Two Summers Ago
Soft fingers brushed over equally soft skin, a slow smile spreading across lips as two hands intertwined, fingers sliding into place and resting against silk sheets before curves melted together in a perfect fit. The world continued to spin, but in the silence of a bedroom all that mattered was the breaths being shared between two people whose lips seemed magnetized together, meeting in the middle as twin giggles filled the night air and were washed away by the tick of the clock.
“Let’s stay like this forever.”
A sigh filled the air, “I wish we could.”
“We could if we wanted to, we can run away. Just you and me.”
“I have a responsibility now…”
A breathe of disappointment left parted lips and the sound was swallowed as another pair of lips captured it, breathing it into their own body as a hand came down to rest against a chest, feeling the familiar beat of a heart against a soft palm. For a long moment, the two lay in silence as reality began to slowly catch up with them. The sound of loud laughter and the drop of a bass caught their attention, the clock and sighs being a distant memory as the eldest of the pairing swallowed and shifted.
“I have to get back, they’re gonna start looking…”
“Yeah, you don’t have to explain yourself. I know.”
The ruffling of sheets became the soundtrack to the moment as the pairing separated themselves, a coldness spreading over both as they moved to pick up their clothing, lace snapping into place and jeans being pulled over legs as buttons were frantically slid back into their correct spots. For awhile, both had allowed themselves to melt away in the comfort of the other just like they did every chance they could; but eventually, the reminder of their social statues brought their bliss to a complete halt.
“Will I be seeing you soon?”
The younger of the two winced as heels clicked against the hardwood floor, a gaze raising to catch another, both looks holding two different layers of desperation; for one it was the need of a promise that this wasn’t going to be ending, and for another it was a silent plead for the other to stay. Unable to control it, a nod was given to the one standing at the door and a slow smile once again spread across full lips before pearly whites were flashed to the other who hesitantly returned the light grin given to them.
“I’ll see you soon, Frankie.”
“I’ll see you soon, Mollie.”
Present Day
“Frankie!”
The brunette gasped slightly and blinked a few times to clear the memory away before looking up into amused green eyes, a familiar smirk catching her attention as she narrowed her eyes at the sight of Lauren who dropped in the seat beside her, depositing her purse near her feet as she sighed heavily and tossed her head back. Frankie observed her cousin for a long moment, seeing the tension in the way she furrowed her brow and occasionally clenched and unclenched her jaw as she tried to smile through the pain.
“What are you doing here, Squirt?” Frankie demanded with a raised eyebrow, Lauren tilting her head upright and flashing a quick glance to the older girl before shrugging her shoulders causing her cousin to reach out and flick her ear, Lauren whining pathetically. “I’m serious, you were supposed to work today. I told you not to do anything stupid, so what happened? Another fight?”
“I wish.” Lauren snorted. “Just Normani.”
Frankie growled in her throat at the sound of the girl’s name as she restrained herself from hunting Normani down. She was sick of the girl giving Lauren a hard time, and her protective instinct was begging for her to go put Normani in her place. Ever since they had been little, Frankie had always felt an overwhelming urge to keep Lauren safe and being in this school made her feel like she could never do enough to make sure the sixteen-year-old was okay.
