CASTAWAY ⚓ R.C, J.M

T E N

The sun hadn't fully risen yet. It peaked over the horizon in the hazy sky teasing a warm summer's day. The Pogues sated their hunger the second they docked back at the Chateau. Frankie had offered to order breakfast and nobody dared turn their nose up at the gesture, too hungry to care how they got food. They had all sat together in an awkward silence filled with grumbling stomachs and loud chewing. After they had naturally began to split up.

Harley sat with Frankie on the Chateau steps. His anger at the Charleston situation had waned, but Harley could tell he didn't like being around John B. His cold glances towards the boy was obvious. Frankie had a tick, the left corner of his mouth twitched down and he ran his tongue along his cheek. It wasn't exactly subtle, but if you didn't know him then you might not catch on.

Frankie didn't have any reason to not like John B specifically. JJ she could understand since he was her boyfriend and Frankie was extremely protective. He hadn't been weird with Pope so she didn't understand, but she didn't want to bring it up. Just in case she was imagining it.

"What did Carla want?"

Harley shrugged. "She kept rambling about some key to unlock a cross or something. I don't know. she sounded crazy."

"Her and Renfield are the psychos of the family. Stay away from them from now on, ok? I don't care what shit your friends say."

Harley nodded. She wouldn't willing go anywhere near them again. The ordeal had shaken her up and reminded her just why she was right to fear being in Renfield's presence.

"Thank you for coming to get me and for going back to help my friends."

Frankie's nonchalant shrug challenged the smirk already tugging at his lips. His hazel eyes met Harley's briefly and glinted. "Don't mention it because I definitely will." He ruffled her hair and pulled her in for a side hug before she could whine. "I don't know what your friends are up to. I'm not sure if I care yet. just warn them off our estranged relatives, please. I can't play the hero brother twenty four seven, I have things to do. People to see."

"Sir, yes Sir."

Frankie chuckled. "Are you going to head back with me? I'm not sure mom and dad believe you love school enough to stay there for over forty eight hours."

School was not in Harley's top ten favourite things, let alone top fifty. "What? No cover story."

"Nah. I just told dad you went to visit his sister. He didn't seem pleased but I let him know you would try your hardest not to bump into Renfield." Sarcasm drawled from Frankie as he rolled his eyes. "I told them you came back here after school. I dropped you off and you'd come back in a day or two. I said your friend had family drama so you invited them here."

"Which friend?"

Frankie nodded towards the two girls sat a little way off on a log chatting away. "That girl that's been staring daggers at me non-stop since I got here."

"Oh, Kiara."

"What's her problem? You'd think she'd stop with the glares since I got them away from Renfield."

"She's probably just being a good friend. You weren't here for a year and all of the other stuff with Billie and having people watch me." Frankie folded his arms. "You did also ditch them with Renfield."

Frankie had made it abundantly clear that Harley was his priority so the indifference on his face didn't surprise her. "I made sure they'd get away. I'm not an asshole."

"Beg to differ," Harley muttered looking the opposite way.

"Oh really?"

Harley tried to hide her smile but failed when she became airborne. Her giggles filled the air followed by a shriek when Frankie fake dropped her, catching her at the last minute. "See, not an asshole, Copycat."