Author's Note: Hi! A million apologies for the long wait basically I was stuck and I was trying to work out where I wanted this to go (hence the many plot changes) but I'm happy to say I've sorted it all out and the story is officially off hiatus (Yay!)
I hope you like the chapter and thank you so much for your patience. I will try to get updates in faster now that I've figured out what direction I want the story to go.
Thanks and enjoy the chapter :)
"Ah, so there you are. Where have you been hiding the past week?" Amy commented on the phone as soon as Rose picked up and answered. Rose scoffed. "You know normally you're supposed to say 'hello' first."
"Okay," Amy replied. "Hello', now what where ya been?"
She smiled shaking her head as she walked through the living room with the clunky vacuum cleaner. "I've been hanging out with David." Rose said while cradling the phone between her shoulder and ear.
"Seriously," Amy squealed with delight. "I want details." She replied. Rose sighed. "There aren't any details. I've just been helping him with his art."
"Well,"She sang. "This is a change of tone from the same person that wanted to strangle him a while ago."
Rose smirked. "Yeah, I know but he's really proven me wrong," She paused holding the phone and leaning on the vacuum handle. "I mean he's sweet and a very deep, thoughtful person. You should have seen him with his brother; Bobby's eye's just lit up when he saw him."
"So has anything else happen I should know about?" She asked eagerly.
Rose groaned knowing exactly what Amy was implying. She loved her friend dearly but why did everything have to be a romance novel with her?
"If you mean has he swept me off my feet and whisked me away on his white horse then no' nothing else has happened." She remarked.
"Yeah, that's what you say." Amy teased. "Come on, we're just friends." She insisted. Just then a 'Proclaimers' song started playing followed by a loud banging chisel sound from David's apartment.
Normally it would've annoyed Rose but not now. She just smiled, briefly glancing towards her wall in his direction.
"What is that noise?" Amy asked.
She shrugged plugging the cord. "Oh, it's just David working on a sculpture. He's got a banker with a wedding anniversary coming up and he's been asked to make an abstract sculpture. I can't wait to see it."
"Uh-huh." Amy replied suspiciously. "What?" Rose said innocently. "Oh, nothing, I just I remember when that sort of thing drove you nuts." She said.
Rose shrugged her shoulder. "Well, maybe I just don't mind anymore. I can change." "I see," Amy said mischievously. She rolled her eyes, she could just see Amy's smirk, right now.
Amy sighed. "Well, I'll let you go. Have fun with David."
Rose nodded exasperated. "Cute, Amy, very cute. I'll see ya' later."
After hanging up Rose shook her head then started her stereo and began vacuuming her carpet; something she liked to do while did chores but as she cleaned she found herself getting lost in her favorite pop song and turned music a bit louder and started treating the vacuum as her dancing partner.
At the same time David stopped at her door remembering he needed to ask a favor. He could hear music so he knocked and called out for her. "Rose?" She couldn't hear him. Touching the door it opened a little and he slowly went inside. "Rose?" He called out again.
David walked into the apartment and saw her dancing in a slightly goofy manner with the vacuum in the living room. He knew he should leave but this was too good. He couldn't resist.
She apparently didn't know he was there so he leaned against the wall of the dining room suppressing a smirk watching her dance or trying to and singing along loudly to no one.
It was silly but Rose was smiling and she was happy and she looked so beautiful twirling around in her blue jeans and grey sweatshirt, her blond loose and flowing. But once she spotted David standing there giving a small friendly wave she abruptly stopped.
"David!" She yelped startled immediately shutting off the vacuum.
"Hi!" He grinned. Her face turned crimson. "Uh, hi," She nervously shut off her stereo and casually smoothed down her messy blond hair. "Um, how much of that did you see?"
David shrugged. "Oh, all of it." Rose nodded embarrassed. "Great," She muttered. "I must have a hilarious sight, then, huh?' She said turning away.
He smirked. "Actually, you're a very good dancer. Didn't know you had it in you to cut… footloose." He teased doing a small slide across the floor mimicking her moves. She gave him a smirk. "Cute."
"I think next time I'll bring my camera phone." He joked causing a look of mock panic across her face. "Don't you dare!" Suppressing a grin and wagging her finger at David making him laugh.
"Okay, okay!" He chuckled raising his hands in surrender.
Rose smiled and sighed. "So other than watching my embarrassing cleaning habits what brings you by?"
He sighed shoving his hands in his pockets. "Well, I need a favor." She leaned against her desk. "Sure what?"
"I got a call from Sammie last night and her school is holding their annual Father/Daughter dance this Friday but dad will be in New York for a business conference so she wants me to take her instead." David explained.
"Okay, that sounds nice," Rose shrugged. "What's the problem?"
David lowered his eyes shuffling his feet. "I can't dance." "Well, if you can't dance then why go?" She asked. He gave her a look. "Have you ever tried surviving through a guilt trip from a nine-year old girl?"
Rose nodded understanding. "I see. So what do you want me to do?" "Teach me to dance?" He asked carefully.
She chuckled. "You're joking? After seeing me just a few minutes ago?" He shrugged. "Hey, compare to me you're an expert." She smiled folding her arms. "Well, after that compliment how can I resist?"
"So does that mean you will?" He asked hopeful. "Sure," She replied shrugging. Rose glanced around the living room then moved the vacuum and the coffee table to the side. "Okay, let's start." She said turning back on her stereo.
His eyes widen. "Now?" David panicked.
"Yes, now." She scoffed. "What for?" David said. "The sooner you start the better." Rose replied. He looked at her uneasy.
"What's wrong?" She frowned. He shrugged lowering his eyes. "I'm worry you'll laugh." Rose smiled softly, tilting her head meeting his eyes. "Hey, I'm not going laugh."
He glanced at her. "Yeah?" "Yeah, now come on." She encouraged putting her hands on his shoulders. David sighed putting his hands on her forearms creating some space between them.
"Now what?"
She smirked. "Move your feet." "Where?" He asked. She quickly realized this wasn't going to be easy. "How about I start, okay," Rose said. He nodded and waited on her to begin. She sighed. "Blimey, you've really never done this before, huh?"
"Yes, I have," David scoffed following her feet. "Well, when I was eight…with my eighty-three year old aunt…at my cousin's wedding." He added sheepishly.
Rose smiled. "I bet you were cute." He shrugged. "Well, considering I had the sniffles, yeah I guess I was." Rose muffled out a snicker. What was it about him that always made her smile?
"You have a pretty smile," David admitted softly. "I've always thought so."
Though what he said was kind of corny for some reason it had an effect on her and she blushed.
After a few minutes Rose gazed shyly up at him, his gorgeous dark brown eyes shining behind his glasses. "I thought you said you couldn't dance."
"Guess I'm improving." David grinned sheepishly. Rose smiled biting her lower lip. "Looks like it."
Soon the gap between them became smaller as they dance, his hands carefully wandered to her waist holding her close.
Rose found herself wrapping her arms around him placing her cheek on the soft fabric of his baggy blue shirt. This felt so right. She briefly closed her eyes feeling his hand gently rub imaginary circles on her back, his touch was so tender. Nothing else mattered at that moment just being held in his arms. Rose almost forgot where she was.
Then reality reminded her she was supposed to be teaching him to dance and she snapped out of her own daydream.
"What am I doing? He's my friend." She thought to herself. Pulling back she glanced up at him clearing her throat. "So um, you think you got it?"
"Uh, yeah." He nodded gradually letting his arms down. Rose halfheartedly pulled away and went over to shut off the stereo. She glanced at him smiling self-consciously. "Well, that's good."
"Yeah." He replied awkwardly. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence Rose tugged her earring.
"I, um, better get back to cleaning." She said.
David nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I've got to finish that sculpture," He turned to leave. "I'll see ya' later." Rose nodded. "Okay."
He paused and looked at her thoughtfully for a moment.
"Yeah?" She said waiting for him to speak.
He gave a small smile. "Thanks for the lesson." "No problem." Rose smiled.
The door closed and she exhaled leaning against the wall slightly dazed but still lingering in his warm and pleasant embrace.
