Romance in the air
Alec didn't wait long to ask her what she and her other friend had been talking about and he was right, well almost.
"Were you two talking about me?" he dared ask.
"What makes ya think that?" Rose teased him.
"Admit it Rose, you may as well with what John's just been saying. It's okay, I just want to know."
"Well if ya have to ask?" Rose grinned. "Let's get our homework done first, then your new story. I can't wait to find out about it. So am I really in it?"
He could tell she was excited at the prospect.
"Yes Rose, you are really in it and I decided to keep your real name, if that's okay?"
Rose went up to him and threw her arms around his neck.
"Yeah, 'course it's okay. Wow, imagine me being in a story!"
If he'd known what reaction he was going to get, he'd have written one weeks ago and left the bog monster one but she'd got him to re-write his original one. What was she doing to him?
Over the next few weeks, Rose was pleased with the way the story had worked out and she had saved the main character several times in the process, which got Alec another neck hug. They had got bolder and teased each other at school, even though it was cold to sit around on what had become their bench and both John and Alec's dad had noticed.
One Sunday afternoon, Alec had gone to collect Rose to take her back to his aunt's house so his dad took John to one side.
"So, got any nearer with the gym teacher?"
"Nah, even though Rose has been dropping some huge hints, nothing's happened but the school disco's coming up soon, she might be persuaded to dance with me."
"Well good luck with that then," his uncle smiled. "I expect Rose will hog Alec all night? I've caught them laughing a few times, they seem even closer than they were a few weeks ago, did anything change that I missed?"
"Weell," John prolonged the word, "I know Alec made Rose the star of one of his stories and I think he's working on another. There's something about those two though, it's like she came along at the right time because right now, Alec would be moping around and missing his mum at this time of the year."
"I was about to say the same thing," his uncle agreed. "She has done him a lot of good. When his mum died and you were away a lot, he kept to himself and never really said anything. It's a shame Jamie fell out with him over her though."
"Yeah, I thought Jamie would have come round by now, it must be more than that. Alec believes Jamie wanted to ask Rose to be his girlfriend and was using Alec to get to her and it all backfired on him. I was going to ask Rose what she was doing for Christmas, has she mentioned anything about being worried at home lately about it?"
"Not to me," his uncle replied. "She may have spoken to Alec about it. Maybe I should mention it to your mother, since we'll be spending most of the holidays here?"
"I think mum was going to ask Rose today, it's only two weeks away. Alec asked me the other day what he should buy her, he's been saving up," John grinned.
"Then I might give him something extra, to buy her something nice," Alec's dad admitted.
Before Alec had got to Rose's apartment, there had been some discussion about the upcoming holidays and Rose was not pleased they had failed to tell her something. Once in the kitchen, Rose let her disappointment be known.
"So you're having a party here on Christmas Eve and you want me to be here? I was hoping to go to Alec's aunts."
"Rose, ya heard what Bob said, please don't argue with him sweetheart. It could have been worse, he could have banned you from going out at all, he said with Boxing Day being on Sunday, ya could still go out for a few hours after lunch."
Rose knew the reason for that, he'd still have a hangover. She was thankful he'd given in and put a proper lock on her door but had insisted on two keys but had got him to give the spare to her mother. She knew though that if he demanded, her mother would have to hand it to him. Alec and his dad had been relieved when she'd told them but it still didn't stop them from worrying about her.
So Rose thought she'd just have to think of a way of sneaking out on Christmas Eve to be with Alec, who had mentioned his aunt would be having a party and thought he'd drop a few hints to her about it. She felt like part of his family and she'd been happy enough last year when she'd been back in London but Alec was now making it more bearable for her.
Before Alec had left to go get Rose though, John had taken him to one side.
"Anything you want to tell me?" John had grinned at him.
"Should there be?" Alec asked.
"Neither of you are bothered about school, just why is no-one taking any notice of the two of you?"
"Maybe they got used to us?" Alec suggested.
"Come on, it's more than that and you know it," John replied. "Did she get that lock on her room door?"
"Yes, she told me she had, I hope she's not just saying that though. I'm still worried about her over the holidays, do you think my aunt may let Rose come round some of the time?"
John reached over and tried to ruffle Alec's hair but Alec stopped him.
"I'm getting a bit too old for that," Alec reminded John.
"Sorry Cous but you really should style it differently if you don't want me to ruffle it," John laughed. "You're not keeping it like that so Rose can ruffle it instead?" he teased.
He could tell that was exactly why Alec was so reluctant to have anything other than a trim at the barber's shop.
"Rose may like it like this," Alec had to admit.
"Aw, best not change it without her approval then eh?"
"Well I'm off to collect her. If she mentions the holidays, I hope my aunt agrees."
"I think she was going to ask but she wasn't sure Rose would be allowed. Has she had any trouble lately?"
"I would have told you if she had John," Alec reminded him. "She did mention Bob had got two keys for the lock but I think Rose persuaded him to give the other key to her mother."
"Let's hope it stays that way then?" John asked.
Alec hoped so too as he set off to call for Rose. He'd been surprised no-one at school had even teased them that they were spending all their time together, it was like they were taking no notice well maybe except for Jamie, who was still avoiding them. He knew it should bother him but it wasn't but the test was yet to come. Would Rose make up for his mother not being here this year?
Up until he'd met Rose, he'd missed his mother so much but Rose had taken some of the sadness away by being there every evening after school, just like his mother would have been. While he'd not actually read any of his stories out loud to his mother like he'd done with Rose, she had at least asked him what his latest one was about and if it was still based on his eldest cousin.
Now though, he was basing them on himself and Rose and Rose seemed to love them. He rang the buzzer for Rose's apartment and waited for the door to be released once he'd said who it was. Rose was waiting with the door open.
"Hi, I'm all ready to go," she greeted him.
He noticed something was wrong though.
"Out with it Rose," he told her as they left.
"Bob wants me to stay in for a party on Christmas Eve, with all his rowdy friends."
"Sorry. See if you can get out of it, my aunt may be going to ask you to go round. What about Boxing Day though?"
"It's on a Sunday, I can still go out though I don't know why he agreed to it."
"Just be thankful he did," Alec replied as they walked arm in arm to his aunt's house.
John let them in, noticing they were still attached to each other and didn't seem all that bothered about it.
"Hello Rose, escaped again?"
"Geez, it feels like it," Rose grinned as she let go of Alec's arm. "Are ya having a party on Christmas Eve? I need rescuing."
"Ask Alec's aunt," John replied. "Having one at your place?"
"Yeah with Bob's annoying friends worse luck and to get out of any complaints, I think he's invited some of the neighbours. I swear I'm gonna lock myself in my room all night."
"Aw, poor you," John laughed. "So aren't you allowed out?"
"Nope, I have to be there, probably to serve party food or something equally stupid. I don't mind baking a few things but I object to being a serving girl for his mates. He expects me to be there yet he says I'm allowed out on Boxing Day. Sometimes I just don't get him."
Just then, Alec's aunt came into the kitchen.
"There you are Rose. Before you disappear with Alec, we want you to come to our Christmas party, on Christmas Eve, that's if you want to?"
"We were just discussing that," John told her. "Seems Rose has a bit of a problem, she's expected to stay in for a party they're having."
"Oh, that's a shame dearie. Can you not get out of it?"
Rose considered it. "Watch me, I'll get out of it somehow. Thanks Mrs Smith."
"You're welcome Rose and I hope you're still allowed out on Boxing Day?"
"Yeah, I was just saying it was funny I was allowed out for one and not the other. Bob keeps giving me a lecture on doing things as a family. I hope he's not planning anything for the new year though."
"I'm sure you're worrying about nothing," John tried to tell her, his mother agreeing.
"Well if they plan on going out, they needn't expect me to go with them."
"Oh don't worry Rose, you're welcome to come around here, at least until midnight and John will see you home both times with Alec."
Rose went to sit at the table and put her head in her hands, Alec's aunt going behind her and putting her hand on Rose's shoulder.
"What's the matter Rose?" she asked, seeing Alec wanted to comfort his friend as he went to sit beside her.
"You're all so good to me since I've known you. I didn't want to move here and I'm gonna miss all my old friends this year but you all make up for it."
"Well Rose, I know I can speak for all of us but you made a difference to Alec as well, didn't she Alec?" his aunt asked him.
"Yes Rose, you've got no idea. I still miss my mum but you make up for her not being here. I never thought about it before but I think she's watching over me and made sure I met you so I wouldn't be sad all the time."
Rose looked up, John and his mother backing away.
"You never said anything Alec," Rose told him.
"I was going to, John just reminded me. I mean I still do miss her but it's not as bad as before I met you. I think I'm right about it."
"Alec, you make being here not as bad as it would have been. I miss my friends but I've got you."
She leaned over and kissed his cheek, making him blush. He wondered what had come over her but he should have known really, now she was hugging his neck all the time.
"Sorry," Rose also blushed as she realized.
"Don't be sorry Rose, everyone thinks you're my girlfriend. We never really talked about it, did we?"
"I thought we'd decided we were too young?" Rose replied.
"Well you've been hugging me a lot lately, you don't mind being seen holding my hand or my arm and you just kissed my cheek," Alec smiled. "Maybe now, we're not too young?"
"Ya think so?" Rose asked, about to back away. "Then Christmas Eve, if I can get out, we'll decide. What do ya think?"
"Okay, we'll do that then? So if anyone asks us, we don't deny it?"
"Well I think that's what ya do," Rose smiled. "I've not had a boyfriend before. Maybe you should get a few tips from John? Will your other cousin be coming home?"
"I hope so, I've not seen him for ages. He's as bad as John used to be but at least now I know where he was some of the time. Peter's been away longer than John was, well it seems so. We are going to the school disco?"
"Well yeah, then everyone will know, won't they? Maybe we'll just have to admit it a bit earlier then?"
"I think so," Alec had to agree. "Really though Rose, I meant it, you've made a big difference, being my friend."
"You'd have still had Jamie, had I not come along," Rose reminded him.
"Maybe so but he's not a girl, is he?" Alec teased her. "He wouldn't be holding my hand or hugging me."
Rose started laughing and nudged him.
"Well I hope not."
"Stop it Rose," Alec tried to be serious but let out a laugh at what she was getting at.
John heard them both laughing as he read his dad's paper.
"They sound cheerful," his mother remarked as Alec's dad and his uncle were playing chess on the dining table.
"Well I think they've just admitted they're girlfriend and boyfriend," John suggested. "Now Rose will be more determined to come round on Christmas Eve but we should still be worried for her."
"That goes without saying," Alec's dad agreed as he made a move on the chess board.
"Well she seems a whole lot happier lately," John's mother told them.
"They're not bothered about being seen together anyway," John agreed. "Still, I wonder why she's not allowed out on Christmas Eve but allowed on Boxing Day?"
When Rose had gone off with Alec, Bob was reminding Jackie of a few things.
"Well Jackie?" he was asking her. "I said she could still go out on Boxing Day even though I would prefer for her to stay in, that's what families do."
"Yeah, I know that Bob but she never stayed in over the holidays much, I mean we both used to go to friends or relatives or they'd come over. Rose had a lot of friends back home."
"Jackie, need I remind you this is now your home?"
"No Bob, I was just saying."
"Well, just remember. You know why I want her to be here for the party, not everyone's met her yet, they're looking forward to it and I don't want her disappearing."
"You're gonna stick to our agreement, aren't ya?" Jackie asked him.
"Yes, you know that Jackie, I said I would wait but just remember, when it gets nearer the time, you'd better not try to put it off."
"But Bob, wouldn't it be better to wait a bit longer? I'm not sure even at fourteen? We won't have been living here for even a year then," she reminded him.
"You think that matters?" Bob asked her. "I'll think about it but you'd better not be trying to back out Jackie."
"No, 'course not Bob, it's just she needs time, that's all. I know you're only trying to make her feel like we're a family."
"Well she needs a few reminders, like being here when we have a party. Have ya told her about New Year's Eve yet though?"
"No Bob, I thought you would? I mean I know she can't go and that it's adults only at the pub. Maybe ya can let her go to her friends though? I mean leaving her in on her own?"
"I'll think about it Jackie but she's spending a lot of time with him."
"Maybe that's a good thing, yeah?" Jackie wondered.
Bob let out a smile, something rare for him Jackie thought.
"You may be right Jackie, having a boy as a friend? It just may be the thing she needs but not spending all her time with him. She has to see her own family comes first for my plan to work but just maybe this boy she's friends with will get her used to the idea?"
Jackie sat back, she knew Bob was only concerned for Rose, that he did want them to be a real family but why would Rose having a friend who was a boy spoil his plans one minute and help them the next?
Back at Alec's aunt's, Rose had persuaded Alec to go for a walk before it got dark and they went to the park, going to the playground and Rose sat on a swing, Alec pushing her.
"We'll get told off soon," Alec reminded her of the notice on a post for under thirteen's only.
"There's no-one around Alec," Rose called back as he pushed her away again.
He stopped pushing and got on the one next to her, Rose trying to slow down. He grabbed hold of the chain to try to stop her, the swing wobbling slightly. She stopped and was about to lean over to kiss his cheek again but he wasn't ready to be seen in public, not that anyone was near the playground but he was playing it safe.
"Aw, scared someone will come along?" Rose teased him.
"No," he lied. "It's just you only just started doing it today."
"Well I can get some more tips from Sandra," she giggled.
"That's not going to help Rose," he replied as he pushed the swing back, Rose going to do the same.
He was dreading what she'd come up with next. The kiss on the cheek had come as a surprise or had he been half expecting her to start doing something else after she'd started hugging his neck? He definitely needed some more advice from John as to what to expect but it had been a while since John had a girlfriend and he was having no luck with the girl's gym teacher so far.
"Come on Rose, we should be going," he announced, getting off the swing. "Just one thing. When it's the school disco, no cheek kissing."
Rose thought that was a bit unfair, since she'd taken a liking to it.
"Ya think anyone will notice?"
"Maybe, just because no-one's noticed so far but we'll be dancing all night."
"Hey, that can be our first real date Alec, what ya think?" she teased him as he walked her to his aunt's.
He thought now he was in real trouble. He'd never even thought about going out on 'dates' though he should have really expected it. When he finally walked her home, Rose kissing his cheek again, he thought he was just going to have to get used to it, she wasn't likely to stop but the disco being their first date?
"Bye Rose, see you in the morning?"
"Yeah. Alec, do ya want me to stop kissing your cheek?"
"What? I didn't say that Rose. Just try to limit them maybe?"
Rose just giggled. "Yeah, okay, I'll see if I can restrain myself?"
As he watched her go inside, he knew she wouldn't try too hard.
John let him back into his aunt's house and asked if something was wrong.
"No, not unless Rose saying the school disco can be our first date counts," Alec told him.
His cousin just burst out laughing.
"Sorry. So have you two decided if you're going as girlfriend and boyfriend properly then?"
"We must be, if she thinks it's our first date. What do I do John? I mean I know I'm supposed to call for her and escort her there."
"Ah, it's the English version of taking a date to the school prom. Don't worry about it Alec, just call at the shop on your way there or the night before and get her a box of chocolates or some flowers, then ask her if you can escort her to the disco. I'll pick you both up, don't worry about getting there and back."
"Are you going to try and ask Miss Evans to dance?"
"Well that was the idea, she can only turn me down," John smiled. "At least Rose is willing to go with you."
Alec already knew that but this was going to be the real thing. Everyone would see them dancing together as opposed to just hanging around in the playground and there were bound to be a few slow tunes but they danced most nights at his house to a few of the faster ones Rose seemed to like, would it be any different except almost the whole school seeing them?
"What about after the disco? " Alec asked worriedly.
"Ah, you have to see her home, tell her you had a nice time and ask her if she'd enjoyed herself and then kiss her cheek. Oh and don't forget when you pick her up to tell her she looks nice, will you?"
Alec wondered how he was going to remember all that and not make a fool of himself. Yes, they were most definitely getting to the girlfriend/boyfriend stage of their friendship and after the disco, if all went well, there would be no going back.
