13. Frankie

Mondays arethe universe's way of punishing us for enjoying the weekend.When I finally escape the clutches of math class, the hallways are a symphony of groans and eye rolls over the injustice of it all. Honestly, I don't get the drama. Monday is a shiny new start, a clean slate, until it inevitably descends into chaos, like today.

Keeping my head down, I slip out of the building, hopefully unseen, and dart between structures where the heavy coverage from overgrown blackberry bushes offers concealment. I need a shower, and I need to figure out exactly what I'm going to say to Tori. Guilt rolls through my stomach. She said they were dating, but I thought she only said that because she was interested in him. I hope he was just leading me on, and that they aren't something more. I don't like Tori, we've never gotten along, but I'm still a girl's girl, and Bishop Mercer is going to get what's coming to him.

Even now, as I move from building to building, hiding from Leo and Matteo with Bishop's dried seed in my panties, I know the right thing to do is to say something, even if she scoffs at me, which she probably will.

My only hope is to get to our room before Bishop, where I can have a conversation with Tori alone. I could probably fake an emergency if needed, but no, I just need to go to the room.

The tower looms ahead. It's both my favorite place on campus and the one I'm currently hiding from. Since when have I ever shied away from confrontation? My subconscious whispers to me, taunting me. It's also correct. Why am I so hung up on this? Because I actually feel guilty. Unlike the other two girls, Tori is tolerable. She's annoying, sure, and she has that big fish in a small pond mentality, but she isn't cruel like Chloe or Amanda.

She can be cruel though.

I slip through the back door, where the salty breeze from the ocean mingles with the wild chatter of students. The cacophony hits me like a wave, each voice a piercing reminder of the world I'm trying to avoid. It's as if every single junior rushed back here after classes. Lucky me. Screw it. Rolling my shoulders back, I begin my ascent up the spiral walkway. When I pass multiple people and they don't look at me, I feel a little better—not like everyone is going to look at me, point, and laugh while taunting, I know what you did.

I rush to our room, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs as I tap my feet impatiently, waiting for the door to unlock. Every second feels stretched, filled with dread and urgency. When it blinks green, I slip inside and slam the door shut behind me. I inhale too fast, making myself dizzy as I fall back against the door and look around our dorm room. I'm alone. I just need my shower caddy, and then I'm good to go. Dropping my book bag on my desk, I turn to my closet and begin to pull out clothing.

Laughter rolls through the room, underscored by an unmistakable titter. As the door clicks open, Tori storms in, mid-conversation on her phone, her tone sharp even from a distance. I can't make out the words over the clamor in my head until she ends the call with a clipped, "We'll see about that." Then, she notices me.

"What do you want?" she snaps, her irritation clear as she tosses her phone onto the bed with a little more force than necessary. She stands rigid, her posture broadcasting her readiness for a confrontation, her previous joviality on the phone nowhere to be seen.

Just say it, like ripping off a Band-Aid.

"So you two are officially an item? You and Bishop?" I blurt out, kicking myself internally. All I did was make myself look more desperate to know about Bishop. Smooth move, Frankie.

Her stance changes in a heartbeat, her posture straightening as if she's gearing up for a fight. "Yes," Tori clips out, but there's a tiny twitch in her eye that screams she isn't as sure as she sounds.

Tilting my head to the side, I catch a micro-expression—a frown. I think she's lying.

I hum under my breath. "Oh no," I drawl and chew on my lip.

"What?" she snaps, dropping her arms to her sides. She looks away, tossing her phone on her bed. "What's it to you?"

"Oh, nothing. I just thought I saw him with someone earlier."

Tori launches herself at me, her hands snapping to my arms, and she digs her fingernails into my skin through my sweater. "Who?"

"I swear I saw him with someone with dark hair in the computer lab," I say. I'm not lying, but I'm also fishing. I want to know how serious they are.

Her nails dig in a little more. "That bitch!" she screeches, dragging me closer to her. She's terrifyingly angry. "Amanda is trying to steal my man."

"So you are dating," I press.

All at once, she lets go of me, growling, "Yes, no. Well, I don't know." She peeks at me and turns away, picking up her book bag at her feet and setting it on her computer chair. I know she's biding her time, trying to find her composure. I get it, so I drop onto my chair, more curious about whatever relationship they have going on.

"How can you not know?" I ask.

"Well, his mom is the dean." She carefully stacks her books. She may look like an annoying student without a brain cell, but Tori is at the top of our class. I know better than to assume otherwise. "She called him back to teach."

She's more forthcoming than I thought she'd be.

"Well…" She tsks her tongue. "She wants to see him mated."

"Did you just say mated?" I frown and tilt my head to the side. "What the hell is that supposed to even mean?"

Her eyes go wide, and she drops a book. "Oh, I mean married." She lets out a nervous laugh. "Anyway, he also has to find a, um…" She huffs and laughs again. "You know, I can't give away his secrets."

"So you still don't know if you're dating?"

"I mean, no, but yes." She fumbles with her words.

"Answer me this," I say. "Can you date other people?"

"Oh, yeah, of course," she scoffs. "Until we are ma—engaged," she corrects herself.

She was going to say mated. Why?

"So he's out there, just spreading his seed, and you are…" I drawl.

"We are all dating. I mean, no harm, no foul." She laughs again.

"So if Amanda slept with Bishop..."

Her face freezes, her smile is forced, and her cheeks are bright red. I can hear her teeth grinding from here. "It's his choice."

Interesting.

Shaking my head, I turn back to my books and shower caddy. "Whatever weird swinging bullshit you're into, I'm pretty sure he's fooling around."

"You're just jealous," she snaps at me.

I'm not, because I'm the one sleeping with him, but I just smile at her. "Of course."

A knock sounds on the door. Good, at least this ridiculous conversation can end.

"That must be him now." Tori smirks triumphantly as the door swings open.

Tell me it isn't so. My stomach falls to the floor as she saunters to the door and swings it open.

"Bishop," she murmurs, her voice a mixture of delight and challenge.

So close.

"Victoria," he replies, and I hear kissing noises, like lips on cheeks—lips that were just all over my skin.

Tori giggles and backs away. I focus on gathering things for my shower, intent on slipping out of this room as soon as I can.

"Oh, Frankie." Bishop makes himself at home in our dorm by lounging on Tori's bed.

I want to be that bitch that just lets things roll right off her shoulders—the kind of bitch that can pretend he isn't in this room. Maybe one day, when I grow up, I will be that bitch.

Just not today.

Gasping, I press my hand to my chest and let out a small squeal. "Oh my gosh, Mr. Mercer." I look around as though I'm horrified. "I don't think you're supposed to be in here."

His lips curl up in a smirk, well aware of what I'm doing and seeing right through me.

"Shut up, Frankie," Tori hisses.

"But isn't he like, an instructor this year?" I did it, I mimicked her voice. I might regret it later, but right now, the look on her face tells me I have no regrets.

"He is," she grinds out through her teeth.

"And aren't instructors supposed to be in their quarters?" I glance at Bishop, pretending to be horrified. "And he's in here."

"Shut up, Frankie." She reaches for me once again, digging her nails into my arm.

"Well, I don't want to get caught with an instructor in our dorm room." I emphasize "our," making sure to give her a horrified look.

"No, no, she's right." Bishop smiles as if he just won the lottery, but he doesn't make a move to get up. No, he gets more comfortable. "Luckily for you, that rule is lifted for now."

My smile drops.

Tori beams at me. "That's right." Finally, she releases my arm. "Until the winter solstice, for a chance to form a?—"

"Ah, ah, ah," Bishop interrupts. "Audience."

Rolling my eyes at them, I grab my shower caddy and change of clothing and turn for the door. Let Bishop say something about me going to shower. I'd almost glare at him and dare him, but nope, I'm not about to look at him and give him any more attention.

With one hand on the door and the other clenching my clothing, I swing it open just as a fist comes at me.

I jump backward as Leo gets control of his hand.

"Frankie!" He steps inside the dorm room with Matteo on his heels.

Great, just fucking wonderful. Everyone is unknowingly giving Bishop exactly what he wants.

"Leo, hi." It takes everything inside me not to look back at Bishop, even though I can feel his eyes burning through my back. "Matteo." I nod at him. "I was just leaving to go shower."

"We missed you at lunch," Leo says, leaning against the wall. Both he and Matteo are blocking my escape route. "And you promised."

"Did I?" I question, not focusing on either of his statements.

"Who's this?" Bishop rolls off Tori's bed, his ice-blue eyes scanning Leo and Matteo. His eyes dart back and forth between them rapidly while his brows wrinkle in thought.

Well, I'm in it now.

"Mr. Mercer." I blink at him before turning to the others. "This is?—"

Tori pushes between them. "This is Leo, he's dating Chloe, and Matteo, who is dating Amanda."

I hide my laugh. From the looks on both Leo's and Matteo's faces, I can tell no one informed them about that little nugget of information.

Bishop laughs and reaches out to shake Leo's hand, but once they clasp hands, they pause, clenching each other while wearing similar looks of bewilderment.

It's honestly weird, especially because when they let go and Bishop shakes Matteo's hand, the same thing happens.

"So you're dating…" Bishop looks at me before turning back to Leo. "Chloe."

"No." Leo laughs nervously and looks to me for help. He won't get any assistance from me. "We aren't, though I think she'd like to be."

"That makes more sense." Bishop chuckles, but his shoulders relax a fraction. "What are you guys planning this evening?"

"Well, we were hoping to take Frankie to dinner since she missed lunch." Leo tucks his hands in his back pockets. How dare he look good doing that?

"Oh, I'm sure she would have joined you if she could have," Bishop answers for me, the bastard. I open my mouth, only for him to place a hand over it. "I hear she had to meet with another instructor and was otherwise indisposed."

Yeah, with your dick. I think it, but I don't say it.

Tori just glares at me during the entire exchange.

"Right." Leo looks from me to Bishop, seeing far more than he should see. "Anyway, we were going to head into town and grab some diner food. Do you want to join us?"

"We'd love to." Bishop claps. "Right now?"

"Ah, I'm not hungry." I raise my hand because, for some reason, I feel really out of place for this entire conversation. I feel like they are all talking over my head.

"Sure you are." Bishop never loses the smile he's forcing out.

"I think Frankie can answer for herself," Matteo speaks up, his voice dark and soothing.

"Frankie can speak for herself," I mock the others, "and dinner with a bunch of people sounds?—"

"Amazing," Bishop answers for me again.

"Just fucking go to dinner with us," Tori hisses in my ear. "Don't ruin this for me."

I was so close to scrubbing the cum from my body, and judging by the damn smile on Bishop's face, he knows it.

Grinding my teeth, I give Leo what I hope is a genuine smile, though I guarantee it looks like a grimace. "Let's go."

Matteo tilts his head at me, not convinced, but I give him a shrug.

Ignoring all of them, I grab my keys. "I'm driving my own damn self."

There is no way in hell I'm going to be stuck longer than I need to be, socializing.