After school, Rose met Adam at the flagpole, to discuss plans for the
movies.
"So, what movie do you want to see?" Adam asked.
"Enough." Rose replied.
"Okay," he smiled. "Now, do you want me to pick you up at your place,
or what?"
"No, it's okay." Rose said, quickly. "I'll come get you."
"Agreed." Adam grabbed Rose's wrist. "Now let's go to my place. We
gotta see what time Enough starts."
Later, when they found out that a good time for Enough was at 7:00,
Rose and Adam decided to go to the library for a while. As Adam went to
pick out a book for himself, Rose sat at a desk and read her poetry book.
I love you more than blue sky and cool breezes More than sunshine on golden flowers More than rippling streams and lush mountainsides More than strolling through the park On a spring day More than a winter kiss As enchanting as eternity More than religious people love their gods More than life itself For my love goes beyond those bounds Thats why you are my first and only love Therefore I shall love you forever. Therefore let me too follow my heart For what I believe is right for me Even if I am not near you physically I still see you all the time. In all things I find beautifull and fun and exciting I see you The sadness is only that you are not there to share what I experience. Therefore I shall love you forever.
"What are you reading?" Adam asked, sitting in the chair next to Rose's. "I Shall Love You Forever, by Milton Silverstein." Rose replied. Adam started to read it. When he was finished, he whispered: "That's a good one." "I know. But one of my favorites is Sick by a Silverstein. I don't know what the first name is." Rose opened the book to a certain page and started reading the poem aloud. She and Adam both laughed a couple of times while reading it. "I like that poem." Adam chuckled. "So do I," Rose agreed. After a minute or two, Adam leaned over to Rose's ear, his lips slightly brushed against them. "Can you read another one?" Adam asked. Rose felt his whisper on her skin. She tingled all over. She opened the book to another page and started to read another poem. Adam liked this. Just the two of them reading poems together. About an hour later, Adam looked at his watch. "Shoot!" he cried, quickly getting up from his chair. "I gotta get going." "Where?" Rose asked. "To work." Adam replied. "It's Friday; I get paid today." "Can I go with you?" "Sure. Hurry!" They hurried to the bus stop. The bus started to take off, but Adam ran up to the door just in time to get it to stop. They took a seat. Adam sighed. "Whew...that was too close for comfort." he said, smiling at Rose. "Yeah," she said, laughing.
"Well," Adam stood up. "This is our stop." Rose stood up also and followed him to his work, which was at Blockbuster. When they walked in, Adam said "hi" to a couple of people he knew at the store. "I see you've picked up a seductive little babe, Adam!" teased one of the guys behind the desk. "Cute, ain't she?" Adam laughed, winking at Rose. She smiled at him, nervously at the rest of the guys there. "Adam? I gotta get home. I just remembered something." she said. "Why?" "I got some...stuff I need to take care of." Rose turned around to leave the store. "I'll get you at 6:30, 'kay?" "Okay..." Adam frowned. "See you later, Rose." She left.
It was 6:30. Rose had been wandering around all day, waiting for that time to come. She walked over to Adam's home and rang the doorbell. She heard stomping from inside, then the door quickly opened and Adam peeked out. He smiled. "Hey!" he exclaimed, beaming a smile at Rose, who blushed. Adam looked back in his house. "See ya later!!" He walked out of the house. "Let's go." The couple walked to the movies. It was only a few blocks away, not even a thirty-minute walk. They'd have plenty of time before the movie. "Rose?" Adam asked. "Yeah?" "Not that this is any of my business, but...we've known each other for like a week or so, right?" "Right." "And you've been over my house twice, right?" "Right." "Well, I've never been over to your place...and...I've always seen you all by yourself, either at school or on the street," Rose closed her eyes. How was she going to tell him this? "Adam..." she said. "I'm not sure if saying this will make anything any easier for me." "If you've got a problem with your family, maybe I can help." Adam was starting to sound uneasy. "I don't want you to get hurt or anything. You're my g...best friend." "I know." Rose sat down on a nearby bench. "Promise not to tell anyone, okay?" "Okay." Adam sat down next to her. This is going to ruin a perfect time. Rose thought, taking a deep, wimpering breath. "I don't...have a family." "Wha...?" "None that I know of, anyway." Rose swallowed. "I just found myself wandering around a year ago in a weird ruby-red dress. I found some clothes at the Lost-And-Found, trying to fit in with my surroundinngs. Whenever anybody would ask, I'd say that I'm moving." "Why didn't you go for help, Rose?" "I was too afraid; I didn't know what to think." "Then, why don't you stay with me?" Adam asked. "No! I can't!" Now Rose was tearing up. "Your parents would probably send me to live with a Foster Family or an orphanage until I'm 18 or the same cops would come and take me away...and I don't want to leave. Not now." Adam put his hand on Rose's shoulder. "Since you don't want to live with me...I don't know what I should do." "Nothing...You don't have to do anything. I've been doing this ever since I can remember." she sniffed. Adam searched through his jacket, looking for a tissue. Nothing. He sat, resting his arms on his knees. Then he sat back up and ripped off his shirt pocket and handed it to Rose. "Here. It's not Puffs Plus, but..." Adam smiled and looked down at his knees, as Rose blew her nose on the piece of clothing. He looked back at Rose. "What?" Rose asked. "You want your pocket back?" They laughed. "Let's hurry or we'll miss the movie." Adam said, helping Rose out of her seat.
They entered the theater just as the lights were dimming after the advertisments were over and the previews were begining. "Oh, good. Previews. Couldn't miss those," Adam said, sarcastically, taking a seat next to Rose in the nearly empty theater. "Be happy, we could be REALLY late," Rose told him, reaching over and taking a handful of popcorn and popping a few cernals in her mouth. Rose started to fidget, growing restless in such an empty theater. She was alone, with Adam. All alone. She glanced over at Adam who was looking around nervously. To releave her nerves, she reached over and grabbed another handful of popcorn and threw it at him. "Hey!" he laughed, turning in his seat to look at her. "What? Wasn't me..." She tried to look as innocent as she could. He leaned really close to her. Rose's eyes grew wide as she thought she knew what he was going to do. He was so close she could smell his breath, that smelled of popcorn. She closed her eyes and leaned in to kiss him and...he tossed a handful of popcorn in her face. "Ha!" he chortled, jumping back. They both sat back, neither willing to waste any more popcorn. Adam glanced at Rose, out of the corner of her eye she saw him and glanced back. They both blushed and settled back in their seats. The movie was starting.
Rose fell asleep almost right away. She groaned and rested her head on Adam's shoulder. He looked down at her. She seemed to be cold, having her arms wrapped around herself. I wonder if she's ever warm? Adam thought. He started to remove his jacket, and gently placed it over Rose.
The movie, including the credits, was over, and the 9:00 show was starting to come on. The custodians were coming in to clean up the spilled popcorn. And Rose was still asleep. Adam didn't want to disturb her, so he stood up and spoke to the man with the broom. "Try not to wake her up, okay?" Adam asked. "I'll be right back." The man nodded, as Adam trotted away. He asked for two more tickets for the 9:00 show and he ran back to the theater, showed the custodian the tickets and he left. Adam sat back down next to Rose.
She slept half way through the second movie. She yawned, still resting her head on Adam's shoulder. "How long have I been sleeping?" Rose asked, yawning again. "About three hours." Adam replied. "Oh, dammit!" she whispered, quickly sitting up in her seat. "I slept through the whole movie AND the begining of another?! Oh, I PROMISE I'll pay you back!" "No, it's okay! Really," Adam smiled. "Let's just watch the movie. I hope it's okay that the movie doesn't end until 11:00." "Yeah, it's alright," she said, leaning next to Adam. "I have no where to go, anyway." she mumbled. "What...?" "Oh, uh...nothing." "I know what you said." Adam told her, sounding concerned again. "Instead of sleeping on the streets where what's-his-face can get you, why don't you just...stay at my place for a while?" "Umm...I-I'll think about it, Adam." Rose cuddled down in her seat. She noticed that she felt warmer than before she fell asleep. She was wearing Adam's jacket. "W...Why did you...?" "Why did I what?" "Give me your..." "You looked cold," Adam said, facing Rose. "So, I...You can have it, since you only have a thin sweater." "You don't have to." "I know, but...keep it, anyway." "Thank you." Rose smiled, putting her head back on Adam's shoulder. Her eyes widened. She sat up straight. "Sorry."
The movie ended. Rose and Adam walked out of the theater and stopped before leaving. She couldn't believe that she fell asleep on his shoulder AND that he gave her his jacket. Was he being just being nice or was he...? No, he couldn't have given it to her because they were going to a movie, together and with no one else. That's usually what a guy does on dates like this. But this really wasn't a date-date, was it? "I enjoyed the movie, Adam." Rose said, smiling. "So did I." he replied. He looked up. "Oh, great..." "What?" Rose looked at what Adam was staring at. It was Sherrie, with a couple of her friends. "Oh, shit." She seen Sherrie's eyes turn red at the sight that she was with Adam. "Adam," Sherrie said, quickly walking away from her friends. "What's with the tramp?" "Tramp?!" Rose exclaimed, practically leaping at Sherrie. Adam stopped her with a gentle hand. "She's not a tramp, Sher." Adam growled, totally pissed. His grip tightened a little on Rose's shoulder. He was defending her from Sherrie! "Oh, I'm sorry, I meant 'slu--' " Sherrie was interrupted with one of her friends tapping her on the shoulder. "Uh, Sherrie? We're gonna go in and use the bathroom. Hurry up, okay?" "Okay." she answered as her friends left. Sherrie turned to Rose and Adam. "Come on, Rose, let's go." Adam urged, wrapping his arm around her. "Rose?" Sherrie asked, not letting the couple leave. "What kind of a stupid name is that?" "It's MY name." she answered. "Isn't that, like, a hundred-year old name?" Sherrie raisied a thin eyebrow. Rose would've beaten the snot out of Sherrie, if Adam's arm wasn't around her. She was about to retort, but something caught her eye. She looked up into the stary sky. She seen a silhoutte of a bird of some sort flying high. "The raven..." Rose whispered. Soon, her surroundings were lit with green, like night vision. She seen all sorts of things with this. Such as a black cat that was chasing something in front of the building across the empty street. "What's happening?" Adam exclaimed, bringing Rose closer. "I...I don't know." she answered. Her vision, all of a sudden, went black.
I love you more than blue sky and cool breezes More than sunshine on golden flowers More than rippling streams and lush mountainsides More than strolling through the park On a spring day More than a winter kiss As enchanting as eternity More than religious people love their gods More than life itself For my love goes beyond those bounds Thats why you are my first and only love Therefore I shall love you forever. Therefore let me too follow my heart For what I believe is right for me Even if I am not near you physically I still see you all the time. In all things I find beautifull and fun and exciting I see you The sadness is only that you are not there to share what I experience. Therefore I shall love you forever.
"What are you reading?" Adam asked, sitting in the chair next to Rose's. "I Shall Love You Forever, by Milton Silverstein." Rose replied. Adam started to read it. When he was finished, he whispered: "That's a good one." "I know. But one of my favorites is Sick by a Silverstein. I don't know what the first name is." Rose opened the book to a certain page and started reading the poem aloud. She and Adam both laughed a couple of times while reading it. "I like that poem." Adam chuckled. "So do I," Rose agreed. After a minute or two, Adam leaned over to Rose's ear, his lips slightly brushed against them. "Can you read another one?" Adam asked. Rose felt his whisper on her skin. She tingled all over. She opened the book to another page and started to read another poem. Adam liked this. Just the two of them reading poems together. About an hour later, Adam looked at his watch. "Shoot!" he cried, quickly getting up from his chair. "I gotta get going." "Where?" Rose asked. "To work." Adam replied. "It's Friday; I get paid today." "Can I go with you?" "Sure. Hurry!" They hurried to the bus stop. The bus started to take off, but Adam ran up to the door just in time to get it to stop. They took a seat. Adam sighed. "Whew...that was too close for comfort." he said, smiling at Rose. "Yeah," she said, laughing.
"Well," Adam stood up. "This is our stop." Rose stood up also and followed him to his work, which was at Blockbuster. When they walked in, Adam said "hi" to a couple of people he knew at the store. "I see you've picked up a seductive little babe, Adam!" teased one of the guys behind the desk. "Cute, ain't she?" Adam laughed, winking at Rose. She smiled at him, nervously at the rest of the guys there. "Adam? I gotta get home. I just remembered something." she said. "Why?" "I got some...stuff I need to take care of." Rose turned around to leave the store. "I'll get you at 6:30, 'kay?" "Okay..." Adam frowned. "See you later, Rose." She left.
It was 6:30. Rose had been wandering around all day, waiting for that time to come. She walked over to Adam's home and rang the doorbell. She heard stomping from inside, then the door quickly opened and Adam peeked out. He smiled. "Hey!" he exclaimed, beaming a smile at Rose, who blushed. Adam looked back in his house. "See ya later!!" He walked out of the house. "Let's go." The couple walked to the movies. It was only a few blocks away, not even a thirty-minute walk. They'd have plenty of time before the movie. "Rose?" Adam asked. "Yeah?" "Not that this is any of my business, but...we've known each other for like a week or so, right?" "Right." "And you've been over my house twice, right?" "Right." "Well, I've never been over to your place...and...I've always seen you all by yourself, either at school or on the street," Rose closed her eyes. How was she going to tell him this? "Adam..." she said. "I'm not sure if saying this will make anything any easier for me." "If you've got a problem with your family, maybe I can help." Adam was starting to sound uneasy. "I don't want you to get hurt or anything. You're my g...best friend." "I know." Rose sat down on a nearby bench. "Promise not to tell anyone, okay?" "Okay." Adam sat down next to her. This is going to ruin a perfect time. Rose thought, taking a deep, wimpering breath. "I don't...have a family." "Wha...?" "None that I know of, anyway." Rose swallowed. "I just found myself wandering around a year ago in a weird ruby-red dress. I found some clothes at the Lost-And-Found, trying to fit in with my surroundinngs. Whenever anybody would ask, I'd say that I'm moving." "Why didn't you go for help, Rose?" "I was too afraid; I didn't know what to think." "Then, why don't you stay with me?" Adam asked. "No! I can't!" Now Rose was tearing up. "Your parents would probably send me to live with a Foster Family or an orphanage until I'm 18 or the same cops would come and take me away...and I don't want to leave. Not now." Adam put his hand on Rose's shoulder. "Since you don't want to live with me...I don't know what I should do." "Nothing...You don't have to do anything. I've been doing this ever since I can remember." she sniffed. Adam searched through his jacket, looking for a tissue. Nothing. He sat, resting his arms on his knees. Then he sat back up and ripped off his shirt pocket and handed it to Rose. "Here. It's not Puffs Plus, but..." Adam smiled and looked down at his knees, as Rose blew her nose on the piece of clothing. He looked back at Rose. "What?" Rose asked. "You want your pocket back?" They laughed. "Let's hurry or we'll miss the movie." Adam said, helping Rose out of her seat.
They entered the theater just as the lights were dimming after the advertisments were over and the previews were begining. "Oh, good. Previews. Couldn't miss those," Adam said, sarcastically, taking a seat next to Rose in the nearly empty theater. "Be happy, we could be REALLY late," Rose told him, reaching over and taking a handful of popcorn and popping a few cernals in her mouth. Rose started to fidget, growing restless in such an empty theater. She was alone, with Adam. All alone. She glanced over at Adam who was looking around nervously. To releave her nerves, she reached over and grabbed another handful of popcorn and threw it at him. "Hey!" he laughed, turning in his seat to look at her. "What? Wasn't me..." She tried to look as innocent as she could. He leaned really close to her. Rose's eyes grew wide as she thought she knew what he was going to do. He was so close she could smell his breath, that smelled of popcorn. She closed her eyes and leaned in to kiss him and...he tossed a handful of popcorn in her face. "Ha!" he chortled, jumping back. They both sat back, neither willing to waste any more popcorn. Adam glanced at Rose, out of the corner of her eye she saw him and glanced back. They both blushed and settled back in their seats. The movie was starting.
Rose fell asleep almost right away. She groaned and rested her head on Adam's shoulder. He looked down at her. She seemed to be cold, having her arms wrapped around herself. I wonder if she's ever warm? Adam thought. He started to remove his jacket, and gently placed it over Rose.
The movie, including the credits, was over, and the 9:00 show was starting to come on. The custodians were coming in to clean up the spilled popcorn. And Rose was still asleep. Adam didn't want to disturb her, so he stood up and spoke to the man with the broom. "Try not to wake her up, okay?" Adam asked. "I'll be right back." The man nodded, as Adam trotted away. He asked for two more tickets for the 9:00 show and he ran back to the theater, showed the custodian the tickets and he left. Adam sat back down next to Rose.
She slept half way through the second movie. She yawned, still resting her head on Adam's shoulder. "How long have I been sleeping?" Rose asked, yawning again. "About three hours." Adam replied. "Oh, dammit!" she whispered, quickly sitting up in her seat. "I slept through the whole movie AND the begining of another?! Oh, I PROMISE I'll pay you back!" "No, it's okay! Really," Adam smiled. "Let's just watch the movie. I hope it's okay that the movie doesn't end until 11:00." "Yeah, it's alright," she said, leaning next to Adam. "I have no where to go, anyway." she mumbled. "What...?" "Oh, uh...nothing." "I know what you said." Adam told her, sounding concerned again. "Instead of sleeping on the streets where what's-his-face can get you, why don't you just...stay at my place for a while?" "Umm...I-I'll think about it, Adam." Rose cuddled down in her seat. She noticed that she felt warmer than before she fell asleep. She was wearing Adam's jacket. "W...Why did you...?" "Why did I what?" "Give me your..." "You looked cold," Adam said, facing Rose. "So, I...You can have it, since you only have a thin sweater." "You don't have to." "I know, but...keep it, anyway." "Thank you." Rose smiled, putting her head back on Adam's shoulder. Her eyes widened. She sat up straight. "Sorry."
The movie ended. Rose and Adam walked out of the theater and stopped before leaving. She couldn't believe that she fell asleep on his shoulder AND that he gave her his jacket. Was he being just being nice or was he...? No, he couldn't have given it to her because they were going to a movie, together and with no one else. That's usually what a guy does on dates like this. But this really wasn't a date-date, was it? "I enjoyed the movie, Adam." Rose said, smiling. "So did I." he replied. He looked up. "Oh, great..." "What?" Rose looked at what Adam was staring at. It was Sherrie, with a couple of her friends. "Oh, shit." She seen Sherrie's eyes turn red at the sight that she was with Adam. "Adam," Sherrie said, quickly walking away from her friends. "What's with the tramp?" "Tramp?!" Rose exclaimed, practically leaping at Sherrie. Adam stopped her with a gentle hand. "She's not a tramp, Sher." Adam growled, totally pissed. His grip tightened a little on Rose's shoulder. He was defending her from Sherrie! "Oh, I'm sorry, I meant 'slu--' " Sherrie was interrupted with one of her friends tapping her on the shoulder. "Uh, Sherrie? We're gonna go in and use the bathroom. Hurry up, okay?" "Okay." she answered as her friends left. Sherrie turned to Rose and Adam. "Come on, Rose, let's go." Adam urged, wrapping his arm around her. "Rose?" Sherrie asked, not letting the couple leave. "What kind of a stupid name is that?" "It's MY name." she answered. "Isn't that, like, a hundred-year old name?" Sherrie raisied a thin eyebrow. Rose would've beaten the snot out of Sherrie, if Adam's arm wasn't around her. She was about to retort, but something caught her eye. She looked up into the stary sky. She seen a silhoutte of a bird of some sort flying high. "The raven..." Rose whispered. Soon, her surroundings were lit with green, like night vision. She seen all sorts of things with this. Such as a black cat that was chasing something in front of the building across the empty street. "What's happening?" Adam exclaimed, bringing Rose closer. "I...I don't know." she answered. Her vision, all of a sudden, went black.