Chapter 7: The Memory Garden
Rose's Point of View

1 week later

The rest of the night went on without a single dream, and pretty soon it was morning; I could feel the sunshine hitting my eyelids. I stretched out on my soft, warm, and comfortable bed. I prepared myself to hear my mother yelling up at me any minute to awake and get ready; that we were going somewhere with Cal. When it didn't happen for 5 minutes, I blinked my eyes several times and finally opened them fully.

My eyes were not used to the sight that they saw this morning. There was no dresser in front of my bed; this wasn't even my bed. There wasn't any poster of Leonardo DiCaprio above my mirror; instead it was a picture of a very peaceful looking lake somewhere in the country. I still wasn't used to waking up in Adrianna's guest room bed.

Then I faintly remembered the cab, the train ride, and getting off in Chippewa Falls a week ago. Then I remembered "grandma" Adrianna, and her grandson Jack. The tall, slim, hott guy that had drove us home. After that everything was blurry. I faintly remembered someone carrying me up the stairs, and being laid on the softest bed I'd ever slept on.

Then it all came back.

The nightmare the week before and last night, and Jack bursting into the room. I remembered exactly what I'd dreamed the night before. It was no wonder I'd woken up screaming. Then he'd hovered above me, pinning down my arms and talking to me, telling me to wake up, that it was only a dream.

I remembered asking him to hold me, and sobbing into his shirt while he held me in a tight embrace. An embrace that was different from any Cal had given. His had been tight, demanding, and controlling. Jack's was tight, caring, and gentle. I had had the same dream twice, the night after I'd gotten here and then last night.

I blushed. How in the world could I ever face him this morning? What would he think of me now that it had happened twice? I'd just met him last week, and I'd already asked him to hold me, he'd carried me up to bed.

But he had started to tell me that something about me drew him. I didn't try to. In fact, I didn't want a boyfriend. Why, when they were all the same?

I uncovered myself and then realized the last thing I remembered was his embrace and then waking up. He must have gone to his room. This was wonderful. And what would Adrianna think of me? Oh well, nothing I could change now. It was already done.

I got up and opened my suitcase that was on the floor by the bed. I needed a shower. I'd have to go ask Adrianna if I could use hers again.

I laid my clothes on the bed, a black pair of pants with white faded parts; they were what you'd call destroyed jeans, and a white, sleeveless tight shirt.

I walked out in the hall, and looked around for Jack. Not seeing him, I headed for the stairs. Maybe I would be able to avoid him until breakfast. That might give me enough time to get used to idea that I had sobbed on his shoulder after I knew him a total of a few days. Not that I'd have to work very hard at it, he'd probably be avoiding me too.

"Don't think you're getting away me that easily." There was a smile in his voice.

I couldn't help from smiling as I turned around.

Wow. What a mistake.

His blondish brown hair was wet from his shower, and hanging in his face. His face glowed and his icy blue eyes were shining and looking at me in a way that made me shaky. He was leaning comfortably against his doorjamb, his hands in his jeans pockets. They were destroyed black, and he had on another one of his black sleeveless shirts that showed off the muscles in his arms. Catching me staring, he grinned and showed off his dimples and straight white teeth.

"Enjoying yourself?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I raised my chin and decided to try to lie to him.

"No I'm not. You happen to be repulsive to look at."

I knew that that statement would give me away, but I might as well say it.

"Oh, really?"

He walked over and came closer to me.

"And are you lying to me, or telling me the truth?"

He stared me in the eyes; I could hardly keep my concentration. He saw this and laughed softly while continuing to stare.

"I'm telling the truth." I said trying to make my voice defiant, but must not have worked because in my own ears it sounded soft.

"And I'm telling the truth when I say that you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life."

He was trying to catch me in his web of charm. And it was working. This time my eyebrow raised.

"Really?"

"Yep."

There was silence. I could've stared into his blue eyes all day.

"Jack, Rose, breakfast is ready!" Adrianna called up to us.

He smiled softly again and offered me his arm. I looked down and took it, and then we walked down the stairs. He glanced over at me.

"Your hands are cold."

"They're always cold."

"I see you two are getting along fine."

Adrianna commented as she seen us come into the foyer. She then retreated to the kitchen.

"Yep, she's already tried to get away from me too." Jack commented.

I squeezed his arm and looked at him, and he stared at me again. I pleaded with my eyes and told him not to tell her about last night.

He must have gotten my message because he grinned and nodded. He had to have seen the relief in my eyes.

"I won't tell her," I felt his warm breath on my ear as he whispered.

I turned and realized that his face was close.

"Thanks. I want to tell you about it later."

"Only if you want to, Rose. Don't feel like you have to tell me anything. I'll understand. We all have things we want to be kept secret."

I saw something flicker in his eyes, something similar to devastation and extreme sadness. Something had happened to him.

"I know. But I want you to know. I've had the dream twice, and it's not going to go away without me telling someone about who I am."

"Okay."

"I'll be here for you too, Jack."

He gave me a look that said misery all over it.

"Thank you. It might be awhile before I can tell you anything."

"That's okay."

He looked away and I could tell he was thinking. The muscle in his jaw worked and he blinked a couple times. He was trying not to cry. My heart broke and I slowly wrapped my arm around him gently, trying to catch his eye. He wouldn't look me in the eyes, only at my shoulder. He rested his hands on my waist, and blinked some more.

I brought my hands up to his face, "Jack, it's okay to cry."

He shook his head and finally looked in my eyes.

"Not now. I'll have to tell you later."

"Only if you want to."

"I have to. I've been keeping it in for 5 years, Rose I need to tell someone."

His hands tightened, and then let go. I backed away, taking his cue. Whenever I got close to him, he always backed away.

There was something that had happened to him that involved someone he loved, I could feel it in his response.

That Afternoon

"Jack, can we go outside so we can talk?"

I asked him softly. He glanced over at me and his eyes filled with understanding.

"If you're more comfortable out there, sure."

He took my hand, trying to comfort me. He could tell I was hurting. I felt as if he knew it was something big that mattered, not just a small thing that many other people acted like it was. He opened the back door for me and held it open as we walked out onto the fresh grass that was still wet with dew. He didn't stop at the back patio; instead he led me to a place far away from the house, back into the woods. He led me on a path leading deep into the woods.

I could tell by the way he glanced back and smiled secretly at me that it was one of his private places he came to, to be by himself. He was bringing me to one of his secret places and he trusted me with it.

He stopped.

"Close your eyes," he whispered into my ear as he stopped behind me and put his hands on my waist gently.

My eyes slipped closed.

"Do you trust me?"

I smiled. Yes, I definitely did. He had earned my trust within the week I had lived with them.

"I trust you."

"Keep walking."

I turned my head towards him in confusion, but kept walking. The pressure of his hands let me to a stop. He came to my side and I felt his hand on the small of my back.

"Open them," he uttered softly.

I opened my eyes immediately, my curiosity getting the best of me.

I gasped, "Jack, it's so beautiful!"

Here, deep in the woods was private place for him. There were no weeds or any stray plants that didn't belong there. There were only exotic and beautiful flowers and bushes. Tons of them scattered in a random but an awesome pattern that made sense to him.

In the middle of it all was a bench that had a plaque on it. The sun shone and glinted off of that gold plaque, and made the flowers stand out as a garden that he had taken meticulous care of.

He was watching my reaction, and smiling secretly at me.

"It's beautiful, Jack. It really is. Is this your-"

"It's a place where I come and think when I need to be by myself."

His rough artistic hands came up and held my face in them, staring caringly into my eyes.

I looked back at him, my excitement now fading into a feeling that left me breathless.

He moved closer to me and there was a tingling where we touched. His hands moved down my shoulders to my waist to bring me even closer to him. He was still staring into my eyes, and his head began to lower toward mine.

There wasn't panic like I felt when Cal kissed or touched me. There was a tenderness that coursed its way through me as I responded to our first kiss.

Everything faded as it grew and he tilted his head to deepen it. My arms wrapped tighter around him, and I leaned against his body feeling weak like I never had before. His hands felt their way down my back and rested on my waist again.

He ended it softly, and we stood there with our eyes closed and arms around each other.

I had never felt anything so moving before in my life. Never had I felt like that when anyone else had kissed me.

I opened my eyes slowly seen he was watching my face with bemusement in his eyes.

"Wow." Was all he whispered then I wove my fingers into his longish hair.

"Maybe we oughta do that again." I blushed and leaned my head to rest on his shoulder.

After a few minutes, he led me to the bench, and pointed to the plaque that was in the middle of it.

My eyes filled with tears at his sentiment. Not many guys had that. He took my into his arms again and buried his face against my neck.

'Dedicated to my wonderful and loving parents. I'll never forget you, I love you forever Mom and Dad. Love always, Jack'