Maybe we can switch?

Maybe we should swap?

Through Ines's Eyes

Why the hell did he call me? Now I'm sitting here watching you drag your sneaker toe across the floor, rummaging through the nightstand, and I can't even look up because I know the fire in my eyes is very noticeable right now.

You're mumbling something about Carrie... yeah, Carrie, your eternal love... It makes me sick when I remember how she hugged your shoulder yesterday and then sort of accidentally slid her hand down... And you went to smoke in the bathroom. Who are you kidding? I know perfectly well you don't smoke...

The phone rang. A text from Dave. "Where are you?" I start typing a reply, and you're still mumbling something.

Damn it, Frank, shut up!

"I'm at Frank's."

 — Are you listening to me?

I look up.

 — Sorry, no.

"What the hell are you doing there?"

 — I was talking about the song, didn't you hear that either?

About the song? Oh, right, Carrie wrote some song and asked you to read it...

 — I heard. Give me that... song.

"Reading the song."

I take the paper in my hands. What the hell is this?!

 — Turn it over, — Frank's slightly mocking voice gets on my nerves. I turn it over.

"Found the time! Get over to my place now."

Damn, Carrie's handwriting is a mess, can't make out a thing!

"Can't. Reading the song."

Gradually, as I read the lines, I realize it's incredible. Such lyrics... So many different emotions, experiences...

"What the hell kind of song is it, damn it?"

What kind of song, what kind of song... A fantastic song. Damn it, Carrie, you're a genius... you play keyboards, you sing, and now you've decided to write songs too?

"Carrie wrote it. I'm in shock."

I finish reading and hand the paper back to Frank.

 — Beautiful, right? — he asks impatiently.

 — Very, — I catch my breath. The phone rings again.

 — Damn it, stop texting already, Ines!

 — Yeah, yeah, just a second...

"Carrie can write?! I'm shocked too. Don't scare me. Be in my room in two minutes, or I'll strangle you."

 — Frank, I'll run over to Dave's for five minutes, then I'll come back and we'll continue.

I leave the room. Continue what? We haven't even started anything yet.

Carrie, damn her... She's smart, it would be fine, if not for her crazy attachment to Frank... to my Frank...

I stop by Dave's door, rub my eyes with my hands, and go in.

 — Good girl, I thought you weren't coming, — he's sprawled on the bed clicking the remote.

 — Carrie wrote a song... — I sit on the bed next to him, Dave's hand immediately goes under my t-shirt.

 — Type it into the computer, we'll look at it later, — his voice doesn't even change, just runs his cold fingers along my spine. — Writing songs is my prerogative. Where did Carrie get this poetic gift?

I know. But how do I tell Dave? I turn my head, and it suddenly dawns on him.

 — Ahhh... — and his eyes become as big as saucers, — so Carrie and Frank...

I nod, turning my head away. Damn that Carrie. For the umpteenth time today.

 — That's your prerogative, remember? — I turn onto my stomach, look into his beautiful dark eyes. He tilts his head slightly, kisses me. He smells of mint gum and spicy cologne. Can't say I don't love him. I guess I do. But still, Frank... That's a whole different story.

 — What are you thinking about?

I look up.

 — Oh... About Frank...

God, did I say that out loud?!

 — And about Carrie, — I decide to add.

 — What about her?

"She's a bitch," — is on the tip of my tongue. But I say something else.

 — Oh, that song of hers... You know, it's beautiful. Probably should be something slow. We'll need to figure it out, I'm not really good with that, you know.

I sit up, brush myself off — Dave's whole bed is covered in crumbs.

 — Clean up, you slob, — he slaps my butt in response.

 — Where are you going?

 — To Frank's. Need to figure out this song.

 — If you see Carrie there, tell her I'm waiting for her in my room.

I nod and leave. Hmm, interesting, first he was waiting for me in his room, now Carrie... Does he set up dates like this for everyone?

God, am I jealous? It would be stupid to be jealous, considering Dave doesn't even suspect I'm in love with my best friend's guy.

By the way, if Dave really likes Carrie... Although, what am I saying... He just wanted to ask about the song, that's all, and I'm already... However, if Carrie does like Dave, we could... swap, or something...

I go back into Frank's room. You're sitting with your back to me, texting. Well, well, and you were scolding me...

 — Where were you? — doesn't even turn his head.

 — At Dave's.

 — What did you talk about?

 — About Carrie's song.

 — So, how's the song?

 — Great song, — I sit back down on the bed.

 — Type it into your laptop, we'll need to figure out the music later.

 — Dave said the same thing. He invited Carrie over now, obviously to chat about it.

 — Invited her? — Frank straightens up, looks at the door and seems to tense up, — you know, Dave and Carrie... lately... haven't you noticed?

I try to hide all emotions behind a cough.

 — No, haven't noticed, — I lean back on my elbows, peek over your shoulder at your phone. A text conversation with Ron.

 — What are you and Ron talking about? — I point with my eyes at the phone. Frank immediately closes all the messages.

 — None of your business, — he snaps at me too sharply and stands up.

 — Come on, I was just curious, — I watch him indifferently, — why are you so tense about Carrie? Is there something between you?

 — Maybe, — Frank replied and headed to the bathroom.

 — Maybe... as if I don't see... think I'm blind? — I mutter quietly under the sound of hissing water rushing from the tap.

 — What are you mumbling about? — his voice comes from the bathroom.

 — Oh, nothing...

I glance again at the paper with the song — it's still lying here. I read the lines. They just draw me in. "And the light of your eyes is like a lifebuoy for me, as if I'm flying like a moth towards it..." Well, yeah, you could get confused, but if you put it to music, it'll probably turn out amazing.

The door opens, and Carrie peeks into the room.

 — Weren't you taught to knock? — I ask too rudely.

 — Is Frank in the shower? — ignoring my question, Carrie asks.

 — In the shower. Dave invited you to his room, — and I watch her reaction. None. Or maybe it's just composure.

 — He did? What for? — but her voice still changed slightly.

 — No idea.

 — Okay. Tell Frank I stopped by, left the keys, — she puts something on the TV stand and is about to leave.

 — Carrie! — she turns around. — The song is awesome.

 — Thanks, — she smiles and leaves.

I feel like going to play the bass. Play, for example, Ein Neuer Tag. Frank comes out of the shower, hair wet, droplets running down his bare back. I want to go over and trace a droplet's path first with my finger, then with my tongue. And also lightly bite his cervical vertebra, there it is sticking out, just calling... And kiss the hollow between his collarbones, then behind the ear...

Damn it. Well, great. I lower my eyes. Frank walks around the room, obviously looking for something.

 — Ines, have you seen the keys?

 — What keys? Oh! Carrie stopped by, brought them.

 — She was here? — Frank stops dead in his tracks. — Why didn't you call me?

 — I didn't dare interrupt your water procedures, Herr Listing. There they are, by the TV.

Frank turns, still drying his hair with a towel, and bends over to the TV stand. That was the last straw. Maybe I'll regret it later, but right now I don't give a damn about anything.

I jump up first to the door and lock it, then to Frank, still standing in a sea creature pose, and press myself against his wet back. He shudders, straightens up.

 — Ines, what are you doing?

I inhale the scent of his hair... Finally fulfilling my long-standing desire — I trace a path with my lips from his cervical vertebra to his ear, one arm wraps around his waist, the other buries itself in his hair, pulling him to me.

 — Ines, don't... — Frank whispers quietly and hotly, tilting his head forward. Now I definitely won't stop... I turn Frank to face me, see confusion and at the same time excitement in his eyes. I run my fingers over his cheeks, gently and at the same time passionately sink into his lips. He responds uncertainly at first, then with the same fervor.

Our tongues intertwine, as if playing, and his fingers have long since been pulling off my t-shirt. The light is bothering me... Breaking away from his amazing lips for a second, I pull the t-shirt over my head and immediately turn off the light. Everything flies to the floor — who cares, I move backwards towards the bed, lie down, Frank lies on top of me, and it's so arousing that all thoughts just vanish from my head. I wrap my legs around him, my body feels how much he wants... I stroke Frank's back, sides, he presses against me, so hot that I just can't hold back anymore... Frank touches my neck with his lips, kisses lightly, bites the skin a little, runs his tongue over it, and leaves another hickey.

I whisper his name almost inaudibly, throwing my head back and digging my fingers into his back. Covering everything within reach, that is, within lip's reach, with small, hot kisses, he tries to deal with the zipper on my jeans — his hands are shaking with excitement and he can't see a damn thing in the dark.

 — I want you... — Frank whispers, and that just blows my mind. It's about to happen...

Suddenly, someone knocks on the door.

 — Young people, not that I want to distract you from your undoubtedly highly intellectual marathon, but we're all gathering in the lobby, a new song is on the agenda. You have two minutes, otherwise... well, you get the idea.

When Dave walked away from our door, I groaned in disappointment. Frank runs his hand over my cheek.

 — Five seconds, — and he kisses me so that my head starts spinning, there's catastrophically little air, but damn, it feels so good!

Finally, I tear myself away from him with difficulty.

 — We'll continue, — I whisper, fastening my jeans back up and groping on the floor for my t-shirt. — I won't let you go that easily.

Frank giggles in a completely childish way and turns on the light. At first I squint, can't make out anything, then I get up, Frank is already dressed and has gone to the door.

 — Frank... — I run up to him and look into his steel-gray eyes. They always glow with warmth, but I feel it, I know they don't promise me anything good...

 — What? — he smiles.

 — Nothing. Let's go, the guys are waiting.

The lobby seems crowded, though there are only seven people. I see Carrie whispering something in Dave's ear, he smiles a not-so-innocent smile. He notices me and frowns. Obviously, I still have that wild look on my face, since he made such a grimace. Frank also saw that whispering and that smile, and the same thoughts crossed his mind