Author's Note: It's been atleast five years since I've written fanfiction of any kind. This is my first attempt in awhile...... hope anyone who reads this thinks it's any good. I like good reviews as much as anyone else, but bad reviews actually help out alot, especially if they point out a crucial flaw in my fic. Any kind of criticism is welcome. Hope you enjoy.

Black Rose

Chapter 1

Coraline sighed. Wybie was late, although he had promised to meet her on the back steps of The Pink Palace at exactly three o'clock, thirty minutes had past since then and Wybie was nowhere in sight. She shifted uncomfortably on the stone steps and was about to stand up and go inside when she decided to wait just a little longer. The wind was picking up a little, and judging by the dark clouds that were starting to gather, it was definitely going to storm tonight. In a matter of hours the garden Coraline's parents had worked so hard on during the spring would become a muddy mesh. Her mother, being a bit more optimistic, would most likely see the destruction of the garden as the perfect opportunity to grow a much better garden for the summer. Her father, on the other hand, would most likely go insane. Well, maybe he wouldn't go insane, but he would most certainly freak out and fall into a deep depression. Her mother would then attempt to raise him out of his depression, she would then succeed, and they would together grow an even better garden. This is how the transition from spring to summer always turned out with her parents, and Coraline knew that this year wouldn't be any different. The garden was actually quite beautiful. There were many kinds of flowers, plants, vegetables and such growing in the garden, and the combination of all of these things created an amazing landscape that was just too beautiful to describe.

Coraline sighed again and looked at the watch she was wearing on her left wrist. It was forty-three minutes past three o'clock. She had been sitting there for almost an hour waiting on Wybie to show up. She decided to stop waiting and go inside to change out of her school uniform. Just as she stood up, Wybie finally showed up. He jogged through the open gate in the back of the garden and down a path in the middle that led straight to the stone steps where Coraline was standing. He stood there breathing heavily and sweating slighty, he had obviously ran there as fast as he could. Coraline walked down the steps and stood in front of him, shaking her head.

"What took you so long?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

His breathing now slowed, Wybie said, "Sorry, I got a little sidetracked along the way."

"With what?" asked Coraline eyebrow still raised. She noticed that Wybie was still wearing his school uniform, too. She also noticed he was carrying a plastic bag in his hand from the grocery store in town, and that it had a rectangular black box sticking out of it.

"I had to go get groceries for my grandma before she would let me come over." said Wybie as he rubbed the back of his head with his free hand. "After that, I took a shortcut through the woods to try to get here faster."

"Well you still got here forty-three minutes late," said Coraline. She grinned and punched Wybie lightly in the arm. "Shortcut or no shortcut."

"Yea I know, but I got you something." Wybie took the rectangular black box out of the plastic bag and handed it to Coraline. Coraline blinked at the box and looked back up at Wybie. Wybie smiled and nodded at the box as if begging her to open it.

Coraline raised her eyebrow again and looked down at the box. As she started peeling the tape on the sides of the box, she said, "I swear if I open this up and there's a doll inside that looks exactly like me, I'm going to slap the crap out of you."

Wybie chuckled nervously. He had dared Coraline to slap him a few weeks ago, just for the fun of it. She did, and he regretted it.

"Ok, lets see what it is." said Coraline as she peeled off the last piece of tape and opened the box. She gasped. Inside the box was a black rose. She loved black roses, they were her favorite kind of rose in the whole world and she had always wanted one. She smiled brightly and hugged Wybie. "Thank you, thank you so much!"

"Your welcome." said Wybie as his face turned red. This was the first time Coraline had ever hugged him. In fact, it was the first time he had ever been so close to her body. The hug only lasted for a split second before she let go. Coraline examined the rose from stem to pedal, looking over every inch of it. She smiled at Wybie.

"How did you know I like black roses?" she asked, holding the rose out in front of her.

"Lucky guess." answered Wybie, shrugging. His was face still slightly flushed. "I had a feeling you would like it."

Coraline smiled and said, "You were right."

It was getting dark. The clouds that were gathering earlier were now starting to cover up the sky, and small drops of rain were beginning to fall. Coraline stood watching the storm clouds. Wybie, on the other hand, was watching Coraline. It had been a year since he realized he had a crush on her, but he hadn't been entirely sure about his feelings towards her. Her figure was curvier than it was when he had met her three years ago, her breast were larger, and (dare he think of it) her ass was so much rounder and tighter. But it was more than just her maturing body that attracted him. Her personality captivated him, and he simply couldn't resist falling out of his crush, and falling in love with her. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but he was always worried about what she would say. What if she doesn't want me loving her? Is it possible she feels the same way I do? Should I just come out with it and tell her about my feeling towards her? He always asked himself these questions, the third one being the most crucial. As he stood there by the stone steps with Coraline, he decided that he would tell her how he felt that very day. Maybe not at that exact moment, but he would confess his feelings for her that very day.

"Black roses symbolize two things," said Coraline suddenly, interrupting Wybie's thoughts. She smiled. "the first is death, and the second is change."

"What kind of change?" asked Wybie, staring fixedly at the black rose. "Like, something bad? Something good?"

"Any kind of change, I guess." said Coraline as she shrugged. "We should head inside before it starts raining. I'm so glad that today was the last day of school. Atleast I won't have to wear this boring skirt, itchy grey shirt, and plain dress shoes for a whole summer. These uniforms are so ugly it's unbelievable."

As she spoke, Coraline walked up the steps and opened the door. Just as she was done speaking, Wybie, speaking in a low voice, said, "It doesn't matter what you wear, you always look beautiful."

"You say something?" asked Coraline as she stepped inside. She turned her head slightly without showing her whole face.

"Uhh... uhh... I forgot to tell you happy birthday!" stuttered Wybie. His face turned red again and he scratched the back of his head nervously. "I know it's tomorrow, but I just wanted to tell you early. I should have said it when I gave you the rose."

"Oh, yea, thanks. You coming inside?" said Coraline, her cheeks slightly red. She had heard what he said, he said she always looked beautiful. But she could tell that he hadn't intended for her to hear him. When she had asked him if he had said something, she hoped that, maybe, he would repeat himself. He hadn't, and she truly wished he had. Although she often had trouble admitting it to herself, Coraline did have feelings for Wybie. If he felt the same way about her that she felt about him then.... just maybe....

"Uhh, yea, I'm coming." said Wybie as he started walking up the steps. Coraline stood waiting at the door, her face turned halfway looking at him. As he walked up the steps he glanced at the black rose, then to Coraline. She nodded her head towards the inside of the apartment, as if telling him to come on inside, and she walked out of the doorway and into the apartment. Wybie smiled and let out a small sigh, he knew it was time to tell her how he felt about her. Pulling the door closed behind him and following Coraline into the apartment, he began to gather his courage.

No more hiding your feelings, Wybourne, he thought to himself, no more hiding your feelings.

To be continued......

Author's Note: I hope those who have read this enjoyed the read. The next chapter will be up soon, for those who are interested. Please review my fic and tell me what you think. Like I said above, any sort of criticism is welcome.