This is my second story in my Rosie Rossi story. Want to be up to date in what has happened read the first one.
Warning for the story: Will contain spanking of a minor, discussions of child abuse and religion/religious trauma. Maybe other things. Check the top of each chapter for warnings. I love reviews even if its just one word.
This picks up about five months after where the last one ended.
Happy Readings
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It was the last week of Rosie's first year of highschool. It had been along hard year for her. Actually, it had been over a year at this point. Her life had changed so much. Starting with finding out she was a kidnapped child. Being taken away from everyone and everything she knew. Moved across the country. Than finally coming to terms with who she was and that the religion she was being raised in was not actually correct in their teachings. Losing her two best friends. Having to spend several days in court trying to get justice for the abuse and bullying she had dealt with. Having to come to terms with the fact that she had ADHD and everything she had been struggling with in school. Was not her fault. And losing Carolyn also took a toll on her mental health. On the other end of things. She had made lots of new friends. She got to know her new family and she finally felt safe and home. Sure, she had screwed up to many times to count. But through it all no matter what her family was there to correct and guide her and had her back through everything. She had struggled for the first few months with her eating disorder but that was completely under control right now and she was more physically healthy than she had been in a long time. She also finally after half a dozen attempts found a therapist she likes, and she felt comfortable with. She was doing so much better in school. She was just about to start her second semester of exams. She was nervous but she knew she could do it. The first set she had done she did better on those exams than she had done with any tests in her entire schooling.
Rosie was sitting at the dining room table. Books and papers strewn across the table. Her pencil case was on its side its contents spilling out. Rosie was biting her pencil as she studied.
Dave had been watching the girl study like this for the past three days already. He had mixed feelings. He was glad that in spite of the hell she had gone through she had managed to get through her first year. He was proud that she was doing the work to make sure she did well on he exams. But he was bit worried too. He knew that what she was doing was normal for any student who cared about their grades but it worried him that so much pressure was being put on fourteen-year-old kids. He was doing everything he could to help her. Making sure she always had water in reach. Making sure she took breaks and ate regular meals and brought her snacks at times as well. He had told her during exam week that her chores were excused. He wanted to make sure when she was taking breaks she was moving her body and limiting stress. Dave was about to walk away from watching her when he saw a pencil fly across the room.
"Okay. What's wrong?" Dave asked
Rosie let out a heavy sigh. "Social studies will be the death of me."
Dave held back a chuckle and went and picked up the pencil. "Its not going to kill you. What specifically are you struggling with?"
Rosie showed him.
Dave tried to explain things to her, but she just didn't understand.
"I'm just to stupid for this…" Rosie said
"Rosie. Do not call yourself stupid. You are not stupid." Dave said "I think its time for a break. You need to clear your mind. Why don't you go for a walk?"
"No." Rosie said. "I cant take anymore breaks or I will never be ready for my exam tomorrow." She said
Dave didn't want to start a fight with the girl, so he did the next best thing. When it came to studying there was someone else who had been the biggest help he texted Spencer.
'How do you convince a teen to take a break from studying?'
Spencer sent back.
'She definitely needs to take breaks. Does she seem to really need one at the moment?' Spencer asked
'She threw her pencil across the room and is being far to self critical of her abilities. Yes' Dave sent back
Rosie's phone started to ring about two minutes later. Rosie sighed and looked at it. She pressed answer and the speaker button.
"Hi Spencer. You're on speaker. I'm studying. What's up?" She asked
"You are going to take a break. Trust me. When you start throwing pencils you need to take a step back." Spencer said
Rosie groaned. "He told you…"
"He did. He's worried. Why don't you get up from wherever you are studying and stretch abit. Take some deep breaths." Spencer said
Rosie sighed and did what Spencer said.
"Do you need any help? I'm free to come help right now." Spencer said
"No. I'm fine." She said
"Okay. If your sure. I know you can do this." Spencer said
Rosie sighed. "You have more faith in my than I do…"
"I know its hard when you are studying nonstop for hours at a time to feel like its hopeless but its not. I have been there. I have done what you are doing. You will get through it." Spencer said
"Yeah well you are super smart I'm s…. not." Rosie said
"You are a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for." Spencer said
"No. I'm not." Rosie said.
"I'm not going to have this argument with you. You are very smart. And you can continue to doubt your abilities and be down on yourself or you can trust me when I tell you that you are in fact smart. Now. Get something to drink and a snack and breath. And than you can go back to studying. And you need help you can text me." Spencer said
"And if I ignore your suggestions?" Rosie asked
"Than I will come over there and make sure you do." Spencer said. His tone clear that he was unsure of what he was saying.
Rosie sighed.
"You can do this." Spencer said
"Okay. Thanks." Rosie said
They hung up and got up and got herself some soda and goldfishes and ate her snack before going back to studying. It wasn't twenty-minutes before she was frustrated again.
"Rose. Its okay to need help." Dave reminded her.
"I need the brain of a smart person in mine." Rosie said
"Okay. I don't want to hear anymore of that. You are smart." Dave said
"If I wasn't stupid I wouldn't need extra help." She mumbled.
Dave sighed and went over to and knelt down next to her chair. "No one can do everything by themselves. Everybody needs help sometimes. Now I heard Spencer tell you to text him if you needed help. So, you have a few choices. You can accept my help. Or you can text Spencer. Or I will text him." Dave said
Rosie huffed and crossed her arms.
Dave. "Decided now." He said
Rosie said nothing.
Dave sighed and stood up and texted Spencer. 'She wont admit she needs help, but she does. And wont take my help.'
Spencer saw the text and shook his head with a small smile. 'I'm on my way.' Spencer said
Spencer left and stopped at a coffee shop getting coffee for all three of them before going over and knocking on the door.
Dave opened the door. And Spencer came in. He handed Dave his coffee.
"I should be getting you coffee for helping." Dave said
"I don't mind." Spencer said. He went to the dining room where the girl was sitting sulking.
"Well. You can continue to sulk, or you can take your frapachinno and let me help you." Spencer said
Rosie looked up and gave Spencer a small smile.
Spencer handed her, her drink and sat across from her. "So, what are we studying for?"
"Social studies." Rosie said sipping her drink.
Spencer started to help her. Helping her confidence when he explained it in a way she understood.
They kept working together. Continuing to go over everything. Spencer put together a quick test for her and had her take it to make sure she understood.
Rosie took the test and gave it to him.
He looked it over and explained a couple mistakes she made. But clear she was improving. "See you know this."
"Only because you know how to explain it." Rosie said
"Well, you have made it this far in the class? What's your grade in the class so far? Do you know?" He asked
"Barely passing…" Rosie said
Spencer nodded. "Did you ask your teacher for extra help? Why didn't you ask me? I told you I would help."
Rosie shrugged and looked down.
Spencer sat back and looked at her. "Rose. Please answer me."
"No. I didn't ask the teacher for extra help." She said
"Okay. Why?" He asked
"I didn't want him to think I'm stupid…" Rosie said
"Rose. No one thinks that. I'm assuming all your teachers know you have ADHD?" he asked
Rosie nodded.
"And know at least some of what has been going on in your life?" He asked
"Yeah." Rosie said
"The fact that you have survived this year and are still trying so hard proves that. How did you do first semester with social studies?" He asked
"I did a lot better. This semester was just harder." She said
"Well. Yes it tends to get harder over time." Spencer said. "But the fact that you did so well shows your teacher that you are in fact not stupid." He said. "And I know you didn't not ask me for help because you think I would think that. I have told you. That your not. In fact, I told you I didn't want to hear you call yourself that anymore." He added
Rosie nodded.
"So. Why didn't you ask me for help?" Spencer asked
"Because you are busy. You have your own life. I didn't want to bother you…" Rosie said
"That doesn't mean that I wouldn't make the time to help you." Spencer said. "And you are not a bother." He added
Rosie didn't say anything.
"Rose. Lets say its ten years in the future. And Jack is struggling would you help him?" Spencer asked
Rose looked up at Spencer. "Of course."
"Why?" Spencer asked
"Because he might as well be my cousin. And I care about him." Rosie
"And how do you think I see you? You are family. And I care about you." Spencer said
Rosie nodded.
"Now we cant change the past. Remember I am willing to help you. Always." Spencer said
Rosie nodded.
They went back to studying. Making sure she understood everything and going over everything over and over again. Making sure it was ingrained in her brain.
"When is this exam?" Spencer asked
"Tomorrow." Rosie said
"How many exams do you have?" He asked
"This plus four more. One every day this week." She said, "The other two classes were in class examinations."
"So. One a day. Now. How are you doing in your other classes?" Spencer asked
"This is the only class I was really struggling in. Its why I have been studying only for this since Friday." Rosie said
"Do you think you understand it now?" Spencer asked
"Yes." Rosie said
"You're going to ask me for help in the future?" He asked
Rosie nodded.
"Good." Spencer said. He started to quiz her out loud on the material she had to know, and she did very well.
"You are ready. I'm sure you will do well." Spencer said
"Thank you." Rosie said
"Now. You need to take a break." Spencer said.
"I was going to start studying for another exam." Rosie said
"Break first. Than I will help you with the next one." Spencer said
Rosie started to put away her stuff for social studies and found stuff for her english class.
"Rose. Please don't make me get angry with you." Spencer said.
Rosie took a breath and got up. She went to get some air. Spencer went to the kitchen looking for more coffee.
"How's it going?" Dave asked coming into the kitchen.
"She's ready for social studies. Having her take a break before we start studying for another exam." Spencer said
"Good." Dave said
"I'm assuming you know she's been struggling in social studies?" Spencer asked
Dave tilted his head. "No. I didn't."
"You haven't had to sign any social studies tests?" Spencer asked
Dave thought. "No. I haven't had to sign any tests this semester. I assumed its because she's been doing well."
Rosie came back in half an hour later.
Dave looked at her. "How come I didn't know you were struggling in social studies? I didn't need to sign any tests?"
Rosie shook her head. "My social studies teacher. He is… not the best teacher. He doesn't care." Rosie said
"Really?" Dave asked.
"School boasts having some of the best teachers in the state." Dave said
"All my other teachers are amazing. Its just him." Rosie said
"Is that why your struggling?" Dave asked
"No. I did well last semester with the same teacher so its just. Harder." She said
Dave nodded. "New rule. I want to see all your tests. Regardless of the mark." Dave said
Rosie nodded. "Okay. Sorry." She said
"Its okay." Dave said.
"You ready to continue studying?" Spencer asked
"Yes." Rosie said
The two studied for a few more hours. Taking a break to eat some food that Dave had made before studying till eight.
"Your ready for you first two exams." Spencer said. "Now. You need to relax tonight. And go to bed early." Spencer said. "Sleep is an important part of doing well on exams."
"Okay." Rosie said
Spencer left soon after and Rosie went to take a bath and get ready for an early night.