Chapter Thirty Four: We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister

Rose put on her cutest outfit the next day: her hair was down, neatly curly, and she was wearing her blue cropped hoodie, jeans, and timberlands. She didn't really care about who would see her. She just knew she was more confident when she wore her cute outfits.

Jack met her outside. "Hey," he said, kissing her cheek. Her scent was intoxicating for him. Just a whiff of her made him crazy.

"Hi," said Rose. She smiled and kissed him.

He stroked her cheek with his thumb. "I missed seeing your smiley self."

"I missed it too," said Rose. "Just… no matter what, we have each other. And that's all that matters."

"Yes," said Jack. He wrapped his arms around her. "So what's the game plan for cheer?"

"This is the last week with practices three times a week, and then it moves up to every day," said Rose. "And then, we have nationals."

"And then you're done," said Jack, and Rose nodded. "Do you still want this to be the end?"

"I'm burnt out. I'm ready to be done," said Rose. "I'm constantly in pain, I'm constantly icing my joints."

"You also don't have the same love for it you used to," said Jack. "Since you got dropped, it's obvious you're holding back."

"Is it really?" Rose asked, and Jack nodded. "Every time I think about it, I cringe. That hurt so incredibly badly."

"I know," said Jack.

•••

Jack and Rose walked into English, and Ruth looked directly at her. They sat down, and Jack watched as Rose took out her phone and started texting. A moment later, Jack's phone buzzed.

R: I almost wonder what would happen if I didn't transfer.

J: Well, do you want to?

R: I don't know anymore. I really don't.

J: You still have time. It's been a few weeks and still no news about the transfer.

R: I guess you're right.

R: I also wonder if she know's we're together.

J: She must. She yelled at us for PDA for god's sake.

R: Screw her.

"Okay, class, I'm returning your quizzes." She walked through the aisles, handing out the papers.

Finally, Jack and Rose's were handed back. "How'd you do?" Jack asked. "What'd she write?"

Rose held up the blank paper. She left each answer blank, but there was a big A+ at the top. "What?"

"And she gave me a seventy," said Jack.

"I'm talking to her after class," said Rose.

Jack frowned. "Are you sure?"

Rose nodded. "I'm taking care of this today."

The bell rang, and the room emptied. "I'll be right outside," said Jack, and Rose nodded.

Rose went up to the teacher. "I assume you know who I am."

"Excuse me?" Ruth demanded.

"You know my name. You know who I am," said Rose. "Quit playing games."

"Fine. Yes, I know who you are," said Ruth flatly.

"Great," said Rose. "So I want you to leave me alone. And more importantly, I want you to leave Jack alone. Just leave us alone."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Ruth.

"Giving him a seventy on his quiz even though he got every question right," said Rose. "Just stop these games!"

"Fine," said Ruth. "So, how have you been?"

Rose scoffed. "What, this week? Or the last ten years?"

"Listen, Rose, I really want a chance to talk," said Ruth. "I'm sure your father won't allow that, but-"

"You really don't know?" Rose asked.

"Know what?" Ruth asked.

Rose opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't. "I have to go." She ran out of the room and found Jack.

"How-" Jack began, but Rose took his hand and they quickly walked away. "What happened?"

"She doesn't know about my dad," said Rose. "I don't know if I should tell her."

"You should," said Jack.

"You think so?" Rose asked.

Jack nodded. "She should know. She should know that you had nothing."

"But here's the thing," Rose began. "I'm angry at her, but I can't be."

"What? Why not?" Jack asked.

Rose looked at him sadly. "Because if she hadn't done it, and my dad died, I would've never had those amazing years with my dad. And I never would've met you."

"I don't think that's true," said Jack. "We would've crossed paths one way or another. You cheer five minutes away from here."

Rose smiled at him and sighed. "I shouldn't have run away."

"So go back," said Jack. "It's not too late."

Rose kissed his cheek. "I'll see you later."

She walked nervously back over to the classroom. Luckily, Ruth was still there. "Hi."

"Sorry I ran away," said Rose. "I just didn't know how to tell you… Daddy died."

"He did?" Ruth asked, clearly shocked.

"Yeah," said Rose, holding back her tears. She was still upset about it. "Two years ago."

Ruth let what Rose had told her sink in. "So who are you living with now?"

"I'm living in a group home," said Rose. She knew this would make Ruth feel bad.

"Oh," she said.

"Yeah," said Rose, crossing her arms. "See, when one parent walks out, and one dies, you're an orphan. And you're on your own. At fifteen years old."

"Rose, I'm sorry," said Ruth.

"Save it," said Rose. "I don't need your apology." She looked at Ruth with nothing but contempt. "Why did you leave? Not what you want me to hear. The real answer."

Ruth sighed. "I wasn't a good mother or a good wife. And in a moment of weakness, I left."

"You're right. You weren't a good mother," said Rose. "But you should've said goodbye."

"I know, and I'm sorry," said Ruth. She motioned to outside. "That's your boyfriend?"

"Yes," said Rose, crossing her arms. She preemptively protected herself to whatever insults her mother would throw at her.

"He seems nice," said Ruth.

"He is," said Rose.

"I know I have no right to ask for anything from you," said Ruth. "But I'd like you to stay in the class."

Rose nodded. "Fine," she said. "But you're not going to pull anything like you've done already. No tanking grades, no yelling at us for PDA in the hallway. I honestly don't know what was going through your head when you did that."

"Fine," said Ruth.

"And just so we're on the same page," said Rose. "I don't want a relationship. I don't want to see you, talk to you, anything. I'm staying in the class because it's easier than transferring, and I need this credit to graduate."

"Okay," said Ruth.

"I'll see you later," said Rose.