With shaky hands, I dialed Rose's number. Da just died, I needed to talk to someone with a heart who didn't know that Da just died. Rose Starkey was the perfect person to talk to, even if she was five years younger than me, I loved her so much. Rose would understand how I feel, she loved me too but Uncle Ringo was against us being together. Da said, right before he died, that I should follow my heart and propose to her.

"Hullo?" a voice asked.

"Yeh, is Rose there? This is a long time friend," I answered.

"Sure," the voice said, "What is your name?"

"Dhani," I said simply.

"Hullo, Dhani!" Rose said, "Sadie, go away!"

"C-can I come over, Rose?" I asked.

"Yes, of course you can come over," she said "Da just left saying Aunt Paul called him. I have to kick Sadie and Jude out 'cause we had a sleep over last night,"

Rose was always perky, but if I was sad she felt my pain.

"I'll be there soon," I told her.

"K.k," she said sweetly.

We said goodbye, hung up, and I got into my car. I couldn't wait to get to the Starkey household, Uncle Ringo had begged Rose to come home after she graduated from college. Rose was only eighteen but she had skipped multiple grades and graduated last summer. At least Da got to see her graduate. Shoot, I was going to have to tell her that my da was gone for good. Rose adored my father and this would break her heart. I was there at her house, she was pushing Jude and Sadie out of her door.

"What you don't want us to hear you and him?" Jude said snidely.

"Shut up, Jude, you know nothing about us," Rose argued.

"Oh yeh, the way you danced around the room after he called means nothing does it?" Sadie added.

"Well," Rose started, "I never said I didn't have feelings for him but Da doesn't approve of the relationship,"

They obviously didn't see me, yet.

"What would you say if he proposed?" Jude pressed.

"Promise you'll keep it a secret," she said gravely.

"We swear," Sadie and Jude promised.

"Good," Rose said, "If he proposed to me I would say yes, I'm in love with him and I would do anything to be with him. You girls need to go, Dhani should be here soon,"

I got into my car and made it look like I just pulled up, not hearing anything the girls said. Rose would say yes, that was the only bright thing in this dark day. I decided I would ask her to marry me tonight, I had the ring ev'r since Da suggested proposing to her. I had that ring in my pocket for a year now, trying to get enough courage to ask her. She wouldn't have a clue that I knew she would say yes, she would think of it as an opportunity to be with the one she loved as well as escape from her overly-protective father.

I got out of the car, "Hullo, Rose!" I called to her.

"Dhani, it's good to see you," she said, "What's wrong? You look like you've been crying, and I know you rarely cry,"

I laughed weakly, that's what I liked about her. She knows me so well, she knows my heart and how I act. She wants you but it's obviously frustrating her that she can't have you. I told myself.

"Dhani," Rose said softly but there was a tinge of force, "Dhani, tell me what's wrong. You know you can trust me. Please tell me, I'm sure I'll understand,"

"We should go inside," I told her grabbing my bag I had packed in case Da actually did die. I kept it in the passenger seat ever since he had been in the hospital.

"What made you decide to come visit on such short notice yet have a bag packed and ready?" Rose asked, leading me into the house, "I'll be heading back to my house in the countryside, so I need to gather what I don't already have packed. My father has been trying to slip things out of my last few boxes but all my stuff is at my house now. I'm glad to live by me self, not having to put up with my brothers or, sadly, my own father. Even after all his arguing, I kept telling him that I needed to be on me own and that I shouldn't be living with my parents. I, actually, used you as my defense saying 'Oh, well Dhani gets to live by himself and he still visits Uncle Geo and Auntie Olivia. Why can't I?'. It really helped my case," she continued.

Her room was completely empty except for her loft bed. Rose climbed up the bed saying, "Yeh, I'm keeping this one here. I got a new bed, it can be in the ground or above it, it's circular and it has curtains. I got the house all painted and ev'rything, it is totally epic,"

"I bet I'll love it," I said.

She threw down her pillow to the floor, "I'm so happy to be leaving this place. I feel like such a child when I'm here,"

She climbed down, "Are you ready, Ms. Starkey?"

Rose giggled, "Oh, of course, Mr. Harrison,"

Rose was so sweet, we actually used to sneak out and see each other but we got caught and Ringo locked her door and window from the outside. Uncle Ringo was very protective of her, my da said it was just 'cause Rose was his only daughter and Uncle Ringo didn't really know how to take care of a girl so he limited her freedom. Rose didn't like to be caged in, she told me that she was an animal held captive in her own home.

I held my hand out to her and she took it, "Shall I drive, sir?" she asked playfully.

"Of course not, milady," I answered, "Am I permitted to ask a question?"

"You just did," Rose said, "But yes you may ask me a question, Dhani,"

"How did you get here?" I asked.

"Da drove me here," she said simply.

I caught the hint of annoyance, we were at my car, "Milady," I said still joking, "May I take you pillow and put it in the back?"

"How kind of you, Dhani," she said jokingly, "Dhani, can I tell you something?"

"Of course, Wosy," I said using her nick-name from when we were really little.

"I haven't laughed like that in a long time, everything is so serious..." Rose started, "George...I just hope he doesn't die but fate, fate can be cruel. I'm probably the only one who won't get all in your face about it, too. I care about you and know how you hate it when people get all 'Oh, Dhani, are you alright? Do you need a hug?'. I'm not like that though, I'm still loving and compassionate but I don't smother you in it...unless you asked me too,"

"Do you love me?" I asked. Stupid. Idiot. You don't ask a girl if they love you, they will only lie. I told myself, Wait, Rose doesn't lie.

"Yes, I have never stopped loving you," she whispered, taking a step closer to me, "I love you not like a brother or a good friend but a lover. I have never felt this way towards anyone but you,"

"Seriously?" I asked.

"Absolutely honest," she nodded.

"We should go, I kinda don't wanna put up with people who give me their stupid condolences and look at me like I'm a helpless infant," I told her, "And for the record I love you, too. Always have always will,"

She smiled and got into the car, "You never told me why you were sad,"

"Da died shortly before I called you," I told her grimly.

She sat there is shock as the tears started to fall down her cheeks, "You should of told me sooner," she whispered, voice cracking slightly which is why she whispered.

"I'm sorry, Rose," I apologized, "I should have told you right away. I feel like an arse now,"

"You shouldn't," Rose said in a whisper again.

I started the car, "Let's go home and then we can talk," I told her softly.

MEMORY

If you ever need to tell Rose something terrible, talk to her gently and softly...it makes it easier for her. It might seem childish but it will make her feel better. She likes to be loved.

"Dhani," Rose said, "Do you really love me? I'm not just a little sister to you, but I'm a person you care about?"

Rose was always good at changing the subject and usually if it was on something she didn't want to listen to. Dang, I know way too many of her secrets she told me and only me.

"I never thought of you as a sister, you were the person I was falling, very helplessly at that, for," I told her.

She nodded, turned towards the window, and looked out as the city flew by. I went over all our adventures we went on; Peter Pan, Magical Mystery Tour, Secret Garden, The Little Princess... we always did things from a book or movie or song.

Then there was the screech, sound of smashing glass, Rose shrieked.