Page 95 of Rockwell Academy: The Twist

There’s an uneasy truce between me and Frankie. Despite proving myself loyal, he remains guarded and I kind of get that. I’m always guarded for a good reason. We have a business to protect and many of our enemies will look for any way in to the organization. My entire life I’ve been guarded for that reason and now, here at Rockwell, a little of my guard is slipping. I credit Summer for that because in wanting her I had to reveal a part of my soul and nobody is more surprised than me that I like it.

Tonight, we are throwing yet another party at The Elusive House. The second Claiming challenge is tomorrow and it will be business. Now it’s all pleasure, and I’m curious to experience a party with Summer—rather than just watching her longingly from a distance.

As I head into the basement, a few of the others are here already and Santi grins. “Hey, Luca, did you hear the news?”

“What news?” I grab a beer and join them on a nearby couch and Santi grins.

“Principal Constable announced Rockwell’s prom date. It will be interesting to see who is crowned King & Queen. Mymoney is on Frankie and Cassie but Ali is backing you and Summer.”

“It’s irrelevant.” I shrug, the cool beer sliding down my throat, a welcome start to my evening.

“It’s got a theme.”

I resist yawning because how old is this guy?

I say nothing and he obviously doesn’t register my disinterest because his grin splits his face. “Masked fantasy.”

“You won’t need a costume then.”

Ali chuckles as Santi shrugs. “What can I say, I work out a lot and the rugged era is in.”

Santi has decided to resemble a bearded Yeti this semester, his light brown hair slightly longer and his bushy beard left his chin ages ago.

“The chicks love it.” He smiles, revealing his reasoning behind it and Ali shrugs.

“I’m more of a vampire myself. It’s hard to beat the adrenalin rush of sucking the neck of a willing virgin.”

“You’re both sick.”

Frankie enters with Jesse and Santi yells, “What are you going as, Frankie, vampire or werewolf?”

“I’m disinterested, dress up for me involves a golden mask and hooded cloak.”

Jesse raises his eyes. “That would be cool. We could dress as centurions and save on the costumes.”

“And draw attention to our project?”

Frankie shakes his head. “No, the costumes remain the dungeons. It helps create the desired effect when the challengers come across us for the first time.”

Cassie and Siri wander in deep in conversation with their heads together and I’m amused when Frankie’s attention is now firmly focused on one thing only – her. Despite the fact they have been steady for a while now, their attraction only increasesand I kind of get that. If Summer was here now I wouldn’t be interested in anyone else and as Cassie and Siri pass us, Siri adds, “Have you heard about the prom?”

Cassie nods, her eyes lit like a beacon. “I can’t wait. I love shit like that. We should so go all in for our costumes.”

“What shall we go as?”

It’s as if we aren’t here as they chat shit about what they’ll wear and Frankie shakes his head in exasperation.

“Why is there so much excitement over a freaking prom? We party most nights anyway, I don’t get their enthusiasm.”

“Beats me.”

My heart lifts when Summer and Imogen head into the basement on the tail of a few other couples who are on the guest list.

I sense Frankie’s scrutiny as my eyes meet his sister’s and it’s as if she lit a line of gunpowder that shoots straight to my heart. Summer is incredibly beautiful on a normal day but tonight she is almost god like. Her dark hair is long and curls to her shoulders, the tight jeans reminding what her curves feel like. The top she is wearing is plunging at the neck, revealing the voluptuous swell of her breasts.

Her gaze settles on me and her eyes flash with passion and if I imagined a warrior queen, she would be here right now in human form. Summer Majerio is exactly what I wished for and I will not fuck this up or let anyone else do it for me.

As she wanders over, she sits beside me with a shy smile and as my arm settles around her, she leans into me and rests her head on my shoulder, regarding the scene playing out around us as if we are mere spectators, secure that we are both exactly where we want to be.

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