Chapter 5
Frankie stood on the porch and watched him go, his lips still tingling from Caleb’s kiss. He heard a snort from behind him, and turned to see Seth leaning in the open doorway. “Hey, Cuz, seems you’ve been busy,” he drawled. “I’ve been trying to get to know our hunk of a neighbor for months. How’d you manage?”
Frankie shrugged. “We were both woken up by Roger’s pounding in the barn this morning,” he told Seth. “Then he took me to breakfast and we bought earplugs so that we’ll be able to sleep tonight.”
Seth’s brows shot up. “So going shopping together made him want to kiss you? Wow. I’ve got to try that,” he mused. “Maybe run into him at the store…”
“Seth,” Frankie said sharply.
His cousin stopped talking but grinned at him instead. “Don’t worry so much, Frankie; there’s plenty of other fish in the sea. I won’t touch your stud.”
Frankie blew out an exasperated breath. “Since you’re out here, help me carry these in,” he pointed at the book bags.
Seth lifted a brow but came over to help him tote the bags inside and up to his room. As they came up to the landing, Frankie caught sight of the slightly open door again. He could swear that someone was in there watching him. He paused, making Seth voice a complaint from behind him. “Hey, Cuz, get a move on, will ya? I don’t want to drop these.”
Frankie moved on, throwing a glance behind him. But the door was firmly closed once again. He frowned as he led the way into his room. “Seth?”
“Yeah?” he cousin responded as he dumped several of the book bags onto Frankie’s bed.
“Is there somebody in that room a few doors down on the right? I’ve seen the door kind of open a few times today, and I just got the feeling that someone was watching me.”
Seth laughed sardonically. “Oh, that’s just Grandma,” he replied as he plopped down on the bed himself and lay back on it with his arms folded behind his head, "Don’t let her get to you. She spies on everybody in the house, though she never comes out of her room.”
“Grandma?” Frankie repeated. “Oh, yeah, your mother takes care of her. Right?”
“Ma’s her slave, you mean,” Seth snorted in disgust. “Grandma’s always got her running around waiting on her hand-and foot. Between her and Dad, it’s a wonder Ma hasn’t gone nuts herself yet.”
Frankie gave him a sideways look as he removed his coat. “Umm? Would it be rude of me to ask about your…father?”
Seth eyed him. “You mean, would it be rude to ask why Dad hates the lot of us?” he sneered. “Nah, it’s not rude. I don’t care if you know our family secrets – you're technically part of the family, too; and if you’re going to deal with them you might as well know what’s going on so you can be forewarned. Have you noticed that Elena doesn’t look like Roger and me?”
Surprised, Frankie frowned. “Well, yes,” he replied tentatively, “But I just thought that she looked like Cousin Meredith.”
Seth chuckled darkly. “That’s a good one. Nope, Elena looks just like her dad.”
Silence, as Frankie digested this statement. Elena didn’t look a thing like Aaron, Roger, or Seth either. “Oh,” he said simply.
Seth snorted. “Yeah, oh. Dad was always a bit off, but when Ma cheated on him with some guy and turned up pregnant with Elena…he snapped. Got all religious and started punishing Ma constantly. Did nothing but lecture the lot of us, when he won’t dragging us to church to pray for hours on our knees. The old bastard. Like he’s never done anything sinful. Thinks he’s clean as the driven snow, and Ma lets him get away with it. And it didn’t help when I started sleeping with other guys,” he added with a vicious grin. “Dad went ballistic when he found out. I don’t always like him, but Roger stepped in and wouldn’t let Dad hurt me when he caught me making out with a neighbor boy when I was fifteen. Dad’s a bit afraid of Roger, since he’s so big. Sad thing is…you’d think that Dad was grandma’s biological son, they’re both that crazy. She started to get weird when Dad married Ma, and that’s when she locked herself in her room and claimed that she was losing her mind. Not that Dad couldn’t make anybody lose their mind…but I think she was just jealous that she was losing her personal slave, so she did the whole ‘I’m going crazy’ thing so that Ma had to stay on the farm even after she married Dad. And I’m pretty sure that the old bastard only married her because of Grandma’s money. He probably figured that she’d be dead by now, instead of being as healthy as a horse.”
“Money?” Frankie was fascinated in spite of himself. It was like some sort of strange Minnesota soap opera.
“Oh, ya. Grandma’s loaded. You know all of these houses around us?” he waved a vague hand in the air.
“Yes.”
“Well, this entire suburb used to be part of Hard Acre. Grandma sold all the acreage to a developer about twenty years ago, and made a killing. You wouldn’t know it, though, seeing the way we live. But the old lady won’t spend a dime that she doesn’t have to – it’s just another way that she controls us. Roger works because he wants money to get the hell out of here, which I can’t blame him for. I’m just too lazy to work, that’s all,” he added with a crooked, charming smile. “Or otherwise I’d do it too.”
“I see,” Frankie remarked.
Seth shrugged while lying down. “Yeah, that’s our twisted, fucked-up family. Ma’s still doing penance for cheating on Dad, and also slaving away for her mother like she’s done all her life. Dad’s a religious nut, Roger has no sense of humor and works his tail off, Grandma’s a control freak, poor Elena knows that she’s not wanted and that Dad hates her, and I’m a lazy, no-good fag who’ll fuck anything that moves. Not to mention the freaky live-in poor relations. No offense, Frankie,” he added.
“None taken,” Frankie said slowly. Dear Lord, what had he gotten himself into! And how could he get out of it? He was already enrolled, his classes started Monday. And he couldn’t afford to get a place around here; apparently the prices were terrible even for a small apartment. If he wasted his money renting, he’d be back in the same situation he’d been in California. Fuck.
Seth was watching him with bright eyes, clearly amused by his reaction. “Bet you’re wondering why the hell you took Ma up on her offer, aren’t you?” he said.
Since that was exactly what he’d been thinking, Frankie didn’t know what to say. But Seth read his face accurately and laughed. “Don’t feel bad, I’d be thinking the same way if I were in your shoes. But if you like, I can help you feel more at home…” he added with a leer.
“No, thank you,” Frankie said tartly.
Seth raised his brows. “Why not?” he asked, sounding genuinely curious.
Frankie sighed. “Because while you’re a good-looking and sexy guy, Seth…” he grimaced as Seth visibly preened, “I’m not interested in sleeping with a guy who sleeps with anything that moves. Been there, done that; and it was a very dissatisfying experience. I don’t want to do it again.” His voice was flat and final, and Seth accepted this with equanimity.
“Okay, it was just a thought. I mean, we’re living in the same house and everything, and we’re both gay…”
“That doesn’t mean we should sleep together,” Frankie said, his lips quirking up in a rueful smile. Seth’s charm was potent and hard to resist, and he couldn’t help but like his lascivious cousin in spite of himself.
Seth pursed his lips. “Well, it seems like a good idea to me. But then, I’m a slut,” he said cheerfully as he sat up on the bed. “Anyway, dinner will be ready in a few hours.” Seeing the apprehension on Frankie’s face, he grinned. “Fortunately for all of us, Ma is doing the cooking tonight. I think that’s because Grandma got pissed about the food last night, and let Ma out of her slavery for a few hours to go toil in the kitchen and make some real food. Which is something for Dad to pray for in thanks, if nothing else.” He flipped a hand and wandered out of Frankie’s room, leaving a bemused Frankie with a lot to think about.
Dinner was much better that evening. But the heavy tension among the family members was still there, and the silence at the head of the table was thick and solid. Aaron scowled at every member of his family, Meredith stared down at her plate, Roger ate his dinner grimly, Rena stuffed her face phlegmatically, and the creepy Eric snuffled at his food and glared at Frankie alternately. Only Seth and Elena talked, and they had a lively conversation with Frankie in whispered tones as they ate.
Seth told Elena all about Frankie’s new guy, that gorgeous neighbor from next door. He smirked at Frankie as he told her, and Elena shook her red head. “Wow, lucky,” she hissed. “I’ve seen that guy, he is a GOD.”
Frankie moved uncomfortably in his chair. “He is pretty good-looking,” he admitted.
She snorted. “That’s such an understatement! Although he’s not any better looking than Bryan,” she added in satisfaction.
“Bryan?”
Seth grinned. “Elena’s boyfriend, don’t tell anyone,” he said softly, putting a finger to his lips.
“Why not?” Frankie asked in puzzlement.
Elena grimaced as Seth rolled his eyes. “Dad would have a fit,” Seth explained in disgust. “He doesn’t think she should date AT ALL. A good Christian girl doesn’t date in high school, it might lead to…FORNICATION,” his voice was droll.
Frankie almost snorted mashed potatoes up his nose at Seth’s tone of voice and the gargoylish way that he scrunched up his face as he gave forth this proclamation. Elena giggled at his expression. “And you’d know all about that,” she pointed out to her brother drolly.
He smiled wickedly. “We all have to be good at something,” he remarked.
She tilted her head to the side. “That’s true,” she conceded. “Maybe you should finish Dad off and go into prostitution, so you can make some money off of your gift.”
He chuckled. “Why not? Best way ever to make money.”
Frankie grinned to himself as he ate his dinner. Seth and Elena were great fun, and almost made up for the rest of the family. Almost. And at least the food was good tonight. After dinner, Aaron pushed his way back from the table. He stood up and left without saying another word to his ‘devil spawn’ of a family. Meredith sighed softly and began to clean the table, with the help of the plodding Rena. Eric grabbed a last piece of cake and stuffed it into his mouth, sneering at Frankie. Then he left to do whatever he did in the evening, something that Frankie didn’t even want to speculate about. Roger sat down in front of the TV once more, while Elena left to do her homework. She’d told him that she had a 3.8 grade average, and that her intent was to get a scholarship so that she could go to college as far away from Minnesota as was humanly possible. He couldn’t blame her at all for that. And Seth breezed out the door with a wave, intent on picking up his latest one-night stand.
Frankie went back up to his room to start reading one of his textbooks and make some notes. As he passed that certain room upstairs, he felt those eyes on him once more. The door creaked shut after he had passed, and Frankie shook off his uneasiness as best he could as he closed his own bedroom door behind him. Lord, Grandma gave him the creeps. Even more than Eric, and that was saying something.
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Frankie stood on the porch and watched him go, his lips still tingling from Caleb’s kiss. He heard a snort from behind him, and turned to see Seth leaning in the open doorway. “Hey, Cuz, seems you’ve been busy,” he drawled. “I’ve been trying to get to know our hunk of a neighbor for months. How’d you manage?”
Frankie shrugged. “We were both woken up by Roger’s pounding in the barn this morning,” he told Seth. “Then he took me to breakfast and we bought earplugs so that we’ll be able to sleep tonight.”
Seth’s brows shot up. “So going shopping together made him want to kiss you? Wow. I’ve got to try that,” he mused. “Maybe run into him at the store…”
“Seth,” Frankie said sharply.
His cousin stopped talking but grinned at him instead. “Don’t worry so much, Frankie; there’s plenty of other fish in the sea. I won’t touch your stud.”
Frankie blew out an exasperated breath. “Since you’re out here, help me carry these in,” he pointed at the book bags.
Seth lifted a brow but came over to help him tote the bags inside and up to his room. As they came up to the landing, Frankie caught sight of the slightly open door again. He could swear that someone was in there watching him. He paused, making Seth voice a complaint from behind him. “Hey, Cuz, get a move on, will ya? I don’t want to drop these.”
Frankie moved on, throwing a glance behind him. But the door was firmly closed once again. He frowned as he led the way into his room. “Seth?”
“Yeah?” he cousin responded as he dumped several of the book bags onto Frankie’s bed.
“Is there somebody in that room a few doors down on the right? I’ve seen the door kind of open a few times today, and I just got the feeling that someone was watching me.”
Seth laughed sardonically. “Oh, that’s just Grandma,” he replied as he plopped down on the bed himself and lay back on it with his arms folded behind his head, "Don’t let her get to you. She spies on everybody in the house, though she never comes out of her room.”
“Grandma?” Frankie repeated. “Oh, yeah, your mother takes care of her. Right?”
“Ma’s her slave, you mean,” Seth snorted in disgust. “Grandma’s always got her running around waiting on her hand-and foot. Between her and Dad, it’s a wonder Ma hasn’t gone nuts herself yet.”
Frankie gave him a sideways look as he removed his coat. “Umm? Would it be rude of me to ask about your…father?”
Seth eyed him. “You mean, would it be rude to ask why Dad hates the lot of us?” he sneered. “Nah, it’s not rude. I don’t care if you know our family secrets – you're technically part of the family, too; and if you’re going to deal with them you might as well know what’s going on so you can be forewarned. Have you noticed that Elena doesn’t look like Roger and me?”
Surprised, Frankie frowned. “Well, yes,” he replied tentatively, “But I just thought that she looked like Cousin Meredith.”
Seth chuckled darkly. “That’s a good one. Nope, Elena looks just like her dad.”
Silence, as Frankie digested this statement. Elena didn’t look a thing like Aaron, Roger, or Seth either. “Oh,” he said simply.
Seth snorted. “Yeah, oh. Dad was always a bit off, but when Ma cheated on him with some guy and turned up pregnant with Elena…he snapped. Got all religious and started punishing Ma constantly. Did nothing but lecture the lot of us, when he won’t dragging us to church to pray for hours on our knees. The old bastard. Like he’s never done anything sinful. Thinks he’s clean as the driven snow, and Ma lets him get away with it. And it didn’t help when I started sleeping with other guys,” he added with a vicious grin. “Dad went ballistic when he found out. I don’t always like him, but Roger stepped in and wouldn’t let Dad hurt me when he caught me making out with a neighbor boy when I was fifteen. Dad’s a bit afraid of Roger, since he’s so big. Sad thing is…you’d think that Dad was grandma’s biological son, they’re both that crazy. She started to get weird when Dad married Ma, and that’s when she locked herself in her room and claimed that she was losing her mind. Not that Dad couldn’t make anybody lose their mind…but I think she was just jealous that she was losing her personal slave, so she did the whole ‘I’m going crazy’ thing so that Ma had to stay on the farm even after she married Dad. And I’m pretty sure that the old bastard only married her because of Grandma’s money. He probably figured that she’d be dead by now, instead of being as healthy as a horse.”
“Money?” Frankie was fascinated in spite of himself. It was like some sort of strange Minnesota soap opera.
“Oh, ya. Grandma’s loaded. You know all of these houses around us?” he waved a vague hand in the air.
“Yes.”
“Well, this entire suburb used to be part of Hard Acre. Grandma sold all the acreage to a developer about twenty years ago, and made a killing. You wouldn’t know it, though, seeing the way we live. But the old lady won’t spend a dime that she doesn’t have to – it’s just another way that she controls us. Roger works because he wants money to get the hell out of here, which I can’t blame him for. I’m just too lazy to work, that’s all,” he added with a crooked, charming smile. “Or otherwise I’d do it too.”
“I see,” Frankie remarked.
Seth shrugged while lying down. “Yeah, that’s our twisted, fucked-up family. Ma’s still doing penance for cheating on Dad, and also slaving away for her mother like she’s done all her life. Dad’s a religious nut, Roger has no sense of humor and works his tail off, Grandma’s a control freak, poor Elena knows that she’s not wanted and that Dad hates her, and I’m a lazy, no-good fag who’ll fuck anything that moves. Not to mention the freaky live-in poor relations. No offense, Frankie,” he added.
“None taken,” Frankie said slowly. Dear Lord, what had he gotten himself into! And how could he get out of it? He was already enrolled, his classes started Monday. And he couldn’t afford to get a place around here; apparently the prices were terrible even for a small apartment. If he wasted his money renting, he’d be back in the same situation he’d been in California. Fuck.
Seth was watching him with bright eyes, clearly amused by his reaction. “Bet you’re wondering why the hell you took Ma up on her offer, aren’t you?” he said.
Since that was exactly what he’d been thinking, Frankie didn’t know what to say. But Seth read his face accurately and laughed. “Don’t feel bad, I’d be thinking the same way if I were in your shoes. But if you like, I can help you feel more at home…” he added with a leer.
“No, thank you,” Frankie said tartly.
Seth raised his brows. “Why not?” he asked, sounding genuinely curious.
Frankie sighed. “Because while you’re a good-looking and sexy guy, Seth…” he grimaced as Seth visibly preened, “I’m not interested in sleeping with a guy who sleeps with anything that moves. Been there, done that; and it was a very dissatisfying experience. I don’t want to do it again.” His voice was flat and final, and Seth accepted this with equanimity.
“Okay, it was just a thought. I mean, we’re living in the same house and everything, and we’re both gay…”
“That doesn’t mean we should sleep together,” Frankie said, his lips quirking up in a rueful smile. Seth’s charm was potent and hard to resist, and he couldn’t help but like his lascivious cousin in spite of himself.
Seth pursed his lips. “Well, it seems like a good idea to me. But then, I’m a slut,” he said cheerfully as he sat up on the bed. “Anyway, dinner will be ready in a few hours.” Seeing the apprehension on Frankie’s face, he grinned. “Fortunately for all of us, Ma is doing the cooking tonight. I think that’s because Grandma got pissed about the food last night, and let Ma out of her slavery for a few hours to go toil in the kitchen and make some real food. Which is something for Dad to pray for in thanks, if nothing else.” He flipped a hand and wandered out of Frankie’s room, leaving a bemused Frankie with a lot to think about.
Dinner was much better that evening. But the heavy tension among the family members was still there, and the silence at the head of the table was thick and solid. Aaron scowled at every member of his family, Meredith stared down at her plate, Roger ate his dinner grimly, Rena stuffed her face phlegmatically, and the creepy Eric snuffled at his food and glared at Frankie alternately. Only Seth and Elena talked, and they had a lively conversation with Frankie in whispered tones as they ate.
Seth told Elena all about Frankie’s new guy, that gorgeous neighbor from next door. He smirked at Frankie as he told her, and Elena shook her red head. “Wow, lucky,” she hissed. “I’ve seen that guy, he is a GOD.”
Frankie moved uncomfortably in his chair. “He is pretty good-looking,” he admitted.
She snorted. “That’s such an understatement! Although he’s not any better looking than Bryan,” she added in satisfaction.
“Bryan?”
Seth grinned. “Elena’s boyfriend, don’t tell anyone,” he said softly, putting a finger to his lips.
“Why not?” Frankie asked in puzzlement.
Elena grimaced as Seth rolled his eyes. “Dad would have a fit,” Seth explained in disgust. “He doesn’t think she should date AT ALL. A good Christian girl doesn’t date in high school, it might lead to…FORNICATION,” his voice was droll.
Frankie almost snorted mashed potatoes up his nose at Seth’s tone of voice and the gargoylish way that he scrunched up his face as he gave forth this proclamation. Elena giggled at his expression. “And you’d know all about that,” she pointed out to her brother drolly.
He smiled wickedly. “We all have to be good at something,” he remarked.
She tilted her head to the side. “That’s true,” she conceded. “Maybe you should finish Dad off and go into prostitution, so you can make some money off of your gift.”
He chuckled. “Why not? Best way ever to make money.”
Frankie grinned to himself as he ate his dinner. Seth and Elena were great fun, and almost made up for the rest of the family. Almost. And at least the food was good tonight. After dinner, Aaron pushed his way back from the table. He stood up and left without saying another word to his ‘devil spawn’ of a family. Meredith sighed softly and began to clean the table, with the help of the plodding Rena. Eric grabbed a last piece of cake and stuffed it into his mouth, sneering at Frankie. Then he left to do whatever he did in the evening, something that Frankie didn’t even want to speculate about. Roger sat down in front of the TV once more, while Elena left to do her homework. She’d told him that she had a 3.8 grade average, and that her intent was to get a scholarship so that she could go to college as far away from Minnesota as was humanly possible. He couldn’t blame her at all for that. And Seth breezed out the door with a wave, intent on picking up his latest one-night stand.
Frankie went back up to his room to start reading one of his textbooks and make some notes. As he passed that certain room upstairs, he felt those eyes on him once more. The door creaked shut after he had passed, and Frankie shook off his uneasiness as best he could as he closed his own bedroom door behind him. Lord, Grandma gave him the creeps. Even more than Eric, and that was saying something.
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