Typically when I'm grounded I take that as a time to pamper myslef.

Since I'm distracted always by my phone, friends, tv and things like that I never actually get the time to sit down and have an organized day.

So that's why I'm currently in my room sitting in a robe, a face mask on, and getting a pedicure.

Ok my feet may just be in a bucket but still, a pedicure is a pedicure.

Sophia Alice's phone was providing us with songs from Spotify that we quietly hummed along to.

Currently in the house it was only us since the boys all decided to go the gym together.

We took that to our advantage and decided to have our own little spa day.

"So Armani and Lucas are together? I ask.

"No they are sneaky links. Although not so sneaky cause everybody knows about it." She says.

"Oh wow I would have never guessed those two." I tell her.

"This is high school, Franks." She states.

I nod my head.

"True."

"Hey do you know if-"

My voice was cut out by a loud slam on the door.

"Felix relax! Marco calls out.

"No I'm sick of Xander always putting Snake in charge when I'm more than fucking capable of handling it! He shouts.

Sophia Alice and I glance at each other.

"Just show him. Maybe then he'll consider." Marco tries to calm him down.

"Fuck that. Felix sighs.

They sit in a moment of silence before Felix speaks up.

"Just get the girls and let's go." He tells Marco.

Marco's footsteps began to pound on the stairs as he enters the room.

He looks at what we are currently doing and chuckles.

"Get changed into gym wear. We're taking you guys somewhere." He simply says.

Sophia Alice and I glance at each other.

"Make it quick! He adds.

We get up and Sophia Alice goes to her room while I head for my closet.

I browse through my drawers and settle for grey sweatpants with a blank tank top.

I pair the outfit with white tennis shoes, and tie my hair into a ponytail.

There goes my rest day.

I go to Sophia Alice's room to see if she has finished and of course, she's just putting on her socks.

She's wearing black sweatpants with a grey sweater and she picks out black shoes.

"Let's go." I tell her.

She keeps her shoes in her hand as we walk down the stairs.

Downstairs we meet Marco who is waiting for us and Felix who is sitting on the couch with a pillow covering his face.

"Finally." He says.

The boys get up and we trail behind them.

We take Marco and Felix's car obviously since we have no other car to take.

"So you fixed the car." Sophia Alice tells Felix.

"Yep." He says plainly.

"So where exactly are we going? I ask.

The boys look at each other.

"The den." Marco says.

Him and Felix share another look.

Then they bust in a fit of laughter.

Sophia Alice and I give each other confused looks.

"The den? She asks.

"Yes. The den." Felix tells her.

"We'll explain more when we get there." Marco says.

"Well ok." I mutter.

____________

Once we pull up to "The Den" it looks like a huge abandoned building.

When I say huge, this place was HUGE.

As we approach the entrance, my eyes go wide.

This place was nothing like the outside.

We go inside and the lobby resembles a 5 star hotels lobby.

There's a desk, security, and elevators.

Marco waves to the guy who is sitting at the desk and he waves back, while giving us a kind smile.

We go up to the elevators and Felix presses the bottom for the 3rd floor and the elevator goes up.

Cheesy elevator music plays.

The elevator then dings, and the doors open to reveal a huge pool, that is protected by a large glass window.

There was nobody in the pool though.

We pass the pool and open the doors to a gym.

At the center was a boxing ring, and on the sides there were workout machines, and sweaty guys everywhere.

I immediately recognized Dylan and Tomas.

Dylan was bench pressing, and Tomas was doing pull ups.

I looked around to see others in treadmills, and lifting weights.

Some of the people in here looked fairly young.

My thoughts were cut off by a huge thud on the floor.

I turned my attention back to the two guys in the boxing ring.

The one in the black shorts had an obvious advantage.

The one in blue shorts got off the floor, and tried to throw a punch but the one in black shorts was obviously faster.

He moved out of the way, and landed two jabs to blue shorts face.

"Frankie, Sophia! A voice I recognized called.

I turned my attention to the door.

It was Xander.

"I'm glad you two are finally here." He starts.

"Welcome to Wayward. This is where we come to train, hangout, have meetings. You guys will be coming here more often, so try and get used to it here."

"Today is your first day here so try and just watch. But soon you'll be joining in on the action." He says.

He turns away to leave but stops in his tracks.

"Oh and you absolutely cannot tell anyone about this place. Do you guys understand? He asks.

We nod our heads.

"I didn't hear a response." He says.

"Yes." We answer him.

"Good. Marco, Felix, keep an eye on your sisters please," he tells them, and walks away.

We turn our attention back to the two in the ring, and now their about shaking hands.

They take off their head gear and my breath hitches in my throat.

I honestly couldn't believe he was here right now.

Claude.

As if he felt me staring at him, he too turned and met my gaze.

I watched as he made his way over to us and greeted Felix , Marco and Sophia Alice.

He then made his way over to me.

"Frankie."

I give him a tight smile.

"Claude."

He scratched the back of his head.

"Can we please talk."

And there it was.

"I don't know-"

"Just go Frankie." Felix says.

I glance at him and back at Claude.

"Fine." I say.

He leads me outside where I lean against the wall.

"It's good to see you again." He says.

I just nod my head.

"Look Frankie, I know you may be confused and angry when I tell you this. But that day at the restaurant I left you cause I was ordered to." He says.

A confused look makes its way into my face.

"What? I ask.

"When those guys came in the restaurant and we were hiding in the back, I texted Xander. He told me to leave that place as soon as possible because he was already on his way."

"So because Xander told you to leave me you did?

"Frankie, Xanders my boss. I have to listen to him." He tells me.

Wait what?

"Your boss? For what?" I ask.

"Oh come on Frankie. Make the connections." He plainly says.

There was only one connection to make.

Claude was also in the mafia.

"So you also knew and didn't tell me? I look up at him.

"Frankie, Xander is my boss. You're my best friend I would rather keep my mouth shut than risk your life."

"You left me." I say my voice cracking.

"I had to. I was unarmed. They were going to kill me, and your brothers were already on their way." He explains.

"So what do you do? I ask softly.

"I protect you. I make sure you're okay, and out of harms way."

"You're just a teenager though like me." I tell him.

"Frankie I'm here everyday for hours. I can protect you, and my life. If I couldn't Xander wouldn't have chosen me." He smiles softly.

I didn't know what to say.

"I'm really sorry how things have ended and have been. I hope you forgive me." He says looking down.

I sigh and embrace him, and he embraces me back.

I smiled.

I missed Claude so much.

So so much.