Chapter 26: Goodbye Rose

The next day, Hunter came to Storm Chargers to find Dustin working on a bike in the back. He walked over to him. "Hey, Dustin," he greeted. Dustin looked up.

"Oh hey, dude," Dustin answered.

Hunter saw the bruise on Dustin's jaw from yesterday. "How are you feeling?" He asked. Dustin shrugged.

"A bit tweaked, but I'll live," Dustin replied.

Hunter nodded and leaned against the working bench. "What about your jaw there? I seem to remember knocking you off your feet yesterday," Hunter commented.

"Bruised, but like I said, dude, I'll live," he answered.

Dustin wiped off his hands. "Dude are you like stalling for the next big question? Or we just going to sit here and ask about my injuries?" Dustin asked. Hunter grinned.

"Just one question and I'll leave it at that. Why?" Hunter asked.

"Why what?" Dustin asked.

"Why did you and Rose have to sneak?"

Dustin let out a sigh. "Dude, we really weren't sneaking. We just got together when Blake caught us. I can see why Rose meant something to you. Rose makes me feel…different. Like how Marah did before she broke my trust," Dustin explained.

"Now that was a disaster," Hunter commented.

"And Dude, I've been paying for my mistake everyday,"

Hunter nodded. "Wasn't your fault, dude," he assured him. Dustin nodded.

"Yeah, how weird. I go from crushing on the enemy to crushing on my best friend's girlfriend," Dustin commented.

Hunter chuckled. "Ex-girlfriend. Rose and I broke up yesterday right before the fight. It was over a long time ago," Hunter assured him. Hunter looked up when Rose came in. "Just take care of her dude," he added. Dustin looked up just as Rose came in. "I'll talk to you later," Hunter informed.

"Right," Dustin answered.

Hunter walked into the back just as Rose came up to Dustin. "Hey," she greeted. Dustin set his tools down.

"Hey, Rose," he greeted.

Rose hugged him with a sigh. "You scared me yesterday," she told him.

"Yeah, sorry about that," he answered.

Rose didn't want to let him go, she just continued to hug him. Dustin then suddenly heard her let out a sob and pulled back. "Hey, hey, if it's about what happened yesterday I'm fine. A bit sore but I'm fine," Dustin assured her. Rose shook her head.

"It's not that," she answered.

Dustin placed his hands on her face. "What is it?" He asked. Rose bit her lip and sat down on the counter.

"I…um…won the ice skating competition yesterday," she informed.

"That's great, Rose," he commented.

Rose nodded. "But there's more," she stated. Dustin stared at her quizzically. "Dustin, I've been asked to be trained and to compete for the Olympics," she informed.

"But that's good isn't it?" He asked.

"Yes, but Dusty. I'm trying to tell you that I'm leaving," she replied.

Dustin then got very quiet…too quiet for Rose's liking. "Oh…" was his only answer. He walked over to the bike he was working on and started working again.

"I leave in a few days," she added.

"Well, I wish you luck on your training."

Rose realized that he was avoiding her, because when she told him she was leaving, she could see the hurt on his face. "Dusty," she called to him.

"What?" He asked.

"Please don't shut me out."

She had him turn and look at her. "Dusty, things won't change between us," she assured him.

"Rose, you're moving far from here," he answered.

"So, this could still work. I'm not going to let you give up on us when we just started."

Dustin let out a sigh and pressed his forehead against hers. "This can work," she assured him. Dustin placed his hands over hers. "We'll stay in contact," she added.

"Right," he answered.

Rose smiled and kissed him. Dustin wrapped his arms around her waist and gently pulled her close to him while being careful with his side.

Hunter was working in the back when he saw everything.

Afterwards, Rose got up and walked over to Hunter. "Hey, Hunter," she called. Hunter looked up.

"Yeah?" He answered.

He walked over to her. "Listen. If you want to and if you don't want to it's cool. But I'm inviting everyone to my last show next week before I leave. I was wondering if you would like to come," she answered.

"Yeah, of course I'll go," he answered.

He hugged Rose with a sigh.

(A Week Later)

Hannah looked around in amazement. "Wow! Mom this is amazing!" She commented. Kimberly smiled and wrapped her arm around Hannah's shoulders.

"Where's Dustin?" Tori asked.

"He's in the back wishing Rose luck," Hunter replied.

Hannah smiled as she walked over to her brother. Hunter smiled as they walked over and sat in their seats. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome for the last time, Miss Rose Dulcina," the announcer announced. Rose skated out into the middle of the rink. Just then Girl Power by the Cheetah Girls started playing. Dustin walked over and sat next to Kimberly. They watched as Rose started doing her many spins and many other amazing moves that convinced everyone that she deserved to be the winner. Towards the end of the song, Rose got down on one knee and struck a pose. Everyone stood up and cheered for her.

"WAY TO GO ROSE!" Dustin shouted.

Kimberly smiled and looked over at Hunter to see the smile on his face.

(After Party)

Rose walked over to Kimberly during the party. "Kimberly, can I talk to you?" She asked.

"Yeah of course," Kimberly replied.

Kimberly set her drink down and walked over to an isolated spot with Rose. "What's up?" She asked. Rose let out a shaky sigh.

"I--I don't know if I can go, Kim," she replied.

Kimberly looked at her confused. "How come?" She asked. Rose bit her lip and looked over at Dustin.

"I can't leave him, not now," Rose replied.

Kimberly sighed. "Rose…Dustin will be okay. This has been your dream," Kimberly assured her. Kimberly sat Rose down.

"I know, I know," Rose answered.

Kimberly sat across from her. "You remind me much of myself," Kimberly commented. Rose looked at her with a confused look.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

Kimberly smiled. "I was a great gymnast. I was training in Florida for the Pan-Globals," she answered.

"What happened?" Rose asked.

Kimberly let out a sigh. "That's when I was attacked," she replied. She looked over at Kylie. "And that's when I found out I was pregnant," she added.

"Oh…" Rose murmured.

Kimberly nodded and she looked at Rose. "But, Rose, you're a great skater. Dustin has his dreams too. He's going to fulfill them once this is over. He'll fulfill his dreams and he'll stay with you. Your relationship won't turn out like mine and Kylie's father," Kimberly explained. Rose was confused. "Kylie's father believes in a bunch of lies in a letter that I didn't write," Kimberly informed.

"Ouch," she commented.

"Yeah, but I don't regret anything in my life. But I'm going to tell you this Rose. Don't give up your dreams, because that's what you will regret."

Rose nodded and she smiled. "Thanks," she stated. Kimberly smiled and hugged her.

"No problem," she answered.

(Departure)

Rose let out a sigh when she was at the airport. She looked over at her friends and let out a heavy sigh. "Well, I guess this is it," she commented. The Rangers nodded. Rose said goodbye to her friends one by one. When she reached Hunter, she bit her lip.

"Good luck with your training," he told her.

Rose nodded and she hugged Hunter. "Take care of yourself and I hope you can be with the girl you truly love," she whispered. Hunter nodded and kissed her cheek.

"Take care, Rose Dulcina," he answered.

Rose smiled and she walked over to Dustin. The others looked at each other and they left. Rose held onto Dustin's hands. "I don't want to have to say goodbye," she told him. Dustin gave her a sad smile.

"Then don't. Let's just say until we meet again," he answered.

Rose hugged him tight with tear-filled eyes. Dustin hugged her back and let out a heavy sigh. "Here, I've got something for you," he stated. He pulled back and pulled a chain out of his pocket. Hanging on the chain were two charms. One charm was a pair of ice skates and the other charm was a motocross bike. "Just a way for you to think about us," he commented. Rose took the chain with a smile and she put it around her neck. Then she pulled him down for a kiss. Dustin kissed her back.

"Flight 487 is now boarding," the announcer announced.

They pulled back and Dustin looked up. "That's you," he commented. Rose nodded her head slowly. "Till we meet again," he told her.

"Till we meet again," she answered.

Dustin watched her go on the ramp and let out a sigh. Kimberly walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You okay?" She asked.

"Yeah," he replied.

Kimberly patted his shoulder. "Come on," she murmured. Dustin nodded and he left the airport with his friends.