Hello everyone! ^^ I know, it's been an eternity since I last updated. Sorry about that. School has kept me super busy, but I was finally able to do this chapter since Thanksgiving Break starts today (it's 2 am where I am). And so to celebrate the Holidays, I thought I would update. So here it is. Hope you enjoy! :D
-Violet
"Everyone, I want you to meet two transfer students." The teacher said, annoyed with the interruption of his lesson they caused. "Please introduce yourselves."
The first one was a redhead, with striking blue eyes and a warm smile. "I'm Mason Ashford. Nice to meet you," he waved friendly.
The next one had sandy blonde hair with hazel colored eyes. "I'm Eddie Castile. And it's very nice to meet you." Both boys, after introducing themselves, gave each other a look that said Let the fun begin!
"Very nice," the teacher said dryly. "Take any available seat you see." They needed no more encouragement. They walked straight towards a certain brunette who was smirking at that them since the instant they walked in class, finding it hilarious how easily deceived her classmates were. Those two would appear to be saints, but in reality, they were sometimes worse than she, and that was saying something considering how Rose was known for her recklessness.
Both boys walked towards her, but they soon realized a problem. There was only one available seat. Meaning only one would be able to sit next to her. All three looked at each other. No better than the present to demonstrate how they really were.
"So, um, Eddie," Mason said, grinning, "I think we know how this is going to end."
The person question returned his smile, "I think so too." By then, they had everyone's attention. After all, they were still standing in front of Rose, while the teacher was glaring at them for taking their sweet ass time to sit down.
"I'll count down," Rose said, liking where this was going. "One…two...GO!"
In a flash, both boys jumped towards the empty seat. Their bodies collided in mid air, sending them falling down to the ground. The class erupted in laughter as both boys scrambled to get on their feet and claim the seat. Playfully shoves and tugs were exchanged form both parties, until the blonde was able to slip through the redhead's grasp. Victory was assured. That is, until a certain brunette pulled out the seat from beneath him before he could sit down.
"Sorry, Eddie," Rose said, laughing, "but it was too good a chance to pass by." And that was how Mason ended up winning the seat.
"Eddie Boy," he said, "maybe next time." Eddie looked offended and hurt, and even on the verge of tears. His crushed puppy face apparently was too much to handle for the girl who occupied the seat on Rose's other side since she stood up and said, "Um, if you want, you can take my seat."
"You can take my seat too!" Another girl volunteered who sat behind Rose. Others soon chimed in, making the three friends smile inwardly.
"Thank you very much," Eddie said politely, flashing a brilliant smile at the first girl who offered.
"You're welcome," she said, showing genuine happiness at having helped the poor soul. But what she didn't know, or anybody else, was that all three friends had planned the whole scene from just a simple glance.
Mason, and Eddie took their new seats on either side of Rose. All three high fived when their classmates weren't paying attention. Oh, it's going to be a great year! All three thought in unison.
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.
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"Come on, follow me, I'd like to introduce you to some people," Rose carried her donut-filled tray, leading her two best friends through the cafeteria, already receiving whispers and stares of their first encounter in class.
Rose led both boys to her usual table, where Lissa and Pyro were already seated, genuinely happy for what felt like the first time that semester.
"Liss, Pyro, these are my childhood friends, Eddie and Mason. Mase, Ed, these are my new friends." Rose introduced everyone.
They shared greetings.
"So," Christian said, "you knew Rose since she was little. How have you survived this long?"
"Oh," Mason replied, "trust us when we say we barely get by. If you think she's bad now, before, she was ten times worse." That earned him a smack on the chest from Rose.
"Shut it, Mase," she said playfully, but there was a look of seriousness in her eyes that only the redhead and blonde could understand after years of interacting with her.
They took the hint.
"But what about now? Is she causing she causing her teachers headaches? Breaking hearts as usual?" As if on cue, the scent of smoke reached their nostrils.
"Rose, my beautiful flower of the desert, how are you this fine day?" Adrian Ivashkov had made his grand entrance.
"Good." She replied, causing his face to light up as expected. "Until I saw your face that it." Mason and Eddie laughed lightly.
"That answers that question." Upon seeing new faces, Adrian raised a brow.
"And these are?" He asked, letting the question drag.
"Mason and Eddie," Rose said, pointing as she named, already getting annoyed of having to repeat herself.
"Oh, in that case." Adrian threw an arm around Rose's shoulders, "I would let you know, that I am Rose's significant other, other half, soul mate, lover, whatever you want to call me." Rose shoved his arm away.
"The only thing you can be called I can't say because we are at school."
"Cold as ever, I see," Adrian grinned. A motion from the corner of his eye caught his attention. A pensive look crossed his face before it changed to one of realization.
"Ah, I see," he said, smiling inwardly at the new discovery he made.
"Dumbass, you already said that," Rose said, "Maybe you should lay off the cigars and alcohol, your brain cells can't take it anymore."
"Pfft. This body can handle anything." He smirked his cocky smirk. "You don't have to worry about me. Instead, worry about your many suitors." His eyes drifted to Mason who thus far had remained strangely quiet.
"Well, I've got things to do, so excuse me," Adrian said, hand already drifting to the content in his pocket. But before he left, he suddenly leaned into Mason, and whispered something in his ear, before leaving with a "Laters, Little Flower!" as a farewell.
"What did that weirdo tell you, Mase?" Rose asked out of curiosity, it wasn't like Adrian to be interested in others besides her.
"It's a secret," he said lightly, though there was an edge in his voice. "Bros code and all." Rose narrowed her eyes at him, making him gulp but he didn't budge.
"You haven't met the dude for five minutes and already you guys are loyal to each other? That bro code you guys speak off is a mystery." That lightened the mood.
"So anyway, putting Adrian aside," Lissa said, suddenly pumped at having met new people. "Party. Friday. You guys are invited too."
"Whoo Hoo!" Eddie cheered. "Not even a whole has passed and all the fun begins!"
"Excellent!" Lissa clapped her hands together; thrill filling her body once more. "I'll text you guys the details if you'd like."
"For sure." After contact info was exchanged, there was a buzz in the crowd. Rose couldn't help but smirk in anticipation. Before, she would have been annoyed, but this time, she was ready since her gang was complete.
There were whistles and catcalls from the audience as the cheerleaders made their way to their table, a certain girl leading the way.
Mia Rinaldi looked down at Rose, hands on hips.
"Shit," Mason and Eddie said, already predicting what was going to happen.
"I see that your group has got bigger, Rosemarie." The porcelain-like little girl said, a sneer on the corner of her lips.
"Yeah, because unlike others, I actually have friends that can do more than shake pom-poms." Rose retorted.
"Mason and Eddie, long time no see," the little girl ignored the brunette. "I'll let you know you are hanging out with the wrong crowd. Why not join us at our table?"
"Mia," Mason nodded sharply, "sorry. But I don't hang out with your kind." Eddie made a noise of agreement.
"Hmph. Your loss since we are worth more than that cheap girl. Have you guys heard about her little affair with a senior last year? She slept with a guy who my friend Tasha was already dating. Some people are just shameless." Giggles erupted from some of the girls behind her.
Rose stiffened. She knew that something like this was going to happen. Mia would do the impossible to shove him in her face even though she didn't know the whole story. Feeling in the spotlight, Rose said, "As if that's something new to you, Mia."
"What did you say? Don't compare me to trash like you!" Mia and Rose approached each other at the same time.
"The only trash I see is you, little girl," Rose said condescendingly. Said girl flushed red in anger of having, yet again, being teased due to her height.
Rose didn't even flinch when the small blonde lifted her hand to smack, to hurt, the other girl, but before she could make contact a familiar hand stopped her.
"Violence and verbal assault is prohibited in school grounds," Dimitri's silky voice reached Rose's ears.
"But, she started it! We were just walking by and she started insulting us. Right?" There were whispers of agreement from within Mia's crowd.
"Rose?" The brunette suddenly realized he had been calling her name. "What is your version on the matter?" She stared at any place but his face.
"It doesn't matter," she said, sounding surprisingly sober and calm.
Dimitri paused, as if considering what to say next, then, "I'll have to report this to Albe–I mean, Ms. Petrov. Please come with me."
"But why?" Mia protested, but soon shut up after seeing the look on Dimitri's face. It was clear that all he wanted was to be with Rose, and Mia was just an excuse to do so. That boiled anger within her, she stomped her way from the cafeteria to the office.
"Rose." There was a strange note in Dimitri's voice that the others couldn't recognize, but the brunette could. She understood just like she understood everything about Dimitri. Or she thought she did before that happened.
She swung her backpack over her shoulder, right when Lissa said, "Dimi–Um, Mr. Belikov, it wasn't Rose's fault, we can go with you to fix this."
"That won't be necessary, Lissa. We'll handle it from here." Dimitri motioned for Rose to start walking. She did, only stopping briefly to mouth Later to her group of friends, Dimitri following her out of the cafeteria.
Even after they had gone out of sight, there was silence in their table, each lost in their own thoughts. Some of the past events, and some of concern. But none had a shadow looming over their face like a certain redhead had, emotions more complicated than words swirled in a deep part of his heart , so deep, that he locked them away before they dared surface.
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.
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"So let me get this straight," Ms. Petrov said, sitting behind a neatly organized desk, an air of superiority surrounding her. "Mia was going about her daily life when Rose decided to start verbally insulting her which led Mia to defend herself in a physical manner."
"That is correct," Mia said, somehow her petite figure making her story more credible.
"What do you have to say about this, Rose?" Eyes landed on the brunette, who thus far had remained silent, too tense and nervous to defend herself.
"Nothing." She mumbled, staring at the wall.
"Look at your teachers when they are asking you something," Dimitri said, interjecting for the first time. She refused to make eyes contact.
"And you Mr. Belikov? Did you witness anything?" He shook his head.
"I only saw when Miss Rinaldi was about to physically harm Miss Hathaway, but before that, I did hear some insults from both parties." Okay, so it was wistful thinking that Dimitri was somehow going to come to Rose's rescue. She should have known from the beginning.
"Girls, step outside for a moment."
Once outside, Mia sneered at the brunette. "If I get in trouble and grounded, I'll kill you, I swear! My party is on Friday and if this stops me from doing it, I won't forgive you, you lowlife."
"Mia, I couldn't give two-shits about you even if I tried. Go home a drink milk." The petite girl was about to retort when the door opened.
"You may come in," Dimitri said, letting the girls walk in and retake their seats.
"We have discussed and here is our conclusion: Since this isn't the first time we have a n issue with you girls, you can choose between either giving a speech regarding the cons of violence to the school, or serve detention until further notice. So what will it be?"
"Speech," Mia said, at the same time Rose said "Detention." There was no way in hell that Rose was going to swallow her pride and make it easier for Mia to humiliate her even more.
"I agree. Mia, you have a week to prepare. Rose, you will be serving detention with Mr. Belikov. Both your families will be notified of this incident. Dismissed." Rose was to dumbfound to respond.
Detention. With Dimitri. Until further notice. Figures, Rose thought, she spends weeks trying to avoid him, and yet she still somehow ends up in a situation like this.
Mia fled the scene, a look of victory on her face, while Rose lagged behind, suddenly feeling exhausted to no end.
"Rose, can I speak with you?" Dimitri's voice was close to her, so close, she could feel his breathe on her neck.
Just to humor him, she turned back for a split second, still not letting her eyes land on him.
"Yes?" Dimitri stared at her, her beautiful features getting to him like they always did when he laid eyes on her. He seemed to rethink what he was going to say.
Then, "Meet me in the gym before and after class." Rose nodded, still not daring to make eye contact, scared that if she did, she would blurt something out that she would regret later.
"I'm out of here," Rose mumbled to herself, walking down the hall, a tall figure turning smaller as she increased the distance between them. Rose sighed. Dimitri sighed. Their actions in sync without conscious thought of it.
It's going to be a long next couple of weeks, they both thought, still able to strongly feel the presence of the other even after they were out of their eye sight.
And that is it for toady folks! Don't forget to review. Criticism and praise are both accepted. Question: Has anybody seen Mockingjay Part 1? I've been debating whether or not to go see it, and I'd like to know what you thought about it, if you've seen it. Anyway, until next time! (Hopefully sooner than before). ^^
-Violet