The next chapter will see them moving on and it's now approaching Alec's birthday, which for the sake of the story is a few weeks before Rose's.
It seemed Rose was right, Alec thought as they got over the winter and into spring. So far, they'd had a good new year, never bothering about going out even on a few warmer days in March and opting to spend the time in Alec's room listening to Rose's music mostly as he'd grown to like a certain Scottish band Rose wasn't keen on but she was slowly coming round.
They had got bolder over the weeks, Rose lying on her elbows on Alec's bed as he sat on the edge, still not sure what Rose had in mind. Rose was still trying to talk her mother into telling Bob about the holiday Alec's dad had now booked on a caravan site even though Jackie had said she herself had no objections.
When Rose was certain the holiday had been booked and all she needed was some spending money if she and Alec wanted to go off or when they visited the holiday camp nearby, she had broken the news to her mother.
"Rose, ya know what Bob will say if ya ask him now," her mother had told her. "Best not tell him just yet."
"Yeah, I know Mum, that's what I told Alec. Bob's only just accepting I've not fallen out with Alec yet. Anyway, there's nothing to pay for, just I'll save my allowance up for spending money, I've got until August. If Bob says no though, I have a plan."
"Well you would have," her mother replied.
Rose told her to talk Bob into going away the same week, she would say she'd stay behind with Alec's aunt and Bob would be no wiser.
"Well it might work, I'd best mention it to him then?" her mother replied.
So now, Rose was waiting for an answer and Alec was asking her if it had all been sorted.
"Knowing those two, they'll spring it on me at the last minute," Rose replied, leaning on one elbow. "I just hope my idea works."
"I'm sure it will," Alec replied, leaning back on his hands. "Your plans always seem to work."
"Huh, I wish. I don't care if it does or not, I'm still going, nothing's gonna stop me."
Bob was discussing it with Jackie, who had enough holiday brochures ready when he'd got home, having used her lunch break to get some.
"Wouldn't it be nice, just the two of us getting away for a week?" she hinted.
"Won't Rose be coming with us?" Bob asked, picking up what he thought was the brochure for the cheapest holiday company.
Jackie did wonder what he did with his money, since she and Rose mostly lived off her wages except Bob paid the bills and for the groceries.
"I can't see her wanting to go and we'd have to get her a passport," Jackie replied, seeing which brochure he'd picked up and thought it was typical of him. "She can probably stay with Alec's aunt for the week, she spends most of her time there with him."
"Does she now?" Bob asked. "During the holidays? So she doesn't spend it at his house?"
"She never says much," Jackie tried to defend them both.
"She's getting older Jackie, she must know about boys by now?"
"Oh, I don't think she thinks of Alec like that," Jackie replied, not really knowing now Rose was staying out longer.
How she'd persuaded Bob to let Rose back later, she'd no idea.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Bob replied, a slight smile on his face. "So, when she reaches fourteen, is she intending making him her boyfriend?"
"Oh, she's not mentioned it but it wouldn't surprise me," Jackie replied, slightly taken aback.
"Maybe it's a good thing?" Bob wondered. "Give her some experience. It doesn't change my plans though, remember that Jackie."
"Yeah, I know Bob, ya already said when she's sixteen? What made ya change ya mind?"
"A few things, never mind about them. You could ask her if she wants to come with us, there's plenty of time to get her a passport, she would probably lie by the pool all day though?" he smiled.
Jackie smiled back, wondering why he thought there was any point paying for Rose to lie by the swimming pool all day.
So on the Saturday, before going shopping, which Rose was still being dragged along with them, Bob led them into a travel agency, Jackie having folded the page where Bob had agreed was a reasonably priced resort hotel that was all inclusive and departed from nearby Glasgow airport, Rose thinking he was a cheapskate if ever she saw one.
Before they had set off, he'd tried again to talk Rose into going, like he already suspected what she was up to, Rose thought on the way. She was somewhat relieved when he paid the deposit and refused the travel insurance and there was a special offer on the deposit, proving her point.
When Alec called for her the next day, once outside, she threw her arms around him.
"What's that for Rose?" he asked, not that he really objected now he'd got used to her being spontaneous.
"Bob booked them that holiday and he got the date mum suggested," Rose replied, as the day before, she had visions of him trying to talk her mother into a cheaper date but the week before and after was the same price and they had to wait until Rose broke up from school.
"So your plan worked?" Alec replied as she took his arm.
"Did ya think I couldn't pull it off?" she teased him.
"I had no doubts you could Rose. Want to go for a walk first?"
Once in the park, Rose led him to the swings, surprised there was no-one around so she sat on one and he began pushing her slowly.
"It's your birthday on Friday," she reminded him. "Are ya having a party next Sunday?"
"It's nothing special Rose. I never bothered last year, I was too upset about my mum."
"Yeah, sorry," Rose replied stopping the swing with her feet.
Alec stood at the side of her, hoping no-one would tell them they shouldn't be on there, then he sat on the next one, grabbing the chain of hers.
"It's okay Rose, I'm looking forward to this one."
"You are? Thought it was nothing special?" she teased him as she grabbed his hand.
"Well, you'll be here this year. My dad tried to cheer me up last year, John was away."
"Well he'll be here this year, I think ya should have a party."
"It doesn't matter Rose, maybe we can just have one for yours?"
"Mine's nothing special either Alec," she reminded him. "Well apart from you being here," she nudged him as she was about to twist the swing chains.
She made her mind up when they got to his aunt's to ask her if she'd get Alec a birthday cake if nothing else, even though it was a few days out. So when they got back and Alec was talking to John, Rose went to see his aunt in the kitchen as she got tea ready.
"I thought I told you not to help?" his aunt smiled.
"Yeah, it's just a habit. Can I ask ya something?" Rose smiled.
"Yes dear, you can ask me anything. Did you get permission to go on that holiday?"
"Well yeah but I sort of told Bob I was gonna stay with you, mum said it was a bad idea saying I was going with Alec and his dad. Sorry,"
"I see then?" his aunt replied, stopping what she was doing. "I should be mad at you Rose."
"Sorry Mrs Smith," Rose started to apologize, thinking she'd best not call her auntie.
"Was there any reason?"
"Well yeah, Bob would never have agreed to let me go, he's still a bit funny and how my mum got him to book the week I wanted to go away, lucky he did. I suggested to her she got him to take her on holiday and leave me behind. He might have said yes but what if he changed his mind just before I went? This way, he's non the wiser."
"I see then? Well, I'll let you off then, I can see the reason you were reluctant to tell him Rose but you shouldn't use other people as an excuse without asking first, okay?"
"Yeah, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to take advantage, really. I should have asked you."
"Well no harm done but remember if there's a next time Rose. Was there something else?"
"Yeah, about Alec's birthday," Rose replied.
"Yes, on Friday and I hope he'll have a better time than last year when he lost his mother. Did you get him a present?" his aunt asked her, going back to what she was doing.
"Yeah, I've been saving up. I just wondered about getting him a birthday cake and having a little party for him?"
"That's very thoughtful of you Rose," his aunt smiled. "You mean have it here?"
"Well yeah, I thought maybe Peter would come back and his other cousin Katie? I know he didn't enjoy himself last year but he said he may this year so I thought maybe we could make it a bit special for him?"
"Alec's lucky having a friend like you," his aunt smiled. "I'll bake him a cake then? I can go out to the shops and see if I can get something to go on top, any ideas?"
"Thanks Auntie Mary," Rose smiled, cheering up.
His aunt knew Rose had been good for Alec, she'd been there when he needed a friend and Jamie hadn't been doing a very good job making Alec forget about losing his mother as Rose had done.
Alec was talking with John, wondering why Rose had sneaked off when she'd been told helping get tea ready had been banned.
"What's Rose up to eh?" John was teasing him as they sat at the dining table.
Alec shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows with Rose?" he smiled. "When I went for her earlier, she jumped all over me because her plan to go on holiday with me and my dad had worked."
John just laughed. "Alec, when are you going to learn eh? Rose nearly always finds a way when she wants something, you already know that. So, it's all been arranged then?"
"Yeah, she's saving up now. She said her mum got Bob to go book that holiday yesterday and luckily, they got the date Rose wanted. I don't know how she does it. I thought she'd get caught on Christmas Eve but she didn't. I still worry about her though."
"Yeah, of course you do," John told him. "You two care a lot about each other. So, when it's her birthday, are you both going to admit you're more than friends?"
Alec tried not to blush. "I think that's what Rose wanted?"
"Trust me Alec, she won't have forgotten," John smiled. "Maybe she'll keep reminding you nearer the time eh? So now it's a bit warmer, are you going out more?"
"Not yet, Rose seems to like listening to music though I've not got her to like that group yet," Alec admitted.
"Ah, she'll come round, just keep playing their songs. Tell you what, when they're in concert, how about I get you a couple of tickets? Why don't you find out if they're playing one near Rose's birthday? My treat."
"Yeah, thanks John, she may like them better if she sees them live. How will I find out though?"
"You want me to find out for you?" John laughed. "I'll ask around, since Rose attaches herself to you at school. When's her birthday again? Better watch out she's not got anything planned for you."
"I told her not to," Alec replied.
"Does she take any notice though?" John smiled as Rose came out of the kitchen.
Rose went to sit beside Alec, looking pleased with herself.
"You two been talking about me?" she grinned.
John got up, trying not to give anything away, Rose looking at him then Alec.
"Ask your boyfriend," John laughed, making Alec's dad turn away from the TV. "Don't look at me like that Rose Tyler," he added, raising his eyebrows. "It's only a matter of time, since your birthday's in a few weeks time. So, you're going on holiday with them Rose?"
"Yeah, just let anyone try and stop me, I got my mum to talk Bob into going away but trust him to go for the cheapest option. I haven't got a clue what he spends all his money on."
"Seems like he doesn't spend it on holidays then?" John grinned. "I'll leave you two to it but I'd clear the table if I were you."
Later, as Alec walked Rose home, he asked what she'd been talking to his aunt about.
"I had to admit I got my mum to tell Bob I was staying with your aunt. She told me I should have asked her first."
"Then why didn't you?" Alec wanted to know as they stood on the corner of the driveway.
"I wasn't sure it would work, then I'd have asked her for nothing. I said sorry to her, she was okay about it."
"She'll forgive you Rose, she knows how difficult things are for you. Were you talking about anything else?" he asked, afraid she'd mentioned his birthday.
"She asked me if I'd got ya a birthday present," Rose smiled, playing with his hand.
She didn't want to let on she'd talked his aunt into having a party for him. She just hoped John wouldn't tell him.
All week, Rose was looking forward to Alec's birthday just as much as he was, dying to tell him what she had bought him, a t-shirt with his favourite band on that she'd seen in a shop they had passed and since she now got some time on her own, went in a got it for him but she could only get a small men's size and hoped it wouldn't be too big on him.
She had decided on the day to get him to go to her place after school to get it for him, along with a card she had signed. So John dropped them at the end of the road and they walked down.
"I hope ya like the present I got ya Alec," she told him as she let them in. "Do ya want to open it here?"
"No, I can wait until we get back. I expect there will be a few cards waiting for me when I get home?"
"There might be a few presents as well?" Rose wondered.
"I leave before the postman gets there Rose," he reminded her. "It doesn't matter."
"Some may be have been small enough to go through the letterbox," Rose said hopefully.
"I sometimes get some money in the cards. Do you think you'll get a lot of cards Rose?"
"I don't know, mum left our new address before we moved, word will get round but I'll miss all my friends."
"I'm sorry Rose, I hope I can make up for them not being here?"
"Yeah. 'course ya do. Anyway, I'll get your card and your present. Shame it wasn't baking day at school, I'd have made ya a cake."
"The thought was there Rose," he smiled. "I don't really feel any older."
"Well ya won't, not for a while. I guess it creeps up on ya and ya start to feel different?"
"John asked me about you being my girlfriend when it's your birthday."
"Yeah, he would," Rose smiled back, holding the card and present out to him. "Let's see what happens? Anyway, happy birthday Alec."
Alec took the things from her and she kissed his cheek.
"You'll get a proper kiss when you've opened them," she teased him.
"Why are you always tormenting me Rose?"
"I'm not tormenting ya Alec. You know we save the kissing for when we're in your room."
"Well there's no-one here Rose, are you scared your mum might come home early?"
"It's not my mum I have to worry about Alec. I dread to think what Bob would say. I think I know what mum meant by him being a dad to me."
"I expect all dad's are protective of their daughters?" Alec wondered. "Have they said anything else, I mean about Bob adopting you?"
"No, thankfully. I don't want to be adopted, thanks. So, are we going?"
They got back to Alec's house, still having time to go to his room before his dad got home but he was used to them still being upstairs. Alec opened the card first, reading what she had put on it 'To Alec, my boyfriend, lots of love from Rose xx'
"You mean it?"
"Yeah, it's only a few weeks to my birthday. I mean if ya wanna still be my boyfriend?"
"What?" he asked as he put the card on the bed. "Yes, I still want to be your boyfriend. So that means you still want to be my girlfriend?"
"I guess so? Well, open your present?" she beamed.
Alec carefully opened the flat package, wondering what she'd picked for him. He'd half expected another writing set but as he pulled the wrapping paper apart, he found a black t-shirt. Thinking it was plain and wondering why she'd chosen it, he saw her grinning.
"Well look at it," she encouraged him as he unfolded it and turned it around to see his now favourite band on the front in white.
"Rose, I don't know what to say."
"You like it?" she asked, thinking he was a bit disappointed she'd not got him another writing set.
"Like it? It's great, thanks. What gave you the idea?"
"Well I get a bit of time on my own when they go shopping and I was passing a clothes shop and I thought it would be perfect for you. I could only get a small men's size, is it too big?"
"I'll go try it on, if you want?" he offered.
"Just try it on here," she replied, the grin still on her face.
"Here?" he panicked at the thought.
"Geez Alec, I see ya in the swimming pool," she teased him.
He thought there was a big difference between that and taking his school shirt off in front of her, especially now she had agreed she was his girlfriend, which he'd not expected her to agree until her own birthday. He supposed she was right, she did see him in the swimming pool and always made a point of splashing him.
Thinking she must be ready to see him getting changed, he thought if this didn't put her off, then nothing would as he took his tie off without undoing the knot and began unfastening the buttons. He saw Rose was watching him.
"Sure you're ready to see me getting changed?" he asked again to make sure.
"Yep, you're not shy are ya?" she teased.
He knew she was doing it on purpose, to see how far he would let her go after they had established a few things. He stopped though as he was about to part his shirt, having stopped wearing a vest underneath as the weather got warmer. He suddenly turned around after he grabbed the t-shirt.
"That's cheating Alec," she told him as he undid the shirt cuffs. "Turn around."
"Rose, getting in the swimming pool is different," he tried to argue.
"You see me in my swimsuit," she reminded him.
"Rose, everyone there are in their swimsuits," he replied, thinking maybe he only looked at her, not everyone else since she wore a black and white stripped one and he swore she now looked different in it than the first time she'd got him to go with her.
Maybe it was him just noticing more about girls? He should ask John, he was not ready to ask his dad how he should feel about seeing Rose in her swimsuit.
"Alec, turn around," she repeated.
Slowly, he turned back around as he pulled his shirt off. Without either of them saying anything, he took the t-shirt and put his arms in it then pulling it over his head.
"See, what was so hard about that?" she asked him, thinking he'd made a fuss about nothing.
"Nothing I suppose?" was all he could think of replying.
That would be it now, he'd no longer be able to excuse himself to the bathroom when they got back from school, she'd want a repeat.
"Hey, it's not that big on ya," she decided, pulling it down at the back for him and walking around him.
What was she doing now he wondered. Since when did she make comments on his clothes and see if they fitted him?
"No, it seems fine," he had to agreed as Rose regarded him, her finger on her chin.
"Shame you've not got a camera, I could take a photo of ya. When your dad gets home, he might take one if we ask?"
"You want to start taking photos?" he asked nervously.
Rose was coming out with things at an alarming rate, he thought as he went to hang his shirt up. He picked up his jeans from a pile and thought he should make a hasty retreat to the bathroom before she had him change into them in front of her.
He heard her giggling as he went to the door.
"No Rose, I am not changing into my jeans in front of you."
"Did I say anything?" she laughed, enjoying teasing him and making him blush.
"Have you been talking to Sandra again?" he wanted to know.
Where else was she getting all these ideas from? She had some help, she'd had plenty of them lately. Did they talk about him in the girls room while he waited for her, since John always took his time and he swore she did it on purpose, making him wait as everyone headed out of the school gates, taking no notice of him. It was like they knew he was waiting for her and they left him to it.
"Should I have been? Maybe I need to get more tips? Go on, go get changed, then ya can tell me if ya like the card I got ya?"
"Yes Rose, I like the card. I will keep it in a safe place, since it's the first one you bought me."
"Yeah, I realize that Alec," she smiled. "When ya come back, I think I may have something else for ya."
"What?" he panicked.
"Well, since I said I wanted to be your girlfriend, I thought I'd give ya a birthday kiss maybe?"
"Oh," he realized, feeling silly now. "Well okay, if you insist?"
Rose giggled to herself as he went off, thinking she'd got him squirming by wondering what she was going to come out with next. She had talked to Sandra but only to see if she agreed with her methods and if they were too young for her to say she wanted to be his girlfriend.
"No Rose, if you feel you're ready, go for it," Sandra had encouraged her after Rose told her what she'd written on Alec's card.
"Yeah, I feel I'm ready and it's only a few weeks to my birthday. So, do ya think it's too much, what I told ya?"
Sandra had just laughed and said no and she was asking for trouble.
They finally went downstairs just as Alec's dad was getting back.
"Is that a new t-shirt?" he asked Alec.
"Yeah, Rose got it for me. Dad, can we borrow your camera? Rose wants to take a picture of me wearing it."
"I can do better than that," his dad smiled, going into a drawer and bringing a present out.
Alec opened it, Rose offering to help him and found it was a compact camera gift set with a film cartridge, a flash unit and batteries.
"Wow, thanks Dad," Alec smiled.
"I thought you may like it, especially for going on holiday," his dad replied as Rose was trying to help him get it out of the box and he was trying to push her hand away. He left them to it, smiling to himself as Rose was wanting to use it first to take a photo of Alec. He wondered if his son knew what he was getting into, now he was fourteen.
After their tea, Rose got him to take the camera to the park, when she'd insisted his dad took a photo of both of them in the garden. She made him sit on a swing and took another photo.
"Don't use the whole film up Rose."
"I'm not. Your turn to take one of me," she smiled, taking the camera to him and kissing his cheek.
"I never got my birthday kiss or was that it?" he teased her as he took the camera.
"Nope, I'll give it ya when ya take me home."
He wondered why he was looking forward to it more than he'd done before.
Alec's aunt had told everyone she was doing a party for Alec on Sunday when Rose got there and had invited Katie, who was only too happy to attend and said she hoped her cousin had finally admitted Rose was his girlfriend.
Saying nothing about it when they got there on Sunday afternoon, Alec went off as normal to call for Rose, who thought she'd delay him going back to give his aunt time to get things ready by insisting they went for a walk by the river.
"What are you up to now Rose?" Alec wondered as they sat down.
"Nothing, don't be so suspicious," she just laughed, nudging him and taking his hand.
He knew she was up to something, the way she kept glancing at him, he had every right to be suspicious, he thought to himself as Rose leaned her head on his shoulder. He was right when instead of John letting them in the kitchen door, he came from the back of the house, claiming he'd been in the hallway, which Alec only half believed.
Everything was ready to be taken into the sitting room, his aunt had put the right amount of candles on the cake, Alec's dad had brought his camera and the presents were in the kitchen for Alec to open. Katie had been dropped off, John saying he'd take her home.
"So has my cousin got his act together?" Katie had asked John before Alec and Rose arrived.
"Just leave that to Rose," John had laughed.
So he'd let them in, Alec wondering what his cousin was doing there.
"Thought I'd pay a visit for your birthday Alec," Katie replied, trying not to look at Rose.
"What are you all up to?" Alec asked, knowing something was going on.
"Okay, you've got us," John laughed, raising his arms in surrender. "Maybe you should have kept him out a bit longer, eh Rose?"
"I did try, trust me," Rose laughed.
"So whatever it is, you are in on it?" Alec asked her.
"Me? Yeah, okay. Actually, it was my idea and I'm glad you're wearing your new t-shirt."
She was disappointed though she'd not been there when he'd put it on. Alec's aunt came out of the kitchen and asked Katie to help her and soon brought all the party food out, leaving John to carry the cake when everyone was eating.
"Auntie Mary, you didn't have to do this," Alec told her.
"We all felt bad you didn't have a party last year but you can thank Rose, it was her idea."
"I should have known really. Thanks Rose."
So John lit the candles on the cake, Alec's dad taking a photo as Alec attempted to blow them all out at once, then Rose surprised him by helping him and sneaking a kiss to his cheek, the camera capturing them.
"Happy birthday Alec," she whispered to him as she did.
Alec thought it was now the best birthday he'd ever had and was sure his mum was smiling down on him. Now he was also sure she had sent Rose here, to help him get over his mother's loss.
Everyone sang 'Happy birthday' to him and when they'd eaten the cake, Alec dragged Rose into the hallway.
"This was your idea?" he asked as they sat on the stairs.
"Are ya mad at me? Seeing ya didn't want a party."
"No Rose, I'm not mad at you, just expect me to get you back on your birthday."
"Yeah? Can't wait then," she grinned and leaned over to kiss him.
