I woke up to a constant ringing.

I sighed and saw that it was my phone.

I picked it up to see 3 missed calls from Sophia Alice.

I sat up immediately and checked the time.

School ended 20 minutes ago.

I texted her and told her to cover for me.

I sighed and look over beside me.

Benjamin was still sleeping so i shook him awake.

"Ben, get up. School ended 20 minutes ago." I say.

He got up from the bed and ran a hand through his messy hair.

"I'm sorry. Here I'll drive you home." He says.

"No don't worry about it. I'll text Sierra that way my brothers won't get suspicious." I say.

He nods his head okay.

"I'll get your clothes from the dryer," He says walking out.

"Thank you." I mutter with a smile.

I grab my phone to text Sierra, and when I'm done Benjamin is already in the room with my dried clothes.

I grab my clothes and go into the bathroom to change.

I step out of the bathroom, but Benjamin was no longer in the room.

I looked around his room, but he wasn't there.

"Ben? I called out.

He didn't answer.

I got out of his room and walked towards the rest of the doors.

I opened the first door, and it was a girly room.

It was decorated in Grey and Blue, with occasional gold here and there.

He obviously wasn't there.

The next door was a library type.

The room was just filled with books and files and a computer.

There were 4 huge shelves that were color coded .

One shelf was filled with Blue and Black books, the next with Black and Red, the next with Black and Yellow.

Weird.

By the shelves was the computer and a printer.

With multiple drawers.

I just closed the door and made my way to the last room down the hall.

I placed my hand on the door and began to twist the knob when I heard my name being called.

I almost jumped out of my skin.

I turned around to see it was Ben.

"What are you doing ? His blue eyes looking at me intensely.

"I was looking for you. I came out the bathroom and you are gone." I said.

"Oh." He says.

"Sierra's down stairs." He says never taking his eyes away from me.

"Oh, good! I say making my way downstairs.

Once we reach the bottom I hand him his sweatshirt back.

"Thank you for bringing me here." I say.

"No problem." He smiles flashing me his pearly whites.

I go out the door with Sierra following behind me.

We both get into the car, buckle up and we make our way out of his neighborhood.

"So y'all did the nasties huh? She asks.

"Oh my god Sierra! I gasp.

"What? His hair was messy and you gave him back his sweatshirt! What was I supposed to think?

I shook my head with a smile on my face.

"We didn't. I promise." I say.

"I see you blushing."she says in the rear view.

________✍🏾

I arrived home and closed the door behind me.

I checked the living room and nobody was there.

I turned the corner to go into the kitchen and there everyone was, even

Dylan and Xander were present.

Great.

"Hey." I say softly.

"Hey? Missy do you want to tell us why you skipped school today? Tomas asked.

"I-" I began to say but nothing comes out.

Everyone stares at me expectingly.

Sophia Alice with a look of pity on her face.

Dylan's cold hard stare as normal.

I can feel the tears coming.

"Well? Tomas asks again.

I'm not so good at holding my tears back.

So obviously, I cry.

"Claude. You guys, the mafia. It's everything." I say.

Xander and Tomas share a look, and their expressions soften.

Xander looks at everyone and he points his head to the other side, making everyone but Dylan and Tomas leave.

I take a seat on the chair and Xander comes to stand in front of me.

"Tell me how you're feeling, kid." He says.

"A few weeks ago I had a gun to my head. And you guys told me that you all are in the mafia. And everyone is acting like that's okay, or it's normal. It doesn't even make sense to me." I shake my head.

Xander sighs.

"I know it's hard to grasp, Frankie, but it's what we do. I don't know how to make it easier for you." He says.

"I don't want this." I say lowly.

"Nobody does." Tomas says putting a hand on my shoulder.

We sit there for a minute in silence.

"So what happened with you and Claude? You mentioned him." Xander speaks up.

The mentioning of his name brings a hurt feeling to my heart.

"He ruined everything. Today we got into a fight and I couldn't stay at school. So I went to Sierra's house. I simply say.

"I don't really want to talk about him." I shrug.

Xander nods his head. "Okay. Okay."

"So do you want to tell us where you were? He asks.

"Like I said, I was at Sierra's," I lie smoothly.

They all share a look.

"Right." He simply says.

"Just know that we are here for you Frankie, no matter what. Don't feel like you can't talk to us okay? I know this hard for you." He says hugging me.

"Okay." I say getting up.

I make my way up the stairs and into Sophia Alice's room.

She stares at me from her bed and opens her arms wide.

"Come here, baby." She says.