Vera opens the door and there she is, Franky Doyle in all her nonchalant glory, being led into the room, only as usual Erica isn't sure who's leading who, cuz Franky just crosses her arms over her chest when she's past the threshold, stops and nudges a set of boxes she sees in front of her with her right foot as if she's surprised to find a nuisance on her way in the private space she owns. She's now looking at Erica questioningly. Vera makes a disapproving face. Erica's not rushing anywhere anymore, and for the first time thinks to herself that everything's Vera probably finding annoying and irritating about Franky, she's actually struggling not to be totally fascinated with. A flood of images rushes over her, Franky's hand on her throat, lips curving, she's blinking now trying to unspell the hold of the memory – the harsh and then oh so sensual kiss she's been trying to erase from her mind for days, all in vain.
When Vera doesn't move to leave, Erica shifts in her chair a little uncomfortably. "Could you please ask my assistant to call the taxi and rearrange for tomorrow afternoon please?" Erica tells Vera, who nods and walks out leaving the door closed with a little too much stalling that makes Erica's headache even stronger now.
"A taxi huh? Having fun after work are we?"
She says it a little too enthusiastically, which reminds Erica how joyful and bossy Franky is now that Jacs is out of the picture. She's been watching the changes in that group of women for over a week and the whole time looks like it's Franky Doyle's party stretching for days. Except there are no cakes or candles and some of the people are somewhat subdued after all, like Liz and Doreen.
"Sit down Franky, I need to talk to you"
Franky's eyebrows go up and she grants one of her blinding grins to Erica that usually make Erica want to either hit her over the head for being so full of herself, or eat it off her face, she's not sure which she wants more. She forced herself not to pay attention to the shiver that runs through her.
"Well that's more interesting. As long as you really need it" Franky licks her bottom lip at that, which makes Erica blink and look away for a moment. When she turns back to Franky, the grin is even wider.
"Stop it!" Erica's tone is so deadly cold and commanding and something else on top of that, like a streak of deep tiredness or sadness seeps into it, that it wipes Franky's grin off her face for a second. She's not pushing it anymore, which is odd and for that split second Erica's taken aback at the expression Franky's got so much that she's having trouble concentrating on what she has to say next, but rather is looking perplexed, unsure if this is an image of Franky as an obedient child she's never ever seen before or a concerned adult. Her look makes Erica want to cry out, but she pushes whatever it is down and clears her throat.
"I need you to report to the new tutor from now on. We've revived your education program but it's not going to be with me you'll be studying for the next few months. So get all the books and notes you have ready and let Judith know what chapter you stopped at so that she can take it from there".
"I'm not doing it without you tutoring. I told you" Franky's firm now which makes Erica angry all of a sudden. She wants to smack her in the face, maybe for not knowing or being so damn stubborn and confident like Erica never allowed herself to be, or maybe the mix of both.
"I'm leaving Wentworth Franky! Tomorrow!" She half screams it out. And then it hangs in the air just like that, heavy fog.
Franky's paralised. She's looking at Erica in total disbelief for a moment that goes on and on to the point where Erica's not sure if she's been put on pause in a movie or she's dreaming. Then there's a lot of movement at once. In a blink of an eye Franky's on her feet and behind the table neglecting any sense of personal space that might've been there between them and she's shoving another box full of papers behind Erica to the side with her hand, simultaneously smashing their chests together.
"So this is your response to last week? Like hell you are! Do you honestly think when you're out of here you'll stop wanting to have my tongue down your throat? Or do you think having his dick in you will suddenly feel a perfect substitute for this?"
Erica's feeling Franky's hips now colliding with hers harshly and making a poignant thrust which sends shivers of pleasure down her core. She can't believe how crass Franky is! Erica's shoving at Franky's shoulders full force, angrier and somehow more aroused than ever, but Franky's physically stronger, and when the prisoner's grasp on her waist wins over, Erica sees red and lands a loud slap on Franky's right cheek. That does the trick and sends Franky a step away, immobilizing her. After which Erica's not sure who's more shocked between the two of them. She suddenly finds herself out of the Governor's space behind the desk and as if teleported holding the back of visitors chair, practically leaning on it, her breathing erratic. She probably just needed some distance. If she wasn't at a loss of words now she'd be finding bitter irony in the role reversal: a prisoner standing behind a Governor's chair while she's trying to put herself together on the other end of the room. Except she's not a Governor anymore. Which Franky doesn't seem to get. Instead she's making assumptions like the whole world revolves around them and that damn kiss they shared a week ago!
"This is the last time you pull a stunt like this. I'd report you except I've been fired and I'm leaving now and I don't want your case any more ruined than it already is! You're digging your own grave by refusing to study Franky. Now get out!"
There's a frown of better comprehension. Then she's looking at Erica with eyes so full of regret and something else she can't quite put her finger on that Erica looks away again and adds more quietly and almost pleadingly ,
"Leave. Please"
Franky's not moving anywhere.
"They can't do this to you. Is it because of Bea?"
"They can and they did. End of story. What's a win to one is the end to the other. You'll be meeting your new Governor very soon. Now leave before I have to call one of the guards"
Franky's eyes are roaming the room until she spots something on the desk, which now looks like a mess, takes it out and puts under her armpit holding close to her side. It's a book Erica's had on her desk from the day she moved to this office. A law textbook.
"Not as much fun as a novel, but I guess it's as sentimental as it can get around here. I'm keeping it" Franky claims.
With that she moves out of the Governor's space behind the desk, passes Erica's form leaning against the visitors chair and when Erica's sure she'll take another step towards the door handle and be gone, turns around, stops briefly. There's deafening silence hanging between them one you can almost taste, and Franky's direct look makes Erica want to run or call for help. It's now that Franky takes Erica's hand into hers so astoundingly gently it doesn't leave space to make any protesting sounds let alone moves, so shattering in its warmth it is – and then she places Erica's right hand to the side of her face where the slap landed minutes ago. She holds it, never pressing too much, leaving room for anything Erica wants. She could put it away now. Erica can still feel it burning hot, or maybe it's her own hand that's burning, she's not so sure. Franky's cheek is so soft under her fingers that something twitches in Erica's face, she can feel her eyes watering and quickly shuts them close. The touch lingers a little and then it's gone, and she's already missing everything she's just discovered about Franky Doyle in less than five minutes. They stand still for another few seconds looking into each other's eyes. There's a mix of rare sadness and desperation in Franky's face, like she's trapped for once, very much unlike her being in prison where she feels like the free-est person on Earth to Erica, but now it's a closed space for sure - Erica sees it reflected in those deep eyes she's too fond of and there's no way of escaping from that invisible room that Franky clearly detests. Seeing that room's reflection makes Erica shiver, the burden of that tight space way more suffocating than she's comfortable to be facing.
"I hope you dream more" Franky whispers.
There's not a hint of her usual bravado, not a spoonful of that grin. The door opens and then slowly shuts with a clanging noise sealing the separation from the world that Erica promised herself to be done with minutes before Franky Doyle entered her office.