Chapter 8
Walking down the halls of school I wanted to talk to Vera without Kareena and Heather acting like guard dogs, stoking the flames of conflict.
I just hoped while I was "camping" with my family, things between us had calmed down enough that we can start talking again. I was hoping she'd be here early but much to my disappointment she hadn't arrived yet and Heather, Kareena and Miranda arrived early so they'd get to her first and if I tried reaching out to Vera it would likely end in a fight, not something I wasn't in the mood for that.
Heading to the lockers, I found SkyWalker and when he saw me he was friendly. We started chatting, telling me what I've missed during my "family's camping trip".
"Well Rose, you haven't missed that much school work wise, the student committee voted in favour of Casino Royals as the prom theme. Oh we've got a date for that biology field trip." Luke said.
Now I wanted to know about Vera. "Hey Luke, how's Vera doing?" I asked him.
His light carefree mood vanished for a moment. "Yeah, she's calmed down after she argumed with Jack."
"What?! When?" I asked him.
Luke said: "While you were gone, Jack kinda tried making peace with Vera, he told her what she did to you was unfair, Vera got upset and said it's confirmation the rumors are true. Jack sai-"
"Wait! What rumors?!! I asked him.
Luke looked at me like what rock have you been under? "Word on the street is Jack planned on going to prom and you being his secret date and that you insist on having no 3rd wheel with you during and after prom."
I was LIVID!!! I was going to lose my best friend because of some stupid rumors! Luke shuddered to my reaction and noticing him do that I exhaled and tried to project calm façade and looked him in the eyes. "I'd never do that to Vera!" I told him.
"I, Heath and Lucy believe that and told Vera to get the facts straight before jumping to conclusions. Jack told her the rumors aren't true and he isn't even sure he's going to prom much less manage to get a date. Vera said that Jack should be man enough and be honest. She asked why you've been avoiding her if you've done nothing wrong and why he continues spending time you."
The implications of what Luke hit like a water bomb to the face. I said: "We're just studying and it's not like we sneaking around alone, we're always in the company of aleast you and 2 others!"
Raising his arms up and dropping them in fustration he said: "I know! Jack told her that! Me and the others told her that too! Then she accused us of turning against her! Jack told her no one's turned against her and nothing is going on. Vera didn't believe him and asked why a slacker like himself suddenly cares about getting good grades when he's happy to coast by.
That's when Jack reached boiling point and said that maybe he'd like to show he's more than just some slacker hanging out with people out of his league but maybe he shouldn't be wasting his time convincing some 3rd wheel a bunch of stupid rumors aren't true. Vera raved and ranted asking him what he meant. Jack said it doesn't matter she can believe whatever she wants and they haven't spoken ever since."
"Wow– it's that bad. I thought things would calm down while I was gone." I replied then asked Luke: "Do you think there's some truth to those rumors?" "Nah! What do you mean?" Luke replied.
"Like is Jack attracted to me? I said looking into his eyes. "Please be honest with me."
Luke looked at me, a bit uncomfortable being put on the spot, thinking how to respond.
"Uhhmm, come on Rose you aren't a beast to look at of course he finds you attractive. He may not show it how much he's upset about this whole mess, and cares for his friends, so he'd never just betray his friends or Vera like that."
I mulling it over I asked: "But does he find me more attractive than just a friend?"
"Ohhh, yeah, yeah, yeah! I mean NAH, you're a hot friend to uu– him." He answered slightly nervously. "Yeah, Rose classes are gonna start. I got to go."
"Oh yeah, thanks for the chat. See you around." I said as getting for classes too. Luke's reply made me skeptical, like he himself wondered if Jack just thought of me as a "hot friend". I needed to be sure he was being truthful about Jack's attraction to me. In order to do that there was someone I needed to help me, it erked to get that person's help provided he even agrees in the 1st place.
And so lessons began, at my classes there were whispers and stares from my classmates who poorly hid I was the subject their gossip.
There was a difference to how female and guy classmates reacted to my presence, the girls stares it ranged from accusation, passive aggressive hostility, scorn to "Oh no she didn't!" to "the nerve of that bitch" look.
For guys it was intrigue, mild amusement, and a bit of frustrated longing, envy. In one the class I shared with Vera she ignored me.
When recess finally arrived, I could hardly wait I to talk to Jack but 1st I needed to get him on board.
Walking out of class I kept my head up high, defiantly going through a gauntlet of stares and whispers and occasionally a few more on the way the to cafeteria, I'd be hanging with the Cullens. We talked about our day for far a back at school.
Looking across the cafeteria hall as I was seated at the Cullen's table, I saw my friend's table, there was clearly a division with a pro Rose camp and an anti Rose camp on sitting different sides of the table ignoring each other, then I caught that Isabella girl staring at us again and caused her to avert her gaze as I stared back at her.
I had more pressing issues than her. I told them about the rumors about me, Vera and Jack.
Then I said: "Well there's where I need your help -Edward, I need to know the truth."
"So you want use me as a lie detector." Edward cooly said.
"If you put like that, then yeah…" I told Edward. Preparing to not allow his refusal.
Sighing Edward exhaled saying to me: "That won't be necessary Rosalie, I'll help you.
This shocked me how easily he agreed, I expected reluctance on his part, him to rebutt me, although glad as Iam to not have to beg, plead, strong arm him.
Something about this seemed off but hell whatever I was just glad to get his cooperation without much hassle.
