At school the next day everyone was in school colors. When Rosie got there she saw her friends huddled around Nolan's car. She went over and saw Cass trying to cover up a black eye.
"Tell me you didn't break the promise." Rosie said to Nolan
Nolan sighed.
Rosie took some green concealer out of her bag and looked at Cass "You have never covered up bruises and it shows." She said smirking
Cass handed her the sponge she was using. "That's not something that I would think is funny…"
Rosie helped Nolan cover it up. "So what happened?"
"Matt decided to show up at my place for the party and while I didn't want him there he is on the football team and I figured he wouldn't be stupid enough to cause issues with everyone else there." Nolan started
Rosie nodded.
"He told me he had proof. And showed me a picture. Of yes Simon kissing someone and from behind someone who doesn't know you well might believe its you… I told him he was an idiot if he thought I would believe that was you. He said that maybe I wouldn't, but others might." Nolan said.
"No one on the team believed that it was you." Pierce said
"I told him to delete the picture. He laughed and said not a chance. I told him to leave." Nolan continued
"We all told him to leave." Nathan said
Rosie nodded
"He told me that one day he would win you over and I should just move on now. I laughed. He took that quiet offensively. He punched me." Nolan said
"And he called you somethings…" Nathan said
"And it took three of us to keep Noel from ripping his head off." Pierce said
"So you didn't actually touch him?" Rosie asked
"No." Nolan said "Because of these guys"
"And he showed up at your house to cause problems. Not giving you much of a choice." Rosie said
Nolan nodded abit flinching abit when she dapped at a particularly sensitive spot on his eye
"Sorry." She said "Than you can say you didn't break any promise. Wasn't your fault." Rosie said finishing up. "I'm not upset with you."
"Don't think I have ever seen Noel as angry as he was." Pierce said
"He disrespected my girl for the -last -time." Nolan said
Rosie shook her head. "What happened with Matt?"
"Parents called the police. Charges has been pressed." Nolan said
"Okay good." Rosie said
"Team is down. One of our best players…" Nolan said. "I wish I could have just punched him, and we move on."
"We have alternates who are pretty good. If we cant win without Matt that's pretty sad." Pierce said
"Yeah. Don't worry Captain. We will still kick ass." Nathan said
Nolan smiled
"School knows what happened?" Rosie asked
"Yes." Nolan said. "I have a meeting with the councillor to make sure I'm okay."
"I'll go with you and wait outside the office." Rosie said
"You don't have to." Nolan said
"I know. I want to." Rosie said with a smile.
Rosie went with him.
Nolan went in and had the meeting. While she was waiting Simon came up to her.
"Hey." She said
"Hi. So. I didn't know that picture was taken. And I never told anyone it was you. I don't know why Matt thought it would fool anyone who knows you." Simon said
"Its not your fault." Rosie "So. Do you have a girlfriend?" Rosie asked
"No. That was from a few months ago. Was just a random girl I went on one date with." Simon said
Rosie nodded. "You interested in going on a date with someone?" Rosie asked
Simon tilted his head.
"I have a friend. She is going to kick my ass for telling you this. She thinks your hot." Rosie said
Simon chuckled. "Oh really? Who?"
"Abby she's in the eleventh grade. Cheerleader. Red head." Rosie said
"I know who she is." Simon said with a smile.
Rosie tilted her head.
"She has red hair. I don't miss red heads." He said
Rosie smirked. "Ah. So you have a type. And she fits in that."
"I'll make sure to talk to her. Get to know her." Simon said
Rosie smiled. "Okay. My work is done." She let out a breath. "Any chance that you have that picture on your phone?"
Simon took out his phone and showed her.
"Yeah. I could see how someone might think it was me." Rosie said
"Not me. I know you better than that." Nolan said from behind.
"I seriously hope so." Rosie said
He whispered in her ear "Your ass is much nicer."
Rosie's smacked his arm.
Nolan chuckled.
She looked at Simon. "You better hope you have a captain when I'm done with him."
Simon chuckled. "Good luck Noel." He said before walking away
"Come on. It was a complement." Nolan said
"Is my ass the only way you could tell that girl wasn't me?" Rosie asked
"No! Definitely not the only way." Nolan said
"Okay." Rosie said. "What did the councillor say?"
"Just made sure I was okay." Nolan said
"Oh. And what exactly did Matt say about me?" Rosie asked
The warning bell rang. "Class time."
"Nolan." Rosie said
He kissed her and went towards his class. Rosie sighed and went towards hers on the other end of the school.
At lunch she sat down at the lunch table.
Tyson was the only one at the table so far.
"You okay?" He asked
"I'm ignoring the looks and whispers." Rosie said
Tyson nodded. "Your friends know its not you."
"How do you know? How can you tell?" Rosie asked
"Your about four inches shorter." Tyson said
Rosie chuckled. "Okay. Thank you. Do you know what Matt said about me?"
"I do. But I have been swore to secrecy." Tyson said
Rosie narrowed her eyes.
"Yeah that might work on Noel. But wont work on me." Tyson said with a chuckle
Nolan said down and saw the look.
"What did you do to incur that rath?" Nolan asked
"Wont tell her what Matt said." Tyson told him
"Rose. Come on. Leave him alone." Nolan said
Rosie looked at Nolan. "Than you tell me."
Cass sat down. "Tell you what?"
"What Matt said." Rosie told her
"You can tell her, or I will." Cass said
"How do you know?" Nolan asked
Cass smirked. "I know all."
"Cass. You know why I wouldn't want to tell her." Nolan said
"You don't trust her to handle it?" Cass asked
"That's not it." Nolan said
"You know I wasn't going to tell you about what happened yesterday, but I did because you had the right to know." Rosie said
"That's not why Rose." Nolan said.
"He commented on my weight again right?" Rosie asked
"Rose…" Nolan said
Rosie got up and left the table.
"Noel. If you cant trust your girlfriend there is problems." Cass said getting up and going after her. Nolan got up too to go after Rosie.
They saw her go into the bathroom.
Cass went in after her. Found her looking at herself in the mirror.
"Nope." Cass said turning her away. "You are perfect that way you are."
Rosie sighed. "What did he say?"
"He said that you were an overweight cow and didn't know how you got into so many guys pants…" Cass said
"So. Fat and a whore." Rosie said
"Have you had sex with anyone?" Cass asked
"No." Rosie said, "You would know if Noel and I had, and you know I would never cheat."
"Okay so that is a lie right?" Cass said
"Obviously." Rosie said
"And do you honestly think you are even the slightest over weight?" Cass asked
Rosie sighed and shook her head.
"And if ever of those facts were even true. Would that be a bad thing? If you were over weight or were having sex with whomever you wanted to. If you were single." Cass said
"Well no." Rosie said
"So. Fuck Matt and his stupid words. And do -not let him cause you and Nolan to break up. Or he will win." Cass said.
Rosie sighed. "You're right."
The two of them left the bathroom.
Nolan was waiting outside
"She was looking in the mirror having self confidence issues." Cass said before she walked away.
Nolan took her and found an empty room he put his hands on Rosie's arms. "Look at me."
Rosie looked at him.
"You are perfect. Perfect." Nolan said
Rosie looked down.
"We are not leaving this room till you say it and believe it." Nolan said
"Oh come on." Rosie said
"Rose. I am dead serious." Nolan said. She had never heard him quiet so serious.
"Noel…." Rosie said
"Say it." Nolan said "Or I call your dad."
"You wouldn't…" Rosie said
"I will. You are doing so well. And you told me you were not going to let Matt's words affect you anymore. And you don't even know what he said…" Nolan said
"Cass told me." Rosie said
"Okay. Well still." Nolan said
Rosie took a breath. "I am perfect."
"Like you mean it." Nolan said
"I am perfect." She said again a little more convincingly.
"One more time." Nolan said
"I am perfect." She said sounding sure of herself.
Nolan smiled. "Good. Now if we need to have this conversation again I will make you write it a hundred times."
Rosie chuckled
"I promise you I will make you." Nolan said with a small smile
"Okay. Okay. I get it." Rosie said
Nolan kissed her cheek. "Come on. Back to the table and finish your lunch."
Rosie went with him and sat back down the whole group was there. Everyone finished eating.
The guys on the football team got up.
"We have to head to the change room and get ready." Nolan said
"Good luck." Everyone said.
Slowly the lunch room emptied of all the football players and cheerleaders. Rosie got up.
"I have to go grab some stuff from photography. I need to get pictures." Rosie said
"So you have to take photos and report on the game?" Taylor asked
"Yes." Rosie said. "I'll be fine. I have help."
Rosie left and slowly everyone headed to classes to check in before going to the bleachers and getting settled. Student, parents, family, and some other people from around the area gathered to watch the game.
The cheerleaders were cheering. Rosie had camera's set up to take pictures. She looked annoyed and overwhelmed.
Hunter had come to the game to support his kids school and noticed Rosie looked over whelmed. He went over to her. "Hey sweet pea. You okay?"
"I'm doing this alone. I'm supposed to have help, but I don't know where the girl who is supposed to be helping me is." Rosie said
"What does the person helping have to do?" Hunter asked
"Just take pictures. At this point. I cant work the three cameras alone. And write down details I need to know for my report." Rosie said
Hunter looked around till he found his other daughter in the crowd and waved her over.
Hayley came down. "Hey Papa."
"Rosie's co photographer didn't show up. Can you help her? Just take pictures." Hunter said
"I can try. But I don't think I'll be very good…" Hayley said
"As long as you can get clear photos it really wont matter. We will be taking 100s of pictures. As long as we get enough good photos to fill up the page in the year book. But I'm expected to have a lot of photos to choose from. And I was supposed to have help." Rosie said
"Okay." Hayley said with a smile.
Hunter kissed both there heads.
"PAPA!" they both said
Hunter chuckled and went and found a seat.
Dave joined him a few minutes later.
"How did you get away?" Hunter asked
"Easy. Told my boss I needed to support my kids school and future son in law, and he told me to go." Dave said
"Calling him your future son in law?" Hunter asked
"Sorry ours." Dave said with a smile
Hunter smiled and nodded "Just surprised you are thinking about our daughter getting married"
"I hope they wait till they are done university but I'm not naïve. Its going to happen." Dave said
Hunter nodded.
The game started and it was a good game. It was a close score
And in the end they won.
The crowd erupted in cheering when the buzzer rang. People running into the field
Rosie made sure to get pictures of that.
Hayley looked at her. "Go. Congratulate your boyfriend."
"I am in charge of this equipment. I cant leave it." Rosie said
"Trust me." Hayley said with a smile
"I do. Its just." Rosie said. "I'm sure the photography teacher is around here and if he sees it. He will be pissed."
The photography teacher popped into her view. "Go. I'll watch it. Do you know where your co photographer is?" He asked
Rosie shook her head before she ran into the crowd and pushed through to the Captain. "Congrats!" she said
Nolan wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply lifting her off the ground.
Slowly the team made it through the crowd. Rosie went back to the camera equipment.
"Thank you Mr. Burch." Rosie said
"Not a problem. You should have found me. I would have helped." He said
"I couldn't find you in the crowd. I tried." Rosie said. "I hope it's not a problem I had someone out of the club help."
"Nope. Not a problem. You were put in a tight spot and she's your sister." He said
Rosie smiled and nodded and the two of them took all the equipment down. "I have to get to the locker room to wait to do interviews…" Rosie said
"You taking on to much Miss Rossi?" He asked
"Probably. Wont do it again." Rosie said
"Go. I'll get another student to help me." He said
"Thank you." Rosie said
"No problem." He said
Rosie went to the locker room and waited. As people came out she interviewed them. Getting a quote from each player. Last out was Nolan.
Rosie smiled. "Well Captain. What do you have to say about the game?" she asked holding up the recorder to tell him it was recording.
Nolan smiled. "That I'm glad that the team that was assembled this year was able to bring us this final win even with a member of our main team having to be switched out."
"What about next years Captain?" Rosie asked
"Well I have been told that since I will still be here next year and that I brought us the win that I will be Captain for a second year." Nolan said
"The last time the Captain was a junior that wasn't the case was it?" Rosie asked
"Apparently not." Nolan said with a smile
Rosie smiled. "Congrats Captain on the win and the second year of being Captain."
"Thank you." He said. She turned off the recorder and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"I am so proud of you." Rosie said
"Thanks." He said
Rosie noticed a gentleman coming towards them from down the hall and could tell he was a scout. She took the concealer out of her pocket and put some on his eye. It was showing abit
"There is a scout coming this way. Just being sure." Rosie said. She made sure it was blended in well.
Nolan smiled. "God I'd be so lost with out you."
"You'd figure it out." Rosie said with a smile.
"Sorry to interrupt." The gentleman said
"Nope. Not an interruption." Rosie said before she walked away leaving them to talk.
She went and found her parents and sister.
"You get everything done?" Dave asked
"Yes." Rosie said. "By the skin of my teeth." She looked at Hayley. "I owe you big time."
Hayley shrugged. "Its what sisters do."
Rosie hugged her. Hayley hugged back.
"What happened to Noel's eye?" Hayley asked
"Ah. Yeah you weren't there for that conversation." Rosie said. "He got punched in the eye."
"By whom?" Dave asked
Rosie let out a sigh. "I will tell you but I'm not answering follow up questions."
"Okay." Dave said
"Matthew Black." Rosie said
Dave shook his head.
"Is that why he wasn't playing today?" Hayley asked
"No follow up questions." Rosie said
"You noticed that Matt wasn't playing?" Hunter asked
"Um. Well. Yeah…." Hayley said
Rosie let out a breath. "There is an after party for the football team. I have been invited as the girlfriend of a player. Can I go?"
"Where is it?" Dave asked
"One of the players house." Rosie said
"Parents there?" Hunter asked
"Not sure…" Rosie said "But I'd guess no."
Dave and Hunter looked at each other.
"If they aren't and there are drugs or alcohol I wont take part promise." Rosie said
"Alright." Dave said "If for some reason. You can not drive. Please call us."
"If for some stupid reason I decide to drink or do drugs I wont drive." Rosie said
"Okay." Hunter said "Good."
"Go. Be back by midnight." Dave said
Rosie hugged both her parents and her sister and went and found Nolan again.
He smiled at her. "You coming to the party?"
"Yes." Rosie said with a smile. "How did things go with the scout?"
"Oh. He figured I was a senior as I'm Captain. And was ready to offer me a full ride scholarship. He said he will have his eye on me next year and if I play as well than likely will still have that offer." Nolan said
"What school?" Rosie asked
"Harvard." Nolan said with a big smile.
Rosie squeed and hugged him "So fucking proud of you."
Nolan chuckled and hugged her. "Thanks. But come on. Lets go celebrate."
The two of them went to the party.
They had a lot of fun. No parents were not there and yes there was alcohol and drugs but neither Nolan nor Rosie partook in it.
Rosie ended up getting home just after midnight. The only lights on where the front light and her dad's office.
She went inside and went to the office. "Hi. Sorry. There was some accident on the way home slowed me down abit."
Dave looked at the time and nodded. "Only fifteen minutes late not a big deal."
Rosie nodded.
"Were parents there?" Dave asked
"No." Rosie said
"Guessing alcohol and drugs?" Dave asked
"Yes. But I promised. And I kept that promise. Nolan didn't partake either." Rosie said
Dave smiled "Okay. Proud of you."
"Not a hard thing to do. I have had enough drama in my life. Don't need to be stupid and add to it." Rosie said
Dave got up and went over to her and hugged her.
Rosie hugged him
"I'm sorry bambina." Dave said
"Its okay. Builds character right?" Rosie said
Dave let out a small chuckle. "Its late. You should get to bed."
Rosie chuckled. "Yes dad." She said before she went off to go to bed.