Chapter Text
Illi wakes up in darkness to a rustling sound next to her. Wait, wakes up? When did she fall asleep? She pries her eyes open to find Frank under a blanket on her left, sandwiched between her and the wall, struggling to adjust without waking her up. It’s obvious to him that he failed when he glances over and sees Illi blinking sleepily at him.
“Hey,” Frank greets with a soft smile. “Sorry I woke you up, I was tryna let you sleep a little longer.
Illi sits up a bit in bed and stretches her arms high above her head, making a cute little “coo” sound. “That’s ok,” she assures him. “What time is it?”
“Nine.”
Illi furrows her eyebrows. “Morning or afternoon?”
“Nine in the afternoon,” Frank answers as he pulls the blankets up higher.
Huh. Illi doesn’t remember getting blankets. She looks down at the holey Sofia the First blanket covering her, carefully tucking her in. “Where’d this come from?” she inquires.
“The closet,” Frank supplies. He rests his head on Illi’s shoulder and lets out a little sigh. “Ray’s brother has good taste.”
Illi stiffens, still a bit shaken up from her abrupt awakening. She creases her eyebrows. There’s something she’s forgetting…
“Y’know, we should really go to the sleepover now.”
Oh yeah, that was it. They were all gonna have a sleepover in the living room. Illi doesn’t know how she forgot. Well, maybe she does, she doesn’t know. The body so insistently nuzzling her side is making her a bit woozy, making it kind of hard to think straight. Or at all. What was she thinking again?
Frank pokes Illi in her side, jolting her out of her thoughts(?). “Illi? You okay?”
“Hm? Oh. Uh. Yeah.”
Frank’s playful expression turns into something more serious. “You hesitated,” he points out, staring pointedly at Illi’s eyes.
Illi sighs, wrapping her left arm around Frank in hopes of shutting him up. And maybe because she just wants to be closer to him. Just maybe. “Yeah.” She closes her eyes and sighs, shutting the rest of the world out. “I’ll be okay.”
Illi opens her eyes again to see Frank smiling sweetly up at her. “Yeah, you will be.”
As Illi looks down, her breath catches in her throat. God, Frank is so cute. She could kiss him right then and there, his little eyelashes fluttering up at her, his thousand gigawatt smile directed solely to her. She recalls their conversation from only hours ago. Did he really say that he loved her? Did she really say that she loves him too? How were these words meant? Friends tell each other they love each other all the time, right? Yeah, that sounds right. Illi can only hope that he loves her in the romantic way and not the platonic way. She supposes that loving each other as friends is a good thing too, maybe it’s too greedy to ask for more.
Frank, noticing Illi zoning out, slowly sits up and breaks the silence. “Well, we should probably get up. Ray and Mikey’ll be worried.”
Illi groans and throws her hands over her eyes. “No… I’m so tired…”
Frank turns around to face Illi and scoots closer, carefully peeling Illi’s hands away from her face. Their eyes meet. “Peekaboo,” he says as he makes a funny face like one would do to make a baby laugh.
It works. “You look stupid,” Illi laughs out.
Frank fakes a gasp. “I’m hurt! You offended my honor!”
Illi smirks, well, as best as one can do while giggling. “Aw, poor princess got her feelings hurt?”
“Shut up,” Frank teases as he lightly hits her with a pillow. “But really, we totally should get up.”
Illi groans again. “Man, fuck you. So persistent.”
Frank waggles his eyebrows suggestively, something Illi has never understood how he does. “I mean, if you say so…”
Frank bites his lower lip and playfully crawls over her, playing into the joke(obviously).
Illi squeals and maybe not so lightly pushes him off, sending Frank tumbling off to the edge of the bed. “Alright, alright, I’m getting up! Jeez, some people…”
Frank rolls his eyes as Illi offers him a hand to help get down from the big scary ledge, which he obviously accepts. They stumble out the door on the way to the living room, talking and laughing. And then Illi saw Mikey and her smile faded. Mikey, with a carefully guarded expression, staring her dead in the eyes. Daring her to move. Daring her to say something that could possibly make up for her abandoning him and leaving him for the woods instead. The woods with Frank. And not Mikey. Never Mikey.
“Glad you guys could make it!” Ray exclaims with a carefully cheerful tone. “Me an’ Mikey wanna watch a movie if you guys are down.”
Frank looks down at Illi’s hand in his. When did that happen? “Yeah, a movie sounds cool. Got any in mind?”
Mikey blinks, keeping eye contact with his sister. “Hamilton?” I want to forgive you.
Illi blinks. “Yeah.” I hope you can.
Ray claps his hands. “Great! I’ll fire up good old Disney + while you guys get comfortable.” At that last word, he winked at Frank and Illi for some reason.
Frank flops down on the loveseat, limbs sprawled out in all directions. “Mikey…” he whines, “can you get me some snacks?”
Mikey rolls his eyes, heading towards the kitchen. “Get ‘em yourself potato.”
Frank raises an eyebrow. “Who you callin’ potato, uh, asparagus?”
Mikey flips him off then locks eyes with Illi. We need to talk.
Mikey leads his sister into the kitchen, grabbing Frank some kale chips. “So.”
“So.” Illi rocks back and forth on her feet.
Mikey moves from the pantry to the fridge to grab sodas. “How was it?”
Illi quirks an eyebrow. “How was what?”
“Y’know.” Mikey makes a suggestive gesture revolving around the coke bottle and his hand, then points between Illi and Frank’s general direction.
“EW!” Illi exclaims, a look of pure horror displayed in her face. “Ew, no Mikey, we didn’t- EW. You’re gross.”
Mikey shrugs. “And you’re in love.”
Illi rolls her eyes. “Whatever. You need help?”
Mikey dumps everything he was previously carrying into Illi’s arms, soda, chips, candy. Illi stumbles under the weight but miraculously stays upright, only dropping a sole bag of M&M's, which Mikey promptly picks up and tears open.
“Hey, Illi?”
Illi tries to say yeah, but the bag of Doritos leaves her muffled, coming out more of a “Ymmf?”
Mikey looks down and starts picking at his black nails. When did he paint them? “Uh, I’m sorry. I know I was a little harsh, but now I know you just did what you had to do. You didn’t mean to leave me. And when you tried to explain yourself, I wouldn’t listen ‘cause I thought I’d lost you when I couldn’t find you…” he sniffles. “And I almost lost you again when, y’know. But, um, that was probably because of me, right? I’m not saying I’m sorry I was mad, everyone gets mad, but I’m sorry I didn’t try to make it better. I’m sorry I made you feel bad. And I hope,” he takes off his glasses to wipe his now red eyes. “I hope you still love me,” he whispers.
They’ve been stopped in the kitchen for a few moments. Now, it’s as if the kitchen itself has stopped, holding its breath, waiting.
Illi lets all of the stuff she was carrying fall to the floor. She doesn’t wait until Mikey puts his glasses back on to rush forward and engulf her little brother in a massive hug. Mikey sobs into Illi’s shoulder while she cradles his head as if he might fall to pieces at any moment.
Illi gently pulls back, just enough to where she can see his face. “Mikey, listen to me. I love you. I will always love you.” She wipes a stray tear off his cheek. “I’m here, Mikey. I’m not going anywhere.”
Mikey sniffles again, and hugs her tight. “I’m getting snot all over your shirt, aren’t I?”
Illi shrugs. “It’s fine. Do you wanna go watch Hamilton?”
Mikey nods. “Do you wanna bring Frank his kale chips?”
Illi snorts. “No, Frank’s an asshole, he can get his own chips.”
Mikey smiles slyly. “I bet you love Frank’s asshole.” Before his sister can react, he scoops up his coke and chips from the floor and books it to the living room.
“Wha- you little rat!” Illi grabs her and her friends’ snacks and bursts through the door, tossing Ray’s Doritos to Mikey. Mikey plops down on the two seater and guides Ray’s hand away from where he was picking at some black paint on his sleeve and passes him his chips. Illi turns around to the last available couch, Frank draped lazily over it. His head rests on the gray armrest, dark hair covering his wandering eyes, one arm dangling above his head, the other hanging off the side of the couch along with one leg, the other trying its best to reach the other side of the couch, but is too short to make it. He looks so peaceful. Illi must have been staring a bit too long, as Frank tilts his head up at her and scoots over, patting the spot next to him.
“Ooh,” Mikey teases, “they’re sharing the loveseat.” To worsen the burn he makes an excessive amount of kissy noises.
Illi rolls her eyes, trying to power through the blush. “Mikey, you an’ Ray are sharing a loveseat too.”
Ray grins as Mikey’s face drops. “Oh yeah! C’mere Mikey.” Ray outstretches his arms and mimics Mikey’s previous kisses as the latter struggles to break free of his friend’s strong arms.
Mikey squeals as Ray starts peppering his cheek with kisses. “Ray!” he laughs, “Start the movie, start the movie!”
Ray leaves with one big pop on Mikey’s cheek, grabbing the remote from the table next to him while Illi and Frank erupt in fits of giggles from the couch across from them.
Frank pretends to wipe a tear from his cheek. “Aw, you guys are too adorable. Am I invited to the wedding?”
“No,” Mikey deadpans, “you’re a bitch.”
Frank crosses his arms and smirks. “Cold hard bitch.”
“Can y’all shut up?” Illi asks, face full of popcorn. “I’m tryna watch.”
“Yeah guys, shut up.”
“You shut up, Frank!”
“You shut up, Mikey!”
“No, you!”
Frank opens his mouth to retort with a “no, you!” but a quick look from Illi dampens his plans.
As the film continues, Ray glances over at Illi. “Can we sing?”
Illi turns her head over to Ray, her eyes not fully leaving the TV. “Yeah, of course.”
“You’re not singing,” Frank pokes Illi in the side of her stomach.
Illi shrugs, grabbing another handful of her almost finished popcorn.
Mikey furrows his eyebrows. “You alright Illi?”
She shrugs again. “Yeah.”
Ray pauses Hamilton, much to Illi’s protest. “Illi. You didn’t elaborate. You always elaborate.”
“Hm. Do I?” She takes a sip of her Coke. “Can you hit play?”
“I will, I just,” Ray sighs. “I know you’re not okay. And that’s ok, no one’s ever always okay.”
“You said ‘okay’ too much.”
Ray rolls his eyes as Mikey takes another one of his Doritos. “Regardless. You can always talk to us, you know that, right? We’re here for you. Whatever you need.”
Illi’s mouth forms a tight smile, struggling not to melt into a real one as Frank wraps his arms around her. She pats him on the back. “Yeah, I know. Thank you.”
Frank nuzzles into the warmth that is Illi’s chest and lets out a little sigh.
Mikey gags. “Frank, you’re not a koala and my sister’s not a tree.”
Frank sticks his tongue out at Mikey and continues his snuggling.
Illi lets out a soft laugh as she pets his head, earning a purr(?) from Frank. “He’s like a little kitty!” Illi exclaims. “Or a puppy.”
Ray abruptly stands up. “Okay, yup, that’s my queue to continue the movie. Mikey, remote?” Ray plops back down as Mikey passes the remote from behind him.
Throughout the entire movie, Frank can’t seem to tear his gaze away from Illi, the way her smile peeks out when Jefferson(?) says something funny, then becomes more forced, the way her eyes dart across the screen, but don’t seem to absorb anything, the way she subconsciously tugs at the hem of her hoodie sleeve as if someone might come over at any moment and reveal what lies below. Frank notices it all. And it concerns him. Why is she pretending that she’s okay? Ray already basically said that she doesn’t have to put up a front when it comes to them, but she still does. Why? Frank just wants her to be happy, that’s all. He wants to see her smile again, even for just a moment. He takes one of his arms from around her and holds her hand away from her jacket, giving it a gentle squeeze. She looks down and smiles, genuinely smiles, and Frank feels like a million bucks. He made her happy.
“You good, Frank?” Illi whispers.
He thinks for a beat. How can he be okay if she’s not okay? But he’s not about to tell her that, it’d just make her sad. So instead he smiles and rubs his thumb in a circle on Illi’s hand. “Yeah.”
“Good,” Illi quietly responds as she rests her head down on Frank’s shoulder. She sighs and he moves a strand of hair out of her eyes, ignoring the trail of grease it leaves on his hand. “I’m glad there’s no school tomorrow.”
“Me too,” Frank agrees softly. “Being honest, I don’t think I’d even go if there was school tomorrow.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Hey,” Frank protests, “what’s that supposed to mean?”
Illi shrugs and gestures to the TV. “Pay attention, it’s almost over.”
They finish the movie sometime around midnight with hushed whispers and subtle gestures, which Mikey and Ray do a pretty good job of not noticing (or pretending not to notice).
Mikey stands up off the couch and yawns comically loud, making damn sure everyone around him hears and knows the struggles he’s facing. “Aw, you sleepy, Mikey?” Illi coos, a patronizing tone in her voice.
Mikey sniffles. “Shut up,” he whines. He gets very cranky when he’s tired, as most little siblings do.
“Are the rest of you guys tired?” Ray asks, not leaving his spot on the couch.
Frank shrugs. “I mean, not really, but I’d go to bed if you guys want to. Illi?”
“I’m not really tired either.”
“So it’s just Mikey then,” Ray states, earning a ‘harumph’ from Mikey.
Mikey sighs. “Are you guys trying to make my life miserable? I’ll stay up if everyone else is, I guess.”
Ray excitedly claps his hands. “Yay! So what do y’all wanna do? Want to watch another movie?”
“Nah,” Mikey says, “I’m getting bored of that. I might fall asleep. If I’m staying awake, I need to be entertained.”
Illi quirks an eyebrow. “Who says movies aren't entertaining?”
“Me. I say that. But like, not all of them. You know what I mean.”
“Sure.” Illi gets up off the couch, much to Frank’s protest. “I’m gonna go raid Ray’s pantry. Let me know what you guys settle on.”
Mikey waits until his sister clicks the kitchen door shut before he starts talking. He rubs his hands together manically. “What if we choose something that she hates and since she wasn’t here to say no, she’s stuck with it?”
Ray shrugs. “I mean maybe, but we’d still be in the same dilemma as before. What are we doing?”
“Maybe we could just do Mario Party?” Frank suggests. “I don’t really want to do something that she doesn’t want to do.”
Mikey smirks. “Yeah, we know.”
Frank finally stands up off the couch, crossing his arms defensively. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Mikey rolls his eyes. “You know what that means. It means that you’re head over heels in love with my sister, and don’t want to do anything that’ll make her upset. Right?”
Frank opens his mouth to speak, but jumps as a loud thud rings out from behind the kitchen door. “Illi?” he calls out, “you okay?”
Rustling. Then a muffled “Yup, fuckin peachy…” from the kitchen.
As Mikey rushes over and yanks the door open, it is revealed that everything is not ‘fuckin peachy’. However, another fruit does seem to be involved. Illi stands hunkered down in the corner of Ray’s kitchen, an open wooden cabinet hanging above her head, blood red liquid all over the floor.
Mikey rushes over, his panicked voice ringing out. “Oh my god Illi what happened? Are you alright? Did you hit your head? Do you need me to call the hospital?”
Illi picks up the now empty jug of cranberry juice from the floor and tosses it into the sink to her left. “Cranberry juice, yes, yes, and no.” Illi sheepishly looks up at Ray. “Sorry about the floor, I can get the stains out.”
Ray shakes his head. “Dude, don’t apologize. I’ll clean it, it’s my house. Also, are you sure you’re good? A bump like that’s gonna leave a bruise.”
Illi tentatively brings her hand to the back of her head, flinching when the two touch. “Uh, maybe I’ll take an ice pack if you’ve got one?”
Ray nods and takes a look in his freezer.
“So, what happened?” Frank asks. “Like, I know the juice fell on you, but like, how?”
Illi rolls her eyes at Frank, accepting the bag of frozen peas from Ray. “Gravity, Frank. Gravity.” Frank pouts, clearly not pleased with that answer. Illi sighs. “I opened the cabinet to get those amazing chocolate granola bars, y’know those, when the jug fell and hit me. Guess it was leanin’ up against the cabinet or something.”
Frank nods. “So then it either burst open, or you murdered someone in here.”
Illi smiles. “Yeah, it was actually Ray’s mom. I tried to drag her out of here, but then you guys came and I had to hide her. She’s in there,” Illi explains as she points to the oven next to the fridge.
Ray blinks. “Well I really hope you didn’t kill her. Who else is gonna pay the bills on this damn place?”
Mikey places a hand on Ray’s shoulder. “You got it, Ray. With your new job an’ all, you’re gonna be a billionaire by Friday.”
Frank quirks an eyebrow, so Ray explains his upcoming interview at Vic’s Vinyls while Mikey and Illi grab the carpet cleaner and get to work on the floor. “Oh, you guys don’t have to clean,” Ray insists. “We’ve been meaning to get tile in here anyway. Carpet and kitchen aren't really a good combination.”
“Nah, it’s fine dude,” Illi assures, “me an’ Mikey got it. Why don’t you guys set up the game cube?”
As the two get ushered out, Mikey stares Illi dead in the eyes. “Okay, I could put up with a little bit of it before, but you guys were too much during Hamilton.”
“What do you mean?” Illi asks, not looking away from her sponge.
Mikey rolls his eyes. ‘Honestly, with how much he’s been doing that, they’re gonna get stuck one day,’ Illi thinks.
“You an’ Frank. You guys are TCTI: Too Cute To Ignore. Messin’ up the whole movie, man.”
“Dude,” Illi puts her sponge down. “It’s just a movie, it’s not that long.”
“THREE FUCKING HOURS,” Mikey exclaims waving his arms around frantically. “It’s just-” he sighs exasperatedly. “You guys are dragging this out too long. Just tell him you love him already!”
Ili bites her lip. “We’d better get going, they're probably wondering what’s taking us so long.”
Mikey grabs Illi’s wrist as she tries to leave, causing the smallest flinch. “Illi, don’t change the subject. He loves you, you love him. It’s as simple as that.”
Illi stays silent for a moment, thinking. “How do you know that, he, well… y’know?”
Mikey looks up at her with his big eyes. “Loves you?”
Illi scoffs, her smile betraying her. “Sure. How would you know? Did he tell you?”
Mikey shrugs. “He may have or may not have told me. Either way, it’s so fuckin’ obvious. Makes me sick every time I see you guys being all cute and clueless.”
“So he did tell you?” She raises an eyebrow.
“No I guess not, not directly…” he watches as his sister’s smile falters. “But! He hasn’t denied it either?”
Illi bites the inside of her cheek, tapping her foot on the now clean carpet. “He told me today,” she admits quietly.
“THEN WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME?” Mikey asks incredulously.
“Because!” she exclaims, already tired of this conversation. “Because I don’t know how he meant it, or how I meant it, and I mean, friends say they love each other all the time right? Ray told me earlier today and I-”
“Wait,” Mikey cuts her off. “You told him?”
The red of Illi’s face deepens as she fiddles with the hem of her hoodie. “Maybe,” she admits in a small voice.
Mikey sighs in a way that only little siblings do when they know that they’re better than you. “You are so stupid, genuinely so stupid. You guys literally confessed your love to each other!”
Illi stares off into the corner of the kitchen. “There’s something else too.”
Mikey waits patiently as Illi takes a deep breath before it all comes flooding out. “So y’know earlier today we were cuddling and stuff and y’know we said we loved each other and then he kissed me right on my fucking nose and I think I was going to cry because he’s so sweet and so caring and so drop dead gorgeous and oh my god I am so in love with him it’s like crazy, and I really really want him to kiss me again or maybe I could kiss him or maybe we could just cuddle again, I don’t fucking know, but he’s just so wonderful and amazing and-”
“Woah,” Mikey laughs, “I knew you had it bad, but I didn’t know how bad.” He takes a break and lets Illi catch a few breaths. “It’ll work out, trust me. You guys are practically soulmates!”
Illi looks at her little brother. “You really think so?”
Mikey smiles. “I know so. Now go get him, tiger!”
Illi snorts. “You’re so lame, oh my god.” Illi was going to do it. She was going to march into the living room and tell Frank that she loves him as more than a friend and that she hopes her feelings are reciprocated. Maybe she’ll even kiss him. No, she will kiss him. Before the night was over. She can do this.
Mikey leads her through the door and suddenly all of Illi’s newfound confidence has disappeared. It took one look at Frank and jumped out the nearest window. Frank, who’s looking at Illi like she is the best thing in the whole world. Maybe he believes that. Illi’s heart starts to beat faster. Her palms start sweating and she gets tunnel vision. All she can see is Frank, all she can think about is Frank, and all she can feel is- nauseous?
Ray stands up from the floor where he and Frank had previously been arguing over who gets the blue controller. “Illi, you okay? You don’t look too hot.”
Her brain knew what to do before she could even process it. Her legs carry her down the hall to the left and into the bathroom where she proceeds to throw chunks into Ray’s pink toilet. She is aware of people with her, a hand rubbing circles on her back, comforting words, but it all gets lost in the sea of vomit. She keeps dry heaving for a few minutes until she’s sure she’s gotten it all out. She leans back against the tub, people crowding all around her. She doesn’t want to talk to them, this is all too much. They seem to get the memo, so everyone leaves. Everyone except for Frank. That boy really doesn’t know how to take a hint. At least he doesn’t talk this time. He just sits down next to her, back against the tub.
Illi trembles from the aftershock of her regurgitation. She feels so hollow. Not only did she run out of the room as soon as she locked eyes with her crush, but he’s sitting right next to her. Her hand is in his as he rubs his thumb in a soothing circle. Illi sighs. She doesn’t want to break the silence, but although she knows she has to say something, her words don’t seem to be working. She tries to open her mouth, tries to make sounds, but her body fails her. Frank, for once, seems to get the memo.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he assures her.
Illi stares noncommittally at the tile below her. “I want to though.” There’s so much that she wants to say, so much that she wants to tell him, but not now.
Frank nods, his kind eyes surveying her face. He fidgets with his lip ring. “I’m sorry.”
Illi looks over at Frank’s worried face, his worried, beautiful face. “What for?”
Frank bites his lip as he shrugs, breaking eye contact. “I dunno. I just feel bad that you feel bad, y’know?”
She squeezes his hand. “You don’t have to feel bad.” ‘This isn’t your fault,’ she thinks of adding. But that would be a lie, she only feels this way because of her stupid crush on one of her best friends, which happened to be him. No, that’s not right. It’s not fair to blame him for her misfortune. Illi is the only one to blame. “It’s not your fault.”
“I know, but sometimes I feel like it is, you know?” He sighs and looks up at the ceiling. “I’m sorry if I’m being, y’know, a downer or something. I can go if you want.”
Illi looks up quickly at that. “What? Why? I mean, you can go if you want to but…” she scoots closer to him. “I don’t really want you to.”
He looks up at her, tears in his eyes. ‘Why is he crying?’ she wonders. “You okay, Frankie?”
Frank nods then leans forward and sobs into Illi’s shoulder, her arms wrapped tight around his small frame. Illi’s heart melts. Why does he feel bad? Is this because of her? Regardless of the answer, she holds him tight, slowly rocking him back and forth like a mother would a baby. They stay there for who knows how long, until a soft knock reaches the door.
“Are you guys okay?” Ray asks quietly. “You don’t have to answer. Me an’ Mikey set up our sleeping bags whenever you guys are ready.” Frank and Illi stay together as they hear padded footsteps moving away from the door and down the hall.
After at least ten minutes, Frank sighs. “We should probably go. They might send out a search party if we’re gone too long.”
Illi nods as Frank helps her up off the floor. However, they don’t leave just yet. “Frank?”
“Hm?” Frank lowers his hand from where he was about to grab the door handle.
Illi holds her breath. She guides his hand away from the handle and to his own face, her hand cupping his hand and his cheek. “You’re amazing.” Frank blinks a few times, unaware of where this was going.
Illi leans forward and brushes her lips against his, giving him a soft peck on the lips. She pulls back, positive that she is just as flustered as he is. Her heart hammers in her chest. Was that too much? Too soon? Maybe she shouldn’t have done that. It’s too late now. He probably doesn’t even-
Her thoughts are cut off by the presence of a cool lip ring against her lips. He’s kissing her back. He likes her back. Her eyes flutter closed as he lets go of her hand and slides his hand over her waist, pulling her closer. She takes her free hand and runs it through his hair, his black, beautiful hair. She kisses him and he kisses her, and she is certain of one thing. She loves him. She loves him so much her heart feels like it’ll burst into flames whenever their fingers so much as graze each other. She loves him so much that she got physically ill from even thinking of telling him of her feelings. She loves him so much that she’ll fight off everyone who tries to lay their hands on him, anyone who tries to hurt him. She loves him. And he loves her.
The door swings open. A gasp. “I fucking knew it!” Mikey exclaims with glee. He gallops down the hall, enthusiastically shouting for Ray.
Frank and Illi pull apart, both clearly baffled by what just happened. They awkwardly stare at each other a while before Frank breaks the silence. “I, uh,” he clears his throat. “I love you, Illi. Like, more than just a friend. I have for… well, really since we first met. And I… I hope I didn’t make things weird between us, because being honest, I really love what just happened and-”
Illi shuts him up with another kiss, this one not as long as the previous. She smiles, showing off all of her little teeth that Frank loves so much. “I love you, Frank Iero. Now let’s go meet Ray and Mikey, I’m sure they’re pretty tired.”
Frank nods, mouth open and face redder than a tomato. “Yeah, yeah. We can play Mario in the morning.”
Illi beams and leads him into the living room, still hand in hand. Ray and Mikey put Frank and Illi’s sleeping bags as close as possible, Ray’s to the farthest left, close to where he and Mikey were previously sitting. Mikey and Illi are stuck sandwiched between Ray and Frank, but that’s alright with them. They all get cozy and turn out the lights and Illi rolls over to face Frank. She wraps her arm around his cocooned figure as he sighs, scooting closer so he can hold her better. With his face buried in the crook of her neck, and hers resting on the top of his head, the two drift off into a peaceful slumber.