Rose felt all giddy, like her head was spinning.
"Sorry," Alec apologized, looking at his feet, trying to steady Rose.
"Don't be sorry," Rose smiled. "I felt like I was doing back flips. You'd best go back in there, before someone comes looking for us and I have to go soon, before Bob catches me sneaking back in."
"Yeah, sure Rose. It was 'erm, nice."
He knew they had been building up to this for a while, especially after the disco a few weeks ago. He'd bought her a nice toiletries set, he'd given in and gone into a store and asked what he should buy a teenage girl as a present and the older assistant had smile sympathetically at him and pointed him in the right direction.
"Yeah, it was kinda nice," Rose had to admit. "I was wondering what it would be like. I'd best go."
"Sorry, I'll see you back in there," he pointed to the sitting room door they had just come from.
He almost collided with his other cousin Katie.
"Is the bathroom free?" she grinned at him as he was on his own.
"Rose is up there," he admitted.
"Aw, my little cousin's gone all red," she teased him. "I bet she's just gone up there?"
"What makes you think that?" he asked, hoping he wasn't a bright shade of red.
"Even I don't take that long. So, is Rose your girlfriend then? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
He had visions of her going back in and shouting it out loud that he had a girlfriend.
Just then, the door opened, it was John.
"Having your own party out here?" he laughed. "Where's Rose?"
Alec pointed up the stairs, hearing a door closing.
"Ah, well we should be setting off soon, we don't want Rose to be in trouble, do we?" John asked him.
"Why would she be in trouble?" Katie wanted to know.
"Rose and her mother live with this bloke who's a bit strict, she sneaked out tonight," John told her.
"Oh. Poor Rose. Isn't she allowed out?"
"Well yes but there was a party there and she was supposed to be at it. Seems she preferred to be here, didn't she Alec?"
"I'd rather be anywhere than where my mum's having a party," Rose joined in. "Are you all waiting for the bathroom?"
"No, I came out to see where you'd all disappeared to," John laughed.
"I came out because I bet anything these two were under the mistletoe," Katie told him.
"Ha, I bet they were as well," John laughed. "Don't deny it."
"Geez, can't I even go out to the bathroom now?" Rose objected.
"Ah, well, that depends what else you were doing," John teased her. "Shall we leave, in case you didn't get chance earlier? I mean to kiss under the mistletoe?"
"We should be taking Rose home," Alec reminded him, thinking there was no way Rose would now go anywhere near it and that was their first and last kiss.
"Yes, maybe we should? Get your coats then," John replied, not that he was going to let this drop, it was too good.
They got their coats and Rose went back in to say goodnight to everyone.
"See you on Boxing Day," Alec's aunt hugged her.
"Yeah, if I don't get caught going back in. Sorry I can't stay any longer."
"Well we're just glad you were able to come tonight," she was assured. "You'll be able to stay longer for the new year celebrations?"
"Yeah, they're going out. Thanks for inviting me Mrs Smith."
"You're most welcome and why don't you call me auntie Mary?"
"Thanks, I'd like that. Night then and happy Christmas."
"To you too Rose, go on and don't get caught," she replied.
John let Rose and Alec walk behind him as they stepped out in the cold night air, Rose grabbing Alec's arm to try to keep warm as it had dropped a few degrees.
"I really hope you don't get caught Rose," Alec was telling her.
"Ah, I'm an expert at creeping in and out, don't worry about me," Rose joked.
She might have been confident outwardly but inside, she was dreading coming face to face with Bob, even if her mother had said she'd stick up for her. Would her mother back down though and deny it?
"I hope you enjoyed yourself tonight," Alec asked her, not knowing what to say after the brief kiss they had shared.
"Yeah, better than being on my own in my room or at their boring party, Bob's mates getting drunk. I'll have to use the stairs when I get back, in case anyone leaves early. I wish I could have stayed a bit longer though."
"Yeah, I know Rose. You can make up for it next time. Do you want to talk about that kiss?"
"Do you? What's to say? We both wanted to, well I did."
"So did I. I wasn't sure though, that you were ready."
"Maybe we'll get another chance on Boxing Day?"
"I hope so but Rose, do we need the mistletoe being there?"
"Alec, I thought we were going to wait, I mean about you being my boyfriend and me being your girlfriend?"
"We can, if that's what you want?" Alec asked as they turned her street corner. "You want to wait, until we're both fourteen?"
"I don't know Alec, do you?" she asked as John had stopped just ahead of them.
"Night then Rose, see you on Boxing Day?" Alec asked her as he walked her to the door, John seeing them pass him and smiling to himself.
He'd thought Alec would get her under the strategically placed mistletoe sooner or later and if he'd not, he wanted to know why.
"You mean tomorrow?" Rose smiled, hearing a clock chime it was midnight in the distance.
"Yes. Don't get caught Rose, please?" he asked worriedly.
"I'll be fine, I'll just say I went out to get some fresh air, he can't prove I've been anywhere else. My mum knows all my old tricks, trust me and she'll back me up. She said she'd tell him she gave me permission, she doesn't have to do everything he says. Mind you, sometimes I wonder what he has over her, leaving all the decisions to him," Rose mused.
"I'd best go, it's really cold out here. Night Rose."
He stepped closer and kissed her cold cheek but Rose turned slightly and caught the side of his mouth. He knew that was it now, the cheek kissing would be reserved for sneaking the odd one or two when they were out or in the school playground. No-one may have noticed them but they would if it were to progress and it had been a miracle so far no-one had tormented them over it.
He watched Rose go inside, praying she wouldn't bump into anyone leaving the party, goodness knew what sort of state they would be in and if they didn't know her, she may get hassled. John saw his reluctance to leave as Alec glanced back.
"What are you so worried about?" John asked him.
"Rose, getting back inside safely," Alec replied, seeing she'd disappeared.
"Relax Cous, anyone coming from the party will take the lift, they won't be in a fit state to take the stairs, trust me. So, did you make use of what I put up in the hallway then?" he laughed.
Alec didn't want to admit it but he knew why it had been put there, his cousin Peter and his girlfriend didn't need it, judging by what he'd seen earlier.
"Come on, let's get you back then I'll give you and your dad a ride home. We could have taken the car to see Rose home but I figured you two wanted to talk, about any kisses you may or may not have shared?"
Alec knew they'd just been seen in the doorway.
Rose reached their floor, standing by the door before opening it. Maybe if she heard the sound of voices and guests were waiting for the lift, she could sneak out while they were getting in? Well that was half a plan she supposed. That would mean more people were gathering in the hallway getting ready to leave though?
Maybe she could use that to her advantage, they'd all be too busy talking to notice her and the door would be opening, she could sneak by, the bathroom was the nearest door, she could dart in there until the coast was clear or into the kitchen, saying she was just getting a drink.
While she waited, thinking that was her best option rather than risk opening the door herself and coming face to face with her mother or worse still, Bob, she thought back to the short kiss she'd shared with Alec. It had been nice, he'd felt warm and had wanted to kiss her back, which had been a good sign otherwise he would have asked her what the hell she was doing and walked off.
She should have known that John would be sneaky and pull a trick like that, after he saw them kissing each other's cheeks often enough. She heard sounds and prayed any of the residents who'd been invited didn't want to go down a flight or two instead of getting the lift. She opened the door slightly, saw their front door open and Bob standing with his arms around two of his mates.
She'd have to wait until he turned away, maybe to go to some others, sneak behind him and make a run for the bathroom. Sure enough, he went back inside, the lift door opened and a few got in, then she heard voices shout for the door to be held, a few more dragging themselves out and Rose hoped they all had a taxi booked, they were in no fit state to drive, that was for sure.
The front door was still open as a few more dived for the lift, making the lift door reopen as probably those already in didn't know how to find the 'hold' button because they had drunk too much. She saw her chance, hoping the stairs door didn't make a noise and she held her breath, made a dash for the door and seeing the living room door open and Bob's back to it.
She thought he'd hear if she attempted to unlock her room door but she had her coat on, something she'd not taken into account while thinking of a plan to get back in so she hurriedly took it off and hung it on the coat rack and hoped he'd not notice it hadn't been there earlier.
She heard him talking louder in an even broader Scottish accent than normal and dived into the kitchen, standing at the sink behind the table, having kicked off her boots she'd changed into before going out and hoping he didn't see them in the corner.
She saw him with the last of his mates, going to the door, grabbed her boots, praying he was too far gone to notice her coat was there and ran for her room door, just unlocking it before he turned around.
"What are you doing Rose?" he asked her. "Where have you been all night eh?"
Rose was hiding her boots behind her back and thought she'd been caught out and he'd known she wasn't in there all night.
"Just the kitchen to get a drink," Rose replied as her mother was laughing with some of the women on their way out. "I told ya I wasn't joining the party."
"Here, Rose, come and say goodnight to Maureen and, sorry, I forgot your name," Jackie grinned.
"Have you been out Rose?" Bob turned on her.
"Leave her Bob, say goodnight to everyone," Jackie told him, Rose guessing she was putting most of it on for his benefit but her mother could drink when she wanted to.
So Rose took her chances, locking the door behind her and got ready for bed. She had to be up early to put the turkey in the oven, she couldn't trust her mother to do it and there were the vegetable to be prepared, wishing Bob would give in and buy some ready frozen ones to save time.
Meanwhile, Alec and his dad had got home and his dad asked if Rose had enjoyed the party.
"I think she did but I'm worried about her not getting caught," he admitted.
"She knows the risks Alec and she's prepared to take them. She is some friend, you know?"
"I know that Dad. It won't be the same tomorrow, with mum not being here but Rose, well she sort of makes up for it, I wish she could be there."
His dad patted his shoulder, knowing Rose had filled a big gap in Alec's life.
"I know Alec," his dad tried to assure him. "Rose was just what you needed and you're a good friend to her as well. Get some sleep eh? You'll see her on Boxing Day, are you calling for her?"
"I said I would, if she doesn't get caught going in tonight or she'll be grounded. She took a big risk tonight."
"I know, see what she's prepared to do?" his dad teased him. "I was keeping this as a surprise but remember I said we may take a holiday next year?" Alec nodded. "Well how about we book a caravan somewhere and we ask if Rose can go with us? She won't have to pay for anything other than any extras she wants."
Alec had hated their last holiday, down on the south coast somewhere because his mum was getting ill and hadn't told anyone.
"She'd maybe like that? What if she can't go though? How can I go off and leave her?"
"Alec, you can only ask her. It's up to her when she mentions it, it won't be until July or August anyway, she has plenty of time. We ll get a caravan with a separate bedroom for her. What do you think?"
"Can I ask her then? Dad, I think Rose wants to be my girlfriend, do you think we're too young?"
His dad smiled as he switched the kettle on.
"Alec, I think we all know it's been heading that way for a while now. Do you both think you are too young? Rose can't think so, if she's been dropping hints. Mind you, if you both decide, you know how I expect you to behave while I'm not in?"
"Yes Dad, I know and we will. Can she come to my room though, while you're in?" he dared ask.
"Well, work up to that eh? There will be some rules though, such as I expect to hear you moving around, understand? No going up there until I get home though."
"I get it Dad. We did talk about it but maybe now, Rose thinks it's time."
"What makes you think that?" his dad asked as he made them some hot chocolate.
"John pinned some mistletoe up in the hallway," Alec confessed.
"So I noticed. Why would he do that then?" his dad smiled.
"Because Rose walks around the school playground with her arm in mine and she's been kissing my cheek for a while, since just before the school disco," he admitted
His dad let out a laugh. "Well no wonder then, she probably means business. I think your mum would have liked Rose. She's just what you need Alec, you seem to have got over losing Jamie as your friend."
"Rose feels guilty about it, she thinks it's her fault. She also thinks something else."
"Oh, what might that be?" his dad asked as they sat at the kitchen table.
"I don't want to say Dad but I've been thinking about it and maybe she was right."
"Then tell me Alec or it can wait," his dad replied, since it was well after midnight.
"Well, she thought Jamie wasn't jealous about me, being friends with Rose," Alec replied. "I never wanted to think otherwise."
"Oh, you mean he's jealous of Rose being friends with you? We already know that much Alec," his dad reminded him.
"No Dad, I don't mean that way, Rose means he wanted me to himself, not to share, which she thinks means something else."
"I see. Do you think the same Alec?" he was asked.
"I never saw any indication Dad but Rose reckoned when he used to dare me to go talk to her in the library, he was seeing if I was interested in girls."
"Well, you never said you were interested in girls," he was reminded. "You've only been interested since you met Rose, which I think rather proves a point, don't you?"
"That Rose made me realize I was? That being friends with Jamie wasn't enough?"
"You'll work it out Alec," his dad smiled.
Alec already knew he had. Rose had been right though he'd not wanted to believe that his friend was playing for the other team, as people would say.
"Do you think he would have admitted it?" Alec wondered, feeling tired.
"Eventually, at least until you showed an interest in girls. If it hadn't been Rose, it would have been another girl, maybe not just yet though?"
"So Rose proved to him I was interested in girls? I still want to think she's wrong about him though."
"I know Alec. Go get some sleep eh and don't worry about her, I'm sure she didn't get caught creeping back home, she's very clever."
"She doesn't think she's clever Dad, she wants me to help her with her homework, especially history and geography."
"That's to be expected Alec, she'll have learned English history and geography at her old school, won't she?"
"John's been going easy on her, he seems to understand and makes allowances for her but how will she get her grades if I don't help her? She got some books from the library, I was going to help her during the holidays."
"Good, I'm sure you will be a big help to her," his dad replied.
Alec just hoped his dad was right. Rose had admitted to him she'd not paid much attention at her old school but even if she had, it wouldn't have been much help to her. All he could do was help her get up to date on something he'd been learning for a lot longer but his dad was right on one thing Rose was still clever.
He knew after their kiss earlier there would be no denying now he liked girls, particularly Rose and they would be no going back, she would make certain of that and when the subject came up again and she asked him, who was he to deny he was her boyfriend?
Rose was still up early the next morning, she knew her mother would be suffering from the booze last night but as she had put the turkey in the oven then gone back to bed, she heard her mother calling from the kitchen. Rose went back in.
"How did ya sneak in last night?" she asked Rose.
"Very carefully Mum," Rose grinned. "I thought Bob had found out."
"Well you were very lucky Rose, please don't try it again. Did ya enjoy yourself then?"
"Yeah, it was much better than putting up with Bob's rowdy friends. I met some more of Alec's family and his aunt told me to start calling her auntie Mary. So, happy Christmas then," Rose smiled, going to hug her.
"Yeah, you too Rose. I know you're missing all your old friends but I'm missing everyone too. You have to face it Rose, we're here to stay sweetheart. We have a proper home now, I could never afford to have a place like this."
"Yeah but ya have to go out to work Mum," Rose reminded her.
"It's no more than I was doing at home Rose."
"Mum, you're working longer hours now."
"I know but we're a lot better off and you're in a better school. You can't deny it Rose, if we'd not come here, we wouldn't be as well off."
Rose couldn't argue that, they did have a better lifestyle than they'd had before but at least she'd had the freedom to do as she'd wanted instead of a strict elder who expected her to do everything he said and had stopped her going out last night well so he thought.
Jackie went back to her bedroom and Bob was awake,
"Jackie, did Rose say anything to you? Did she disobey me and go out?"
"I don't think so Bob, how would she have got out and back in again?" Jackie bluffed.
"She was in the kitchen when our friends were leaving, she was still dressed."
"Well maybe she thought she should put in an appearance as everyone was leaving?" Jackie suggested.
"I hope that's true Jackie? I have to explain to everyone now that Rose is just shy, I don't know what they all thought when she went to her room, they're going to be very disappointed. Maybe we should take her to the next one on New Years Eve?"
"Bob, you promised her she could go out, remember? She did as ya asked and stayed in last night."
"True but even so, everyone will be asking me why they never met her properly. They were all looking forward to it Jackie."
"Yeah, I know Bob but they'll be other chances," Jackie tried to tell him.
"You had better be right Jackie."
