Jack didn't come home until late that night. The front door creaked just past midnight. Rose was out of her bed in an instant, softly walking out to the living room. Jack stood there in a daze, his eye already beginning to blacken.
"You're home late"
"What's it to you?" Jack growled, wiping at a cut on his lower lip then brushing past her.
"I was worried" Rose replied, following her brother into the kitchen.
"Never asked you to be" Jack said, running cold water over his hands to wash the blood and dirt. Rose came forwards and shut off the tap, leaning on the counter. Jack turned to give her a cold stare.
"Don't do this, Jack." Rose said softly. Her brother sighed, putting his bruised hands on the counter and leaning on them to look out the window over the sink.
"I'm sorry" He said. Rose silently retrieved a washcloth from a drawer and ran some water on it before taking his right hand and beginning to clean it gently. Jack sighed, running the other through his hair.
"There were six PR's outside Doc's. They were eyeing the merchandise, so Riff, Tony and I go to scare 'em off. They threw the first punch, Rosie. I swear."
"That's what you always say" Rose sighed, exiting the kitchen to get first aid supplies from the bathroom. Jack followed her, holding his wet hands in front of him.
"They was gonna steal from Doc!"
"Were"
"Same diff" Rose silently unrolled some bandages.
"Rose…"
"Jack"
Rose held up the bandages, and Jack presented his hands. Rose expertly wrapped his hands from wrist to fingertips.
"You should be a nurse when you grow up" Jack teased.
"How would I know what I should do? I haven't seen anything in the world" Rose spat, rolling up a couple unused bandages and stowing them under the sink.
"Let's not do this now, Rosie…" Jack sighed.
"Then when, Jack? I haven't left this apartment since I moved here. How am I supposed to know what the world is like if I never see any of it?"
"You'll see the world when you're old enough" Jack growled, exiting the bathroom and shuffling to his own room.
"How old do I have to be?" I'll be fifteen next week!" Rose persisted.
Jack shut his bedroom door in her face.
Rose sighed, feeling tears burn the corners of her eyes. It wasn't fair. She was wasting her life away in this tiny west side apartment. She had to get out soon.
As she walked down the hall to her room, a plan began to form in her mind.