspace to be taking a girl out tonight...but on the same note...I didn't know how I was going to even broach this conversation with anyone else.

I mean I had seen Pat with my own eyes.

There was no perceivable way he could have faked that shit!

But it didn't negate the fact that it was still so bizarre, and not something I felt comfortable talking about without coming off as an insane person.

I sighed heavily and grabbed a pair of joggers and left my undershirt on knowing Ivy seemed like the kind of girl who'd want answers and no matter how far fetched it may sound or how crazy I'd come off...I guess maybe talking about it, getting it out there and off my chest, may actually help with some of the confusion my sister and her friends had left me with.

And if worse comes to worse, I'd never have to see Ivy Boyd again after this week.

_____

"I Uh...I didn't really know what you'd like so I just got a cheese pizza." She sounded sweetly.

"That's fine." I said as I took a seat at the table opposite her...the same table my sister and her damn friends had told me all about Werewolves.

'Why didn't you tell us mom?' I wondered as I shook my head.

Ivy noticed, a look of worry crossed her face. "I can get something else if you don't want...-"

"No...this is fine, really...just got a lot on my mind tonight."

She nodded quietly, "Um...I know you probably don't want to...well Uh, want to talk about whatever's bothering you, but I'm here...and honestly opening up can help...from what I've heard."

I listened to her.

There was something about her that read as nervous.

It was a little odd because only just the night before she had seemed so sure of herself, confident and poised...but there was something about her tonight that seemed nervous or unsure.

I nodded as I looked at her.

"May as well right?" I tried to offer lightly to ease the mood a little, "I mean you're a complete stranger so no worries if I come off looking like a psycho."

She raised her eyebrows a little.

"Sorry...I'm not a psycho." I quickly amended, and sighed, "sorry...I'm a little nervous and the shit my sister and her friends told me fucked with my head space earlier, I'm just trying to wrap my head around all of it."

She nodded but didn't say anything.

"The truth is...honestly..." I sighed and shook my head again. "Honestly I don't even know what the truth is." I admitted.

"Just say what's on your mind" she suggested.

"I'm worried, I'm confused, I'm kinda pissed...I just want to talk to my mom and see what the hell is going on and I can't because she's no longer with us..."

"Frank...I'm so sorry." Ivy offered genuinely.

I shrugged, I always hated hearing "I'm sorry" when people find out my mom passed, like how am I suppose to respond to it? Do I say "it's okay" "it was her time" "she's in a better place"?

"She was sick...so I guess it was for the best." I muttered. "Look you seem like a decent woman and I'm not trying to bury all of my shit on you Ivy."

"You need to vent...let me be someone to listen to you...no judgments, I promise." She offered kindly.

"It's gonna sound...completely mental." I assured her as I shook my head.

She looked at me, her beautiful face looked so delicate, and even though she smiled I couldn't help but become sad.

Call me crazy, I know I don't know this girl personally.

But there was just something about her emerald colored eyes that seemed to speak to me...and maybe I was pushing it, but they seemed to be just as worried and unsure as I was feeling right now.

"You're going to think I'm crazy."

She shrugged delicately. "Trust me Hot Shot...We've all got our own share of crazy."