Rockwell Academy: The Twist (Rockwell Academy #2)
Chapter 1
CASSIE
T he black cars are threatening, mysterious and decidedly wicked, and I am not the only one who is mesmerized by them. I swear, anyone with a beating heart in Rockwell Academy is observing the procession in awe.
“Is this normal?” Imogen whispers beside me and I don’t remove my eyes from the scene as I whisper back, “Definitely not.”
We are transfixed as they reach the main building, drawing to a stop in front of the grand entrance in a space usually reserved for visitors.
They could be, I suppose, but as this is the first day of the new semester and everyone is arriving in their droves, I’m certain this is yet another student—but who?
Jack whistles beside me. “It could be somebody we know. Frankie perhaps?”
At the sound of his name, my blood runs hot and my heart curls with desire.
Frankie Majerio. The flame that burns in my heart has only burned brighter all the time we’ve been apart for the holidays.
He returned to his home, and Jack and I returned to the compound. I was ecstatic to be home, but it was bittersweet because I missed him like crazy and I never thought I would.
Imogen’s voice raises an octave as she grasps my arm.
“The door’s opening.”
It’s as if the world stops spinning and time freezes as a man dressed completely in black exits the front passenger seat and proceeds to open the rear passenger door. A man emerges and my mouth dries when I sense the power accompanying him.
He is wearing a black suit paired with a black shirt, dark shades covering his eyes, his expression blank as he reaches inside and helps a woman from the car.
“Wow!” Imogen nudges me. “I love her hair.”
The woman’s hair is pale pink and hangs past her shoulders, dusting the collar of a black fur coat. Dark sunglasses shade her eyes and she is clutching a designer purse in her hands.
“Look!” Imogen is excited, reverence lacing her words as our attention diverts to another car behind theirs and a lone figure steps out and wastes no time in heading toward the couple in front.
They speak in a group and I stare with interest at the young man, who has an air of indifference that I can relate to. Frankie wears that most of the time and it appears he has a double because this guy has the same dark, brooding presence that makes you sit up and take notice.
“It’s not Frankie.” Jack almost sounds disappointed as the group makes their way inside the huge wooden front door.
“I wonder who he is?” Jack says with a tone more curious than reverent and Imogen says brightly, “I’m already in love with this place. It’s nothing like Mountain Grove.”
I turn to my best friend and impulsively hug her hard. “Thank God you came to your senses and joined us at Rockwell.”
Jack chuckles behind us. “I sense this semester is going to be a challenging one.”
We turn and regard him with a joint roll of our eyes.
“The two of you together can only spell trouble — for me.” He groans. “Babysitting Cassie was bad enough last semester. Now I have two souls to defend.”
“Fuck you, Jack. I don’t need anyone’s help.”
I face him with my eyes flashing and he grins, the lopsided one that melts my heart every single time and turns my mood instantaneously.
“I can’t believe I’m here.”
Imogen stares around with curious interest, reminding me she is new and supposed to be somewhere else.
“We should head to your dorm.”
I remind my friends what we should be doing right now and as we cross the grassed area, I remember how it felt on my first day not that long ago.
Like Imogen, I was required to room in the dorm with another student. That soon changed when I met Frankie and he moved me and his cousin into The Elusive House.
Imogen may join us but is required to begin the semester playing by the rules and she is excited for the opportunity.
“I wonder who my roomie will be?”
“She’ll need to be tolerant.” Jack quips and Imogen nudges him hard.
“I’m the perfect roomie.” She answers back, and he nods, smiling at her with a fondness that has grown over many years.
Imogen is my unofficial sister and I love her as one. Jack—well, he’s maybe a little more than that and I am still confused about my feelings for him.
There was a time I believed we would end up together, but after one night of testing the water, it felt too weird, so we fell back into our roles of best friends.
I’m still unsure if it was the correct decision. Rockwell was a test if you like, but then I met Frankie and my mind was blown.
Jack accompanies us to the dorm block and then says with his usual lopsided grin.
“I’ll leave you to get organized. I’m heading back to the house to unpack.”
He turns to me. “When you’ve finished here, bring Imogen across to meet the others.”
“The others?”
Imogen’s beautiful eyes widen with curiosity and he smiles. “Frankie, Siri, Jesse—remember? Everyone we’ve told you about.”
“Of course.” She smiles. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
Jack winks and my heart melts as it always does and as he heads off, Imogen sighs. “You know, I always thought you and Jack–”
I cut her off. “We’re friends, Imogen. You are aware of that and well–” I take a deep breath and force some excitement into my words. “He’s with Siri now and I’m with Frankie—for now, anyway.”
“What do you mean—for now?”
“We all have a decision to make, remember?”
“Ah, yes.” Understanding dawns in her eyes. “The Claiming. Now you must decide whether to stick or twist.”
Just hearing the words said out loud causes my heart to somersault inside me.
“Have you made your decision yet?” She asks, a thoughtful gleam in her eye.”
“Of course.”
“What about Frankie?”
“I don’t know.”
I hate how nervous her question makes me. “You’ll understand when you meet him, Imogen. He gives nothing away and I wouldn’t put it past him to be bored with the situation already and ready to move on to his next victim. So, watch out.”
Imogen shakes her head. “He would be a fool not to stick with you, Cassie. From the sounds of it you are a match made in heaven.”
“Hell more likely.”
She laughs softly and as we head inside the girl’s dormitory building, I hope her roomie is every bit as fantastic as she is.