Chapter Text
It was around 10pm when Frankie was finally ready to go home after a long day at Greendale. She usually wouldn’t be working so late, but she had a ton of paperwork to complete regarding the school’s insurance. Realistically, she could’ve waited until tomorrow to finish, but she didn’t want to leave any chance for the Dean to impulsively mess something up.
She walked down the halls, the only sound being the clicking of her heels. Most of Greendale’s staff left immediately after classes ended, and even the ones that didn’t never stayed this late. Needless to say, she was surprised when she saw the lights on in Jeff’s classroom. She walked up to the door and knocked firmly.
“Who is it?” Jeff shouted.
“It’s Frankie. Can I come in?” she asked cautiously.
He merely replied with a loud grunt. Frankie rolled her eyes and opened the door anyway.
“Is everything… okay?” Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the man.
Jeff was blatantly drunk. He was sitting haphazardly in his chair with his legs up on his desk, drinking bourbon directly from the bottle.
“Jeff,” she sighed. “We’ve talked about this.”
“Yeah, yeah. No booze in the school or whatever,” he slurred. “We could lose our insurance, yada yada yada, who cares?”
“I do,” she said sternly. “And you should, too. I could report you for this.” He merely chuckled in response.
“Yeah, but you won’t.”
“Excuse me?” she questioned, walking over to his desk.
“You won’t report me. You’re too desperate for the committee’s approval,” he said casually.
Frankie tried to ignore the way the comment stung. She knew he was just drunk. He probably didn’t even know what he was saying, and he definitely didn’t mean it.
“You’re drunk,” she stated.
“Yeah, duh,” he rolled his eyes and took another swig from the bottle.
She sighed and looked down at him sadly. He had been doing so well. Last she had heard, he had removed all the alcohol from his room. Something had to have happened to bring this on.
“What’s going on, Jeff?” she asked softly.
“Nothing. God, why does everybody keep asking that?”
“Because we care about you,” she said. He scoffed at the comment.
“Please, you just want to fix me just like how you try to fix everyone all of the time. Well, you know what? I don’t need fixing, I’m fine,” he said defensively.
“No, you’re not,” she sighed. “So I’ll ask you again. What’s going on?”
He took another sip of bourbon and looked down at the ground. Frankie was beginning to worry he wouldn’t say anything. That would mean things were a lot worse than usual. Luckily, he eventually spoke.
“Annie’s gone,” he stated sadly.
“She’s been gone for a month, Jeff,” she said. “A month isn’t forever.”
“It will be. She’s gone, and she’s never coming back.”
Frankie wished she had the right words to say to him, but her mind was completely blank. She was brilliant when it came to logistical problem solving, but she had never been very good at handling the emotional side of things.
“And the dumbest thing is,” he laughed bitterly. “I really thought I had a chance.”
“Jeff, I don’t fully know what the two of you had-“
“No, you don’t,” he shot back. “And, honestly, I don’t either. I always thought she was the hopeless romantic, but I guess that it was me all along. She’s young, and pretty, and smart, and she’s going to be so successful. And what am I doing? Rotting away at this goddamn school!”
Frankie frowned. She knew all too well that it was hard to work with someone that had such a negative perception of themselves. No matter how she tried to spin it, she wouldn’t be able to change his mind.
“Annie…. really cares about you, Jeff,” she started. “She won’t forget about you.”
“Feels like she already has,” he murmured.
He looked up at her, and the two locked eyes. Frankie had a bad feeling about his glossy stare. Jeff was incredibly unpredictable when he was drunk, and she wasn’t sure she liked where this was going.
“You know, you look so much like her,” he slurred. “You act like her, too. Like an older, more secure version.”
“Jeff-“
“You’re really pretty,” he interrupted. He stood up and leaned over his desk.
Frankie felt the discomfort grow in her chest. This could get very unprofessional very quickly. She was against workplace relationships in general, but she was especially against Jeff making a move on her. After all, he wasn’t exactly her type.
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” she said nervously. “You’re going to regret this once you’re sober.”
“Who said I’m getting sober?” he laughed. “I think I’ll stay like this forever. It’s better this way and… God, you are so beautiful…”
He forcefully grabbed her by the shoulders and smashed his lips into hers. Frankie had to suppress a shriek at the sudden advance. She quickly pushed him away and stepped backwards in shock.
“What the hell?” she shouted. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Aw, come on, Franks,” he said. “You’re hot, I’m hot…. like… really hot. You can’t tell me you’re not into this.”
She just stared at him blankly. How was she even supposed to respond to something like that? She was in way over her head.
“Okay, first of all, this is completely inappropriate,” she started. “I could have your ass fired in an instant for sexual assault. Second, you are not into me. You just miss Annie.”
“You’re better than Annie,” he insisted. “She’s always talking about how I’m older and I have to embrace that. Well, guess what? You’re older, and you won’t leave me.”
He smiled widely, and Frankie would be lying if she said it didn’t scare her. He had never been this bad before. There was no way of knowing what he would do next, and, frankly, it was terrifying.
“This is what I need,” he stated. “I need you. I need to be with you, and then I’ll be whole again.”
“Jeff, no,” she argued. “You shouldn’t need another person to make you feel complete, and even if you did, I am definitely not that person.”
“We have chemistry. You can’t deny it,” he smirked. “And, I mean, look at me. I am a work of art.”
“I don’t want this, Jeff,” she warned.
“I think you do, Frankie,” he laughed erratically. “You act like a lone wolf, but I know that’s not how you really feel. You want someone. You want me.”
She had been growing more and more impatient throughout the conversation, and that comment was the final straw. She should’ve stopped herself. She knew it was unnecessary. She knew she would regret it, but she blurted out the confession anyway.
“Jesus Christ, Jeff. I’m gay!”
Her hand flew to her mouth immediately after she said it. She felt a panic rise within her, and she wished she could take the words back. She had never wanted her coworkers to know her sexuality. She had made that very clear, but that was only half of it. She didn’t want her friends, which is what she considered Jeff at this point, to know her sexuality. It had only caused problems in the past, and she was finally starting to feel comfortable at Greendale. She inhaled sharply and tried to force the thoughts away. She looked up at Jeff and tried to decipher his expression, but she had no idea what he was thinking.
“Pfft, you think I care about that?” he asked. “If anything that’s kinda hot. I’ve dated bisexual girls. In fact, I’m pretty sure Annie has-“
“I am not Annie!” she shouted. She surprised herself with how forcefully it came out. “And I am not bisexual. I am attracted to women and women only.”
“But- I-“ Jeff floundered with his words, which was incredibly out of character for him.
His face contorted desperately, and he leaned in even closer. Frankie cringed at the smell of alcohol on his breath, but she didn’t flinch. She was not going to back down.
“I- I need this,” he said softly. “I need you, please.”
He reached out to touch her face, and all of the professionalism she had left vanished. She grabbed his hand and pushed it back towards him.
“You do not need me,” she said sharply. “You need therapy. You need rehab. You need to get your shit together.”
She walked towards the door and was planning on leaving it at that, but something inside her made her stop and turn around.
“I am reporting this, by the way,” she said. “HR will not take it lightly. You better sober up and have a damn good speech prepared in the morning if you want to have any chance of getting out of this.”
She slammed the door on the way out and continued down the hallway. She was back to where she started ten minutes ago, walking through the empty building with the sound of her heels echoing off the walls, but everything felt different. Jeff was the one that fucked up. He was the one that needed to apologize, so why did she feel so shitty? She planned on cracking open a bottle of wine when she got home, and, yes, she recognized the irony.
She exited the building and walked towards her car. The sun had completely set, leaving the parking lot dark and cold. She made a mental note to look into better outdoor lighting. She climbed into her car and was about to start the engine when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw that the caller was none other than Annie Edison.
Frankie felt uneasy as she read over the name again and again. Annie hadn’t even texted her since she left, let alone called. Something had to have happened, and she wasn’t sure she had the mental capacity to deal with another crisis that night.
After a few more rings, she decided to answer. It was better to deal with the issue directly than push it off.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Frankie,” Annie greeted, although it sounded more anxious than friendly.
“I know it’s been awhile. I’m sorry I haven’t reached out but…. have you talked to Jeff?”
Frankie froze and she felt her stomach twist in discomfort. She had no idea what had brought this on, but whatever it was could not be good.
“Why? Did something happen?” she asked.
“Uh, sorta?” Annie replied. “He sent me this… really strange text.”
“What did he say?”
“It’s… a lot,” she said, exasperated. “He basically rambled about everyone leaving, losing me, and, uh…. he mentioned you. That’s…. why I called.”
Frankie once again felt a pang of regret. There were a number of things he could’ve said about her, all of which would have been avoided if she had maintained her usual level of professionalism.
“What did he say about me?” she asked.
“He said you were his last hope. And that you… um….” she nervously hesitated, and Frankie’s worry only increased.
“He…. said you’re a lesbian. That it ruined everything.”
“Oh.” The singular word was all that Frankie could muster.
“I’m sorry,” Annie said sincerely. “I know that’s something you never wanted to talk about.”
“It’s… fine,” she replied. It wasn’t, of course, but there were much bigger problems at hand.
“Is he drinking?” the younger girl asked.
“Yes,” Frankie replied curtly.
“And… I’m assuming you talked to him?”
“Talked is an interesting way to put it,” Frankie chuckled bitterly. “But, yes. We spoke.”
There was a brief silence. Frankie had never felt so awkward, which was saying a lot.
“Is he okay?” Annie asked suddenly.
“I don’t know,” Frankie admitted. “But, to be honest, I don’t really care. Not after tonight.”
“God, what happened?”
Frankie didn’t respond. She didn’t have the energy to recall the events of her conversation with Jeff. Between the embarrassment it would cause her and the anger it would stir up, it wasn’t worth it.
“Frankie,” Annie started hesitantly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m always okay, Annie. That’s what makes me so good at what I do.” The response was cold and emotionless, and Frankie could practically hear the younger girl’s worry through the phone.
“Frankie,” she said cautiously. “Whatever happened, you can tell me. I know I have a… complicated history with Jeff, but that also means I know how much of an asshole he can be.”
The older woman didn’t respond. She wanted to discuss what happened, but she didn’t want to worry her mentee. Years of being fiercely independent had made her terrified of burdening other people with her issues. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. The words in her mind were burning in her throat, desperate to come out.
“Frankie?”
“I- um-“ she stumbled over her words.
“Jeff demonstrated behavior that was… invasive…. for the work place,” she stated. She knew it was vague, but she wanted to remain as professional as possible.
“But was it invasive… for you? Personally?” Annie asked, her voice flooded with concern.
Frankie opened her mouth to respond, but no sound came out. She tapped her fingers against the steering wheel in a desperate attempt to relieve some of the anxiety swirling within her. The reality of the situation was finally setting in, and she realized that Jeff’s unwanted advances had impacted her far more than she cared to admit.
“What did he do to you?” Annie asked. Her voice was soft, but there was an underlying current of uneasiness.
“He grabbed me. He kissed me,” she murmured.
Frankie’s confession was met with deafening silence.
“I know what you’re thinking, Annie,” she continued. “But it really wasn’t a big deal, just Jeff being Jeff.”
More silence.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not,” Annie’s voice was filled with undeniable anger. “You are not fine, and there is nothing wrong with that. You need to tell someone about this.”
“Annie,” Frankie sighed. She thought back to a few minutes earlier when she told Jeff she would report him. She had thought she meant it in the moment, but now the idea made her stomach churn.
“You know how Jeff is,” she continued. “He will sober up and apologize. There’s no need to bring in the higher ups.”
“I need you to answer this honestly,” Annie sighed. “If I was in your place, or Britta, or anyone else at Greendale, what would you do?”
“I would report it,” Frankie mumbled.
“Exactly! Why should it be any different with you?” Annie asked, exasperated.
Frankie didn’t respond. Instead, she stared off into the dark parking lot. She felt tears prick at her eyes, but she swallowed harshly and pushed them down.
“Look,” the younger girl continued. “I know you think you can handle this all on your own, and maybe you can, but you don’t have to. Just… think about it, okay?”
“Yeah,” Frankie agreed absentmindedly.
“Good,” she released a barely audible sigh. “I know it’s late, so I’ll let you go. Thank you for telling me what happened. And…. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Frankie responded automatically.
“I know, but… please let me know if you need anything. Even though I’m not at Greendale anymore, I’m always here for you.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Goodnight, Frankie.”
“Goodnight.” She heard a click, and Annie’s contact disappeared from her screen.
Deep breaths. In…… and out.
She would deal with it tomorrow. All she needed was some sleep. Everything was going to be okay. She was fine.