A/N: WELCOME BACK! The first chapter of the new book, I', not gonna talk long. Thank you all for joining me, thank you all for continuing to read this series. Now let's get to it.
Corey Matthews yawned as he graded papers, he sighed as he thought about how his first day of classes went. It was different teaching high school students than it was teaching middle school students. With middle school students, it's fun to teach them general life skills, they are sometimes blown away when you reveal interesting facts to them, and they're more willing to share their ideas and opinions. High school students understand things a little better, so it's easier to push them into in-depth conversations, but it's harder to teach them life lessons because they think they know it all already. While middle schoolers thought they were invisible and nothing could harm them high schoolers think that the whole world is against them.
He sighed again as he thought about his youngest daughter and her friends. They were excited to enter high school after leaving middle school as kings but what they forgot was that high school as their own kings and they just happened to have somehow got on the wrong side of three of them.
It's Riley Dad if something can go wrong it will go wrong. Corey chuckled as the voice of his oldest daughter penetrated his thoughts. It had been three months since he had seen her, yes he talks to her every day, and he face chats her as much as possible, but it had been a while since he had seen her in person. He wonders what new things she experienced if she made any new friends if she discovered new things.
A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts. Glancing at the clock, he wonders who it could be it's 5:30 school had been over for more than 2 hours even most of the clubs were over, they only people still here are those that her on any of the sports teams. The knock came again. "Come in."
The door opens, and tan legs sauntered into the room on a pair of black wedges. "How did I know you would still be here at this time?"
A grin spread across Corey's face. "Rose!"
At her father's response, a responding grin spread across Rose's face. "Hi, Daddy!" Rose rushes forward, and Corey catches her in a hug.
Corey hugs her tight before pushing her back so that he could take a good look at her. She had grown a bit since the last time he saw her, her eyes were brighter than he remembered and she was apparently starting to come into her body, which worried him a bit, no it worried him a lot. But the most significant change came from her hair while she had cut it before she left now it was a completely different color.
He gently caressed her hair. "Silver, really?" Her hair was now a dark brown almost black that quickly changed to silver the lower you went, which wasn't much since her hair only reached her shoulder.
"Well I thought it wouldn't be long till you and Mom's hair changes natural and I decided I would help you feel better by going silver before you went grey. I thought it would make you feel better about getting old."
Corey chuckles as he ruffled her hair. "Brat."
"Is that what I get for coming to pick you up?"
"I'm guessing by the fact that there is no luggage trailing behind you you've been home already."
"Close," she replies. "I had Maximo and Amelia take it with them."
Corey glowers. "I see you're still with that boy."
Rose crosses her arms. "Yes, I am."
Corey honestly had no problem with Maximo, he thought the kids was a good kid but Rose was still his little girl, and no guy was good enough for her. He was once again brought out his thoughts by the sound of something snapping in front of him.
"Dad, Dad, earth to Dad."
"Sorry about that Rose, what were you saying?"
"I was asking you if you were ready to go home," she tells me. "I haven't seen anybody else yet, and I'm excited."
"So instead of going home, you came straight here. Why?"
Rose smiled at him. "Cause I wanted to see you the most. I really did miss you Dad, more than I thought would."
Corey brings her into another crushing hug, and just enjoyed the moment for a minute. "Let's not tell your Mom that I'm your favorite."
Rose chuckles. "Of course we wouldn't want Mom feeling some type of way," the two of them chuckle. "So are you ready to go?"
Corey looked at his desk still filled with papers before nodding, he could finish them at home. "Yeah, I'm ready to go, let me just pack up."
"I'll help," Rose tells me. Together the two of him cleared his desk of paper which Corey but into his briefcase once done the two of them leave the room together. Rose waited at the side as she watched him rummage in his briefcase for his key, she chuckled when her Dad made a "Hah Ha" sound when he found it.
Corey took out his key before locking the classroom door and turning back to Rose. "So tell me how your trip was."
Rose beamed at him before she started talking, she talked from the walk to the car and the throughout the drive home. She chatted about following Eloise around England as she showed them her favorite places, about going to the Chocolate Museum in Barcelona and becoming a chocolatier for a day, about soaking up the sun and sand as she swam in the crystal blue Mediterranean Sea. She talked and talked about China, Korea, Portugal, Iceland, and Japan. As she spoke Corey realized something, she was glowing.
"You sound like you had a great time," Corey tells her as they walked through the apartment hallway.
"I did," she told him softly before flashing him an impish smile. "But don't worry I was clothed when I went to the nudist beach."
"Wait. What!"
She pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggles. "Your face! You should see your face right now!"
"Ha ha ha," Corey responds. "Now please tell me you were joking."
"I was," Rose assures him once her laughter had passed. "One side of the beach was a nudist, and the other side wasn't. Uncle Shawn was too afraid of what Mom would do to him if we even glanced in that direction."
"I would be too," Corey says as he opens the door to the apartment.
Topanga Matthews looks up from her computer when she sees the door open. "Welcome back, I was just about to call you to see what time you were getting back."
Corey walks into the apartment with Rose hidden behind his body. "Yeah I would have stayed longer, but somebody came to pick me up."
Topanga gives him a curious look. "And who was that?"
At that moment Rose choose to step out her father's shadow and reveal herself. "Hi, Mama."
Topanga was out of her seat and had her arms wrapped around her daughter in a second. "Welcome home."
Rose snuggled into her mother's embrace. "I'm home."
Corey smiled as he watched the two of them reunite.
Topanga took in her daughter as the sat on the couch together she couldn't stop smiling. Her baby girl was back home, and now her family was whole. She looked Rose over and token all the changes in her unlike her husband though the most significant difference in Rose for her was the gleam in Rose's eyes. Rose had always had the most expressive blue eyes, as much as she hid her feelings you could always tell her mood by the look in her eyes. Before she left her eyes were getting dull they were losing there usually sparks. Now though Rose's eyes were filled with warmth and happiness.
"So I like the hair," Topanga tells Rose.
"So do I," Rose responds.
"You never did explain to me why," Corey tells her.
Rose lets out a graceless snort and grins."Oh so while we were in Japan we made friends with a girl our age named Hiroko- she's was the daughter of our tour guide - and Amelia made a comment that Asians look good with any hair color. In return Hiroko-told her "I think you and Rose would look good with different hair colors too." I didn't know this conversation happened though until we went to the hair salon and I was gonna get my split ends taking care of. Next thing I know a blindfold his over my eyes and Amelia is telling me "Hiroko, and I have a hairstyle we want you to try, but it's a surprise." I agreed, I have no idea why, but I did. The blindfold lifts and my hair is silver."
"What did you do to Amelia?" Topanga asks her.
"Nothing. I like the hair, and I probably would never have dyed my hair if she didn't push me to it."
"It's a little strange seeing you without a head full of brown hair though," Corey comments.
"It was weird for me too the first few days but I've had it for a couple weeks now, and I love it."
"It brings out your eyes," Topanga tells her.
Rose nods in agreement as she looks around. "Okay, where is Auggie and Atlas, by now I should have been covered in dog slobber."
Topanga chuckles and gets up. "They're over at Ava's house. My question though is where is your luggage."
Rose jumps off the couch. "It's at Amelia's. I'll be right back."
Corey chuckles as Rose rushed out of the apartment. He takes notice of the smile on Topanga's face. "You're happy." he walks over to his wife and holds her.
"We have all our children under one roof again. Why wouldn't I be happy?"
Corey kisses her on the temple and lets go. "I couldn't agree more."
Topanga smiles up at him. "Go change I'll start with dinner."
Corey nodded while Topanga walked over to the kitchen area and rolled up her sleeves. Initially, she was gonna go for a simple meal, but since Rose was back, she decided to all out. She was going to make all of Rose's favorite dishes a low carb beef, and zucchini lasagna, roasted sweet potatoes, spice rubbed turkeys and for drinks…
The door to the apartment opened, and Auggie walked in with Ava and Atlas. "Mom we're back. Can Ava stay for dinner?"
"Of course she can," Topanga tells him her eyes on the cutting board. "Can you get me lemons from the fridge."
Ava walks over to fridge and pulls out a bag of lemons while Auggie bent down to release Atlas from his leash.
"What are you making?" Ava asks Topanga, placing the lemons on the counter.
"Green jasmine-mint iced tea with lemon," Topanga responds smiling down at the young girl who was going through such a hard time.
Auggie walks over to them. "That's Rosie's favorite drink in fact…" he looks at all the ingredients laid out on the counter before looking back at his mother suspiciously. "These are all to make Rose's favorite food. Why are you making Rosie's favorite things."
Atlas head pipes up as he smelt something familiar, it's been a while, and it had changed slightly, but he would never forget the scent of his master.
"Careful with that bag," Rose yells as she opens the door to her apartment. "All my souvenirs are in that suitcase so be careful with it." She almost fell when a heavy weight landed on her. "Hi Atlas, I missed you so much boy." she ruffles his head. "Did you protect Auggie for me while I was gone. Yes, you did. Yes, you did."
Atlas barks and licks her face. He had missed her too, and he had done a good job protecting his masters younger sibling.
"Rose?" Auggie asks in surprise before an excited smile graced his face. "Rose!" he runs across the room and jumps into his older sisters arm this time Rose did fall down.
Rose peppers Auggie with kisses all over. "I missed you Auggie."
Auggie hugs her tightly around the neck. "I missed you too."
"I'm sorry to ruin the moment but carrying important luggage here," Blaec complains from the door.
"Sorry," Rose giggles as she stood up, Auggie's arms still wrapped tightly around his neck. She patted Atlas on the head and directed the three of them farther inside the home.
"Thank you," Blaec says as him, his brother, and Maximo stepped into the apartment. Each carrying two suitcases, Amelia walked in from behind them eating a bowl of ice cream.
Corey walked into the room dressed in a t-shirt and sweat and took in the sight of three attractive teen males surrounding his daughter, Amelia's now midnight black hair and the fact that Rose bring back double the number of suitcases that she left with.
He blinked a couple times. "I'm going to ignore the fact that three boys in my home two of who I don't know and one of who I grudgingly like."
"Like you too, ," Maximo comments.
Corey waves him away. "I'm gonna ignore Amelia's new hair, and I'm gonna focus on the fact that Rose a lot more suitcases than she left with."
"Mom Dad this is Beck and Blaec De Luca," Rose sighs in joy after she said there last name.
"You love our name too much," Beck tells her.
"It's so Italian, what's not to love," Rose responds. "They're going to be living with Amelia and Maximo."
"Yeah we wanted to experience school in America, and Mr. Cooper was kind enough to allow us to live with them and experience it with our friends," Beck explains.
Amelia grunts at him. "Can you talk like a teenager please?"
"I'm sorry if the way I speak disturbs you," Beck teases her.
Rose rolls her eyes at the two of them. "Anyway the smallest of the suitcases is filled with souvenirs for everybody, the other five need to go in my room," Rose says giving the boys a significant look. "Maximo can lead you to my room."
The three guys groaned with Blaec dropping the smallest suitcase gently on the ground- not wanting to bring Rose's wrath upon him.
"It's this way," Maximo says as he leads Blaec and Beck away.
Rose looks around the apartment, and her eyes landed on Ava. "Ava why are you just standing there. Come give me a hug."
Ava runs over to Rose and hides her face in her stomach. "Welcome back!"
"What's wrong, you're a lot louder than this usually," Amelia asks the young girl.
"Ava's parents her getting a divorce," Topanga informs the girls.
Amelia grimaces. "I know how that feels."
"Well I know something that'll distract you," Rose states letting go of a reluctant Auggie. At the interested look everybody sent her she smiled. "Souvenirs!"
Together with her Dad, Rose moved the coffee table out of the way and laid her suitcase on the ground. As she was opening it up Topanga's phone rang.
Topanga picks up her phone and lowers the temperature on the stove. "Hi, Riley…you're not coming home for dinner?… You made up with Lucas and the others and the six you decided to go out to eat…No that's fine it's just…" Topanga looks back at Rose who places her fingers on her lips. "No nevermind…yeah love you too…bye."
"Why didn't you want me to tell her your home?" Topanga asks her daughter as she laid dinner out.
"I wanna surprise her like I surprised all of you," Ros says as she flipped her suitcase opening. "Okay, who's first."
"Me, me, me, me, me!" Auggie and Ava scream with there hands raised.
"Okay so for you two I got a couple of things…"Rose started looking through her suitcase before she remembered something important. She looks at her parents. "Did the package sent get here."
"Yeah it's in your room," Corey answers for her.
Rose raises her voice. "Can you bring the packages in my room out."
There were groans and compliments, but the three boys came out of her room carrying the packages.
"You have them trained so well," Topanga comments.
"I learned from the best," Rose responds winking at her mother. She returns to scrummaging through her suitcase. She takes out a bunch of children books on Roman and Italian history-Auggie and Ava made a face- she then takes out a Korean handbook doll, gladiator figurines, a flamenco dress, and a bunch of soccer jerseys.
While Ava and Auggie were absorbed in their gifts, Rose stood up and opened one of the packages she had sent home. She takes out the present and hands it over to her Dad who opens it to reveal a sword.
"Rose!" Topanga scolds her.
Amelia chuckles. "I told you so."
"I know, I know, I know," Rose admits, but since her Dad's face was glowing she couldn't really come to regret her action. "It's from Toledo though, and since Dad is such a history buff, I knew he would love."
Corey removes his eyes from the sword and smiles at Rose. "I do Rose, I really do."
"Good," Rose smiles before handing her Mom to presents.
Topanga gasps at the different perfume bottles, she takes one out and smiles at the delicate smell emitted from it. "Rose this are beautiful."
"I also got macarons, chocolate, and wine," Rose tells them. "And I know you two don't drink, like ever but I thought you would enjoy some good old wine from Europe."
Corey takes the wine bottles from her. "Well enjoy this, maybe we can have a nightcap once you're all asleep."
Topanga stands up. "Okay, it's time for dinner will you guys be joining us? I made all of Rose's favorite."
"We would love to," Maximo responds. "But Dad is taking the four of us out for a late dinner." he places a soft kiss on Rose's lips before helping his sister up.
Rose walks the four of them to the door. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Caio Rosie," Beck and Blaec told her as she closed the door to the apartment.
Dinner was terrific, Rose told stories of her travels and the people she met while everybody else told her what she had missed the past three months. After dinner the table was cleared, presents were placed where they belong, and jet-lagged Rose headed to bed with Atlas.
After getting ready for bed, Rose placed her head on her pillow and was about to go to sleep when the door to her room opened.
"Rosie?" Auggie questions.
"Yes, Auggie?" Rose asks him.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Without saying anything, she flipped the covers down and scooted over. Auggie padded over to her bed and climbed up beside him and settled in, pulling the covers up around himself.
"Night Rosie."
"Goodnight Auggie."
Together they went to sleep, silver hair, and brown hair on the same pillow.
Riley Matthews walked into her apartment with a smile on her face, life was good. Her friends were are friends again and was finally getting used to high school. She couldn't wait to actually get down to it and make a name for herself. Honestly the fact that Rose's plane was delayed and she wouldn't be back for a couple weeks was great for her, it gave her enough time to assert who she was in before her twin sisters presence overshadowed her. Honestly, she loved Rose, but she wished Rose was less Rose, less perfect in every way.
Riley looked around the apartment and was surprised by the fact that nobody was up; usually, her parents would be seated in the dining table finishing some paperwork and grading papers. She shrugged figuring that they had finished early and headed to bed. She decided to follow their example. On her way to her room, she noticed that the door to her sisters' room was slightly ajar. That stopped her in her track because since Rose had been gone her room was almost never opened. Riley quietly made her way to the door and peeked in, she covered her mouth to stifle her gasp. Silently closing the door, as to not wake them up, she walked backwards into her room and sat on her bay window. Rose was home.
Unknown to her she didn't close the door as silently as she taught because Rose's eyes sprung open. Gently getting out of the bed as not to wake Auggie and softly walked towards her door, making sure not to step on Atlas, she turned the knob and made her way out of the room.
Riley looked up when she heard a knock, Rose was leaning tiredly on her door.
"You're home," Riley's smile didn't fully reach her eyes.
"Surprise," Rose responds suppressing a yawn. She walked into the room and sat beside Riley. "Hug."
The two of them share a hug before releasing each other. There was a slite awkward silence between.
"When'd you get back?"Riley asks her, she played with her as she took in Rose's new hair. "Maybe I should try dying my hair." Riley thought.
"This afternoon," Rose responds. "How are you? Mom told me what was going on?"
Riley smiles it was just like Rose to be more worried about others more than herself. "It's all good. We talked it over."
Rose smiles tiredly back. "That's good," she yawned.
"You must be tired go back to bed," Riley tells her.
Rose nods and gets up. "See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," Riley agreed. Tomorrow Rose would be going to school with her, tomorrow people were gonna be introduced to the force of nature that is Rosamund Matthews, tomorrow she was gonna be Rose's twin sister.
Riley frowned.
Maya observed her best friend carefully the next morning. She wasn't acting like her usual goofy self.
"What's wrong?"
Riley shakes her head. "Nothing. What could possibly be wrong? We're accepted now, and the boys are gonna try out for football and… everything is all good." she takes notice of where all her friends were. Lucas and Zay were talking to some football players besides Thor and Smackle, and Farkle were on the other side talking to their fellow genius.
Maya was about to say something in response, but a familiar voice interrupted her.
"Why in the world would we get in a hole, because you told me too!? That's not happening if you think that's happening, ha!"
Zay and Lucas walk over to the two of them. "Did you hear that?" Zay asks. "That sounded like Amelia."
He started walking towards the voice catching Farkle and Smackle's attention.
"What's going on?" Farkle asks.
Nobody answered him, and the four of them followed Zay around the corner. The stopped in shock when they saw Rose standing to the side giggling with two familiar identical faces while Amelia tore Thor a new one.
"I meant to tell you guys," Riley says bringing attention to herself. "Rose is back."
A/N: As you can tell have changed the point of view of this story from Rose to the narrator because I want to be able to tell everybody's thoughts and emotions at the same time. Don't forget to vote comment and review. Oh and don't forget to check out Girl Meets Disruption a Lucas and Rose love story.
P.S.: I changed Beck and Blaec's last name from Johnson to De Luca and don't worry the next chapter will have pictures of what they're wearing.
