Page 10 of Rockwell Academy: The Twist

“Stick or twist?”

“I am not required to answer that yet.”

I roll on top of him and waste no time, sitting astride him, my hands wrapping around his neck as I hiss, “I want your answer now, Frankie.”

His eyes spark with laughter and he grins. “Twist.”

“Fuck you.” I press down harder, my fingers tightening around his throat and I growl, “You had better be fucking joking with me, you bastard.”

“Only time will tell, baby girl.”

With a huff, I release him and spring from the bed, reaching for my clothes that lie in a discarded heap on the floor.

“Asshole.” I mumble as I pull on my clothes and he says nothing, and merely yawns loudly, apparently indifferent to my rage.

I don’t give him a second glance as I dress and then, without another word, I leave the bastard to wallow in his own game playing and slam the door behind me on the way out.

Despite my anger, my soul is supercharged because that was exactly the answer I wanted. I love his unpredictability and his cunning and devious mind. Frankie lives for the game and I hope that will never change.

To fall back into our routine would soon breed discontent and I am happy to play the game a little longer, so it keeps our passion alive.

I head downstairs to my room, one that serves as a safe space away from his mind games and as I head inside the pretty space, it’s a homecoming I am happy to make.

Unlike most of the accommodation at Rockwell, this room is pretty, tasteful and dripping in decadence because whoever designed this has extremely good taste.

“At last! Where have you been?”

A familiar voice reminds me of somebody else I’ve missed and with a squeal, I fall into the arms of my former roomie. “Siri. Oh God, I’ve missed you so much.”

I hug her hard and she returns the favor and then pulls away, wrinkling her nose in distaste. “Why aren’t I surprised to smell my cousin on you already? He’s like a rabid dog scenting his prey.”

“Is it that obvious?”

I pull away and grin at her sheepishly and she shrugs. “It doesn’t surprise me. He won’t tell you this, but he’s missed you.”

A warm flicker of happiness spreads through me as she confirms what I hoped, but never really expected.

“Did he tell you that?”

I’m aware he would never discuss actual feelings with anyone, and Siri laughs out loud. “Of course not, but Summer told me he acted differently this time. He wasn’t so feral with the ladies, at least she didn’t think he was.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

It reassures me because images of Frankie with other women played on repeat in my mind throughout the endless weeks we were apart.

“Have you seen Jack?”

Just hearing his name spill from her lips causes a sudden pain to spear my soul, and I hate how I’m affected by the idea of Jack with another girl. I’m a hypocrite and a disgusting friend because it appears that I don’t want Jack when Frankie is around, but I don’t want to think of him with anyone else either.

I hate my feelings toward him and the way I’m so selfish about his needs. I am letting us both down with my inner thoughts and I must set him free — set usbothfree to explore life apart.

“He’s around.” I shrug as I sit on the bed and she joins me.

“Did he talk about me?”

I understand the yearning in her question and seek to reassure her.

“Of course. Jack is loyal, Siri. You have no worries about that.”

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