Here we are the very first chappie of Misguided! ALL HUMAN BTW!
(Just in case you missed it)Summary: Rose ran when something unimaginable happens. Staying with friends, she attends a school incognito. But when a secret threatens to send her back to where she came from, can she trust anyone? Rose is put under pressure again, and this time, it looks like she's going to crack.
Disclaimer I own nothing! Unless my plan succeeds! *maniacal crazy laugh*
I'm not brave. God, I'd give anything to be brave, to face everything I left behind. But I can't just forget it. It's impossible. So this is where my story starts.
"Are you sure Rose?" Lissa asks me. "Andre understands, you don't have to do this." I smile grimly. "Liss, if I don't go to school now, how can I get over what happened?" I say. I mean its school. I have to go. Even if it causes panic attacks. Lissa sighs. I can tell she disapproves. But, whatever.
Vasilisa Dragomir is my soul sister. We've been best friends forever, forever. We were even born next to each other. Only Lissa's mother cooed over her while mine asked how much this would impact on her social calendar. Because God forbid her charity tea party gets interrupted due to her child needing sustenance. It's remarkable really. Lissa had the perfect life. Her family was rich, terribly so, and they loved her. Her parents were what every child dreams of. This is why it came as a complete surprise when they were gunned down. Apparently, her father had some shady deals that went wrong. Regardless, in a spray of blood and a gunshot Lissa's life fell apart. Her and her brother Andre moved and, as they had more zeros in their trust funds than Einstein had brain cells, they rented an apartment in Montana. This was legit as Andre had just turned 18 and an adult. That was two years ago.
So when the Incident occurred, Liss was who I ran to. She understood and took me in. I, Rosemarie Mazur, became Rose Hathaway. Posing as Lissa's cousin I escaped from the endless parade of balls and charity events. My mom wouldn't even notice. As for my dad, well, the most contact I got from him was a cheap card at Christmas. He got my name wrong.
It had been a month since the Incident and I still couldn't handle physical contact from anyone except Liss and Andre. But I was learning. Soon maybe I could go out without a headscarf.
Just thinking that sentence made me realize just how fucked up I was.
Sighing, I bound towards the closet and select a black tank top and a pair of skinny jeans. I cast a regretful look at the gorgeous low cut dress I'd bought before TI. I used to have the confidence and body to wear that. I still had the body but every time I look at myself, while everyone else sees a curvy brunette with chocolate eyes and a sexy smile, I see something that is ugly. I pick a white leather jacket to complete my ensemble, and hide me. Pinning my hair up into a bun makes me feel exposed so I leave it down. Liss watches me and nods in approval. "Classy and elegant." she says and goes to pick her own outfit.
Liss has the looks of an angel, her blonde hair flows down her back and soft green eyes make you feel like spilling your biggest secret. Liss also is super slim, but with a pretty flat chest, which she complains about daily. She comes out wearing a pale pink sundress. I smile at her and reach for my headscarf. Then, I hesitate. Maybe, maybe I can be brave. Just pretend I'm normal. I bite my lip. Can I? Deal with those looks? The admiring ones were the worst. Because if they knew... They wouldn't want me. Not that I had a problem with that. I leave the scarf and link arms with Liss. She casts a surprised look at me but a hint of a smile plays around her lips. She thinks I'm getting better. She's so wrong it's laughable.
As we step outside the apartment her brother Andre joins us. With golden hair and the same eyes as Lissa, he's a poster pin up boy. Like, seriously. Hot. But he was attached. Not that I'd go for him anyway. Making out with someone who once showed you how to dry up slugs with salt wasn't that appealing. Anyway, unless I had a miracle recovery physical contact wasn't possible just now. We decided to go incognito. St Vladimir, the school I was attending, was frequented with the types of bitches and jerks I had tried my whole life to avoid. At least I assumed. So it made sense that one of my mother's friends would send their trophy children there. The kids weren't the problem but if their parents saw me...
As we step down from the bus Andre walks with us. He explains that he teaches PE at St Vlads. As we approach the imposing iron gates Lissa stops and casts me a serious look.
"Rose, you really don't have to do this. It's hard for you, we understand." she says gently. I smile unconvincingly. "Of course Liss. We're just going to coast remember?" she smiles apologetically at me.
"Well, before... I kind of attended here. And I was a party girl. Kind of popular. But don't worry. I can stop that. It just might be a teensy bit ha-"She's cut off by a freckly red haired boy.
"Lissa!" he yells, sweeping her up in a bear hug, "Where you been, darling?" he drawls, in an accent I can't quite place. He greets Andre with a manly clap on the back and turns his eyes to me. They widen and I suck in a breath. Oh, God. "And who's the little miss you got here? She's damn pretty, let me tell you." he says. "Mason, this is Rose, she's my um, cousin. Lissa says quickly. "Mase how's school?" she burbles, directing attention away from me. As he chats with Lissa about all the stuff she missed, Mason edges almost imperceptibly closer to me. After about a minute he slings an arm around my waist. Shit. I freeze. Memories flood back.
"Whore. ." he says, punctuating each word he says with a slap to my face. He hooks his arms around my hips and drags me towards him. His hands slip lower and I cry out in pain. He smiles and whispers in my ear. "Oh, you were just too pretty for your own good." He crushes my hips against his own. "Let's see how long my new play toy lasts, shall we?"
"Mase... Please. Get your hand off her." I'm shaken out of my memories by Andre. I look up to see Mason's startled face. I bolt away from him and into Andre, burying my head in his chest.
"I don't... What did I do?" I hear a puzzled Mason ask.
"Just, just don't. Please." I hear Lissa say. I turn to look at Mason and a hint of understanding flashes in his eyes. He smiles at me carefully, and if I'm not mistaken, with a trace of pity. "How 'bout we start over, yeah? I'm Mason Ashford. Pleased to make your acquaintance." I smile at his changed manner.
"I'm Rose. Rose Hathaway." Mason smiles tentatively and reaches out a hand. Hesitating, I take it. No crazy flashbacks. I grin on the inside. It's not much, but it's a start. We walk to the main building. After giving my details to the receptionist, everyone heads into class. My schedule is nearly the same as Lissa's, except for the first two periods. As the bell rings Mason, who has his first class with me, guides me towards History. As I pass everyone I imagine them staring, leering. I wince. I was an idiot. God, if one little movement caused a full out panic attack, what's going to happen if the teacher leans over my shoulder? Or in Sport, what if someone tackles me? I can't, I just can't. But… I have to.
Mason and I enter the History classroom. I bite my lip, considering. Where am I going to sit? Thankfully Mason points wordlessly to a pair of chairs in the second row. We slide into them just as the teacher enters the classroom. I can see it's a man. I tense up, waiting. I know it's irrational but I can't help thinking that he might be there. As the man turns all the breath from my lungs whooshes out in a …
What is it? A gasp, sigh, scream? Is the teacher Dimitri, Stan, Adrian? Or someone more… sinister?*evil laugh* Yeah, I know, cliffie. But if I get reviews I will update quicker. And also, how many of you want Dimitri in the story ASAP, or do you want to drag out the tension…. 10 reviews and I'll update. Promise!
Xoxoxo ells