So yeah here is another Chapter! Reviews would be greatly apperciated!
I stayed frozen kneeling on the concrete clinging onto the only comfort that was there. I don't know why I did it. How I knew that he wouldn't push me away or be startled by my actions. It was weird how I had only met Devon yesterday and yet I feel so safe with him. Having his arms wrapped around my middle kept prevented me from falling into pieces.
"Rose. We have to go." He whispered into my ear. I kept my face glue to his shirt.
"Not yet. Just a little longer." I mumbled feeling the shattered pieces of my heart slowly mend back together. He squeezed me tighter then lifted me off the ground. I put my head on his shoulder when I was on my feet not letting him out of my grasp.
"Rose, we have to go now." He said more frantically in my ear. I heard the panic in his voice and released him. I turned toward the house and saw my dad standing in the doorway gripping a lead pipe.
"Dad." I breathed terrified. His face was twisted in anger.
"You're gone for a whole damn day and now you want to come back!" He screamed getting red in the face. I flinched back cowering behind Devon.
"What is your dad's name?" Devon whispered.
"Why?" I whispered back.
"Trust me."
"It's Joe." I stammered. I moved more behind Devon making my eyes stare at the back of his white school shirt. It was a lot more pleasant then the red in my dad's face.
"Joe Sapphire. I am Devon Floyd. I'm one of your daughters classmates and if you don't mind it too much I would greatly appreciated it if she were allowed to stay at my house for the remainder of her life." He said darkly to him.
I was shocked and apparently my father was too. I glanced over Devon's shoulder and my dad's face was purple.
" I do mind and her life isn't going to be long if I don't have her inside this house right now." He said softly but forceful. I have only heard him speak like this once and it was the worst memory of my life.
"Devon don't. Please." I begged. I needed to get away.
"I'm not going to leave her here Mister Sapphire. I can guarantee that." Devon whispered just as darkly if not more.
I felt my memories leaking threw the brick wall I had built over the years. I didn't want to remember. I grabbed my head and closed my eyes suppressing the thoughts. I felt myself crumbling again as I let out a small gasp.
"Devon we need to go." I whispered. I heard a low chuckle.
"She's remembering." My dad laughed. "What's the matter Rose?" He smiled swaying his way into the front yard. He used the pipe for support. "Are you finally realizing that it's your fault she died? Are you?" He screamed at me.
"Shut up." I whispered still squeezing my eyes closed.
"You deserve the pain you are getting! I have to feel it every time I look at your hideous face!" He pointed a finger at me.
"I didn't do it!" I screamed at him feeling the pain much worse then I showed.
"Don't lie to me! It's your fault! You killed her!" He yelled stepping closer. The fury in his eyes couldn't compare to the anger I felt towards the man in front of me.
"I didn't kill her!" I screamed crying now.
"If she never had you then she would still be here." He said.
"No, you're wrong. You're wrong." I whispered walking backward toward the curb. The pain and panic turned into frustration and anger as my body numbed.
"Believe me Devon that thing isn't worth protecting. Not after what she has done. You're better off with a girl that has some self-control." He raised his voice at the end of his words. I stared down ashamed.
"Leave him alone." I growled.
"Did I say something wrong?" He laughed at me. "Please tell me what it was so I can say it again."
"Shut up Dad." I whispered with dark eyes.
"Devon must be running out of all the other whores if he is hanging out with you. Why don't you tell him about the boy with orange hair that walked you home the other day?" He pointed out. "Does he know about him?"
"I said to leave him alone." I rose my voice.
"Rose." Devon set his hand on my shoulder.
I looked up at his face. His eyes were clouded with anger. His beautiful face as in a frown and his breathing staggered.
"I will come by this house later today and pick up her things. Whether you like it or not." Devon grabbed my hand and pulled me the way we came.
"Where the hell do you think you are going?" My dad screamed following us on the sidewalk.
I heard the pipe drag along the floor. Devon pulled on my hand and then sprinted pulling my behind him. My eyes were leaking tears as the anger and frustration was replaced with sadness and pain. I ran with Devon, my whole body numbed. I felt nothing. It was as if the world around me wasn't there. It was like we hadn't stopped running and we weren't in front of the store that I first met him at, or Devon wasn't trying to talk to me. I didn't understand any of it. He mumbled words that didn't make sense. I felt as if I had been placed underwater and everything around me was muffled. I had to concentrate hard to understand.
"Rose, speak to me." He said staring into my eyes with concern.
"What do you want me to say?" I mumbled.
"Thank God." He sighed. "I thought you were going into shock or something." He looked my back into my eyes and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
"Devon." I whispered.
"Yes?" He nuzzled his face in my hair.
"I don't understand." I mumbled. "After that, you still haven't pushed me away or asked any questions." I felt the lump in my throat reappear.
"I don't need to know. All I do need to know is that you are alright." He embraced me tighter.
"But we just met. I'm a stranger. You should have gotten rid of me long ago."
He pushed me back and I felt rejection tug at the tear in my chest.
"I know it is weird. With you I feel like I am whole. I was never the social one but see you and being with you make me feel like I have a purpose. Other than that I have no other reason to give you for why I have not asked any questions. It's selfish, I know." He laughed, his hands still on my shoulders.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him toward me. This was the warmth that I had been searching for. The very thing that I wanted so badly I had finally had. The very thing that I saw in Kyo and Tohru.
"I have a feeling that you don't feel like going to school today." He half-laughed.
"No we have to go." I sighed. My pain was still there. It was still slowly tearing down the wall I had built but I forced it back into my mind. I don't want to remember her. I don't want to remember my mother.
At school I remained distant from people. Tohru had one look at my puffy red eyes and came running. It was extremely hard to smile but I succeeded. Kyo and Yuki were very suspicious about Devon and asked several questions on how we had met. I had to change into my uniform in the girls' bathroom and in there I had checked my reflection. My eyes were red and my face was pale. I didn't brush my hair before I left Devon's house and it was all over the place. Yet Devon saw this amazing girl but all I saw was a young girl that was falling apart at the seams. I exited the bathroom to be greeted by familiar faces.
"You guys don't have to follow me everywhere." I stared at Devon for the most part.
"I don't think so kid." Arisa put her hand on my head. "Lately you have been in trouble all the time."
"Don't worry Rose. We are just concerned that's all." Hana whispered looking down the hall. I followed her eyes to see the three Yuki fan girls peeking around the corner.
"Rose-chan I'm so happy that you are okay." Tohru smiled and hugged me tight.
"Me too." I smiled at Devon.
Yuki looked me in the eyes. He had the saddest look.
"Everything okay Yuki?" I asked getting out of Tohru grasp.
"I was wondering if I could talk to you alone after school. It is something important." He asked softly.
"I'm sure that all of us would like to know what it is you are talking about Yuki. You aren't the only one that has questions." Kyo said to Yuki but his eyes were on me and they glance from my eyes to my arms.
"I would greatly appreciate it if it were just us two. Maybe you can find a different time to talk to her." Yuki said in a cold voice.
Tohru acted immediately. She placed her small hands on Kyo's arm and smiled. His eyes softened and then he sighed.
"Fine have it your way." He said walking away.
"Wow Orangey has been less temperamental lately." Arisa said amazed.
"I wonder why that is." Hana glanced at Tohru.
She smiled nervously and said, "Maybe he has been doing good in his school work or something."
"Yes, maybe." Hana agreed.
After school I had met Devon at the main door. He smiled when he saw me.
"It was nice meeting your friends." He said randomly.
"Yeah. They are quite a crowd." I softly laughed.
"Do they know?" He whispered, his eyes forward as he walked.
"No." I answered looking ahead also. "I haven't told them about my living conditions."
"Maybe you should." He suggested stuffing his hands in his pockets.
We still walked not saying a word to each other. I couldn't tell them, not yet at least. I needed more time before to built the wall of the memories. I again pushed it back.
"How much farther before we get to you're house?" I asked trying to get off topic.
"Not much farther but it's our house now. Not just mine." He smiled at me.
I couldn't get enough will power to do the same.
"I can't live with you Devon. How are we going to get my stuff from my dad?" I asked.
"Just like before but I'm going to have you stay at our house." He said.
"I really don't want you too." I whispered.
"Yes but I'm not giving you a choice. You aren't going back there. I won't allow it." He said sternly.
"Why?"
"I told you already. I'm selfish." He smiled.
We arrived at his apartment and as he said he dropped me off and left. I went to the guest room and checked the clock. It was three-thirty. I tried to calculate the time we would be back and I came up with between four and four-thirty. I laid down on the bed staring at the clock. Being alone wasn't the best thing in the world. I began to think and that was bad.
My mother was one of the best people in my life that much I remember. I remember her singing me to sleep and making cookies with me when we were still in America. Still a family. It was a wonderful memory but with every wonderful thing there has to be a terrifying memory and I was beginning to remember mine.
