A/N: Wow... Sorry guys for the really late update. My PC crashed and all my story was deleted. But luckily I had an un-edited version on my i-pod. :) There still may be mistakes in this chapter because I was so angry. Hehe. Anyway, here's the wanted chappie.

Disclaimer: Surely by now you know I own nothing...

Chapter 12

April / 6th / 2010

{Dominic's POV}

It was after a week of renovating and destruction, Aveira was already up to the painting and decorating stage. Way ahead of schedule. Renee, Grace, Isaac, Layne, Rosa and I were mostly the only ones onto the project now. We had started the painting yesterday. Black walls and a bit of turquoise. Renee had an outburst thinking Rosa had gone all Goth or something. That girl never thinks before she says anything...

We were all happy talking while painting, thinking back to the good times. Yes... It was refreshing. Probably a bit more refreshing than paperwork and I love paperwork. We were probably more relaxed than yesterday. Somehow we all ended up having a paint war. At the time Rosa hadn't been in the shop. But... When she soon entered, she wasn't impressed... So she dunked a massive brush into the can and sprayed us all in black paint, gut laughing. Yeah it was an expensive mess but was it worth it? Maybe, if you were looking for fun...

I smiled remembering that. I hadn't seen her so happy in my life. Her big dream was coming true.

I heard a chuckle come from Grace's direction catching everyone's attention. We all looked at each other than at her with confused faces. After some questioning silence Renee just had to break it and ask, "And I thought you weren't weird Grace... What's so funny?" Then Renee stood up suddenly looking worried looking at herself. "Have I got some paint on me? Do I look ugly?!" she asked quickly.

Grace looked at us sort of embarrassed, "Oh, no. I was remembering the times when I would help my parents paint the house when I was a child. We would muck about. Doing this just reminded me." she said.

Renee gave her a smile, "You always loved your parents didn't you." she mentioned sitting back down.

"Well I'll admit I was spoilt. They always treated me nicely because of the only child thing. We had some happy moments..." she said closing her eyes as if imagining.

I smiled sadly. Everyone's childhood sounded so normal... Well, the ones that I knew of. "What about you Dominic? I'm sure your childhood was cool, being rich and all." Renee said.

Cool? Maybe... "My mother moved to Europe after I was born. So it was my father who raised me. My parents weren't divorced at all. But I think staying with my dad helped. Yes he was strict, and made me do jobs and work hard. But... Maybe it was worth it... I'm glad to have met him." I said. I then felt Rosa's hand on my arm. I looked at her and her face showed how proud she was.

I smiled back at her knowing the reason she was proud of me was because I wasn't letting my father's passing get to me.

"You never told me that." blurted out Layne. "My parents just let me do whatever I wanted to do. Mostly... I was a.. a bit rebellious. But I'm not going to mention what I did." he said then.

"Ooh! So your rich and rebellious then." said Renee excitedly.

"You could say that..." he said back sleekly smirking at her.

She blushed as he looked at her "...I like that..."

They both then blushed looking at each other. I didn't know what Layne saw in Renee, but I wasn't going to say anything...

Most of us started talking about our childhood memories and family memories after that. Everyone, except Rosa who'd been surprisingly quiet and blank looking while painting...

Grace was the first one to point that out though. "Hey Rosa, you've been awfully quiet lately. How was your childhood?" she asked.

She looked at all of us individually still quiet. It took her a while before she answered though. "Yeah... It was alright... I, uhh. I think we need to get more paint, we're sort of going low..." she said before hurrying off.

Strange. If I didn't know any better I would've let that pass... But, something was a little off. She didn't sound happy at all. No, she wasn't happy. It's just like me when I rejected eating the mushrooms then having to explain a lie to her. I was a little concerned. I would've thought someone like her would brag on about their past. But...

Obviously Isaac didn't know any better because he just went along with it. "Yeah, it's getting close to lunch. Hey Grace. Come with me to get wraps for everyone. I'm getting kinda hungry." he pointed out.

Wow lunch already? Time really flies when you're busy... That doesn't make any sense since I'm practically always busy.

"Okay, but umm can we stop at my house for a sec. I've got to get some things.." she said getting up before the two of them left.

I heard Renee and Layne start sweet talking each other, so I rolled my eyes at their cheesiness and turned towards where Rosa should be, to... Leave them... In peace.

Luckily I found her where we stored the extra paint tins in the back room. I admired how determined she was with getting the project done. And admired how nice she looked, despite how less neatly she was dressed. She wore black shorts and a light red singlet. It was getting much warmer now that it was spring, so then more skin was revealed showing me her beautiful form. I don't mean to sound like a paedophile either. She just is beautiful.

I walked towards her. "You need help?" I softly asked her.

"If you want." she simply said with only a small smile.

She still was acting weird... She's not herself. Usually she was open towards me, especially knowing how close we were.

But I couldn't keep the question in for long, "You okay? I mean, you seem quiet today..." I softly said.

She stayed quiet for a moment, but then gave a sigh looking at me, "I'm fine, really. Just... I was concentrating on getting the walls done. I didn't mean to act rude..."

"No, no!" I quickly said turning her to look at me, she took it the wrong way, "I didn't say you were rude. I just... You didn't seem like yourself before and I was concerned..." I honestly said.

"It's okay, what I said just came out wrong..." she smiled again.

I smiled back at her. Maybe she was just tired.

We both stood up to go back to the main room, but before I entered, I saw something that halted my actions. I instantly turned around shocked.

"What is it?" asked Rosa with a worried expression.

What I saw... I was horrified. It was too soon surely! I had found Renee and Layne making out... And... It wasn't all too pleasant. Especially if you know you have friends in the same building. Do they not have any dignity?

"Turn around..." I just whispered.

But instead of doing that she peeked out the door but instantly came back shocked.

"Yeah... We'll just sit down here for a bit..." she blankly said.

So as she said, we both sat down on the cold floor next to each other. Both of us silent, recovering from what we had seen. But then suddenly, Rosa jumped up in quiet excitement, "Hey!" she said.

That made me jump. So suddenly, she was all jumpy... "What?" I asked.

"I found a jellybean tin!" she exclaimed picking up the full colourful tin. I smiled. She acted like a child. "Can we open it? Pullleeeessseee?" she asked sweetly giving me cute eyes.

I chuckled as I took the tin off her and placed it in front of me. She sat down opposite of me waiting for me to open it. When the lid popped sweet flavours filled the air. She instantly took out a pink one and placed it into her mouth.

"Oh my god. I haven't had a jellybean since I was thirteen!" she said.

Thirteen! That was no way to live! Yeah maybe I wasn't much of a sweet tooth but I really do like jellybeans.

I placed a jellybean in my mouth and winced at the gross liquorice flavour. God I hate it! What idiot even invented black jellybeans? "I thought you were crazy eating the black one." she said eating a purple one.

"Well... I was curious..." I lied.

"You're crazy more like it..." she smirked.

So it's back to this... Being cheeky...

"Well someone should eat the black ones." I said crossing my arms as if I was right.

She didn't say anything straight away. Instead it looked like she had a thought. "You know what we should do?" she started. "We should eat all the good ones and leave the gross ones for everyone else... No, give them to Renee and Layne for being disgusting!"

I laughed at that. She was so unpredictable. That's another reason why I like her so much...

"You can. I'll just blame it on you." I smirked back.

"Aww..." she sighed. "It's the thought that counts."

I chuckled again. Being with her always made life fun.

"We're back!" said Grace. "We got wraps, and I thought I should show you guys some photos... Ooh, Jellybeans!"

"Get your hands off them!" Rosa jokingly yelled pulling the tin to her chest protectively.

"I'll go get the other guys..." said Isaac.

Rosa's and my head perked up. No don't go there!.. I tried mentally warning him.

But before we could protest, he had already seen what was happening...

"Oh, keep it in guys!" he sarcastically said to the two.

"Isaac!" Grace shouted.

Rosa and I just sat still in embarrassment, looking at each other in blank shock.

"Stop being so jealous!" Layne shouted.

"Layne!" Shouted Renee like Grace before.

We are a weird group of people... I then realised.

Halfway through having lunch, on the floor I might add, Grace brought out her photos from her handbag.

"Jeez Grace... A bit behind on the times there..." Renee blurted yet again.

But obviously Grace didn't take much offense on what Renee said, "How so?!" she asked.

Renee then lifted up her iPod touch and started twirling it in front of her, "In the 21st century, last I saw, we used these things to look at photos." she said.

"Shut up!" she jokingly yelled, "Anyway, since we were talking about our childhood, I thought I should show you guys these. It's photos of me and my family travelling around the country one year." she said excitedly handing them out to everyone.

What was handed to me was a photo of Grace with her parents posing at a fête. She was much younger but by the look of things Grace completely looked the same... Except for her now being taller.

She and her family looked really happy, laughing at whatever was happening. Her hands were full of lollies too. She lived up to her word. She was happy when she was a child.

There wasn't really much to observe so when I thought I had seen enough a sat closer to Rosa who was just staring at another photo. I couldn't read her expression though because her hair was in the way.

The photo was of Grace and her parents running at the beach, again having fun.

Grace must've seen us looking at the photo so she commented on it, "That was when we were at Hollywood. It was the most expensive part of the trip, but definitely worth it." she said.

"You guys look like you had a lot of fun." I said.

"Oh it was. My parents did anything for me, just so we could be happy all the time."

Grace then moved to see what Isaac was looking at.

I looked back at Rosa and not the photo this time. She was so quiet today... Usually she'd ask questions about their trip, but... She just didn't. She tucked some hair behind her ear, giving me a better view of her face. And all I saw was that it was blank. She didn't smile, yet she didn't look sad. And her usually alive eyes were very distant. It made me want to question her again but I couldn't. It didn't feel right.

Much later, around six o'clock, we started to pack up. It was funny. I predicted the room to take less than a month, but with the way we're going it'll only take us an hour or two to get the walls done now. And then we would have to leave it to the decorators to put in the details and furniture. So soon. I think I'm now the king of terrible predictions... And Rosa, no doubt, would mention my fault.

I was happy that tomorrow was so soon though. It will be the best! It will be the best because it's Rosa's birthday. We all were keen. We thought we'd get in tomorrow at about eight and get the painting done and then Rosa would come in to see a fully painted shop later on. We said we'd meet up about nine thirty in there but was all part of the plan.

Grace had already planned the birthday cake. And then soon after we were thinking of going to the beach. Apparently there was going to be a heat wave... In the middle of spring? Somehow... But then, I rarely listen to the weather reporters.

And not to mention, I had a big present ready for her... I'm not good with these things but I know she'll like it. Shell like it so much she'll punch my arm. I may have... Spoilt her. But for good intentions.

Before I left the boutique I gave Rosa one last long hug before we departed for the night. God I want to tell her everything! She must've felt my excitement because she made a mention parting her head from my chest to look at me, "You seem happy.." she said smiling.

I smiled softly to her, so beautiful, "It's just... Been a good day." I said still holding her waist, her with her arms on my shoulders.

I then noticed her smile slightly twitch then came back to being sweet. I wonder why...

"I'm glad then. I better go sleep now. It's been a big day."

I gave her one last hug, but a little quickly this time. Yes Rosa... It has, and tomorrow will be bigger.

A/N: Woops... Still no kiss. Even I'm finding this unbearable and I know what's happening! Anyway, I wonder what'll happen during Rosa's birthday...

Reviews and all that are much appreciated. Cheers 3