Sweet Roses

Chapter three

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"I don't know what to do Theodore, Grandchesters don't get along with those Cornwells or Andrews… I'm so scared…" she cried "But I think I'm truly in love with this guy." She said. Theodore sighed and sat Annie down on a bench then got her a coke and sat down next to her.

"Why don't you tell me everything?" he suggested.

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Annie gulped and then took a sip of her coke.

"It all started five months ago, at the public winter dance. I was supposed to be doing the decorations the night before but something came up and instead I went early that morning. Of course because of my part-time job at the gaming arcade I had no choice but to skip breakfast and lunch to get everything done. It was because of my lack of food that that I was feeling weary by the time I reached the arcade." Here Annie took another sip of Coke and Theodore asked her:

"You were working at a Gaming Arcade? But the only job they have is at the counter."

"There's a snack bar there… anyway, I thought that I could just take a snack myself and then finish working but I passed out before I got to the snack shop and when I awoke…" she blushed here and looked away. Theodore felt a smile tugging at his lips.

"Alistair-Anthony had you on his lap." He added. Annie shook her head.

"No, I was in a bed in the clinic, Alistair-Anthony had caught me and brought me there… I never saw his face, they only gave his name after I begged them. I was only told that he had delivered me there." Theodore's eyebrows shot up.

"Sounds like a good plot for a movie." He said and Annie laughed.

"Yes it does, and it sounds more romantic than it was… after all, it took me two months before I gathered the courage to thank him. I went up to his mansion secretly… and he asked me out after a very awkward conversation. We had to go out in secret because his parent's think he's dating some body from France." She said. It was Theodore's turn to laugh.

"Sneaky… but, why does it have to be a secret for you?" he asked. Annie's smiled evaporated.

"Because Daddy thinks that the Andrews, Cornwells, Kirk and Regans are nothing but snobs and his impression of the Andrews is low. He also thinks all the boys from those families are playboys, but Alistair Anthony is nothing like that! He's still banned me from seeing him though." She finished off and Theodore nodded.

"Do Peter and Mary Jane know?" as expected Annie shook her head.

"Nobody…" she said. Just then Peter came racing out.

"There you are! Bad news, Mary Jane lost to Rose by a point and is going hysterical in the locker room." He announced. Theodore sighed and Annie immediately rushed to the locker rooms. Theodore and Peter followed but had to wait outside because it was a girl's locker room.

"Excellent victory Rose, sometimes you're just too good. It was the most intense competition I've ever seen!" exclaimed a high pitched voice. Theodore turned around to look at the two girls talking. Both looked like twins, yet he knew one was Rose and the other Jade. Now to find out which one is Candy. He began to say something before they left but Annie came out at that moment with Mary Jane. Mary Jane's face was red but she was smiling now.

"Oh Theodore you're the best!" she exclaimed and hugged him. Theodore looked at Annie over Mary-Jane's shoulder with raised eyebrows.

"Umm, well… it was nothing…" he said as Mary Jane let him go.

"Oh but it was! I'll go talk to my coach now, but I'll be back soon." She said as she hurried off. Annie placed a curved hand over her mouth as if trying not to smile.

"And what on earth has made me 'The best' anyway?" he asked crossing his arms. Annie bit her lip while smiling at the same time.

"You're going to accompany her to the masked ball at her school as her date." She said.

"Oh, that's it… okay, but… why me?" he asked.

"Because she's been dumped by her boyfriend and no body really needs to know you're actually her cousin…" Annie told him. Theodore sighed.

"When is the dance anyway?" he asked.

"The day before you leave." Peter told him. Theodore was just about to comment again when Mary-Jane ran up to them.

"Let's go." She said then bounced off happily towards the car outside. They followed her each deep in thought.

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She's so beautiful… yet so sad. I love her hair. And her deep blue eyes. And her skin… she looks so playful, yet so fragile. I love her so much. Why can't I see her face though? Why is there that gray veil preventing me from seeing her face.

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Theodore got home with the rest of his cousins to find a black Mercedes in the drive way. Annie, Mary-Jane and Peter jumped out and rushed inside while Theodore followed, deep in thought.

"Mom! Dad! You're back early!" came the cried from inside the home and Theodore put on his best smile as he walked into the house.

"Oh Hello Auntie, Hello Uncle. Nice to see you after such a long time!" exclaimed Theodore as he walked over to them. They hugged him. Aunt Helen beamed at him after letting him go.

"You've grown so tall! And so handsome too. I bet all the girls die over you all the time." She said winking at him. Theodore blushed as everybody in the room laughed.

"Hey mum, you're here earlier than we thought. What happened?" asked Annie. Uncle George's face grew solemn and he coughed.

"There was some very urgent business I was called to. I think it's time for a family meeting." He said, "You too Theodore, this concerns you." When they'd gathered around the table Uncle George looked at Theodore and asked him.

"Were you… did you know Archie Cornwell personally?" he asked. Theodore was taken aback.

"Uh no. We met the day before he died and had a small talk." He said.

"Theodore, honey… Archie Cornwell left you something in his will. He made adjustments to his will the night before he died." Explained Aunt Helen. At this point many things happened. The first was that Peter fell off of his chair. Annie stood up and shouted. "What!" and Mary Jane's mouth fell onto the table (In a manner of speaking).

"What… me? Get something from Archie Cornwell?" he asked. His Aunt nodded.

"Yes, you're invited to the reading of his will. I'm to take you there as your chaperone, and… well that is a problem. Considering we don't get along with the Andrews who will be there." She said. The entire table was silent and Theodore was in shock. Mary Jane got up from the table and ran out. Peter ran after her while Annie sat down again, also in shock. Aunt Helen sighed. The phone rang and she got up to get it. Uncle George followed her out silently. Annie turned to Theodore.

"Theo, are you hiding something from us?" she asked. Theodore shook his head. Annie didn't seem to believe him and walked out of the room after Mary Jane. Theodore sighed and put his head in his folded arms wondering what to do.

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It was few hours into the afternoon when Theodore found himself somewhere at the National Museum of Chicago wandering through the art exhibition. He wasn't actually interested in the exhibition itself; in fact, the only reason he was there was because he'd gotten bored wandering through the unfamiliar streets. The museum, which was ironically sponsored by the Andrews, had popped up in front of him and he'd decided to go in, good thing that he had his money with him ...

His eyes suddenly stopped on one particular painting. He leaned over and inspected it. It seemed so familiar. There was a girl in silver bowing. All around them was a colorful display of dresses. The people were hardly visible under their headgear. It all gave him a heavy feeling of déjà vu. The only thing out of place was the man whose hand was extended towards the girl.

"What the?" he wondered as he looked even more carefully.

"It was painted by Albert Andrews." Said a voice behind him. Theodore spun around and a small smile tugged at his lips. What an ideal place to meet 'Candy' Andrews.

"Ah, you again." He said clasping his hands together. The girl raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, I'm sorry I haven't met you before. O-oh yeah on the plane!" she said remembering. Theodore raised an eyebrow.

"Yes and the mall. Thanks for the cap." He said. It was the girl's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"Umm, I'm sorry I don't remember that." She said. Theodore sighed.

"Oh well, you never gave me your real name. I'm sure it's not Candy." He said. The girl laughed.

"I never told you my name and no, it's Jade." She replied. Theodore looked at her oddly then shook his head as if clearing it.

"…And I'm… Terrence." He said. The girl nodded.

"Nice to meet you Terrence." She said. Theodore suddenly understood. So the girl at the mall had been Rose.

"Umm, now I'm not the person to just suddenly ask a person out or anything the first time I meet them… but… would you like to get some coffee?" he asked, pushing his luck. To his surprise the girl smiled.

"I would love to."

To be continued…

A/N: I got reviews! Finally. I'm so glad you people liked my fic ^_^. It's so nice to get reviews, especially like yours… gee… you ppl are so wonderful ^^;; I could go on for days with this… apologies for the short chapter but I'm stuck. I won't update for a long time probably but will try.

Preview of Chapter 4:

There will be no preview this time because I'm suffering from writer's block.