Four months had passed since Rafe and Crystal had gotten together and things didn't seem like they could be better. Rosie stayed away from them for the most part, making it a point to be no where in sight if Crystal was around. Danny kept telling her she was being stupid and that no girl was ever going to replace her in Rafe's heart but she wouldn't listen. She didn't really want to listen, it was hard for her to be around him when he was with another girl. One would think that after being friends with him for ten years she'd be used to his constant girlfriends, but just because she had to accept it, didn't mean she had to like it.
"Hey Ro, hold up a minute." Rosie frowned slightly, she hadn't managed to sneak passed Rafe's locker fast enough that day to go unseen
"Hi Rafe, what are ya doin'?" She shifted her books in her hand uncomfortably as Crystal approached
"Nothin' really, I've been dustin' alotta crops lately and stuff."
"Yeah I've been at the garage a lot."
"So ahh, are you comin' to the party at Henry Thompson's on Friday?"
"I hadn't planned on it, I've got a paper due for Mrs. Lindley on Monday and the Roberts's tractor isn't working. I think I'm gonna be busy all weekend."
Rafe ran his hand through his sandy hair and sighed
"Come on, we've been friends for years, me, you, Danny and Beth, it wouldn't be the same without you."
"I don't think Beth likes me all that much anyway, besides ya'll have dates, ya won't eve notice I ain't there."
"There you are darlin' I've been looking all over for you." Crystal crept up along side of Rafe and kisses his cheek "Hello Rosanna."
"Crystal. Well I'm sure you two have lots to talk about, so I'm gonna head over to the field, there's a softball game goin' on maybe somebody'll let me play." With that she shot off down the hall and out the front door
"She's certainly a weird little girl." Crystal snorted
"She's not, she's not weird, she's different that's what makes her so special." Rafe gave his girlfriend a stern look
"I think you might be the only person in this whole town that looks at Rosie and sees special Rafe."
"Yeah I guess so."
"So are you ready for the party, I found this new dress I wanna buy for the occasion."
"Actually I don't think I'm gonna be takin' ya to that party. I mean don't lemme ruin your fun, you cane go, I just don't think I'm goin'." Rafe glanced at the floor
"What, why not?"
"Well Rosie's not goin' cuz she's gotta work at the shop, I think I'll help her out. You know that way she wont be the only kid not there and all."
"I see, it's all about Rosie again. Okay fine, if she decides to go, will you?"
"Of course."
"Good. Oh forgot something in my locker, I'll meet you outside on the steps."
OUT ON THE BASEBALL DIAMOND
"Hey Rosie." A voice called from behind the girl sat in the dugout waiting to hit
"Huh?" She turned around and to face a tall curly redheaded boy with blue-brown eyes "Oh hi Trevor."
Trevor Douglas was the captain of the JV basketball team and was quite popular with the girls, he normally dated girls like Judy Hopper and Doris Plath so the fact he even knew Rosanna's name was strange.
"Hey, I was wantin' to know if you're going to Henry's party." Trevor gave her his thousand watt smile
"Nope, what is it with everyone and this stupid party?"
"It's not really the party that I was worryin' bout, I was hopin' you'd like to be my date."
"Run that by me again."
"I think you're a swinging chick, would you go with me to the party?"
It took Rosie all of about twenty seconds to decide, after all not only was Trevor the first guy to ask her out but he was Trevor Douglas
"Sure I'll go with you."
"Great, well I'll let ya get back to your game, pick ya up at seven alright."
"Yup."
"Kay, later then."
As Trevor walked back toward the gym for basketball practice there was no way Rosanna could contain her excitement long enough to finish the game. So she waved to the guys and ran home as fast as she could get there. She was rather winded when she got there, but instead of stopping to catch her breath she dashed to the phone and called the McCawley's.
"Hello?" A stern female voice picked up the other end
"Mrs. McCawley it's Rosie. How are you today?" The girl remembered her manners and greeted the women politely on the telephone.
"I'm just fine dear, a little tired with Danny and Rafe being teenage boys and Edward not realizing he hasn't been one for over twenty years." Noreen McCawley was firm but tender women with a loving nature but hot temper, she was the type of women Rosie wanted to be one day "The boys are outside fiddling with one of the planes, who'd ya call for?"
"Rafe please ma'am."
"You hold on I'll get him."
The line went silent for a minute and Rosie absent mindedly twisted the cord around her finger waiting very impatiently. Until finally her friend picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hi Rafe." She couldn't hide the smile in her voice
"Ro? Hey it's been a while since you called here looking for me."
"I know, sorry. But anyway I called to let you know that I am goin' to that party, Trevor Douglas asked me to be his date!" She was rarely one to squeal but she was just so full of excitement the girl thought for sure she'd burst.
"That's great Ro, wow, I'm so happy for ya. But hey I gotta go help Danny with the plane, I talk to ya tomorrow."
"Oh, okay, sure." Rosie responded softly, she had thought for sure Rafe was going to be happy for her "Bye."
She hung up solemnly and with a tiny scowl and went out to find a new outfit for the party.
By the end of the week the whole school knew about Rosie and Trevor's date and she got goose bumps every time she walked down the hall. She felt like she was walking on air, like queen of the world. Trevor Douglas was handsome and well known, he could've had the choice of a million other girls, yet he chose her. It was almost to good to be true.
They had been at the party for a half hour already, having a fantastic time when Beth, Danny, Crystal and Rafe showed up. The four found Rosie easily, while she was tiny and blended in well with the crowd, especially in the dress she had bought that showed of her slim and feminine figure, Trevor was taller then most of the other guest and stuck out above them.
"Hi Rafe." She flung her arms around his neck at the sight of her best friend
"Uh hey Ro, how many of these has she had?" He asked Trevor taking the beer bottle from the girls hand
"I'm not sure, like four I think." Trevor answered reaching around Rosanna's waste to hold her up, four beers in less then an hour for such a small girl, that didn't normally drink wasn't good.
"You let her drink four beer in thirty minutes? Are you crazy?" Rafe's eyes flashed a blazing red
"Come on honey let's go dance." Beth tugged on Danny's hand and led him away knowing there was going to be a scene she didn't want her boyfriend involved in. Luckily Crystal was able to control her boyfriend, she dragged Rafe away and Rosie and Trevor continued their date. Crystal led him outside and they sat on the porch for almost an hour in silence before she broke the wordlessness.
"Alright Rafe what's wrong?"
"Nothin'." He grunted
"There's obviously something wrong what is it?"
"I just don't trust Trevor that's all, I mean Rosie's in there drunk outa her mind. He could take advantage of her or something."
"I wouldn't worry about that, Trev doesn't even like her. He only took her out cuz I asked him to."
"What?"
"I wanted to come to the party and you wouldn't unless that grease monkey pal of yours did. So I called in a favor, he'll be ditching her tomorrow." Crystal declared proud of herself
"So you set my best friend up to get her heart broken?" Rafe couldn't believe what he was hearing
"I guess you could look at it that way, I just thought of it as wanting to spend the night with my boyfriend."
"You don't have a boyfriend anymore." He finalized as the front door opened and Rosie came flying out, tears running down her face.
He chased her the length of the city, finally catching up to her at the creep where she was sitting on a rock, her eyes swollen and puffy and her body heaving with sobs.
"Ro?"
"What do you want Rafe?" She asked trying to keep her voice level
"Are you okay?"
"No, no, I really don't think I am. What's wrong with me, why isn't there any guys out there that like me?" She wept into his chest as he pulled her to him. Now it was his turn to tell her she could do better.
"Hey Ro, hold up a minute." Rosie frowned slightly, she hadn't managed to sneak passed Rafe's locker fast enough that day to go unseen
"Hi Rafe, what are ya doin'?" She shifted her books in her hand uncomfortably as Crystal approached
"Nothin' really, I've been dustin' alotta crops lately and stuff."
"Yeah I've been at the garage a lot."
"So ahh, are you comin' to the party at Henry Thompson's on Friday?"
"I hadn't planned on it, I've got a paper due for Mrs. Lindley on Monday and the Roberts's tractor isn't working. I think I'm gonna be busy all weekend."
Rafe ran his hand through his sandy hair and sighed
"Come on, we've been friends for years, me, you, Danny and Beth, it wouldn't be the same without you."
"I don't think Beth likes me all that much anyway, besides ya'll have dates, ya won't eve notice I ain't there."
"There you are darlin' I've been looking all over for you." Crystal crept up along side of Rafe and kisses his cheek "Hello Rosanna."
"Crystal. Well I'm sure you two have lots to talk about, so I'm gonna head over to the field, there's a softball game goin' on maybe somebody'll let me play." With that she shot off down the hall and out the front door
"She's certainly a weird little girl." Crystal snorted
"She's not, she's not weird, she's different that's what makes her so special." Rafe gave his girlfriend a stern look
"I think you might be the only person in this whole town that looks at Rosie and sees special Rafe."
"Yeah I guess so."
"So are you ready for the party, I found this new dress I wanna buy for the occasion."
"Actually I don't think I'm gonna be takin' ya to that party. I mean don't lemme ruin your fun, you cane go, I just don't think I'm goin'." Rafe glanced at the floor
"What, why not?"
"Well Rosie's not goin' cuz she's gotta work at the shop, I think I'll help her out. You know that way she wont be the only kid not there and all."
"I see, it's all about Rosie again. Okay fine, if she decides to go, will you?"
"Of course."
"Good. Oh forgot something in my locker, I'll meet you outside on the steps."
OUT ON THE BASEBALL DIAMOND
"Hey Rosie." A voice called from behind the girl sat in the dugout waiting to hit
"Huh?" She turned around and to face a tall curly redheaded boy with blue-brown eyes "Oh hi Trevor."
Trevor Douglas was the captain of the JV basketball team and was quite popular with the girls, he normally dated girls like Judy Hopper and Doris Plath so the fact he even knew Rosanna's name was strange.
"Hey, I was wantin' to know if you're going to Henry's party." Trevor gave her his thousand watt smile
"Nope, what is it with everyone and this stupid party?"
"It's not really the party that I was worryin' bout, I was hopin' you'd like to be my date."
"Run that by me again."
"I think you're a swinging chick, would you go with me to the party?"
It took Rosie all of about twenty seconds to decide, after all not only was Trevor the first guy to ask her out but he was Trevor Douglas
"Sure I'll go with you."
"Great, well I'll let ya get back to your game, pick ya up at seven alright."
"Yup."
"Kay, later then."
As Trevor walked back toward the gym for basketball practice there was no way Rosanna could contain her excitement long enough to finish the game. So she waved to the guys and ran home as fast as she could get there. She was rather winded when she got there, but instead of stopping to catch her breath she dashed to the phone and called the McCawley's.
"Hello?" A stern female voice picked up the other end
"Mrs. McCawley it's Rosie. How are you today?" The girl remembered her manners and greeted the women politely on the telephone.
"I'm just fine dear, a little tired with Danny and Rafe being teenage boys and Edward not realizing he hasn't been one for over twenty years." Noreen McCawley was firm but tender women with a loving nature but hot temper, she was the type of women Rosie wanted to be one day "The boys are outside fiddling with one of the planes, who'd ya call for?"
"Rafe please ma'am."
"You hold on I'll get him."
The line went silent for a minute and Rosie absent mindedly twisted the cord around her finger waiting very impatiently. Until finally her friend picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hi Rafe." She couldn't hide the smile in her voice
"Ro? Hey it's been a while since you called here looking for me."
"I know, sorry. But anyway I called to let you know that I am goin' to that party, Trevor Douglas asked me to be his date!" She was rarely one to squeal but she was just so full of excitement the girl thought for sure she'd burst.
"That's great Ro, wow, I'm so happy for ya. But hey I gotta go help Danny with the plane, I talk to ya tomorrow."
"Oh, okay, sure." Rosie responded softly, she had thought for sure Rafe was going to be happy for her "Bye."
She hung up solemnly and with a tiny scowl and went out to find a new outfit for the party.
By the end of the week the whole school knew about Rosie and Trevor's date and she got goose bumps every time she walked down the hall. She felt like she was walking on air, like queen of the world. Trevor Douglas was handsome and well known, he could've had the choice of a million other girls, yet he chose her. It was almost to good to be true.
They had been at the party for a half hour already, having a fantastic time when Beth, Danny, Crystal and Rafe showed up. The four found Rosie easily, while she was tiny and blended in well with the crowd, especially in the dress she had bought that showed of her slim and feminine figure, Trevor was taller then most of the other guest and stuck out above them.
"Hi Rafe." She flung her arms around his neck at the sight of her best friend
"Uh hey Ro, how many of these has she had?" He asked Trevor taking the beer bottle from the girls hand
"I'm not sure, like four I think." Trevor answered reaching around Rosanna's waste to hold her up, four beers in less then an hour for such a small girl, that didn't normally drink wasn't good.
"You let her drink four beer in thirty minutes? Are you crazy?" Rafe's eyes flashed a blazing red
"Come on honey let's go dance." Beth tugged on Danny's hand and led him away knowing there was going to be a scene she didn't want her boyfriend involved in. Luckily Crystal was able to control her boyfriend, she dragged Rafe away and Rosie and Trevor continued their date. Crystal led him outside and they sat on the porch for almost an hour in silence before she broke the wordlessness.
"Alright Rafe what's wrong?"
"Nothin'." He grunted
"There's obviously something wrong what is it?"
"I just don't trust Trevor that's all, I mean Rosie's in there drunk outa her mind. He could take advantage of her or something."
"I wouldn't worry about that, Trev doesn't even like her. He only took her out cuz I asked him to."
"What?"
"I wanted to come to the party and you wouldn't unless that grease monkey pal of yours did. So I called in a favor, he'll be ditching her tomorrow." Crystal declared proud of herself
"So you set my best friend up to get her heart broken?" Rafe couldn't believe what he was hearing
"I guess you could look at it that way, I just thought of it as wanting to spend the night with my boyfriend."
"You don't have a boyfriend anymore." He finalized as the front door opened and Rosie came flying out, tears running down her face.
He chased her the length of the city, finally catching up to her at the creep where she was sitting on a rock, her eyes swollen and puffy and her body heaving with sobs.
"Ro?"
"What do you want Rafe?" She asked trying to keep her voice level
"Are you okay?"
"No, no, I really don't think I am. What's wrong with me, why isn't there any guys out there that like me?" She wept into his chest as he pulled her to him. Now it was his turn to tell her she could do better.