Before they knew it was the Fourth of July, in Shelby there was nothing like tradition and the Independence day festival was one of the most important ones.
"Do you want me to drop you off at the field tonight Sweet Pea?" Alex walked out onto the porch where Rosie was sitting in the rocking chair staring into space.
"I don't think I'm going Daddy." She turned her sorrowful face towards him
"Why?"
"I don't feel like going alone."
"You always go with Rafe, Danny and Beth have since you were ten."
"I don't wanna go with them this year."
"Because Rafe'll be there with a date?"
"No! Of course not, he's brought dates before. He's been bringing other girls since he was eleven."
"You hadn't been with him for a year of your life yet either."
"I'll think about goin' okay?"
"That a girl. I'm goin' over to Katherine's for the night." Alexander referred to his long time girlfriend "So I'll see you tomorrow."
Rosanna had curled up on her couch with a copy of The Tell Tale Heart she really had no intentions of going to the fireworks, but her father would never had left if she didn't agree to think about it. She had just about fallen asleep from boredom when there was a knock at the door.
"Johnny what the hell do you want?" She spat like venom when she revealed him on the porch.
"To take you to the fireworks." He tried to step inside the house but she kept him at bay with her arms.
"You're nuttier then a fruit cake."
"Look Rosie, I like you and I know for a fact Rafe's bringin' Helen Murphy. SO why don't you just come with me? We can make him jealous."
Rosie had to admit the idea intrigued her, intrigued her enough that she left him on the patio to change into the sailor dress her grand mother had sent her for Christmas and she had never worn. Dabbing on some of Rafe's favorite perfume she knew, she was going to have both fun and revenge that night.
The two found a comfy spot under an old maple, Johnny leaning his back against the trunk and Rosie laying comfortably on the grass in front of him.
"You know Ro for this to work you're gonna have to look like you like me." Johnny smiled
"Don't call me Ro, Johnny." She didn't really snap at him she was just very stern and clear
"What's the dig deal McCawley calls you that all the time?"
"Yes he does, only Rafe, not you."
Rosie's minded drifted back to the day she first became Ro. It was the first day of kindergarten and Rosie being every bit the tomboy went in pants and a sweater. She played in the dirt and made mud pies all the while every kid on the playground giving her dirty looks. All but the tall sandy haired kid that looked to be a year older then the rest and his dark and shy looking companion.
"Girls don't wear pants, and they don't play with dirt. You're weird." George Smith taunted her and Rosie was close to tears
"You leave her alone Georgie Smith, you play with dolls." The sandy haired kid had defended her.
And before Rosanna got the chance to thank him recess was over. Doing what every smitten little girl does she wrote him a note
"Hi I'm Rosie. Thank You lets be friends."
She was swinging from the monkey bars at second recess when her protector with her note still in hand and his friend walked over to her.
"Ro-Ro-Ro." He tried to read her name from the paper
"Rosie." The quiet kid prodded
"It's okay," Rosie jumped down "he can call me Ro if he wants." She was flirty for five
"I'm Rafe, this is my best pal Danny."
And that was how Rosie became Rafe's Ro.
"Danny, who is that?" Beth stared dead ahead at Rafe and a giggling red head.
Danny looked over at Rafe, "I think that's Helen."
"That's funny, Rosie's name isn't Helen…" Beth replied snootily.
"Beth, don't get started." Danny pleaded with Beth.
"Don't get what started?" Beth smiled innocently, "Look, I'm used to playing musical girlfriends with Rafe, but I don't know, I like Rosie."
"Alright, but Rafe and Rosie aren't together anymore and that was Rosie's choice." Danny reminded his girlfriend.
"I know." Beth reassured Danny and walked over to Rafe and Helen and put on what Danny liked to call her "Campaign Face." Whenever it was election time, Beth would get a huge grin on her face and be extremely sweet. Danny could see that Beth was about to put on a performance.
"Hi Helen, how are you?" Beth sat down and grinned like an idiot. Helen was obviously taken aback by Beth's behavior; she did have the reputation for being a little snobby.
"Umm…I'm fine Beth." Helen smiled back and looked over at Danny, "Hi Danny."
"How's it goin Helen." Danny sat next to Rafe, while Beth spoke a mile a minute to Helen, about nothing.
Rafe leaned over and nudged Danny, "What is your fiancé on?"
"Not a day goes by when that girl does not surprise me, so I have no clue." Danny laughed.
After about 10 minutes of complimenting Helen and trying to make her feel comfortable, Beth finally settled her head on Danny's shoulder, "I'm taking a little nap, wake me when it looks like the fireworks will start." Beth whispered.
Danny lifted her hand and kissed the back of it, "Of course."
Out of the corner of her eye that wasn't really all that closed, Beth saw Helen sigh and stare at Danny in a way she had seen many girls stare at him, but she just smiled smugly to herself as Danny kissed her forehead.
"I'm thirsty, how about you Helen?" Rafe asked trying not to look like he was scanning the crowd for Rosie. Helen, who was still making goo goo eyes at Danny just kinda nodded,
"Great, well I'll run and get you a soda or something." Rafe replied casually, "You need anything Danny?"
"Nah." Danny said playing with Beth's silky hair, noticing what Rafe was doing.
"Alright then, well I'll be back in a minute Helen, if you want to stay here with Danny and Beth you can." Rafe smiled and didn't wait for her to answer and turned to go get the sodas.
"Wow, he left in a might hurry, didn't he?" Helen said pulling up patches of grass for no reason.
"You know Rafe, he can get really thirsty." Danny said without thinking.
"He's really sweet you know." Helen said.
"A lot of girls say that." Danny laughed.
Helen looked around to see who was around her, "I think that Rosie Gadry is absolutely insane for leaving Rafe. Just the most insane girl ever. He is the most sweet boy ever."
"You obviously don't know the whole story…" Danny laughed.
Helen scooted closer to Danny, so close it made him uncomfortable, she leaned in closer, "Why don't you explain the story to me…" Helen ran a finger down the buttons on Danny's shirt, making him uncomfortable. She obviously didn't know Beth was very much awake.
Danny shifted uncomfortably, but didn't try to wake Beth, knowing she would raise all kinds of hell is she would've known what Helen was doing, which she did, but Danny didn't know either.
"Is it Beth?" Helen whispered, "We all know she is totally out of your league…you need a good farm girl."
Danny was speechless; he was praying Beth wouldn't wake up. But Beth was just waiting for the perfect time to give Helen a piece of her mind.
"Do you know what I mean by farm girl Danny? I don't mean a grease monkey whore like Rosie or a snobby virginal little princess like Beth Sullivan; you need a girl, a girl like me." Helen was about to plant a kiss on Danny's lips, when Beth pushed her off.
"Helen, let me tell you a thing or two about what you need. First off you need to get about fifty feet away from me, before I show you what a snobby virginal princess can do to your face. Then you can run to your little farm and show some other boy what you have to offer because I have a feeling Danny isn't interested, and if he is, well that's another matter in which you wont know the whole story, because it wont be any of your business." Beth wasn't yelling, but her voice was so sticky sweet, it came off as downright rude.
Rafe, who was walking back at this point in time, knew things were going bad when Beth was standing with her hands on her hips with an extremely fake smile and his date was staring back in disbelief that whatever Beth was saying could possibly come from her lips. "Uh, hey Helen, here's your soda."
Helen just looked over at Rafe and let out an embarrassed laugh and ran off with tears streaming down her face.
"Beth, you're getting to be bad for my love life." Rafe said through gritted teeth setting down the sodas and running off after Helen.
"Rosie? Hey Rosie?" Johnny called her name and she blinked
"Huh?"
"You can come sit up here you know. This supposed to be a date." He patted the ground next to him and she crawled forward. Johnny wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she fit well in his arms.
"You keep pawin' me all night and what I did to Bobby'll look like a love tap."
"Are you always this feisty?"
"Usually" She retorted dryly
"How come you don't like me? Every other girl in this town does, 'cept you and Beth."
"That's why, cause everyone else does. Plus you're pretty jerky."
Rosie caught Rafe staring at her then and she pulled Johnny into a deep kiss. One that lasted much longer then it had to, to make Rafe jealous. Had Rosie not loved Rafe with everything in her heart, she may have fallen for Johnny right then and there. She'd never been kissed like that before.
"If that's what I get for being a jerk, what'll ya give me if I'm nice."
"Look the fire works are starting." Rosie avoided his comment
"Oh no you don't what'll you give me for being nice?" Johnny leaned closer
"Cut it out Johnny and watch them." The beautiful balls of color were illuminating the sky, looking like flowers of light in bloom. Rosie squiggled away a little farther and Johnny came closer again. "Would you stop."
This time Johnny pounced, pinning her to the ground. His fingers snake through her hair as he laid sloppy kisses on her mouth.
"Johnny get off me." She screeched to no avail.
"Come on Rosie, we both know this is what you're best at."
"Johnny please stop." Tears were beginning to form in her big brown eyes as she realized the starting defensive tackle was to heavy to fight off.
"Rosie you know you want me. Why else would you have come and kissed me like that."
"Johnny stop it. Help me, someone help me please." But her pleas would go unheard. Stifled by the crackle of the fire crackers.
"Shhh now it'll only hurt a little, I promise to be quick." He ripped the front of her dress, the night air caressing her bare flesh.
From somewhere deep with in her, she summoned an unknown strength, punching Johnny in the stomach. He fell over to his side sputtering and gasping her air. Rosie leapt to her feet and ran without looking back. She ran until her legs wouldn't move anymore. She stopped in the middle of the parking lot panting sweat with running down her face. That's when she noticed him. Rafe, he was standing directly in front of her, taking in her appearance. Messy hair, lipsticks smeared and dress torn. His hazel eyes at first displayed hurt, she'd been with someone else, then they flashed with rage.
"Well you know what Ro, now I don't have to feel bad about your mama."
Rosie couldn't articulate the words. How could she tell Rafe, Johnny tried to rape her? She just stood there frozen looking at his angry eyes, the eyes the once held nothing but love when looking upon her. Rafe just through his hands up at her to symbolize that she wasn't worth it and left. Left her alone, frightened and heart broken.
After Danny assured Beth about 98 times he didn't have any interest in Helen, they were walking to Beth's fathers car to head home to eat a late dinner with Beth's father, when they saw a tiny brunette running in the shadows. Beth and Danny knew the only tiny brunette that could run like that would be Rosie.
"Rosie?" Danny called and jogged to catch up with her.
Rosie his behind a bush, "Danny, I would really like to be alone now…" She cried.
"Why? Is it because of Helen? I don't think that's serious…in fact Beth gave her a piece of her mind…" Danny replied ignoring Rosie's request and finally catching sight of her. What he saw obviously shocked him. "Rosie, what in the hell happened?"
Rosie broke down in tears just as Beth caught up with them and took one look at her, "Rosie, you don't look all that great right now, what's goin' on?"
"Johnny…" Rosie sobbed falling to the ground.
Danny unbuttoned his shirt, leaving only a wife beater on, and covered Rosie with it, "C'mon, we'll take care of you."
"Do you want us to take you home Hun?" Beth put her arm around her.
"Home? I cant…" Rosie sobbed even harder.
"Ok, you can come to my house and I'll take care of you." Beth smiled, "Danny, will you go ahead and get the car please?"
Danny nodded and went and got the car and pulled it around. Beth and Rosie got into the back seat, and Beth tried her best to comfort her and tried to think of a way to get Rosie in the house with her father finding out.
Of course, they thought of something a Beth had gotten out of the car to find Daisy, who was as usual helpful and snuck Rosie into Beth's room and gave her a clean dress and towels to take a shower. "Beth's gonna tell her daddy that you're sleeping over. If you feel up to it, Beth Danny and her daddy are gonna have a late dinner, you're welcome to join them, but if you don't, I'll be more than happy to bring you up a plate ok?" Daisy pulled the scared girl into a hug, "If you need anything, I'm in the room down the hall, feel free to come and get me."
"Thank you." Rosie replied meekly and when she was finally alone she cried and eventually fell asleep in a heap at the foot of Beth's bed
"Do you want me to drop you off at the field tonight Sweet Pea?" Alex walked out onto the porch where Rosie was sitting in the rocking chair staring into space.
"I don't think I'm going Daddy." She turned her sorrowful face towards him
"Why?"
"I don't feel like going alone."
"You always go with Rafe, Danny and Beth have since you were ten."
"I don't wanna go with them this year."
"Because Rafe'll be there with a date?"
"No! Of course not, he's brought dates before. He's been bringing other girls since he was eleven."
"You hadn't been with him for a year of your life yet either."
"I'll think about goin' okay?"
"That a girl. I'm goin' over to Katherine's for the night." Alexander referred to his long time girlfriend "So I'll see you tomorrow."
Rosanna had curled up on her couch with a copy of The Tell Tale Heart she really had no intentions of going to the fireworks, but her father would never had left if she didn't agree to think about it. She had just about fallen asleep from boredom when there was a knock at the door.
"Johnny what the hell do you want?" She spat like venom when she revealed him on the porch.
"To take you to the fireworks." He tried to step inside the house but she kept him at bay with her arms.
"You're nuttier then a fruit cake."
"Look Rosie, I like you and I know for a fact Rafe's bringin' Helen Murphy. SO why don't you just come with me? We can make him jealous."
Rosie had to admit the idea intrigued her, intrigued her enough that she left him on the patio to change into the sailor dress her grand mother had sent her for Christmas and she had never worn. Dabbing on some of Rafe's favorite perfume she knew, she was going to have both fun and revenge that night.
The two found a comfy spot under an old maple, Johnny leaning his back against the trunk and Rosie laying comfortably on the grass in front of him.
"You know Ro for this to work you're gonna have to look like you like me." Johnny smiled
"Don't call me Ro, Johnny." She didn't really snap at him she was just very stern and clear
"What's the dig deal McCawley calls you that all the time?"
"Yes he does, only Rafe, not you."
Rosie's minded drifted back to the day she first became Ro. It was the first day of kindergarten and Rosie being every bit the tomboy went in pants and a sweater. She played in the dirt and made mud pies all the while every kid on the playground giving her dirty looks. All but the tall sandy haired kid that looked to be a year older then the rest and his dark and shy looking companion.
"Girls don't wear pants, and they don't play with dirt. You're weird." George Smith taunted her and Rosie was close to tears
"You leave her alone Georgie Smith, you play with dolls." The sandy haired kid had defended her.
And before Rosanna got the chance to thank him recess was over. Doing what every smitten little girl does she wrote him a note
"Hi I'm Rosie. Thank You lets be friends."
She was swinging from the monkey bars at second recess when her protector with her note still in hand and his friend walked over to her.
"Ro-Ro-Ro." He tried to read her name from the paper
"Rosie." The quiet kid prodded
"It's okay," Rosie jumped down "he can call me Ro if he wants." She was flirty for five
"I'm Rafe, this is my best pal Danny."
And that was how Rosie became Rafe's Ro.
"Danny, who is that?" Beth stared dead ahead at Rafe and a giggling red head.
Danny looked over at Rafe, "I think that's Helen."
"That's funny, Rosie's name isn't Helen…" Beth replied snootily.
"Beth, don't get started." Danny pleaded with Beth.
"Don't get what started?" Beth smiled innocently, "Look, I'm used to playing musical girlfriends with Rafe, but I don't know, I like Rosie."
"Alright, but Rafe and Rosie aren't together anymore and that was Rosie's choice." Danny reminded his girlfriend.
"I know." Beth reassured Danny and walked over to Rafe and Helen and put on what Danny liked to call her "Campaign Face." Whenever it was election time, Beth would get a huge grin on her face and be extremely sweet. Danny could see that Beth was about to put on a performance.
"Hi Helen, how are you?" Beth sat down and grinned like an idiot. Helen was obviously taken aback by Beth's behavior; she did have the reputation for being a little snobby.
"Umm…I'm fine Beth." Helen smiled back and looked over at Danny, "Hi Danny."
"How's it goin Helen." Danny sat next to Rafe, while Beth spoke a mile a minute to Helen, about nothing.
Rafe leaned over and nudged Danny, "What is your fiancé on?"
"Not a day goes by when that girl does not surprise me, so I have no clue." Danny laughed.
After about 10 minutes of complimenting Helen and trying to make her feel comfortable, Beth finally settled her head on Danny's shoulder, "I'm taking a little nap, wake me when it looks like the fireworks will start." Beth whispered.
Danny lifted her hand and kissed the back of it, "Of course."
Out of the corner of her eye that wasn't really all that closed, Beth saw Helen sigh and stare at Danny in a way she had seen many girls stare at him, but she just smiled smugly to herself as Danny kissed her forehead.
"I'm thirsty, how about you Helen?" Rafe asked trying not to look like he was scanning the crowd for Rosie. Helen, who was still making goo goo eyes at Danny just kinda nodded,
"Great, well I'll run and get you a soda or something." Rafe replied casually, "You need anything Danny?"
"Nah." Danny said playing with Beth's silky hair, noticing what Rafe was doing.
"Alright then, well I'll be back in a minute Helen, if you want to stay here with Danny and Beth you can." Rafe smiled and didn't wait for her to answer and turned to go get the sodas.
"Wow, he left in a might hurry, didn't he?" Helen said pulling up patches of grass for no reason.
"You know Rafe, he can get really thirsty." Danny said without thinking.
"He's really sweet you know." Helen said.
"A lot of girls say that." Danny laughed.
Helen looked around to see who was around her, "I think that Rosie Gadry is absolutely insane for leaving Rafe. Just the most insane girl ever. He is the most sweet boy ever."
"You obviously don't know the whole story…" Danny laughed.
Helen scooted closer to Danny, so close it made him uncomfortable, she leaned in closer, "Why don't you explain the story to me…" Helen ran a finger down the buttons on Danny's shirt, making him uncomfortable. She obviously didn't know Beth was very much awake.
Danny shifted uncomfortably, but didn't try to wake Beth, knowing she would raise all kinds of hell is she would've known what Helen was doing, which she did, but Danny didn't know either.
"Is it Beth?" Helen whispered, "We all know she is totally out of your league…you need a good farm girl."
Danny was speechless; he was praying Beth wouldn't wake up. But Beth was just waiting for the perfect time to give Helen a piece of her mind.
"Do you know what I mean by farm girl Danny? I don't mean a grease monkey whore like Rosie or a snobby virginal little princess like Beth Sullivan; you need a girl, a girl like me." Helen was about to plant a kiss on Danny's lips, when Beth pushed her off.
"Helen, let me tell you a thing or two about what you need. First off you need to get about fifty feet away from me, before I show you what a snobby virginal princess can do to your face. Then you can run to your little farm and show some other boy what you have to offer because I have a feeling Danny isn't interested, and if he is, well that's another matter in which you wont know the whole story, because it wont be any of your business." Beth wasn't yelling, but her voice was so sticky sweet, it came off as downright rude.
Rafe, who was walking back at this point in time, knew things were going bad when Beth was standing with her hands on her hips with an extremely fake smile and his date was staring back in disbelief that whatever Beth was saying could possibly come from her lips. "Uh, hey Helen, here's your soda."
Helen just looked over at Rafe and let out an embarrassed laugh and ran off with tears streaming down her face.
"Beth, you're getting to be bad for my love life." Rafe said through gritted teeth setting down the sodas and running off after Helen.
"Rosie? Hey Rosie?" Johnny called her name and she blinked
"Huh?"
"You can come sit up here you know. This supposed to be a date." He patted the ground next to him and she crawled forward. Johnny wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she fit well in his arms.
"You keep pawin' me all night and what I did to Bobby'll look like a love tap."
"Are you always this feisty?"
"Usually" She retorted dryly
"How come you don't like me? Every other girl in this town does, 'cept you and Beth."
"That's why, cause everyone else does. Plus you're pretty jerky."
Rosie caught Rafe staring at her then and she pulled Johnny into a deep kiss. One that lasted much longer then it had to, to make Rafe jealous. Had Rosie not loved Rafe with everything in her heart, she may have fallen for Johnny right then and there. She'd never been kissed like that before.
"If that's what I get for being a jerk, what'll ya give me if I'm nice."
"Look the fire works are starting." Rosie avoided his comment
"Oh no you don't what'll you give me for being nice?" Johnny leaned closer
"Cut it out Johnny and watch them." The beautiful balls of color were illuminating the sky, looking like flowers of light in bloom. Rosie squiggled away a little farther and Johnny came closer again. "Would you stop."
This time Johnny pounced, pinning her to the ground. His fingers snake through her hair as he laid sloppy kisses on her mouth.
"Johnny get off me." She screeched to no avail.
"Come on Rosie, we both know this is what you're best at."
"Johnny please stop." Tears were beginning to form in her big brown eyes as she realized the starting defensive tackle was to heavy to fight off.
"Rosie you know you want me. Why else would you have come and kissed me like that."
"Johnny stop it. Help me, someone help me please." But her pleas would go unheard. Stifled by the crackle of the fire crackers.
"Shhh now it'll only hurt a little, I promise to be quick." He ripped the front of her dress, the night air caressing her bare flesh.
From somewhere deep with in her, she summoned an unknown strength, punching Johnny in the stomach. He fell over to his side sputtering and gasping her air. Rosie leapt to her feet and ran without looking back. She ran until her legs wouldn't move anymore. She stopped in the middle of the parking lot panting sweat with running down her face. That's when she noticed him. Rafe, he was standing directly in front of her, taking in her appearance. Messy hair, lipsticks smeared and dress torn. His hazel eyes at first displayed hurt, she'd been with someone else, then they flashed with rage.
"Well you know what Ro, now I don't have to feel bad about your mama."
Rosie couldn't articulate the words. How could she tell Rafe, Johnny tried to rape her? She just stood there frozen looking at his angry eyes, the eyes the once held nothing but love when looking upon her. Rafe just through his hands up at her to symbolize that she wasn't worth it and left. Left her alone, frightened and heart broken.
After Danny assured Beth about 98 times he didn't have any interest in Helen, they were walking to Beth's fathers car to head home to eat a late dinner with Beth's father, when they saw a tiny brunette running in the shadows. Beth and Danny knew the only tiny brunette that could run like that would be Rosie.
"Rosie?" Danny called and jogged to catch up with her.
Rosie his behind a bush, "Danny, I would really like to be alone now…" She cried.
"Why? Is it because of Helen? I don't think that's serious…in fact Beth gave her a piece of her mind…" Danny replied ignoring Rosie's request and finally catching sight of her. What he saw obviously shocked him. "Rosie, what in the hell happened?"
Rosie broke down in tears just as Beth caught up with them and took one look at her, "Rosie, you don't look all that great right now, what's goin' on?"
"Johnny…" Rosie sobbed falling to the ground.
Danny unbuttoned his shirt, leaving only a wife beater on, and covered Rosie with it, "C'mon, we'll take care of you."
"Do you want us to take you home Hun?" Beth put her arm around her.
"Home? I cant…" Rosie sobbed even harder.
"Ok, you can come to my house and I'll take care of you." Beth smiled, "Danny, will you go ahead and get the car please?"
Danny nodded and went and got the car and pulled it around. Beth and Rosie got into the back seat, and Beth tried her best to comfort her and tried to think of a way to get Rosie in the house with her father finding out.
Of course, they thought of something a Beth had gotten out of the car to find Daisy, who was as usual helpful and snuck Rosie into Beth's room and gave her a clean dress and towels to take a shower. "Beth's gonna tell her daddy that you're sleeping over. If you feel up to it, Beth Danny and her daddy are gonna have a late dinner, you're welcome to join them, but if you don't, I'll be more than happy to bring you up a plate ok?" Daisy pulled the scared girl into a hug, "If you need anything, I'm in the room down the hall, feel free to come and get me."
"Thank you." Rosie replied meekly and when she was finally alone she cried and eventually fell asleep in a heap at the foot of Beth's bed