Falice 2

Frank

Frank sunk his plate into the sink just as Alice started to clean up the dining table. Alice had invited him over for dinner and he had gladly accepted the offer. The past few weeks had been interesting to say at the very least. He had been ecstatic about her agreeing to explore things between them. So far, they had been hitting it off well enough to consider a potential, serious committed relationship. At least that's what Frank hoped.

"Alice, can I ask you something?"

Alice looked over at him as if to signal him to speak his mind. He leaned against the counter at her side. He was nervous to ask what he was about to, but he wanted an honest answer. "What do you see for us?"

Alice stopped what she was doing and turned the faucet off. She dried her hands with a kitchen rag and turned her body to face him. She didn't say anything. She was still processing the question.

He carefully expanded on his question. "If he were to come back, would that change your answer?"

Frank was well aware of what her life consisted of seven years ago. FP Jones. His older brother's best friend. He was afraid to compete with what he knows they had. Their history dates back to as far as he could remember. Fred would invite them over to their house to hang out.

Frank would probably admit now to having had a little crush on her growing up, but knew he couldn't do anything about it then. When he found an opening as grown adults, he couldn't pass up the opportunity. Being two years younger was no longer a constraint to his mission.

Alice frowned. Talking about FP was a sensitive topic for her. She expected this kind of question at one point, but knew she would never have the right answer. "I don't know what to say."

"Do those feelings still linger?"

"He's my son's father. I'll always love him."

"But are you still in love with him? You wouldn't be saying that if this were about your daughters' father."

"That's different. That bastard was a murderer," Alice seethed. She would never claim Hal lovingly.

"I'm sorry for upsetting you, it's just...I have a right to ask. I want something with you Alice. I really do. I believe I can be right for you if you give me the chance. It's just that I don't know if you'll ever allow yourself to see that if you're still holding onto him. I want you to be happy, but you won't be if you keep agonizing yourself over FP. It's been years. If he wanted to, he would have come back for you."

"I am happy. I've got my grandkids. Betty promised to stick around..."

"Do I make you happy?"

The silence was loud in the room. She thought he was a good guy, but she couldn't give him the answers he wanted. "I think you should go."

"Alice..."

"I want to be alone, please. But thank you for having dinner with me again."

Frank sighed and showed himself out. He stopped at the door and looked back at her. "You know where to find me." He gave her an apologetic smile and closed the door behind himself.

__

The awkward tension between Frank and Alice had died down with time. Frank was grateful for that. He thought he ruined his chances by asking her about FP, but now he thinks he helped her realize she deserved better.

That was until another obstacle came along. Townsfolk were aware that the Serpents were coming back in batches to settle down in town again. Little did they know that that included their long retired Serpent King.