Corey Matthews was sitting at the table going over the next day's class work. Riley and Maya came in and sat down with him.
"So dad, what's on the class list for tomorrow?" Riley asked with a smile.
"You will find out," he replied, "what are you ladies up to?"
Topanga came in and sat down with them, "how about us ladies do a little girl shopping?" she asked
"Sounds good to me," the girls replied.
"Well dad, we are going shopping," Riley told him as the three girls got up to go shopping.
The next day at school, everyone was sitting around class waiting for Mr. Matthews to come in and start teaching, "this isn't like him, he's normally here before us," Riley spoke up.
"I could start the lesson," Farkle spoke up making everyone laugh. He went up to the front of the room, flipped the name plate over and in walked Mr. Matthews with a new student.
Riley and Maya shared a confused look and looked at Lucas who had an upset look on his face.
"Students, this is our new student, Rosemary Jones," Corey told everyone, "go have a seat in the open seat, you're okay."
She lightly nodded and sat beside Lucas. She glanced over and he lightly smiled her way making her smile softly back. Yes, they know each other, from Texas, but he thought he wouldn't ever see her again.
Lunch time came and everyone was sitting at the table. Rose got into line and Lucas looked up when he heard, "move new girl, this is the cool people line," from some guy.
He got up and went over to her, "leave her alone, come on Rose," Lucas said and got her lunch for her and lead her to the table, "you okay?" he asked her.
"Yeah, fine," she told him softly and just ate.
"Guys, this is Rose, Rose they are Farkle, Riley and Maya, they won't hurt you, I can promise that," Lucas told her and she just nodded to them, "Rose, trust me, they won't hurt you."
"I," was all she got out and nodded.
He sighed, he wasn't sure what to do, he knows she comes from a bad past, "Rose come with me," Lucas told her and lead her away from everyone, "Rose, talk to me, why are you here?"
"Lucas, dad again," was all she said and the tears fell slowly.
He pulled her into a hug, making her flinch, he knew what that meant, but he also knows that she knows he won't ever hurt her, "honey, please, don't tell me he?"
"Yeah, with a bat," she replied softly. She pulled back and saw the look in his eyes, "Don't, please, don't, I'm here with my uncle, he took me in after mom finally called the cops on dad but she was also taken in because she kept it quiet for this long."
"Babe," was all he got out, "damn I wish I could have taken you when I left."
"So do I Luke, but, I'm here now and I am not going anywhere," she told him, "now, let's go back, I'm hungry and maybe I can actually talk to your friends."
"Let's go," he told her and led her back to the table.
She slowly sat down and flinched as she sat down, "Hi, sorry about that."
"It's okay Rose, you've been crying, are you okay?" Riley asked.
"Oh, yeah I'm fine," Rose lied, she glanced at Lucas and he slightly rolled his eyes.
"Guys," Lucas started, "since this weekend we all were going to go to the movies, how about we have Rose come as well?"
"Sounds good, how about it Rose?" Maya asked.
"Yeah, uh, sounds good," she replied.
"Well hello Rosemary," Zay greeted as he came over.
"What?" she asked not looking up.
"Just what made you follow?" Zay asked.
"Don't man," Lucas told him.
"Sticking up for the lady, like always," Zay replied.
"Just, back off her okay, she's new and doesn't need anyone starting on her more," Lucas told him, he got the hint and dropped it.
"Sorry," was all he said and sat down, "so the movies are we all still going?"
"Yeah, we even have Rose here going with us," Maya told him and he smiled, "what?"
"Nothing, just its good we're getting the new girl involved," Zay replied.
Rose glanced at Lucas since he knows Zay and her never got along.
Lucas sighed and looked at Zay who just smiled his smile that Lucas knew that meant he's up to no good.
The bell rang and everyone went to class. Rose sat down beside Lucas in the spot Mr. Matthews told her to sit.
"Today is free hour right now, sit and talk and do extra homework or whatever you want to do," Mr. Matthews told them.
Everyone nodded and Rose just pulled out her notebook and started to write. She wasn't sure what she was going to write but she wanted to write something.
A note was passed to her on her desk and she opened it and read, "Rosie, I missed you, and I am so sorry I left like I did, but you know what went on and why I had to leave, sweetie just promise me nothing has changed between us, I still love you, I really hope you still feel the same about me, you are and always will be my girl, tonight we need to talk so can I take you out?"
She smiled and wrote him a note back, "Lukie, I missed you as well and it's okay, I do know and understand why you had to leave. Trust me when I said nothing has changed, now, not even the distance has, I still love you also and of course tonight we can go out." she passed it back to him and lightly smiled.
Lucas read the note and looked her way and smiled and wrote down a small note, "great, met me at the stairs after school, we'll go from there." she looked over after reading it and nodded to him.
"So Rose, what all are you into?" Maya asked with a smile.
"Not much to be honest, I like to write songs, poems and stories," she replied with a slight smile.
"That's cool," Riley replied.
Rose nodded.
A few hours later the bell rang, Rose went to her locker, grabbed all her books and her guitar, that was actually Lucas's old guitar and went to the stairs to wait for Lucas.
"You still have it?" she heard.
Looking around she saw Lucas standing there with a smile on his face.
"Why wouldn't I, you gave it to me," she replied with a smile.
"That is true, so darling, are you ready to go hang out?" he asked holding his hand out for her.
She took it and allowed him to help her down the two steps she had to step down.
"What a gentleman, like always for this one girl, you've always treated her differently, and now why would that be?" Zay asked walking up to them.
Not knowing Riley and Maya were nearby, "you know why Zay, she is and always will be my girl, now just leave her alone, you were the reason we stopped talking back in Texas, don't even try making us not talk here," Lucas said, "come on Rose, let's get out of here."
"Right behind you Luke," she replied as they held hands and walked away from Zay.
"Don't let him get into your head, you know what all he said was a lie back in Texas," Lucas told her.
"I know it was and I won't, trust me, I never cared for him and won't talk to him here," she replied with a smile.
"Good, now let's go hang out," he told her and lead her towards a crosswalk, "before you ask, don't."
"You know me, I was going to," she replied and the two of them got into a taxi after Lucas waved one down.
He gave the address and the two sat in the back of the cab in silence, holding hands and sitting close.
"You two make a cute couple," the driver told them making Rose smile and blush a little, "here you go you two, hope you enjoyed your ride."
Lucas smiled and paid the driver, "thank you," Lucas said and lead Rose up to a house, "come on in."
Rose sighed softly then followed him inside.
"Rosemary?" a lady asked.
She looked up and smiled, "Mrs. Friar," she greeted as they hugged.
"It's been a while sweetie, is everything okay?" she asked.
"Uh, kind of, I'm living with Uncle Rick since mom and dad both are now in jail all because dad used a bat on me this time and mom called the cops," Rose told her truthfully.
"Oh man sweetie, as long as you are safe with Uncle Rick, that's all that matters, and I see you and Lucas are together," she chuckled.
"Ma," Lucas chuckled.
"Sorry son, well let's go sit down and talk, or do you two want privacy?" she asked.
"I'm taking her up to my room to talk, we have a lot to catch up on," Lucas replied getting a nod from his mom.
The two of them went up to his room and she smiled seeing a picture she drew him, it was just a doodling type picture, "you kept this?" she asked with a chuckle.
"Why wouldn't I? You drew it," he told her as he sat in a chair in his room.
"Hey, what is it?" she asked.
"Just happy you're here, I was hoping soon either I could come to Texas to see you or you come here to visit, I missed you like hell," he told her as he stood up and went over to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Lukie, I missed you like hell," she told him as she held his hands even though his were sitting on her stomach.
He lightly kissed her neck, "honey, this is all I ever wanted was you back in my arms again."
"I've wanted this also," she told him softly.
Riley and Maya were sitting in her bay window talking, "so, do you think they have something really special?" Riley asked nervously.
"We just have to wait and find out Riles, I mean they do seem to know each other really well, but they could be just great friends," Maya told her.
"But we saw the way he looked at her and protected her, held her hand," Riley told her with a sigh.
"It could be just a friend protecting a friend Riley, don't get your hopes knocked down okay?" Maya told her.
"Okay, you're right, I shouldn't jump to conclusions," Riley told her with a smile.
"That's my girl, well, how about we find something to do?" Maya suggested.
"Like what?" Riley asked.
"Well, we can go to a store and shop? Our favorite thing to do or we could," Maya started.
"Ladies," Farkel spoke entering the room through the window.
"Farkel," the ladies greeted as he climbed into the room and sat down.
"Ladies," Zay greeted.
"Zay," they greeted and they all laughed.
"So, what's going on?" Farkle asked.
"Riley is worrying over how Lucas is acting with Rose," Maya spoke up.
"No need to worry, they're just friends," Zay told them.
"Ladies, guys," Lucas greeted as he entered the room with Rose with him.
"Lucas, Rose," Maya greeted.
"Hi," she shyly greeted.
"No need to be shy around us sweetie, we're all friends," Farkle told her.
"Just, nervous around new people is all," she replied shyly.
"Rose?" Lucas told her.
"I'm fine," she replied softly.
He nodded.
"What all do we do here?" Rose asked kindly.
"We sit and talk, hang out," Riley told her with a smile.
Topanga came in, "hey everyone, whose your new friend?" she asked.
"Hey mom this is Rose, Rose this is my mom," Riley introduced.
"Nice to meet you," Rose told her with a smile.
"It's nice to meet you as well Rose, what's the plans for tonight?" she asked everyone, getting a shrug from them all, "Well I'm ordering pizza if you all want to stay and have some."
"Sounds good," everyone spoke, Rose softly said it.
"Okay, well until then you all hang out and I will call for you when dinner is here," Topanga told them.
She left and Auggie came in, "hello, I'm Auggie," he greeted Rose.
"Well hello kind sir, I'm Rose, nice to meet you," she greeted back as they shook hands.
"You're pretty," Auggie told her.
"Awe, thank you, you're a cutie yourself," she told him and he blushed a little.
"Thank you Rose," he said and left.
"Kid brothers," Riley joked.
"It's okay, I'm used to kids, I used to babysit all the time," she replied with a smile.
Riley smiled and they all sat there in silence. She glanced over and saw the way Lucas was sitting and kept looking towards Rose. Rose lightly nodded and he whispered something in her ear and she shrugged.
"Like normal," Zay mumbled but all could hear.
"What do you mean Zay?" Farkle asked.
"Them two, always keeping to themselves, even with friends around," he replied.
"Enough Isaiha," Rose told him.
He sighed, "well it's true," he told her.
"Enough, come on Rose, we don't need you getting down again," Lucas told her.
"No, its okay, I'm just going to ignore him," Rose replied softly.
He sighed but left it alone, he looked at Zay and gave him a look as if to say 'shut the hell up about us' Zay smirked but stayed quiet.
"Lucas, what is he talking about?" riley asked.
"I'll talk more when it's a better situation and she's more comfortable around everyone," Lucas told her with a sigh.
"Okay," was all Riley told him.
"Kids, dinner," Topanga called up to them.
Everyone went downstairs, lead by Riley, they all sat down, "how many slices everyone?" Corey asked.
"Two," they all replied.
He handed them all out to everyone.
"Thank you," Rose told him.
"You're welcome Rose," he told her with a smile.
During dinner Rose glanced over at Lucas, nudged him and nodded, he shook his head no and she just sighed.
"So Rose, what all are you into?" Topanaga asked her kindly.
"Mainly writing songs, stories, poems, I draw a little," Rose replied kindly
"That's cool, what is your favorite color?" Auggie asked her.
"Pink, Purple, Black and red," Rose replied with a smile.
"Pretty colors, what's your favorite food?" Auggie asked.
"Honestly, my favorite food has to be shrimp," Rose told him making Lucas and Zay both smile from memories.
"Never tried it, mommy can we have shrimp sometime and have Rose over?" Auggie asked.
"Of course we can Auggie," Topanga replied.
"Yay, Rose, what is your favorite flower?" Auggie asked.
"Carnations," Rose told him.
Lucas leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I think someone has a crush on you."
She smiled and looked his way, "Rose, one last question, when is your birthday?" Auggie asked.
"October 20th," she told him.
"Almost on Halloween, that's awesome, do you like to dress up?" he asked.
"I love to dress up on Halloween Auggie, do you?" Rose asked.
"I love to, I want to be a vampire this year," Auggie told her.
"Ooo, Vampires are cool, I can do your Halloween makeup, and I'm great at it, that's if you would like me to do it?" Rose told him and got thinking Halloween was only a month away.
"Can she mommy?" Auggie asked.
"Yeah, she can sweetie," Topanga told him.
"Yay! Riley we should have her come over more often," Auggie spoke with a smile.
"Well, she is a friend so she might come over a lot," Riley replied and saw the smile on Rose's face.
"That is right," Rose replied making Auggie cheer some.
After dinner the kids went back up to Riley's room, "I think my brother has a crush on you Rose," Riley told her with a smile.
"It's cute, he's a cutie," Rose replied with a smile.
"But you are welcome to come over and hang out anytime Rose and as for Halloween if you want to stay the night before that'll be okay as well," Riley told her.
"Okay thank you Riley and as for Halloween I'll talk to my Uncle but most likely he won't care as long as I get his makeup done so he can pass out the candy," Rose told her with a smile.
"Awe, you like to do make up I take it?" Maya asked.
"I love to, Halloween Make up is my hobby, ever since I moved here with my uncle I practice his just about every night so we have it down and it'll be easy to do," she told her and showed them all a picture she took of her uncle as a zombie.
"Wow, that is amazing work," Maya told her.
"Thank you, he said to make him look like the living dead so the first night it took me three hours to do it, now it's getting to be quicker and with Halloween on a Saturday this year I will be able to do his makeup then hang out with you all," she told them.
"Can you do all our make up? I want to be a gothic person," Farkle asked.
"Yeah, I can, but don't ask I won't tell what I'm going to be, it'll be a surprise," Rose told them all with a smile.
"I'm going to be a Werewolf," Zay told them.
"Mines a secret as well," Lucas told them.
"Mermaid," Riley spoke.
"A cowgirl," Maya told them.
"I so can do all the makeup, but for Lucas he can do his own since it's a surprise," Rose joked with a smile.
"My mom will, she already said she will," Lucas replied.
Monday came and Maya came through the window like normal to get Riley up, "Rise and shine sunshine," Maya spoke and sat down.
"I'm up," Riley replied and came into the room dressed in a short brown dress.
"Looking good Riles," Maya told her best friend.
"Thank you, you look good as well," Riley told her.
"Let's go," Maya spoke and the girls climbed through the window and headed to school.
Arriving at School Farkle, Lucas and Zay were sitting in their seats, but no Rose.
"Where's Rose?" Maya asked after she sat down.
"Not sure, I stopped by her house on the way here and her uncle claimed she was sick, but he wouldn't let me see her to see if she wanted me to get her homework or not," Lucas replied softly, the hurt was present in his eyes.
"Hey, Lucas, are you okay?" Riley asked.
"Yeah," was all he replied.
Mr. Matthews came in, put his brief case on his desk, "class, we need to talk," he told everyone making them all face the front.
"Rose won't be in class this week, she was in an accident over the weekend, she was riding her horse that was sent up here from Texas and was bucked off, the horse got spooked by a snake, she's on bed rest right now, I will take her any work needed but for the week she will not be in class with us," he told them.
That scared Lucas, the only horse he knows she owned was the friendliest animal on the planet and would never buck with her on his back.
"Sir, are you sure it was a horse accident, Blackie would never buck her off of him, not even for a snake," Lucas spoke up and all eyes went to him.
"That's what her uncle claimed," Mr. Matthews spoke, "why Lucas?"
"Just," he stopped and glanced at Roses desk, "what I'm about to say, I don't want anyone getting mad at me for please?"
"Okay," the whole class even Riley said.
"Lucas, what's wrong?" Riley asked and saw a tear slip down his cheek.
"Roses father used to abuse her, she moved here with her uncle to get away from the abuse, both her parents are in jail now thanks to it, but I have no idea how long they were going to be in jail since her father knows the judge and all and pays him off any way he can to get a shorter sentence and all, Rose and I do know each other from Texas, she's the main reason I won't date anyone, she and I have been dating for the last four years, she means a lot to me and if her dad did pay the judge off it wasn't a riding accident but her dad's abuse again, when I went there this morning her uncle had a few cuts on his face and a black and blue eye," Lucas told everyone not looking up as he felt the tears form in his eyes, "if he did something to her, then he's on the run now since he once broke her ribs and screwed up her left knee."
Zay sighed, he never knew she had it that bad at home, "and the hate I sent her way never helped did it?" he asked.
"No, it didn't that's why I kept her away from you, you were also the reason we stopped talking in Texas for a while, the lies you told her, but she had enough faith and trust that she never broke up with me, but if you would have made her do that, you wouldn't be walking," Lucas told him which worried everyone.
"Lucas," Riley started but he got up and left the room.
He went to the sitting area, sat down and cried.
Mr. Matthews went out and sat with him, "Lucas?" he asked.
"Sorry sir," Lucas replied and cried more.
"It's okay Lucas, I know how you feel, when you truly love someone they always bring out the protective side of you, the side no one else has ever seen or known about, until that one person's name is brought up, I could tell something was going on between you and Rose, now answer this one thing, How much do you truly love Rose?" Mr. Matthews asked him.
"My whole heart and soul sir, I even gave her that ring she wears on her left middle finger, I worked two jobs to get the money for it, we've been through a lot in our four years of being together, but when I moved here I was pissed I had to leave her there to be abused and bullied alone, I wanted to drag her with me but couldn't, I'm literally lost without her," Lucas told him truthfully.
"I can tell, just the small actions you do towards her, come into class so we can get the day started," Mr. Matthews told him.
He nodded and followed him into class, sat down and didn't pay attention to hardly anything, he was worried as hell about Rose.
The next day Maya, Riley, Farkle, Zay and the rest of the class were sitting there when Lucas came in helping Rose into class.
"Rose?" everyone questioned.
"Hey," she replied softly using the crutches she hates already, "before you ask I'm okay."
Riley looked at her after she sat down and handed her a card, "from everyone."
Rose smiled, took the card and read, "Rose, we all hope you get better soon and come back to class. Love your classmates." She smiled, "thanks everyone."
"You're welcome," they replied.
Mr. Matthews came in, "well hello there Rose, didn't expect to see you until Monday, how do you feel?" he asked.
"I'm okay, sore but I'm okay and yeah I wasn't supposed to return until Monday but I hate missing school unless I am extremely ill," she replied.
He smiled and looked at Lucas who nodded.
"I stopped by her house to check on her and she was trying to get down the stairs so I needed to help her out and got us a taxi and everything, I won't let her walk to school," Lucas told everyone making them smile.
"You two are cute together and Rose I'm here if you need help also, we all are," Riley told her.
"Thanks Riley," she replied softly but flinched in pain.
"Easy Rose, where's your pain medicine?" Lucas asked.
"My purse but it's too early to take it, took some before I left the house," she replied softly, "my dad is dead to me now," she whispered but everyone heard.
"Honey, go home, go to bed," Lucas told her.
"Nope, you can't get me to my house that easy Luke, I'm sorry, I'm staying, I'm not going back there anytime soon," she replied.
"Wait is he?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah, he was the reason I was coming to school," she whispered and Mr. Matthews left the room.
"Easy sweetie, he won't hurt you when I'm around, he knows what happened the last time," Lucas told her and moved his desk next to hers.
"I know but he will still do it again when you're not there, we both know how he is Lucas, if it wasn't for my uncle Rick, I could have been killed by my own father," Rose told him louder than needed.
"Rosemary Ann, he will not kill you, mom already said you're more than welcome to come over and stay, I told her last night what was going on and we both know Blackie would never hurt you, he's your other proctor, so tonight and until your father is caught you are not going back home," Lucas told her.
"Don't call me by my full name Lucas Allen," she told him.
"Sorry," he told her softly.
"This time it's okay, next time, you won't like it now that I got these handy crutches," she told him and he laughed, even Zay laughed.
"Don't remind me about that," Lucas laughed.
"Oh the fact that you were picking on her one day and she knocked you onto your butt using a crutch?" Zay asked making everyone laugh.
"Sorry again about that," she told Lucas.
"It's okay, I deserved it for calling you slowpoke," he told her.
"Yes you did cowboy," she giggled and he just laughed, "Lukie?"
"Yes Rose?" he asked.
"Hold this, with my hand being swollen I can't wear it," she said handing him a necklace with her ring on it.
"Okay sweetie and I know how you don't like necklaces that much," he told her and put the necklace on.
"Don't worry, when I'm back to my normal happy self I'll be wearing it again," she told him.
"I know," he told her softly.
"Lucas, don't worry too much over me okay? I'll be okay, I had worse done," she softly told him.