The Price of Falling

Chapter 9

I walked up the stairs of Jack's parent's house and went towards the guest bathroom on the second floor. It was locked, so I knocked. I heard someone yell, "Just a minute!" I backed against the wall and waited for whoever was occupying the bathroom to come out. A second later, Frankie stepped out of the door. He smiled at me. But, this smile was different than the one he'd given me in the kitchen.Something was familiar about his smile, but not in a good way, and it unnerved me. "Hey there, Ruthie," he said, his voice deep.

"Hey, Frankie," I smiled politely at him. I tried to step by him to get to the bathroom, but he moved so that he was in front of me.

"So, I've been meaning to ask you this question," he said.

"What's that?" I asked. I heard the music change downstairs.

"You know, you've changed a lot the last couple of years. Physically, I mean," Frankie continued.

"Thanks?" the word came out as more of a question. I really wasn't sure how he expected me to respond to that. Frankie stepped closer to me, and I instinctively backed up.

"So, I was wondering. You still a virgin, Smithey?" He smiled that creepy smile again. He took another step towards me, and I backed up again, stepping into a doorway. Frankie kept walking and I kept going backwards into a guest bedroom. I did not like where this was leading.

"I really don't see how that's any of your business, Frankie," I tried to sound firm, but I think my voice came out as more of a squeak.

"Oh, come on Ruthie, don't be like that. Just tell me," he said, his voice oozing with something I couldn't quite put my finger on. His eyes narrowed.

"I just need to go to the bathroom, Frankie. Please, can I just go use the restroom?" I asked. I was practically begging him to just let me out of that room.

"I will when you answer my question, Ruthie," He got very close to me and I was frantically looking for a way to get past him and out the bedroom door.

"Please, Frankie," I tried to step around him, and his arm flew up, stopping me. He closed his arm around me and and was holding me. I was genuinely scared at this point, and hoping with everything in me that Molly or Jason or anyone would come upstairs. "Frankie, let me go," I said, my voice thick with fear.

"Answer my question, and I'll let you go, Ruthie. Are you a virgin?" He prodded again.

I didn't know if he would really let me go, but I figured it was my only shot, so I said, "Yes. I am."

"Well then," he laughed. "Looks like we might have to change that, Smithey." Frankie picked me up and tried to carry me towards the bed. I stomped on his toe, but he just laughed again. My kick hadn't even phased him. At that moment I wished more than anything that I had worn steel toed boots or that I was fat. Anything that might prompt him to let me go. My knees hit the bed, and Frankie's other hand gripped my braid and yanked my head back to expose my neck. I was starting to regret wearing my hair this way. I tried to free my arms to push him away, but his grip only tightened. He leaned his head down and his mouth was centimeters away from my neck.

"I think that's enough, Wilkinson," I heard Conner's voice from the doorway. I never thought I would be happy to see Conner Price, but in that moment, I loved the way his figure looked standing there.

"Mind your business, Price," Frankie said, and tried to continue with what he was doing. But he didn't get to finish, because Conner picked him up by his sweatshirt and slammed him up against the wall. He pulled Frankie from the wall and then slammed him against it again.