Work Text:
Frank was visiting his mom back in the town he met all of his best friends. His best friends and his wife. Wife. He remembers back when they were just kids. Just boyfriends and girlfriends. All of those memories exploded when he entered the room of his high school self. His walls were decorated in band’s posters, some he still likes, some he doesn’t. He had polaroids all over the wall of him and Ray. Photos from going to the mall, playing in a band together, and crashing the Mcmillin’s house.
His eyes darted to the floor where he saw a box decorated in stickers. It was tucked under his bed in a secretive spot. He crouched down and slowly opened it. He almost cried when he saw what’s inside. The first thing he saw was a picture of him and Illi at prom. She looked gorgeous in her dress, a black dress fashioned with transparent sleeves on the arms. She’s was smiling with Frank’s face right next to her’s. They look so happy. Frank remembers how that prom turned out. He remembered Illi crying and them walking home together after Frank’s bike was stolen. He remembered the way her hands tucked a strand of hair out of his face when they got home. They spent the rest of the night cuddled on his couch watching a movie. Illi had texted Mikey, but he was busy with some guy.
He found another photo of Illi and Frank on the stairs of their school. They were talking to each other. Ray must’ve taken the photo when they weren’t looking, because their heads were turned to each other. His eyes hovered over the uniform Illi was wearing. The blazer she had embroidered herself — and the pants the school made her wear. That alone made him mad all over again. He looked like a stupid lovestruck teenager looking at Illi like that. She must’ve just been talking about vampires or something nerdy like that. Something Illi.
He slid that polaroid over and saw a card Illi had written him on his birthday.
“Hey Frankie!! Happy Birthday!!!! And halloween….
You’re finally 17!! I love you so much and I hope you have (had) the best birthday ever! I know I’m saying this as I’m probably at some stupid Halloween party with you you decided we HAD to go to. But whatever, it’s your birthday after all. You mean so much to me, and I’m so lucky to have someone like you in my life. Enough of the sappy stuff! Love you Frankie! Hope you enjoy the gift….”
The card was decorated with hearts and a drawing of them together. Illi had gifted him a bunch of CDs that year that he listened to religiously.
He then found another photo of Illi kissing Frank on the cheek. She was wearing a Smashing Pumpkins t-shirt with a locket necklace. This was the day that she got into college. Almost like he had conjured her, Illi stepped through the doorway.
“Wow, this brings back memories.” She said, surprising Frank. She looked all over the room, taking in the nostalgia. “Whatcha looking at?” Frank smiled and shifted the photo towards her view. She smiled and blushed as she walked over to him.
They stared at the photos of them together and Illi felt a sense of gratefulness. It was unmatched compared to Frank’s for her. The birds chirped through the windows, and Frank thought this must have been the quietest his room ever was. It lacked the loud music or aggressive texting. Somehow it was still comftorable silence.
“I love you, Frank.”
Illi then pushed Frank’s chin towards hers and kissed him, recreating the photo in hand.