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Chapter Four: His Decision
Rose returned home, her thoughts spinning around her head like a tornado. She needed time to think over everything that had happened between her and Edward. She needed to analyze every thing she said, and his every reply. She didn't know why, but the strange whirlwind of thoughts began just as her house came into view. When she was up the mountain, her mind was calm and quiet – that is, as calm and quiet a mind can be when you're confronted with a boy with blades as hands.
"Rose? Is that you?"
"Yeah," she called back and shut the door behind her. From the looks of it, her dad wasn't back from town yet, and Trevor had left as well. Mrs. Wheeler was sitting in the spacious living room, watching a movie on TV and Denis was occupying the floor a few feet away from the couch, drawing stick figures.
"What were you up to?" her mother questioned, not even turning from the screen to look at her.
"Just walking up and down some streets," Rose lied fluently. At Denis' age, she used to be a horrible liar, but as she got older, her lying skills became quite decent.
"Up and down some streets, huh?" too bad her own mother knew her too well "And how did you find those streets?"
"Lovely," Rose began to walk away towards the stairs, wanting to lock herself in her room and think, but Mrs. Wheeler had some other plans.
"Rose," she turned her head, her light brown eyes catching her daughters' "Did you go out to see Jason?"
"Mother!" the girl rolled her eyes at the rather suggestive tone the woman used "No, I didn't. You know full well that I and Jason… That we just don't…"
"I know, I know," Mrs. Wheeler said it like it was a disappointment "Still, invite him to dinner when you see him, got that?"
"Yeah, sure," Rose was not in the mood to explain that Jason was her friend, and she really didn't mind having him over – as long as her mother wouldn't make any comments about their 'relationship' which was, of course, nonexistent. Before Mrs. Wheeler had the chance to add anything else, she dashed up the stairs, but not before fighting with herself to remain calm as she heard her younger brother say, "Mom, is Rose dating Jason?" to which the mother just giggled.
The door clicked closed and the girl threw herself on the bed, just laying there and breathing in the pleasant scent of her freshly-washed covers. Then, her mind returned to her friend – her new, strange friend.
She had invited Edward over to dinner. Just like that. It wasn't even about his hands anymore; Rose didn't know when she stopped caring about the blades, maybe not completely, but she was thinking about them less and less. It was something else that bothered her.
Edward had clearly indicated that something horrible had happened to him the last time he had the courage to show himself in town. She had yet to find out what it was exactly. She was confused. The invitation had come out spontaneously and was a shock for Edward as well as Rose herself. She didn't know how that happened.
All she knew was that she didn't like seeing him as upset as he was. Rose, although she'd rather not admit it to anyone, was a gentle and caring soul. Edward was her friend now, and she hated it when her friends suffered.
Sometimes, Rose wished she wouldn't be so rash.
'So, what next?' the question popped out. Rose though about it for a while before making up her mind. She would keep visiting Edward and give him as much time as he needed. If he decided that he doesn't want to risk anything and decline her offer, she'd leave it alone and continue their blooming friendship.
But, what if he says that he's willing to try again? Rose bit on her lower lip in thought. Then, she would have to tell her parents and siblings about her new friend, prepare them for his… unusual appearance, and finally, her family and Edward would meet.
What happens next was beyond the girls' imagination.
"Rose!" the high voice of her little brother brought her back on Earth. "Mom says dinner's ready!"
"Coming!" she yelled back and, with a final, long sigh, got up from her bed.
A week had passed and it was Friday again. As promised, to Edward and to herself, Rose had been visiting the boy every day after school, staying for not longer than an hour, so that her parents wouldn't get suspicious. The two had spent the time in the garden, sitting on the grass with their backs pressed against one of the shrub sculptures, and talked. Well, it was mainly Rose who'd done all the talking, telling her new friend about her previous life, her hobbies, likes and dislikes and anything in general. Edward would throw a comment every now and then, and he'd answered all her questions in his usual, quiet and to-the-point matter.
Rose had learnt a bit about the Inventor and how he'd used to read to Edward and talk to him, teaching him manners and everything else. Then, probing as gently as she could, Rose had tried to find out what had happened to Edward when he first showed up in town. Edward turned so sad that she soon found herself recalling a few silly, corny jokes and anecdotes and sharing them with him in a desperate attempt to lighten the mood.
All her questions concerning Edward's secret were answered the same day. Rose was walking home from school when she came across Jason once again. During the past week, the boy had called her once but it didn't last long, as both were quite busy with school work.
"Jay!" Rose greeted with a playful salute "What's up?"
"Nothing much, beside a mountain of homework," the boy grinned down at her "I've heard you were quite busy yourself, missy,"
"Not really," she shrugged "Just exploring the neighborhood."
"You could've called, I'd gladly escort you around." His voice was playful as he nudged her gently.
"I thought you're too busy to play baby-sitter, and besides," the girl threw him a mock-glare "I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself." Then, without waiting for his reply, she put on a blank expression and asked, "What do you know about that huge mansion?"
Jason looked at her, surprised "Not much. I've heard that a few years ago a guy was killed by a very dangerous…" the boy paused, searching for the right word "person. Actually, they both killed each other. I don't know the details, but I heard the mansion's abandoned ever since."
Rose pondered over the bit of information. Edward came to town. Something horrible happened to him. He returned to the mansion, but someone came after him. And they killed each other… But Edward was alive!
'I guess I will have to interrogate Edward himself,' she nodded to herself 'When the time is right.'
"...so, if you're free, how about tomorrow?"
Rose's head snapped up. "Huh?"
Jason looked at her with a frown. "Were you even listening?"
"I, eh," she grinned sheepishly "No, not really."
"I said," he sounded annoyed "That if you're not doing anything tomorrow, maybe I could show you a great place and we can grab some coffee. Or hot chocolate."
Hot chocolate was an immense temptation, and Rose didn't think twice before nodding eagerly. "Sure!"
Jason smiled. "Great, how about I pick you up around eleven?"
"Yeah, okay." The girl shrugged, smiling up at her friend "So, I'll see you tomorrow."
Once again, Rose found herself smiling brightly at Edward as he appeared from the mansion's entrance. Somehow, she wanted to laugh at the thought of her friend being a murderer. Sure, he looked kind of dangerous at first sight, but after the initial shock wears off, even a blind man could tell that Edward is just a shy, timid and a bit naïve but gentle man, who would never harm anyone willingly.
And then she blinked. Willingly, no. But what if it was an accident? Surely, with scissors as hands, it would be very easy to cause an accident like… killing someone. Rose looked at his face, at the little scars marring his white, porcelain-like skin. She'd asked him about them. He said it was an accident.
Accident.
"Hi," she uttered as Edward came closer. All her thoughts concerning his past faded away as she saw him smile back; it was barely visible, but it was there.
"Hello." He greeted back in that quiet, timid voice of his.
Rose grinned at him and lowered herself to the ground, sitting on the grass cross-legged and indicating him to join her. He did, and Rose sent him a quick smile before leaning back, her hands supporting her. She looked up at the sky, feeling very content. The air seemed to warm up ever so slightly as well. Or was it because of her warm clothes?
"You know," Rose started, seeing in the corner of her eye that Edward followed her gaze "Back in my old home, I didn't get to look at the stars. We lived in a pretty busy district and all the buildings blocked the sky. There was only one place I could go and just lie down and stare at if for countless minutes." She paused, seeing her secret place in her mind's eyes "An old, abandoned playground."
Edward didn't say a word, just turned his head to look at her, his expression genuinely curious and so innocent.
"My parents were very busy people. They never had the time to take me anywhere, so I was pretty much all by myself after I started walking and talking. And my brother, Trevor…" she stopped suddenly.
"Isn't this the coolest thing ever?" Rose grimaced as she heard her own voice, so high-pitched and forced out. She laid back and used her arms as a pillow for her head "I love doing this. I used to try and count the stars when I was younger!"
Her pathetic attempts at lightening up the atmosphere was rewarded with a small smile from Edward.
"The lights look beautiful from up there," he said, nodding his head towards the mansion.
"Really?" Rose returned to the sitting position and looked at him with wide, excited eyes "Could you, um… Show me?"
He smiled again, making Rose grin widely.
Edward watched the girl closely as she gazed through the hole in the roof. It was so weird for him; she looked happy lying on the ground and staring at the sky back in the garden, but then she mentioned her parents and brother and looked so sad… So Edward suggested this. And once again felt slightly overwhelmed by the display of emotions that played on her face, in her eyes. The warm hazel color sparkled and gleamed as the stars reflected in Rose's eyes, delight and joy seeped from her and the scissor-handed boy could almost feel it inside of him.
"Oh, Edward!" Rose uttered in a whisper "This is just… too cool."
The word 'cool' made him wonder if she wasn't cold. The jacket she wore looked warm enough, but she had spent a good amount of time in the chilly air, and the big hole in the roof didn't help.
"Um," Edward spoke up, making Rose turn to him with a wide, excited smile on her face. "Are you cold?"
"No, not really," that wasn't exactly hundred-percent truth, but the girl wasn't about to give up Edward's company because of some below-zero degrees.
It wasn't as if she had never experienced worse.
She decided to change the topic, focusing the conversation on him once again, "Do you often do that? Watch the stars, I mean?"
Edward nodded, then blinked, realizing that Rose's back was facing him and she couldn't see it. "Yes," he said "I don't have much to do, beside tending the garden."
His voice, although just as quiet and clear as always, made her frown. Rose turned around to face him and stuffed her hands in the jacket pockets.
"You know," she drawled "I could always show you some fun things you can do when you're bored."
"You could?" Edward echoed, sounding both surprised and hopeful, when he realized something "You mean… Down there?"
"Oh, Edward!" Rose said "I don't know what had happened all those years ago, but people change! I bet they hardly remember whatever had occurred here!"
Edward looked at her, unconvinced. "They didn't forget. I did something horrible. I…" he hesitated, guilt radiating from him.
Rose knew he was about to confess, although it looked extremely hard for him. Instead of sucking in her breath and wait impatiently for him to continue like she would usually do, the girl found herself appearing next to him and putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, everyone makes mistakes, Edward. It's a part of human nature, to do something wrong at some point in their lives. All that matters is regret, and if you regret what you've done and are desperate to change, then you're a good person."
Edward stood still. He froze when her hand touched his shoulder in such a delicate yet meaningful gesture, it made him remember how pleasant someone's touch was. He'd almost forgotten. The boy thought back when he'd lived down there, with Peg and her family… and Kim. Comforting, friendly touches were exchanged on almost a daily basis, and when Rose's hand made contact with his shoulder, Edward found himself wishing he could go back in time, just to be treated like a family member. Like a human being.
And then Rose said those wonderful words… A part of human nature, she said; she called him a 'good person', because he regret the terrible things he'd done. She saw him as an equal, despite his deadly hands.
She saw his hands and yet she promised to come back. And she did, over and over again.
And now, she was standing next to him. As a friend.
Rose panicked slightly as she noticed that Edward's eyes become glossy and moist. For a brief moment, she tried to figure out what had she said or done wrong, but soon realized that Edward was simply touched by her words. In her eyes, it made him even more amazing. Words so simple and, in Rose's mind, cliché brought him so much happiness.
'My God,' she thought, realizing her own eyes were starting to water ever so slightly 'When have I turned into such an over-emotional girl? Where the hell did my tough-ness go?!'
Forcing everything aside and vigorously blinking back the tears, Rose turned Edward gently so that he was fully facing her. "So, what do you say?" she managed to bring a cheerful smile to her lips "We could go 'round the town when it's dark, so that no one will see you." She added, hoping that'd convince him.
"But I… My hands-" Edward's blades twitched at his side nervously.
"No one will see you," Rose repeated, feeling him tentatively give in "I promise I'll show you only those parts of the town that are rarely visited."
Edward gazed at Rose's smiling face as she said her last words "I, as your friend, will protect you," her tone was light and an echo of laughter was heard.
And that was enough to convince him.
"Okay."
As nervous and tense as he was with the idea of returning to town and risk people finding out about him, Rose's excited laughter which filled the old room made all worries melt away.
She would protect him. She was his friend.
That thought, combined with seeing the girl so happy, made Edward smile his widest smile she'd ever seen him wear. And it only made her grin more.
A: Here you go, another cute Rose-Edward moment! The next chapter should be longer than usual, but it also should take long to get out. I am asking for your patience and understanding.
And Reviews, of course! :)