Chapter 7: West Virginia.
I pulled the baby blue van into the gas station in the middle of nowhere, West Virginia. We’ve been on the road for about three hours now and we’re about to cross stateliness into Kentucky. But first, we need to fill up on gas and empty our bladders.
I stood at the pump, reading the meter as it showed how much gas I’ve put in and how much it costs. Everybody went into the gas station to either go to the bathroom or to buy something.
I watched as Frank came out of the gas station, zipping up his jeans as he strode back over to me. I smirked and shook my head at him.
“Does it feel nice to have an empty bladder?” I asked a very personal question with a cocked eye brow. Frank chuckled at me as he stood beside me, basking in the warmth that the bright afternoon sun had to offer. Frank’s charming smile faded when he looked over at the other side of the gas station parking lot. A dreary look spread across his face, masking his usual bright but still punk features. I allowed my gaze to follow his. He was looking at a father and son standing in the parking lot outside of their car, enjoying their lunch in the beautiful weather. I frowned at Frank, knowing he’s probably thinking about his dad. I pursed my lips at him.
“Y’know, not all men are like your dad.” I told him reassuringly. Frank pressed his lips together tightly frowning pathetically. He shook his head in denial.
“Prime example?” He wanted justification for my reasoning.
“You’re not like him.”
“Pfft, yes I am.” Frank protested ill minded. I stared at my friend for a long moment, actually realizing that he’s terrified of messing up a kid the way his dad messed him up. I shook my head at him.
“No,” I whimpered. “–You’re not.” Frank looked at me sullenly.
“Okay, give me a different example.” Frank flatly requested. I thought for a moment, there were too many possible examples to think of just one but the perfect one came to mind.
“My dad.” I replied carelessly.
“You’re dad didn’t even know he was your dad until a couple months ago.” Frank sneered at me coldly. It hurt when he said that.
“Sure, but he’s trying to fix it now.” I protested kindly.
“Exactly! He’s trying to fix it. I never want it to be broken in the first place.” Frank really was scared that if he ever has kids, he’ll break them like his dad broke him. He’s not thought. He knows exactly what he doesn’t want to do to them and he can prevent it. That’s what makes him different to his dad.
“I don’t care what you say; you’re not like your dad.” I reassured him strongly.
“Didn’t your dad have a wife and two kids and one on the way when he and your mom hooked up?” Frank threw the obvious out there. It hurt that he’d stoop that low to make a point. I felt my lips form a frown.
“Yeah, he did.”
“That’s just proof that all guys are slime.” Frank stated calmly. I shrugged my shoulders and sighed.
“I stick with what I say, not all men are like your dad.” I remarked coldly. Frank didn’t have a come back for me, he didn’t protest. We just stood there and stared at each other until our moment was interrupted by Rae and Gerard galloping to the van, nattering at each other about if they were genetically mutated what they would be genetically mutated into. I pulled the pump out and placed it back into the stand then strode into the gas station to pay for this gas.