Frankie

When I get back to the house, Mia and Carla are sitting on the porch on their phones. They don’t notice me as I pass them to go into the house.

I have nothing to say to them. I’m still mad about their stupid comments and what they said to Tobias last night.

“Hey,” Mia cries.

~So they did see me.~

“Yeah,” I reply.

“We’re both going to shoot tomorrow. Carla is bored here already, so she’s coming to Florida with me.”

“Sweet,” I reply.

~Thank fucking God for that!~

“Did you speak to your cowboy?” Carla asks without lifting her eyes from her phone.

“Yeah, I did. He’s still pissed. We have a lot of shit to talk through. He’s giving me space to make a decision.”

Mia sniggers. “So he’s already dumped your arse.”

“No,” I snap. “He’s just not putting any pressure on me.”

I walk into the house and see Frankie is watching TV.

“Hey, old man,” I say as he smiles at me. “Did you go to church this morning?”

He shakes his head. “I slept in.”

“Frankie,” I whine. “What did Antony say to you? He said get to the doctor for a checkup. Something’s not right.”

“Ahhhh,” he shrugs. “Doctor, smockter.”

I shake my head and head upstairs. I shut my door and lie on the bed, feeling fucking exhausted from all the stress of my life right now.

I have never had big decisions to make, life-altering changes. The only kind of things I stressed about before coming here were whether my Gucci bag went with my Chanel outfit.

I text Dawn to let her know Frankie is still unwell. Antony has already tried to talk to him—maybe she can get further, because he clearly doesn’t listen to a word I say.

Dawn

I’ll head over later for a chat and bring him some lemon and ginger. How was the gig?

Ella

Good but Tobias is pissed with me again.

Dawn

What are you two like, oh to be young again.

Ella

I don’t think we can come back from this one, we’re talking but I just don’t know.

Dawn

I’m sure you will sort it out. You are made for each other, and I know he will do anything for you.

Ella

Not so sure anymore.

I try to avoid the two bitches for the rest of the night. I can’t forgive them for the way they have been with Tobias. The worst of it is they know just how much he means to me.

When I compare the two of them to Sara, it’s so clear who my real friends are. They are just like all the others I left behind—all the spoiled, greedy, materialistic morons.

I speak to Sara and update her on the crazy night. I wish she had been there, but she’s got a lot of her own stuff going on at the minute, and I don’t want to add to her stress with my problems.

When I wake early and head out for my run, the sun is already scorching. I push my earbuds in and listen to some of Tobias’s songs.

I love to listen while I’m running—his husky, grainy voice makes me want to run faster and into his arms.

I’m saddened when I remember that I can’t just run to him again, and it makes me yearn for him more.

By the time I get back, Mia and Carla are just rising.

“You all set?” I ask in a cold tone. I want them to know that their behavior is not okay.

“Yup, all ready to get the hell outta here,” Mia smiles.

Carla walks up to me in an attempt to give me a hug, then she realizes I’m all sweaty from my run.

“Eww,” she says. “I won’t hug you, but know you’re still my bitch, and if you need anything call me, okay?”

I nod. It’s nice of her to offer, but I don’t think I will be calling her for favors any time soon.

“And when you’re back,” she adds in a matter-of-fact way, “let me know. I would love to see El back.”

I smile as they climb into the rental car that has been delivered for them. I want to flip the middle finger at them as they leave, but I resist and elegantly wave through gritted teeth.

“I thought we had one all week,” Frankie says as he joins me on the porch.

“No,” I reply. “Country life just isn’t for them.”

“Good,” Frankie adds. “They were more ill-mannered than you when you first arrived, and that’s saying something.”

He cackles to himself as he walks back into the house.

Monday morning again—I take a shower and load the car up for my morning lecture. There are no parking spaces around uni, which means I’m late for the lecture. I pass a Starbucks so might as well arrive late in style.

One Caffè Latte with almond milk later and I’m here. Kelly has a seat free next to her, which I assume she has saved for me. I slip in and hope Neil, the lecturer, doesn’t notice.

Of course, Jackass notices, and he playfully taps his watch when I catch his eye. If you looked up the definition of dumbass, I’m pretty sure you would find a picture of this jerk.

I get a text during my afternoon workshop class. I hope it’s from Tobias but it’s my dad.

Dad

Thought about coming home yet?

Ella

No dad I need time to think about what I want.

Dad

Please don’t let a boy stop you.

Ella

It’s not just Tobias, what about my course and Frankie? He will be alone again and he’s not been well.

Dad

He seemed fine when I spoke to him at the weekend, he said a few of your friends were there, you didn’t tell me they were coming.

Ella

Why would I? I’m a grown ass woman. They have gone now anyway, it was a big mistake bringing them here.

Dad

I need to know what’s going on soon, the next terms fees will be due.

~Fuck you, Dad—as though you’re bothered about money. I bet you’re not even paying for my fees. It will be some tax fiddle your accountant has wangled like the car!~

Finally, I’m done. I have booked an appointment for later in the week with an advisor at the university.

I think that will help me make a decision too, because if I wanted to stay, I could always just change to a more interesting course, one I actually want to do.

When I pull into the ranch, I have a strange feeling of uneasiness. I don’t know if it’s because it’s so quiet around here today with the girls gone, or maybe it’s the black clouds that are forming in the distance.

I look out at the angry clouds as I get out of the car and wonder if a storm is brewing. No one has mentioned one being due, but the wind is already starting to pick up.

It’s like slow motion as I open the door and walk into the house. I see a figure on the floor, and it takes my mind a few minutes to register. It’s Frankie. On the floor by the sofa. Then, like pressing the fast-forward button, everything speeds up.

“FRANKIE,” I yell as I slide down onto the ground next to him. “Frankie.”

He is lying on his front with his head to the side. I get myself down close to his mouth to see if he’s breathing.

They never tell you how to deal with this if someone is on their stomach. I always got taught to look down at their chest to see if it’s rising and falling, but he’s lying on his.

I pull out my phone and notice my hands are shaky. The first number I see is Tobias.

“Ella, I can’t—”

I interrupt him. “IT’S FRANKIE, HURRY!” I yell as I drop the phone beside me to try and wake him.

“Frankie,” I cry, tears falling down my cheeks.

~Don’t you fucking die on me, old man, don’t you fucking die on me!~

I feel a faint pulse and roll him onto his back as I continue to try and get a response by shouting his name.

“Frankie!” I shout, but still nothing.

Then a large thud startles me—it’s Tobias pounding into the house.

“Did you call 911?” he asks as he drops to his knees beside me.

“No, I didn’t know who to call,” I yell.

He pulls his phone out and dials 911 as he moves his hands over Frankie’s still, lifeless chest.

By the time they arrive Tobias’s family has gathered at the house.

“Can I go with him?” I ask the paramedic.

He nods, and Tobias takes my hand as he climbs into the ambulance with me. He keeps hold of my hand all the way to the hospital.

I don’t know if it’s to comfort me or himself, but it helps to know I have someone there with me and someone who loves Frankie as much as I do.

“I better call my dad,” I say to Tobias as we sit in the waiting room.

I hate hospitals, all the bleeping and rushing around. They are horrible places and make me nervous.

My dad doesn’t answer, so I text him to let him know Frankie is at the hospital. I wonder how he will respond to the news.

Ordinarily, a text would be a shitty way to let someone know their brother might be dying, but my dad’s no ordinary guy.

He’s a businessman and he struggles to be anything else. It’s the only way I have ever known him be, so to me it’s normal. It was normal until I came here to Frankie.

I fear Frankie will never know the impact he has played in my wanting to change, and right at this moment that’s my biggest fear.

“He better not leave me, Tobias. I don’t know what I would do if he…,” I say as the tears start again.

Tobias wraps his arms around me and kisses my hair.

“I know, princess, I know,” he whispers.