Alright ya'll, I'm back with another chapter. I still don't have the internet, but I will be trying to upload from the college's library computers! Hopefully it will work, and I won't get into trouble, lol. Anyway, here it is.

Chapter Eleven:

Rose turned left at the stop sign. She cursed when she realized that she had forgotten to use her turn signal.

"Remember your-"

"Turn signal," she cut off Rene's reprimand. "I know, I know. I'm just not focused today for some reason.

"It's okay, but when you're driving you have to learn to concentrate," Rene smiled encouragingly.

Rose let out a sigh and pulled into the parking lot of a nearby rest area. She had no clue where they were, but she didn't care. They had only been practicing for an hour, but she couldn't focus, and it had little to do with fear. Ever since she had first seen him this evening, she couldn't think of anything else.

He dressed in faded jeans and a La Resistance t-shirt. His hair wasn't spiked, and he looked just as hot without spikes as he does with them. She swallowed hard. This made the billionth time she had thought of him as 'hot'. Rose stopped the car and got out, walking away quickly.

Rene followed, confused, "Rose! Hey! What's going on?" He ran to catch up with her, clasping her elbow gently, stopping her. He then turned her to face him.

Rose let out a huff and rolled her eyes, "I just need a break, that's all."

Rene furrowed his brow, "It's only been an hour."

"Yah, well…I need a break!" she nearly yelled. Rose let out a sigh, "I'm sorry. I just…I don't think I can do this anymore."

"Do what? It's just driving. It isn't that hard is it? I mean, you could probably take your test tomorrow and-"

"I'm not talking about the damn driving!" Rose yanked her arm away from him.

"What are you talking about then? What can't you do anymore?" Rene asked, completely and totally baffled.

"I'm talking about this. I can't…I don't think…" Rose let out a sigh, preparing herself for what she had to tell him. "I don't think we should hang out anymore, Rene. Besides, you're doing really good with the swimming, and I'm doing really good with the driving. I'd say our deal is done."

Rene took a step closer, "Why can't we hang out? I know our deal is practically up, but I thought we were friends."

Rose looked away, "We are, it's just-" she let out a heavy breath.

"It's just what?" Rene asked, taking a step closer.

Rose spoke as she turned her head, "I just…" she trailed off when she locked eyes with him. She opened her mouth to speak but no words would come. All she could do was stare until something inside her snapped and she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his.

Rene froze for a half a second before wrapping his arms around her and returning the kiss. He let loose everything he had been feeling as he caressed her lips softly, but hungrily. He pulled her closer to him, longing for her warmth. He reached his hand around her head and undid her clip. He let it fall to ground as he ran his hands through her long, blonde hair.

Rose knew she shouldn't be doing this, but she couldn't help it. She never wanted it to end. She never wanted him to take his lips from her or his hand from her hair. She wanted to stay in his embrace and keep her arms firmly locked around his neck forever, but she couldn't. It had to end.

Rose pulled away abruptly, taking several steps backward before looking away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let that happen."

Rene looked at her for a minute, taking it in. She looked ashamed, remorseful, lost. But more than any of those, she looked sad. He found his voice, "Why? Why shouldn't it happen?"

Rose looked up, "It's complicated."

"Make it uncomplicated," he said, his gaze hardening. He wanted to be able to understand, but until she told him what was going on, it would be impossible.

Rose looked at him, desperation in her eyes. She wanted to be anywhere but there. She met his gaze, but her strength soon dispersed and she sighed, unable to find any words, and looked down at the ground again.

Rene took a step toward her and reached out to touch her face. She hesitantly flinched and stepped back to create more distance. He dropped his outstretched arm, "Rose……"

She looked up at his plea, "Rene, you're a great guy, and I see that but…" she broke off and shook her head.

Rene furrowed his eyebrows again, "Rose," he started as he grasped her arm quickly and pulled her to him. "Rose, don't do this. Do you know how long I've waited for you to come around? Can you honestly tell me you don't want this," he said as he grabbed her free hand held it in his, bringing it to his lips to brush a kiss over.

He then let their arms drop, still holding her hand and looked back into her eyes, "Can you tell me you don't want this?" he asked as he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her quivering lips. He held her gaze once more, "Or this?" He said, bringing her into a warm embrace holding her firmly to him.

Rose felt her heart beating so quickly in her chest that she felt it might burst at any second. She felt hot tears leaving her eyes…"What's happening to me?" she whispered inaudibly into his chest. Not knowing she spoke it out loud. Her whole way of thinking, living, and being was about to change, and it all happened so quickly. She couldn't let it happen. She just couldn't but…

She did want this, and as much as she fought to deny it, she couldn't. Not to herself…not to him. He knew. He couldn't see past her-into her, and she didn't know how he could read her so well. She was scared again, and she suddenly remembered the reason. He had to know she couldn't handle this. It was impossible.

"Rene," she finally chocked. She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying herself further into his strong chest. "I do want this, but I can't do it. There are reasons that you couldn't possibly begin to understand. I would only hurt you."

"You could never hurt me, Rose. Please, can't we try?" He squeezed her supportively, knowing she was crying.

Rose let out a broken sob into his chest before her knees went weak. She would have fallen to the ground had it not been for Rene holding her up.

"Talk to me, Rose. Explain it. We've got all night," he rubbed her back as he spoke.

Rose swallowed hard, "Can we sit down?"

Rene nodded into her shoulder before releasing her and directing her to a bench that sat underneath a huge tree. When they sat down, Rose tried to scoot away but Rene pulled her into his shoulder and wrapped his arm around her waist. They sat like that for many minutes in complete silence before Rose began to speak.

"I'm a foster child. Growing up I moved around a lot from one foster home to the next. Although I know there have to be some good foster parents out there, I was not lucky enough to stumble upon any. I just didn't fit in, and I allowed myself to be ignored. As moving became more frequent, I became less social. I guess I figured, 'What's the point? I'm just going to be gone in a few weeks or months.' So I never had any boyfriends or any friends for that matter. And that was fine with me."

Rose took a breath then started again after Rene nodded for her to continue, "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've never let anyone in before. I don't know if I even can. What I do is that, I don't want either of us to get hurt, Rene, but it will happen. As much as I want this…" she shook her head, "That's as much as I don't want it."

Rene sighed, "I won't push you if you're not ready, Rose, but you have to understand. If it's one thing I've learned from all the years of training, it's that life is full of risks. Some you should avoid at all costs, other risks, though. Other risks are worth taking." he said the last part looking straight into her emerald orbs. He smiled sweetly, yet somewhat sadly, "C'mon. Let's get back to the hotel. You look like you could use a rest."

"Okay, but you're driving," Rose smiled weakly and they stood in unison. Rene kept his arm around her as they walked back the car. He wanted to make that closeness last for as long as possible before it was gone again.

Aside from having the radio on, they rode together in silence. Neither of them felt there was anything else to say, at least, not on that night. When they finally made it to their hotel, Rose got out of the car and began walking toward her room. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Rene.

He smiled before taking her hands in his, "Rose, before you make your decision, I just want to think about one thing."

She nodded, "What's that?"

Without hesitation Rene seized her lips passionately. His kiss was deep and feeling, for in it he poured every emotion. He expressed his trust, his support, his strength, and his care with every caress. When he broke the kiss he let his hands linger on hers for a brief minute before turning around and walking back to his room.

Rose stood there dumbfounded. 'What am I going to do?' Her lips were pulsating from the kiss, and it hadn't even been that hard. She could still taste him in her mouth, she could still feel his hands holding hers. She knew these sensations would last for the rest of the day, but she wanted to really feel it again. She didn't know how long she had stood there before finally turning to go back to her room. Rene was right. She needed to get some rest.

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Okay, I hope to have another chapter out possibly by this weekend, but this is all I could do. I hope I make enough money this week to get my internet back. Uploading from college is such a bitch, lol.

Well, until next time, please review and tell me what you think!!!

Pammi