for one_shot

[howbraveyouare]

[ The halls of the school are covered with signs and banners. Homecoming is fast approaching. Karen is painfully aware of this. She was just pressured into an article that was supposed to be about the buzz and excitement of Homecoming season. The game, the court… It is to date her least favorite piece of writing. She doesn’t want anything to do with Homecoming, and yet…

Karen hugs her books to her chest and steps up to Frank’s locker. She’s had this urge to just be around him ever since they crossed paths. ]

Hey, do you have a minute?

Comments

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank hasn't minded the sudden company he's gotten out of what happened. Karen seems to like being around him, and she's smart, so she's good to talk to. It's made his life as school a little less lonely and a little more meaningful than it's ever been.

The energy going around about Homecoming hasn't gone unnoticed, but Frank didn't care about any of that. Especially since Homecoming often puts a spotlight on the same football players that treated Karen badly.

When she approaches Frank shuts his locker and nods. That locker has books in it that have never been cracked open. At least they'll be in good condition when he returns them at the end of the year.]

Yeah. What's up?

[howbraveyouare]

[ She clears her throat quietly. After getting comfortable with him, basically sharing her biggest dream with him, such an inconsequential thing shouldn’t make her nervous, but here she is. Karen licks her lips and presses them together as she gathers her wits. Finally, she gets the words out. ]

What are you doing the night of the dance?

[ Her cheeks felt like they were flushing. Was she blushing? Oh, god, she hoped not. ]

I was just… Wondering, you know.

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank raised his brow at the question. Karen was definitely blushing and Frank was trying to figure the reason for that. He knew the likely reason was that she might be trying to ask him to the dance. The notion was just a little hard to believe given who he was and who she was at this school.]

Nothing. Why?

[howbraveyouare]

[ She glances at the banner hanging almost directly over their heads advertising the dance and shakes her head. It’s like the world is sending her signs, but Karen has other plans. Looking back to Frank, she smirks. ]

There is no way I’m going to that dance. I was wondering if you maybe wanted to do something else that night with me. Sort of an… alternative to Homecoming.

[ Karen finds herself biting her lip for a second – a nervous habit. Frank doesn’t seem like the type who would want to go to the dance, but who knows? Maybe he’s going. Maybe he even has a date. She’s sure some girl in this place must have a crush on him. ]

[ex_one_shot695]

[Maybe there were a few girls around who were attracted to him, but they wouldn't be caught at the Homecoming dance with him. That might be social suicide. Karen didn't seem to care about that sort of thing, though. She didn't work to get the approval of others, and her hard work spoke for itself. She was well-liked and admired among the student body. Something Frank would never be. And yet, she wanted to spend time with him.

The idea of doing something with Karen that wasn't the dance was appealing enough.]

Uh, yeah. Sure. Got any ideas?

[howbraveyouare]

[ Ideas? She hadn’t gotten that far yet. Frank saying ‘sure’, though, that’s a victory. Karen can’t hold back a grin. ]

We could catch a movie or even just hang out. I think the club across town that has bands and stuff is also doing under 21 night that night, too. What do you feel like doing?

[ She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. Whatever they wind up doing, she can guarantee it will beat a night of hearing top 40 songs cranked out by a mediocre DJ. Besides, she’s made a few enemies who will undoubtedly be going. Not only will they be there, they’ll likely make up the Homecoming court. A night with Frank isn’t only the more appealing option, it’s the option that will spare her unnecessary drama. ]

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank thinks it's a shame Karen has to miss homecoming just because of some assholes who think they're entitled to any girl they want. With that thought in mind, Frank decides he should try to make sure she has a good time.]

Let's try that club.

[Seems like a better substitute for Homecoming than just seeing a movie.]

How about I pick you up at 8?

[howbraveyouare]

[ He wants to pick her up. Her heart skips a beat. That is definitely a step up from meeting up there. Karen smiles and nods. Somehow she suspects this will be a better time than she would have had at the dance. ]

That sounds great. You remember where I live, right?

[ It does occur to her that her dad might not like the idea of her going out with Frank. He’d been pushing for her to stay with her last boyfriend, a very straight-laced kid who was pretty much the star of the school’s mock trial team. Karen will just have to do her best to talk Frank up to her dad in the meantime. ]

[ex_one_shot695]

[Any father who gave a damn about his daughter probably wouldn't approve of her seeing Frank. Karen was strong willed, though, so she'd probably do whatever she wanted to anyway, even if it meant sneaking around.]

Yeah. Okay, then.

[Guess they were going out on something like a date. Frank didn't date much. Certainly, he's never had a steady girlfriend or anything since he showed up in this town.]

[howbraveyouare]

[ Karen isn’t calling it a date out loud. She doesn’t want to seem clingy, especially so soon. After all, she doesn’t know Frank that well. Still, she likes to think that it will be something like a date. It’s sort of an alterna-homecoming, after all. ]

Great!

[ She reaches up and gives his shoulder a squeeze. It’s way too early in the game to be giving him a kiss, though that is something she thinks about plenty. ]

Well… See you then!

[ex_one_shot695]

[Maybe they've only just started to get to know each other, but Karen probably already knows Frank better than anyone else at their school in a lot of ways.

When Karen squeezes his shoulder, he glances over at it and can't help but smile a bit at the contact.]

Yeah. See you then.

[Guess he has a date Homecoming night after all. Not what he expected, but he does like the idea of going somewhere that isn't the dance.

When the night arrives, Frank goes to Karen's house to pick her up at the appointed time. He's driving a black pick-up truck that he spent the day cleaning up with a good wash and wax before showing up at her house. The truck isn't the only thing with a make-over, either. Frank is dressed pretty nicely in a black button-up shirt with a grey jacket over it. He went with jeans, since it's a club, but they have a dark stone wash. All in all, he looks pretty put together. He even shaved and based on the smell check before he rings her doorbell, he thinks he's managed to cover everything.]

[howbraveyouare]

[ When the door to the Page household opens, it’s not Karen who opens it, but her father. He’s an older man with a bit of a belly on him, but he’s trying to look intimidating. Still, he nods, smiling only a little bit and stepping to the side. ]

You must be Frank. Come inside.

[ Inside, Karen walks into the foyer wearing a blue spaghetti strap dress that comes to about an inch above her knees. She has a white sweater folded over her arm and a purse on her shoulder. She mouths ‘sorry’ to Frank behind her dad’s back. Her father clears his throat and continues speaking to Frank. ]

I expect my daughter back by no later than 10:30. I expect you to treat her like a lady. If she comes home and I hear that you--

Dad!! He gets it.

[ Karen grabbed her dad roughly and he stopped talking, shaking his head. She smiled at Frank and stepped in front of her father and chuckled a little bit. ]

C’mon, let’s go.

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank expected Karen's father would try to intimidate him or give him a lecture about how to treat his daughter. Frank wasn't the type who was easily intimidated, but he was always respectful.]

Thank you, sir.

[He's glad he doesn't have to wait long for Karen, and when he sees her he can't help but smile at how pretty she looked. It looked as though Karen was going to spare him the father-speech, and they could be on their way. It's not until they were outside that he looked to Karen to speak to her.]

Was he serious about 10:30? Homecoming doesn't even end that early.

[howbraveyouare]

[ Karen grins at Frank when he brings up the time. He doesn’t know how things work in the Page household. ]

You don’t have to worry. My mom’s given me the go-ahead for a midnight curfew and she always gets her way. Besides, my dad’s bark is way worse than his bite. He has good intentions.

[ Once again, she reaches out and gives his shoulder a squeeze, this time meaning it as a reassuring gesture. ]

We’ll be okay.

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank smiles a bit and nods. He'd hate the night to end too early. The club was across town, so it'd take a little while just to get there and home on time.

Once at the car, he opens her door for her and after she's inside, he shuts the door and goes around to the driver's side to get in.]

Okay, let's go check this place out.

[howbraveyouare]

[ Karen buckles her seatbelt on instinct and looks over to the driver’s side with a smile. Her dad’s embarrassing antics aside, she thinks the evening is off on the right foot. ]

Right.

[ She nods. Okay, so what does she say now? Silence is awkward, but so is forced conversation. In her mind she scrambles to come up with something vaguely natural sounding to create a conversation and not wind up sounding like the bundle of nerves she actually is. ]

I’ve never seen this band before. I mean, they’re local, so you’d think I would have, even just to write something for the paper, but nope. I have heard they’re good, though, so…

[ Riiiiight… ]

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank puts the truck into gear and heads out. He also turns on the radio, but not so loud that it would drown out what she wants to say.

When she talks about the band, he nods in agreement.]

Yeah, I've heard that, too.

[Frank's never been good at small talk. He isn't really about filling the air with words. Instead, he thinks he'll just say what's on his mind.]

You look really pretty.

[He takes his eyes off the road for a few moments to look over at her.]

[howbraveyouare]

[ Karen feels herself smile and blush almost in the same instant. She’s quiet for a moment, knowing if she speaks right away she’ll stumble over her words and look like a total ass. Instead she nods. ]

You look very handsome. You dressed really nicely tonight.

[ She’s almost surprised that she could get out full, coherent sentences given her nerves, but then she notices them begin to melt away. Karen is beginning to get comfortable. ]

[ex_one_shot695]

[Frank smiles as well at the compliment, a crooked smile that's genuine.]

Yeah? Thanks.

[He's glad she likes the effort he put in. It takes a little time to get to the club, but once there, he parks the truck and helps her out. The place has a pretty nice atmosphere. Not too over the top or too loud, but with a good vibe for the young people its catering to tonight.]

Where you wanna sit?