This is the longest chapter out of all the ones I've written for this fic, and I've already finished quite a few more chapters. A lot of things happen, so I hope it's exciting :D Thanks for the same two people who always review, haha. I really do appreciate it. But c'mon, don't be shy...I know there's a lot more of you out there. Can we get three reviews this time? Please? :)
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Chapter 12
"Rosetta, where are you going?"
Rosetta froze with her hand on the doorknob and looked over her shoulder. Her father stood there, his arms crossed.
"Dad," she said, faking a smile while feeling impatient. "It's Starry Night."
"Don't you want to stay at home?"
Nope. "Well, I made plans…"
"With Lukas?"
The slicing sensation associated with his name no longer fazed her. "I already told you we broke up," she said shortly.
"Where have you been going these days? I feel like I never see you."
For God's sakes, just let me go, she pleaded silently. She wasn't used to her father's overprotective side. "Give me a break, Dad," she sighed, her voice coming out in a whine.
"You're always disappearing on the weekends."
She scowled, hating that she was acting like such a snob to him. Maybe it's hormones, she thought. She tried to be patient. "I've made a friend, so what?"
"Do you want to tell me something?" he pushed, stepping towards her and lowering his voice.
"Like what?" she asked, her voice catching. He couldn't know, no, no, he couldn't…
"I don't know, but you're acting weird."
"I'm not, Dad, so just back off, okay?" She bit down on her lip hard and swallowed. Her father's eyes narrowed. Not now. I don't want to argue about this now.
"No, I'm not going to back off, Rosetta. You're my daughter and I want to know what's going on with you. I want to be involved."
"Nothing's going on."
"Rosetta."
"Fine, you want to know? I'm pregnant. I'm fucking pregnant and Lukas is the father. How's that for involved?" she spat, and then gasped. She wanted to take back her words, to scoop them up as quickly as she could and shove them back into her mouth, but it was too late.
She threw open the door instead and stumbled out into the night, not waiting for her father's reaction.
--
"Tori, Russell's here," Lady Ann called up the stairs, stepping aside to let Russell in.
"Oh!" came the muffled reply, and then Zavier heard his sister's footsteps on the steps. "Ack! I forgot to tell him that we were going to Mayor Godwin's…"
Zavier glanced over at Russell, who had a pleasant but confused smile on his face. He never got why Tori and his mom loved him so much. He was a nice guy, but he seemed so boring.
Not the kind of guy Tori usually goes for, he thought cynically, and felt guilty as soon as he did.
He tried to erase the thought completely and pay attention to the conversation that was going on.
"Russell, I'm sorry…I forgot to tell you but I found out a few days ago…we're going to Mayor Godwin's home for Starry Night. Zavier's friends with his daughter," Tori was saying, looking a little distraught.
"Oh, no, it's not a problem. Looks like you were just about to leave, right?" Russell answered easily, not looking upset by the change of plans.
"Yep," Lady Ann put in cheerfully. "It's good to see you, by the way."
"It's good to see you too, Lady Ann."
All of the gushing positive energy was starting to bug Zavier.
"Can we go?" he complained, drumming his fingers on the counter.
His mother shot him a look that said, don't be rude. "We're going now, silly boy."
Ugh. He stood up straight and followed the rest of them out the door and into the cold night air. It was darker than it had been; winter had made the sun set sooner and the days had gotten shorter and shorter. Today seemed like the shortest of them all.
"Oh, look, it's cloudy," his mother complained as they walked. "So much for stargazing tonight."
--
Melody lit the last candle and let out her breath. Starry Night had finally come and she still didn't feel ready. It's now or never, she told herself. She patted her stomach, imagining what it would be like to have a swell there. It still didn't seem real. When Camus knocked on her door, she ran her hands through her hair and over her dress, as if making her appearance better would make telling him easier.
"Good evening," Camus greeted her dramatically when she let him in, kissing her on the mouth. Butterflies—no, more like a million birds took flight in her stomach. She felt her nervousness, her anxiety, and, she was sure now, love.
He's going to love you a lot, too, she told her belly silently.
"Hey," she said shyly, wrapping her arms around his neck. He seemed more bouncy than usual, like he was as excited as she was. He picked her up and she laughed.
"Upstairs?" he questioned, already heading for the steps.
"Yep. I've got everything all set out. I made dinner."
"Very impressive," he said, setting her down as soon as they were at the top. He walked over to her tiny table. "Nice candles," he teased, sitting down.
"Oh, shut up," she retorted, also taking a seat. When they were both settled, she opened her mouth to speak. This was it, the moment. Her fear seemed to evaporate as she prepared herself. She wanted to do this. She finally felt ready.
"Listen, Melody. I want to tell you something."
Her smile faltered and her mouth clamped shut. She hadn't been expecting to be interrupted. "S-sure."
"I was waiting to tell you this until tonight…I thought it would be better if I waited…"
The birds in her stomach were back. Was he thinking the same thing she was? Was he about to say "I love you"?
"I got a job."
"I—," she began, and then stopped. Wait, that's one, two…four words. She struggled to piece together what he was telling her. "Wait, what?"
"A job," he continued, not noticing her confusion. "A while ago, I applied to a carpenter's for an apprenticeship. And I got it! I actually got it!"
He was reaching for her hands but she pulled them back. "What are you talking about?" She wasn't excited anymore. Her happiness was gone. Now she only felt dread. This wasn't supposed to be how it went.
Camus seemed to be catching on to her reaction but kept talking anyway. "I applied for a job I really wanted and I got it. Isn't it great?"
"Where? Where is it?"
He smile softened into something more apologetic. "Well, it's not in Kardia…"
"Where is it?" she repeated, her dread quickly turning into panic. This was getting even worse. She should just spit it out now, forget the romantic setting, he needed to know…
"It's just outside the city. I'll have to go for the spring, but I'll be back during a break during the summer."
"Summer?" she echoed frantically, her voice going high. That was when the baby was going to be born. "I won't see you until summer?"
His smile had faded now as well. "Yeah, but…I mean, I'll still be here for another week, and I can call you when I get there."
"No, no, Camus, you can't. You can't do this." She felt the tears filling her eyes. Stop him, her mind begged. Tell him. Don't let him go.
His expression changed into a frown. "What do you mean? I know it's going to be a while, but it won't be that hard." He reached for her hand again but she placed them in her lap, shaking her head.
"You don't get it…you can't…"
"What don't I get?" He sounded a little angry now, but Melody's tears were blurring her vision so she couldn't see his face. "Melody, I thought you'd be happy for me. This is all I've ever wanted to do."
"What about me?" What about the baby?
"Of course I'll miss you, but I'll see you again. It's just for the spring, I promise."
"What about afterwards? You'll have to go back in the fall, right?"
He sighed, and she could tell he was irritated. But she couldn't form the words, couldn't find the things to say. She didn't want to hold him back.
"Maybe I should leave."
"Camus, don't. Don't leave me." She felt a childish, hysterical desperation rise up in her throat. "Don't go."
He sighed again. "I didn't think I'd upset you. Just think about it, okay? Sleep on it. I'll see you tomorrow morning."
She heard him get up and walk out. As soon as she was sure he was gone she let her tears fall freely, down onto her plate, the table, her lap.
"Oh God," she gasped, grasping her stomach. "What've I done?"
--
Rosetta ran so fast out of the house that she lost her breath in just a few moments.
Sorry, baby, we're almost there…
She was forced to slow down, however, and was dragging her feet by the time she got to the bench where she and Ivan had arranged to meet. She was surprised to find someone else was there.
"Hey," the woman said in a friendly tone, and Rosetta instantly recognized her voice as Sabrina's.
"Hey," Rosetta said breathlessly, plopping down next to her.
"Are you waiting for someone, too?" Sabrina asked, looking up at the big clock that was in front of the town's square. "I'm waiting for Neumann, he's always late…we already did Starry Night part one earlier with Nicholas, but he's in bed so the grown-ups can hang out now…"
"Oh. Yeah, I'm waiting for someone, too," Rosetta answered, suddenly struck by an idea. She didn't have the nerve to actually do it, however, so they waited in silence. Finally, she couldn't stop herself. "Sabrina…it is it okay if I ask you a personal question?"
"Go ahead."
"Why did you break up with Neumann?"
Rosetta watched Sabrina carefully, to see how the question affected her. But it didn't seem to at all. She smiled a little. "Well, I'm sure everyone's heard that story—legend, really—of the chalice, right?"
"Yeah," Rosetta said, nodding her head. It was said that Neumann had taken a chalice—Sabrina's family heirloom and a representation of their marriage—and drank from it with another woman the night before his wedding to Sabrina. "I always thought the story was a little strange…no offence or anything."
"It's because that's not the whole story." Sabrina got quiet, but looked more thoughtful than upset. "They weren't just drinking. And it wasn't just that one night. If you know what I mean." Now she looked a little wistful and turned her head to the dark sky. The streetlight was on now and cast a strange pale glow on her tanned skin. "At first I felt so…jilted. How could this be going on under my own nose? But you know, it wasn't my fault."
"Why'd you get back together, then?" Rosetta asked, her voice barely reaching a whisper. She tried to clear her throat but it didn't work.
"I dunno. I told myself when we got back together that I was just doing it for Nicholas, but that wasn't true. I'm not sure what happened, really…I stopped being so upset by it, I guess. I mean, what he did was wrong, but…I could tell he really loved me. And afterwards, when I stopped being upset, I still loved him, too." She laughed and looked back at Rosetta. "It's a weird ending, but I guess it's still a happy one, huh?"
"Yeah," she answered faintly, her mind racing. She heard the sound of approaching footsteps and both of them turned to look. It was Neumann.
"I'll see you, Sabrina. Sorry for bothering you," Rosetta said as Sabrina stood up.
"It wasn't any bother," Sabrina answered, and then suddenly ducked in closer to Rosetta's ear as Neumann got closer. "Listen, don't do what I did just because it worked for me. Think about what you really want to do, okay? Don't do it because you're lonely, do it because it makes you happy." She pulled back and grinned. "Take care, 'kay?" She waved as Neumann took her hand and smiled at Rosetta.
She watched them go and then looked at the clock. She had gotten here earlier, ready to wait, but suddenly she felt restless.
What I really want to do…
Rosetta stood up, not sure where she was about to go or what she was about to do.
"Rosetta! Hey, you got here early, too!"
She turned at the sound of Ivan's voice and stayed where she was as he jogged up to her.
"So, I was thinking…" he began, but Rosetta cut him off.
"I can't do this."
His face fell and he glanced down towards her stomach. "Is something wrong…? Do you need to go to the clinic?"
She shook her head, feeling strained but determined. "No, I mean, I can't go out with you tonight. I…I thought this was what I wanted, but it's not."
Ivan's forehead was creasing now. "What do you mean?"
"I mean…I just have to straighten things out before I start…doing things." She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I know it doesn't make sense, but—"
"No, it makes sense," he said, sounding completely dejected. "It's him, right? The ex-boyfriend? The father?"
She pressed her lips together and nodded. "I'm sorry."
"The cheater?" His voice was harsh now. "Listen, Rosetta…I know I said I wasn't going to go after you, but I…I like you."
She looked down, unable to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry," she said to the ground. "But I can't." She turned around and walked away and knew it was for the best. She even felt better. She wanted to run but still felt tired out from before, so settled for walking as fast as she could.
She had thought about what Sabrina had told her as she sped through the darkness and came to one conclusion: she wanted Lukas. She wanted him so much that the desire hardened into shards of glass in her lungs, carving her with every breath.
I've got to fix things with Dad first…and then maybe I can…
She slowed down at the door, finally feeling a little fearful. She knew her dad was going to be mad, madder than he'd ever been before. Of course, she was acting more reckless than she ever had before, so she knew she deserved it. She took a deep breath and opened the door.
"There you are," her father's voice said, sounding full of relief. Rosetta felt herself relax already; her father was happy to see her, which had to be a good sign.
But then his face changed. She shut the door and braced herself. "Do you have any idea what I've been going through right now? After you ran out like that, I…" She listened to him, almost feeling happy at his yelling. She was finally his daughter again.
All of her happiness came to halt, however, when she looked over his shoulder and saw Lukas standing there.
"What is he doing here?" Rosetta asked, interrupting her father. He stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
"I went to go get him after you told me you were pregnant and then left the house. I didn't know where you were so I went and asked him—and he didn't even know you were pregnant in the first place!"
She shut her eyes, feeling that last thread that she'd stitched to hold herself together tearing away. Tears started to leak out from her tightly closed lids. Why couldn't you have been a good daughter and stayed with your father on Starry Night? None of this would have happened. Who cares about what you want, look at what's happened now…
"What is going on, Rosetta?" her father continued angrily, looking red in the face.
"I don't know, Dad, I'm so sorry! I don't know what to say!" she wailed, opening her eyes. She couldn't help it—she looked at Lukas. He was keeping his head down, as if this conversation was private and he was trying to stay uninvolved. She wanted to see his face, to cup his chin in her hands and look at him, right in the eyes, like she'd always been so scared to do.
She tore her eyes away from him and looked back at her father. "Can I talk to Lukas, alone?" she asked pleadingly, taking her father's hand. His face darkened.
"Absolutely not. Being alone together is what got you into this mess."
She dropped his hand, cringing at his words. "Dad."
Jean ignored her and looked back at Lukas. "Do you mind leaving now? We don't need you here anymore."
I need him, I need you. Rosetta watched him as he walked in her direction, towards the door. She willed him to look up. She wanted to him to know what she was thinking.
He finally lifted his head when he was a few feet away. "Lukas," she cried out, grabbing his sleeve. He looked at her, finally, right in the eyes. She was struck at how different he looked; she'd always thought he was one of the most handsome guys she'd ever met, but now he seemed so ordinary and plain and worn-out. A normal person.
It's been hard for both of us.
She stared at him imploringly, wishing he would say something, anything to acknowledge her. Then it happened; his lips moved and she just barely was able to pick up on the message: I'll come back for you.
Did she imagine it? What did that mean? But Lukas was already out the door. Jean locked it behind him.
"We'll talk more in the morning," he said, not looking at Rosetta.
Her heart was beating wildly. She could, if she really wanted, just leave again—she was old enough to be on her own now. But she didn't want to lose her father's respect over Lukas.
He said he's coming back for me, so I have to believe he will.
--
As soon as they arrived at the mansion-like estate, Tori felt nervous. She always felt that way when she was around people who were better off than she and her family were. It wasn't that they were poor, exactly; but the inn was far from anything like Mayor Godwin's house.
She shivered, and then Russell was suddenly at her side.
"Nervous?" he asked out of the corner of his mouth as Lady Ann knocked on the door.
"How did you know?" Tori whispered back.
"Because I am too." He flashed her a smile, although she could barely see it in the dark, and she started laughing. She had to stifle it almost immediately, however, when the door flew open.
"You're here! Hello," Tori heard someone say, and she moved, trying to see around her mother and Zavier. She barely ever saw the mayor's daughter, probably because of her bad health. She was actually quite pretty and looked like she'd dressed up especially for the occasion. She had her long russet hair pulled back and was wearing a dress that Tori knew cost more than a year's worth of groceries. She tugged on her own skirt in distress, feeling underdressed.
"You look pretty," Russell murmured in her ear. "You'll be fine."
Tori blushed in spite of herself and nodded her thanks, going inside after Zavier and Lady Ann.
She had been expecting lots of awkward moments and uncomfortable pauses, but it actually went all right, although Felicity was the only one talking. She chattered on to Zavier and Lady Ann while asking endless questions, only stopping to let them answer or when her father occasionally interjected. After a while, it was tiring to listen to their never-ending conversation, and Tori looked away, bored.
"You want to get out of here?" Russell asked in a low voice, twenty minutes into the dinner, although for Tori it had started to feel like an hour.
Her eyes widened. "We can't just leave. That's rude."
"You know you want to."
"No, this is a lovely dinner…"
"Oh, come one, you're not even using the right fork…"
She stared at the silverware in her hands. "I'm not?"
"Just kidding. There's only one." He paused, obviously trying not to laugh. "…For now."
This was somehow too hilarious to both of them. Tori snorted and then covered her mouth. The discussion at the other end of the table didn't cease. She moved her hand away, shooting him a teasing scowl across the table.
"You're making me more nervous."
"Sorry."
Tori sighed and set down her utensils. Then she plucked her napkin from her lap and set it next to her plate. "Fine, we'll go. But how are we going to get out…?"
"Just…say you have to go to the bathroom and…I'll sneak out with you."
"That's not going to work."
"Try it."
She raised her eyebrows and then leaned over towards her mother who was seated next to her.
"Mom…I'm going to the bathroom…"
"All right," Lady Ann answered, not taking her eyes off Felicity. She seemed completely enthralled by her, as were Zavier and Mayor Godwin. Tori rose stiffly and walked out of the room, hearing Russell get up moments later and follow her into the living room. As soon as they were both out, Russell let out a soft chuckle.
"Told you."
"I never knew you were such a criminal mastermind…"
There was a lull in the conversation in the other room and the house went momentarily silent. It made Tori's stomach flop, thinking that they'd been caught, but the talking resumed after a few seconds and she let out a breath.
"What do we do now? Hang out here?" she asked, looking around at the well-furnished room. The amount of expensive items sitting in plain sight was making her dizzy.
"No, when I said I wanted to leave I meant I wanted to leave. Let's go outside."
They snuck out the front door, although their stealth was hardly necessary as no one was going to be looking for them. When they were outside, Tori gasped at the sight of the sky. The clouds from before had cleared.
"I always knew it was called 'Starry Night' for a reason but this is…" There wasn't a word to describe it. For once she was grateful that the village was so far from the city. Even with the streetlights on the stars in the sky were brilliantly visible, billions of glittering beads stretching across the heavens. Even though she saw it every year, it seemed much more special tonight.
Tori felt the warmth of Russell's hand close around her own. "This is what it's supposed to be about, right?" he said quietly. She looked over at him, but his expression was impossible to read. The starlight was reflecting off his glasses, so she couldn't see his eyes.
Starry Night, the night when couples were supposed to look together at the sky. It hit her suddenly, bubbling up even after she'd tried to keep it hidden.
Lukas. It was pathetic that she still thought of him, and at such an inopportune time. She knew she didn't like him anymore, but the memory was still there—of everything. When she saw him with Sharron, when he treated her nicely, when he kissed her…
The sky looked distorted, the stars smearing into nothingness as her eyes filled with tears.
"Tori," Russell said abruptly, jerking her out of her thoughts.
"Yeah?" she said, trying to keep the sadness out of her voice. She blinked as fast as she could.
"I want to tell you something…"
"What is it?"
She felt his hand tighten, and it made her skin feel tingly. "I…"
"Tori? Russell?"
Russell's fingers slid away as Lady Ann called their names. Tori felt overwhelmed all of a sudden, her thoughts of Lukas colliding with what Russell had almost told her.
"Yeah, Mom? We're here," Tori answered back, stepping into the light coming from the doorway. She wiggled her fingers at her side, still feeling where he'd been holding her hand.
"I thought you were going to the bathroom. Why are you out here with Russell?"
Tori shrugged and her mother shook her head.
"Never mind. We're having dessert, do you guys want some?"
Tori looked back over her shoulder at Russell. She still couldn't see his face.
"We'd love to," he answered, and all of the intensity that had been in his voice moments before vanished.
Tori let Russell and her mother lead her inside, her head still buzzing with curiosity and confusion.
"I want to tell you something…"
What is it?
--
