Chapter 6: The Nightmare
Rose's Point Of View

I had a faint feeling of someone laying me on a soft, warm bed and then tucking a blanket around my neck. I didn't hear the steps recede for about 5 minutes, and when they did, they went down the stairs.

She looked over at Cal, who was driving his "beauty" on the highway.

He looked back and smiled, "Ready for dinner sweet pea?"

"Yes, I'm looking forward to tonight."

She would have never said that if she knew what would happen during dinner. There was no conversation between them as he pulled up to the elegant dining restaurant.

He didn't come open her door; instead he waited In front of the car for her.

She struggled getting out of the low place, and grabbing her purse, she felt anger fill her.

"Cal is such a gentleman, Rose." Her mother had said before she had sent her away on the date. Yeah, he's such a gentleman that he won't even come and meet me at the door or open my car door for me, she thought sarcastically.

She walked past him and he grabbed her elbow.

"Wait for me, darling."

He said, trying to control her.

She pulled her elbow out of his grasp. "What has come over you Rose?" He asked.

She tried to smiled and lie to him "I'm just very hungry is all, Cal. I didn't have any lunch today."

"Well, why didn't you say something then?"

Because you would've said that that was my fault and that I shouldn't have eaten anyway. And he would've also mentioned that she needed to diet, and maybe she shouldn't have eaten after all anyway. That's what she wanted to say.

But she couldn't. And wouldn't, knowing it would make him mad. And anything could happen when he was mad. He'd already slapped her across the face at her house once. More than that had happened, but she made herself walk to the door and forget about it.

A waiter greeted them at the door, and Cal asked for a table in smoking for two.

She shook his arm, "Cal, I'm allergic to cigarette smoke." She reminded him.

His annoyed glance came to meet hers.

"Fine, in non-smoking then." He told the waiting waiter.

The waiter sat her, and handed her the menu. It had no prices.

Typical.

She was tired of all the rich life, the parties, and the restaurants. It was so dull and lifeless, just an endless excuse to be popular and live in misery.

Just one time, she would love to go the park and race someone, and then collapse on the ground; laughing so hard they couldn't breathe. Just once she would love to dine at a grungy restaurant. Just once she would love to dress in a brand and clothing that didn't cost $100 for a shirt. To go shopping all day and not buy a thing. To have the man she loved wrap her securely in his arms and just hold her there. To have him kiss her, and not ask for anything more than that. But that would never happen. And she could never wish to have a day where she could be out alone on her own and just do whatever she wanted to.

"What are you ordering, sweet pea?" Cal snapped her out of her thoughts.

"I think I want a Italian grilled chicken salad."

"I'm ordering Chicken Parmesan."

Their conversation turned.

"Rose, I have something I want to talk to you about."

Oh dear Lord, what now?

"I heard that you and some friends went shopping in a mall across town. And that you went to a restaurant. And that your company included guys."

"Yes, we did. Cal, I am you girlfriend-"

"Yes, you are! And you should act like it! And WHY did you not contact me?"

"Because it was your game night, Cal. And I knew you would be busy."

"Why didn't you come to the game instead of going shopping in a sloppy mall and with guys present?"

"Because last time I went to one of your games I had to walk home alone. And I don't even like basketball."

"Well, who didn't stay until I was ready to go?"

"It was 11:30, Cal."

"It doesn't matter. Who had to think of themselves?"

"Caledon Hockley, I never want to hear you say that again. Who had to think of themselves? God, Cal, you're the most conceited guy on the football team. The most abusing, and the most controlling man I've ever met in my life. I have sat by while you abused me, controlled my life, and I am about sick of it. Well, guess what? It's over. You and me do not exist anymore. I'm through."

He slapped her so hard the noise resounded off of the walls of the restaurant and everyone that tried to ignore their yelling, looked to see what was going on. The slap made her cheek feel like it was on fire, and knocked her off of her chair.

A waiter rushed over and asked her if she needed help.

"No!" She cried, tired of everyone hovering over her like she was 2.

She looked furiously at Cal, who was staring daggers at her and looked like he was ready to kill her. He probably could. And no one would miss her either.

She ran out of the room, no tears coming down her face, nothing inside her even hurting. But she was tired of dealing with him. He was a spoiled, inconsiderate jerk. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Lucy's #, the only person she could trust. And even she was slipping away.

"Lucy come get me. Please, I'm at a fancy restaurant somewhere in Midland."

"Is everything okay?"

"No, Call hurt me and we were yelling. I can't take it anymore. I told him it was over."

Lucy gasped, knowing what could happen if he found her alone.

"I'll be there in 5 minutes, Rose. Stay in the girl's room, I'll be there."

"Thanks."

"No prob."

5 minutes later, Lucy burst into the bathroom.

"He's heading this way, Rose. He knows where you are."

She took a deep breath.

"I'm not afraid of him."

A shocked expression worked its way across Lucy's face.

"Come on, let's go, Lucy."

They walked out of the bathroom and faced Cal. His face was mottled with rage.

"Don't you ever do that to me again."

"NO Cal, Don't you ever do that to ME again." She said in a threatening tone and punched his jaw so hard his face turned.

While he was standing in shock, she and Lucy walked away--

Jack's Point Of View

I flew through her door, hearing her scream, and looked toward where she lay. She was writhing and crying out against an imaginary person. A dream. A nightmare. I'd had plenty of those.

I walked slowly to her bed, and shook her shoulder. She squirmed away from my hand.

"Rose, its Jack."

Seeing this wasn't going to work after trying it many times, I got on the bed and shook her harder. She cried out again and tried to get away from me. I put my arms to pin down hers. Her head shook from side to side.

"Rose, wake up."

Her eyes opened and closed again and she fought him with a renewed energy.

"Rose, its Jack. It's okay. Honey wake up, you're fine."

She struggled for a couple more seconds, then slowly stopped and looked at me in the dark. My heart started beating fast as she relaxed beneath me.

"Jack, Oh God, I thought it was Cal. Jack, he-"

"Sshh Rose, it's okay."

She was breathing heavily, and closing her eyes.

"Open your eyes and look at me."

She opened them. I could see the green pools glowing, terrified, in the dark.

"It was a nightmare."

"I know, Jack. It was-" She broke off.

"I haven't been shown much love in my life, Jack. It might take me awhile to get used to you and your grandma."

Her comment surprised me, although I had sensed something earlier.

"We'll help you."

"Thank you." Silence.

Her small voice pierced the silence.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"I know this might seem strange, seeing as I just met you. But would you hold me?"

My heart broke at the sight of her and hearing her desperation. She needed someone to love and care. She needed someone to take care of her heart, and be careful with it.

I lowered myself onto the bed next to her and wrapped my arms around her, not prepared for the feelings that hit me. I felt as if I was on fire.

Her hands came around me and rested on my back, and her head buried into my shoulder.

Something inside me started burning, as I lay there holding her. I looked at the clock on the nightstand, 3:30 in the morning. I felt her start shaking, and her tears soaked through my shirt. I let her cry; she needed to get it out. There was a sadness and hopelessness that had pierced her heart.

After awhile, she stopped crying and just lay there in my embrace.

"I'm sorry, I barely know you, and here you are-"

"Rose, it's okay. You need someone to talk to. And I'm here. I know we just met, but there's something about you that draws-"

"Jack, you can't like me-"

"Sshh, it's okay."

"No it's not. I'm not the good girl you see me as. I'm a spoiled, good for nothing-"

"Rose look at me now."

"You are good for something. You might be spoiled I don't know, but we're all spoiled. You hear me? You are good for something, believe that."

"You don't know what's happened to me, Jack."

"And whenever you want to tell me, or even if you don't, I'll be here."

"I need someone to trust."

"That's why you met my grandma on the train. It wasn't a coincidence. It was meant to happen."

"Thank you."

She was quiet. The silence stretched in the darkness, but was not awkward. About 30 minutes later, I felt her go limp in my arms. She was asleep.

I couldn't lay here the rest of the night. I tried to slip out of her embrace carefully, so I wouldn't wake her.

'Please don't let her draw into a shell tomorrow because she bared some of her feelings tonight,' I thought as I walked down the hall to my room.