David was never big on parties but knowing Rose was going to be there it didn't seem so bad and the thought of going made him smile even cheering him up after a long day.
David was buttoning the shirt Matt had pulled out for him when the phone rang. He reached over to the nightstand and answered. "Hello?"
"David?" A gentle female Scottish voice replied.
It was his mother, Margret. "Hi, mum." David smiled slightly. "Hi, honey, how are you?" She asked. David shrugged. "I'm okay." "Are you sure? Do you need anything?" She replied sounding concerned. He sighed. "Here we go." He thought to himself.
David loved his mother, she was a nice woman but she was always worrying about him. Unfortunately, trying to talk to her about it was easier said than done mainly because she carried so much guilt about him being born blind. It also didn't help that she was ill herself.
"Yes, mum I'm fine," He assured her. "In fact I'm getting ready to go out." "Oh, another guitar lesson?" Margret asked curious. David started putting on his favorite converse sneakers. "Actually, I've been invited to a party."
There was a pregnant pause before she spoke again. "That's good. Where is it?" "Here at the apartment complex." He replied simply.
"Okay," She sighed. "Will Matt be there to help you get around?" David scoffed. "Mum, I'm nineteen I don't need a baby-sitter." "I-I know it's just I worry about you." Margret said anxiously.
"I know but you need to stop," David said gently. "You're a brilliant woman who deserves some fun, maybe even a vacation just you and Peter, yeah?" "Oh, where would we go," She grunted. "And if I'm so brilliant you wouldn't have been born blind."
He winced at her heartbreaking words towards herself. "Come on, mum we've been through this," David replied carefully. "Now I've got to go but I'll talk to you later, yeah?"
"Alright." She sighed. David smiled. "Love you mum." Her tone brightened. "Love you, too, my sunshine." After hanging up he sighed and finished getting ready before leaving.
Meanwhile Rose just waited, standing against the wall like a wallflower while drinking her paper cup of orange flavored punch. She must have been waiting for twenty-minutes for David to arrive.
"Where is he?" She wondered glancing around Clara's living room periodically standing on tip-toes. At first she thought he had gotten lost but he lived in the same apartment complex so that didn't make sense then there was a nagging fear he had stood her up but David didn't seem that way so she dismissed that thought.
She was so deep in thought she nearly jumped when she felt a soft tap on her shoulder. "Sorry." Clara said looking at her strangely. "It's alright." Rose replied.
Clara smiled nudging her arm. "Would you relax?" Rose casually shrugged. "I'm perfectly fine, thank you." She gave her a look. "So the up and down motion in place is a new dance?"
"Okay, I'm a little worried." Rose admitted. "Don't worry he'll show up," Clara assured her. As if on cue there was a door knock. "I'll get it." Clara sang and went to answer it.
Rose looked on and there he was dressed in jeans and a black button down shirt. He looked amazing! Her knees became weak. With some help from Clara he walked towards her with his cane. "Here he is." Clara grinned. "Now, I'll just leave you two alone." She winked before leaving.
"Hi!" Rose smiled feeling relieved he was here. David tilted his head towards her voice. "Hi," He sighed. "Sorry, I'm late." She shrugged. "It's alright; I was just worried about you."
He sighed. "I apologize my last guitar lesson went later than usual." She smiled. "Well, you're here, now, yeah?"
David smiled sheepishly. "Yeah." "Would you like some punch?" She asked putting a cup in his hand. "What kind is it?" He replied. She frowned peering into the cup. "Orange, I think." He smirked taking a sip then pondered a minute. "Mm, I say it's orangish." Rose giggled. "Okay, sounds right."
Just then a 'Martha and the Vandellas' song came on. Rose grinned touching his wrist. "Oh, I love this song." David heard her singing 'Heatwave' under her breath and he smiled.
She realized he was listening and blushed. "Sorry." He shook his head smiling. "It's okay, you have a pretty voice." Rose suppressed a smirk. "Okay, thanks." "Do you sing a lot?" David asked.
She chuckled. "Only in the shower." He laughed. "Yeah, I'm the same way."
They talked about school and music then after a few minutes they decided to step out onto the balcony for some fresh air. Rose sighed leaning over the rail. "Oh, lovely." She smiled feeling the cool breeze. Rose glanced at him. "So what do you think of the party so far?"
He tilted his head nodding. "It's nice." She smiled. "I'm glad you came." David smiled. "Me too."
"To be honest I was afraid you weren't going to come." Rose admitted. He shrugged sipping some more punch. "Well, to be honest the other reason I was late was because I was talking to my mum." She nodded. "That's nice," Rose replied. "What she like?"
He smiled. "She's nice," David sighed heavily. "But she worries too much about me." "Well, every mum does that." She replied. "Yeah but she blames herself for me being blind which hasn't helped her health." "I'm sorry," She lowered her eyes. "What about your dad, where's he?"
He shrugged grabbing the rail leaning over slightly. "Oh Scotland I think, he's hardly around so I don't worry about him. "Of course he thinks it's my fault for being blind." David smirked slightly.
She looked at him. "How do you stand that?" He smiled. "Easy, I stay perfectly happy with who I am."
She looked at him thoughtfully. "I wish I could have your positive attitude." David smirked. "Oh, how do you know it doesn't come from hanging around you all the time?"
She grinned. "Oh, yeah?" "Yeah." He teased. Rose smiled then slowly rested her head on his forearm and gazed out into the starry sky and old streets and buildings. It was beautiful out there.
"Do you ever wish you could see?" She asked softly. David shrugged. "How can I wish for something if I don't know what it's like?"
"Good point." She replied thoughtfully. He felt her hugging his arm and he smiled. After about a minute Rose glanced up at him. "I'm starving how about you?" David nodded realizing he hadn't eaten, yet. "What did you have in mind?"
She smiled. "I know a marvelous hamburger and chip shop down the road from here, what do you think?" He grinned. "Think we can sneak out?" Rose shrugged. "We can try." "Sounds brilliant!" He replied. Rose smirked and took his hand and they snuck out the noisy party.
As soon as they were outside she smiled and said softly in his ear. "Run!"
He grinned and they hurried to her car and drove away.
