Best friends Frankie and Penelope have just arrived in the Valley seeking to escape the past. All they needed was each other and a fresh start. They make new friends and potentially find love. Unbeknownst to them, they stumble upon a war between two...
The next week or so was awkward, to put it lightly. Though autumn had made its full appearance, it still felt like summer. At least when it came to the atmosphere.
With the return of Robby Keene, everything stirred up again. Emotions Demetri didn't even want to touch regurgitated with a bitter taste. He felt as though he was at a fork in the road and he had to make a decision based on an unspoken but clear question. Who would he choose? His friend or his girlfriend?
One path had Robby on it, who had explained himself adequately after some sit down and discussion with an officer and a youth representative. How he acted in the fight was rationale for the circumstances, responding to everything out of self preservation and fear. He responded with anger so quickly, but it made sense. At least to him.
Meanwhile, Frankie's anger was burning brighter while Robby's had subsided in favor of guilt.
Most people wondered how he was going to live with the girl he had almost fatally injured. When asked about it, Penelope waved her hand, dismissing the issue entirely. She didn't seem bothered that Robby was staying at her house. It made Demetri realize that she wasn't the one everyone needed to worry about.
Penelope was sweet and caring, possibly too naive. It was possible that she forgave too easily. Frankie was her opposite.
She was hot-headed and tempestuous with strong opinions. Once she made up her mind about something, that was it. Frankie didn't back down and she made sure she was heard. Mix that attitude with her protective Ness over the ones she loves and it's the perfect storm of anger and aggression.
That being said, Frankie rarely stayed home anymore. She usually stayed in her room, but now she could be found out and about or at Demetri's house. He didn't mind, but it made him nervous; she wasn't talking to her family very much nowadays. At least she wasn't talking about them very much.
When they went to school, Frankie hung around but she didn't say much because Robby was around. It got to the point she was getting up early in the morning to go with her dad to school instead of carpooling with Demetri, who didn't mind driving Penelope and Robby to and from school. Then, once they were at school, she lingered.
Wherever Robby was, Frankie wasn't. She didn't want to be near him, but she stayed close. Keeping her distance, she watched over Penelope.
Demetri knew it was only a matter of time before something happened, though. It had been days of tension oozing off of his girlfriend. She liked to release the stress, she liked to ride him like it was the end of the world, hard and loud, not that he minded. Watching the bliss overtake her, her mouth falling open to moan his name, made him happy in ways he couldn't describe; seeing the pleasure he gave her pleased him and he wanted nothing more than to make her happy.
However, he knew those blissful moments couldn't last. If her patience was a rubber band, it was pulled taut and was ready to snap at any moment. He was waiting for her to break, anticipating a fiery reaction.
Demetri groaned as he rubbed his eyes, folding his laptop down as prepared to take a much needed break. He felt like he'd been staring at the screen for hours, but very little had actually gotten done. It was hard to concentrate when there were other pressing matters at hand, though he cared for the small project he was working on, too, it just wasn't as important as what he was thinking of. He usually didn't let anything bother him when it came to school work, but he supposed that was different when one had a girlfriend.
He sighed, leaning back in the chair. He kept his hands over his eyes as he tried to work out all the complications in his head. Frankie or Robby?How did someone choose between a friend and their girlfriend?
Demetri didn't know. He couldn't conjure up an answer and it troubled him. All he knew was that it didn't feel right to choose, but it also didn't feel good to say he couldn't. No one was wrong, right?
Then his phone pinged. That was a good distraction.
Frankie Halloween party Sat. U in?
Demetri Sounds fun I assume there will be costumes
Frankie Yep U gonna dress up?
Demetri Most Def Are you?
Frankie Ofc Halloween is awesome
Demetri What are you dressing as?
Frankie That's a secret 😏 But Penelope and I r going to match
Demetri Is that a hint?
Frankie I was just sharing but if u wanna guess b my guest
Demetri Daphne and Velma?
Frankie Nope
Demetri Dang Ghosts?
Frankie No
Demetri Well then
Frankie Guess u'll have to wait and see What r u gonna b?
Demetri Idk yet I'll have something by Saturday though
Frankie Can't w8 😈
Demetri Why the devil smile?
Frankie No reason
Demetri That doesn't make me feel better
Frankie It's just an emoji
Demetri Yeah and you don't use those
Frankie I use those sometimes
Demetri Sometimes
Frankie JFC I can feel ur sarcasm thru the phone
Demetri It's a talent few possess
Frankie I didn't say it was a good thing
Demetri Well then
Frankie I didn't say it was bad either Tho I can think of other things that smart mouth of urs can do
Demetri Oh really? Like what?
Frankie I think u know
Demetri I think I do
Frankie Wanna put ur mouth to use?
Demetri My mom's not home
Frankie I'm not home but I'll b there in ten
Demetri See you soon 👅
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
~~~
I kind of hate this chapter... but I'm glad I got it done. So here it is.
