Chapter 7
After a few hours Roselyn could allow herself to relax after she heard George's even breathing. The way he looked at her earlier when she stepped out from behind the curtain made her heart soar. Shaking the thoughts from her head she turned her back to George. She couldn't afford to reignite her crush on him. They'd been best friends since childhood, he'd see her during her worst times. He'd even been there for her after the man who claimed to be her father had beaten her senselessly. George had patched her up and only with constant reassurance and begging did she make sure he wouldn't go to her house and beat her father.
George was always there and she liked the way things were. No, she wouldn't let her crush on him go unchecked. Besides, there was a girl out there for him who would be worth his time. Someone who had a family to love him and could give him the things that she could only dream of. George deserved the world and Roselynn couldn't give that to him, no matter how much she wanted to. After a few minutes of wrestling with her thoughts, Roselynn turned back over to face George. Through the darkness of the room, the faint moonlight of the evening danced across George's sleeping face.
Automatically Roselynn let her hand move to caress his face, her thumb traced the scar that laid just above his lip. He'd gotten that scar from the winter they'd gone sledding and ran right into a thorn bush. The iodine his mother used had stun so bad but George held her hand through the pain, despite his own. Roselynn must have been thinking too long and too hard because when she'd finally come back George's eyes were staring back at her own. Neither of them spoke as they bore into eachothers eyes. Georges hand began to mimic Roselynns own movements and he too began to caress her face. Roselynns breath hitched, but she refused to shy away from him. George moved closer to her face and when he was a mere centimeter away from hers he looked into her eyes one last time. In response Roselynn closed her eyes and George took this as his confirmation. The gap between them no longer existed as their lips collided and melded together. Roselynn felt her stomach come to life as a thousand butterflies took off all at once.
As the kiss continued things between them heated up. George had managed to find his way to lay on top of her. He'd moved from kissing her lips to her neck, Roselynn let a small sigh escape her as he found her sweet spot on her neck. George groaned in response and found his way back to her lips. But then George suddenly stopped and threw himself away from her, Roselynn sat up to look at him.
"Rosie...we can't...I'm sorry." George stood and dressed himself in record time. Before Roselynn could get a word out, he left closing and locking the door behind him. Leaving a hurt and confused Roselynn behind him.
It was hours before George returned to their small apartment. How had he let himself lose control like that? He'd taken advantage of her innocence and her naive nature. But she'd seemed to enjoy herself. But he couldn't bring himself to carry on further, this was his best friend not some loose girl without any morals! He was ashamed of himself. Once George returned he found Rosleynn sleeping in an upright position. She'd been waiting for him, she was probably worried sick about him. Sighing George moved her back to a comfortable position, gently so he wouldn't wake her up.
Sighing he took one of the extra blankets and pillows and put them in the bathtub, he couldn't trust himself in the same bed as her. He would sleep in the tub tonight as repentance for what he did earlier that night. It was going to be a long and uncomfortable night for George.
The next morning Roselynn woke up, her eyes heavy and groggy from being up so late. Looking around the room she didn't find George, but rather his makeshift bed in the tub. She could feel anger bubbling in her blood. Did he find her that repulsive, that he had to force himself to sleep so uncomfortably? Sighing she moved herself from the bed and stood in front of a mirror. Was she really that unattractive? Grabbing her brush from her bag she brushed out the tangles from her wavy black hair. She began to pin it up and get dressed when she heard the door began to unlock. Luckily she was behind the curtain when George walked in. Unbeknownst to her George could see her silhouette through the thin sheets.
Groaning he walked out the door and shut it a little harder than he had intended to. Roselynn jumped but continued to dress herself, once she'd finished she stormed out of the room and refused to meet George's glance as she passed. She made her way down the stairs and muttered a good morning to the landlord before storming out of the front door. Not travelling in a particular direction Roselynn took a right. She'd walked a few blocks before she realized that she was lost. Looking around her surroundings she sighed and stopped when her eyes landed on a theater. The sign outside of it read, 'come and experience the wonderful world of phantasma!' Curious she made her way across the street and walked through the massive double doors.
The inside looked nothing like a theater at all! In fact, it reminded her of the circus back home. But there was a little stage at the center of the ring which she found a little strange. She moved a little closer to the ring when a voice rang out.
"You know, we aren't quite open yet young lady." Roselynn jumped and nearly screamed!
"I'm so sorry! I was lost and I saw your sign and I figured that I needed to get out of the busy streets… please don't turn me into the authorities!" She could feel the blood rushing to her face. "Well, since you've decided to trespass here I might as well ask what your intentions are." The man behind the voice had not revealed himself yet. "Well… I suppose I'm looking for employment, but I'm not sure what place will hire me… since I'm a young woman and all." Roselynn played with her hands nervously. "I could always use more stage hands, it's hard work but I can offer you that much if you'd accept." Roselynn stopped and thought a moment. "First, can you please make yourself visible? I feel strange speaking to a disembodied voice." Roselynn looked around the ring in an attempt to spot her future employer. "If you insist." Was the voices response.
The person that the voice belonged to soon stepped out from behind the shadows and stood before Roselynn. It was a tall man with raven black hair, he had a white mask covering half of his face. 'Must be a fashion thing.' Roselynn thought to herself. "So Miss...I'm sorry but what do they call you?" The man stepped closer to her. "Just call me Roselynn, or Rosie. I don't really have a last name you see." She smiled warmly at the man. However it looked like the man had been socked in the stomach once she revealed her name. "Roselynn...no it can't be...how old are you?" He moved closer to her and inspected her face closely. "Um… eighteen? If my age is a problem I promise I'll make up for it by working hard! Besides I'll be nineteen in the spring!" She needed this job.
"N-no, your age is fine. You should go, you can start tomorrow. Be here at noon." The man's voice was shaky and Roselynn celebrated to herself. "What should I call you?" She suddenly asked. "Oh, you may call me , or Erik if you'd like." He smiled warmly towards her but she could see him tightly gripping the bannister to one of the bleachers. "Okay! See you tomorrow Erik!" She ran off and left the former phantom to his own devices. His daughter had finally found her way home!
"I am so lost!" Roselynn mumbled to herself as she walked further down the street. Her small victory was short lived when she realized she hadn't the faintest idea how to get home. She wandered for another hour before she bumped into someone. "Sorry!" She yelped as the man turned towards her, he was at least twenty and he had the most beautiful shade of green eyes.
"Oh please don't apologize miss, it was my fault!" He bowed as he apologized. "No, it was my fault, you see I have a bad habit of letting my mind wander and now I'm lost." She looked sheepishly down at the ground.
"Maybe I can help you find your way?" The man smiled gently as Roselynn explained the building she lived in. "I know exactly where that is!" The man offered his arm to her as they began to stroll down the street. "So are you new in the city miss?" Roselynn groaned and looked up at him. "Is it that obvious?" The man chuckled, "Not at all, believe me I would have remembered a beautiful woman like you had I seen her before." Roselynn felt herself blush, at least someone found her attractive. They walked and laughed a little longer before they reached her home. "Thank you so much, how can I ever repay you?" Roselynn sighed a sigh of relief. "If you would permit me to take you to dinner, that would be payment enough." He smiled. "I'm free this Saturday." Roselynn smiled. "I shall call on you Saturday miss." She permitted him to kiss her hand.
"What's your name?" She asked. The man smiled a devilish smile and responded, "Alexander de Changy, at your service." The man bowed and Roselynn giggled. "You may call me Roselynn." Alexander took her hand once more and laid a gentle kiss upon it. "Until saturday, Roselynn." He smiled one last time and walked off leaving Roselynn feeling like air. She made her way through the front hall and up the stairs, she reached her door and opened it. But she was greeted by a very upset George who stood with his arms crossed.
"Where the hell have you been?"
Ahhhh I smell a love triangle forming! Guys thank you for reading this chapter, I had a lot of fun writing it and I would really like to see what your thoughts are! What do you think about Roselynn's and Erik's first encounter? What about George and Roselynn? Or Alexander de Changy? Please leave a review or message me! Love you guys!
-Kara
