The best holiday

They went off swimming the next morning when the pool opened, thankful their costumes were dry enough and actually managed to do some swimming before the younger kids came in. Alec noticed she was quite a good swimmer, since they usually just messed around and she beat him twice when she decided to have a race with him. As they were getting out, Alec holding out his hand to help her up the steps, she gave him one of her beaming smiles.

"Betcha didn't think I could swim as good as that?" she asked him.

"I was a bit surprised," he had to admit to her.

"We used to go every Tuesday morning in junior school. We'd get a bus to a nearby high school and use their pool. Others wanted to mess around but I wanted to learn."

Alec had thought she would have been the one to mess around, considering what she'd admitted about missing lessons and getting into trouble.

"Well I already know you are good at gymnastics, I hear the other girls complain," Alec smiled as they got to the locker area. "Want to go get a hot drink? My dad gave me some extra money."

Rose nudged him.

"Yeah, okay then? I wish I'd brought another swimming costume, we could have gone in the sea later."

"Never mind, you can borrow a towel and just wade into the water," Alec suggested, trying to dry his hair as he pulled the towel out of his locker.

Rose smiled at his more messed up than normal hair.

"What?" he asked innocently, being aware anyone could come into the same area.

Why was she looking at him like that these days?

"Don't ever get your hair styled differently."

"I will try not to but it won't stay like this forever Rose," he replied as she went to ruffle it while trying to dry her own, which he noticed was swept back.

They heard noises as someone was getting nearer and snapped out of staring at each other, Alec wondering exactly what had happened. They seemed to be doing that more and more lately, was it part of growing up, he wondered. If it was, it was all happening fast.

Alec's dad went looking for them when he'd got back from the supermarket in the nearby town and found them sitting in an outdoor area with paper cups on the table. He felt like leaving them there but knew they'd be getting hungry after their swim.

After a snack, they found the way onto the beach and Rose decided to tease Alec, making him chase her up the beach, leaving his dad shaking his head at them as he heard Rose laughing. He knew Alec hadn't known what had hit him when he'd admitted to John he and Rose had kissed under the mistletoe last Christmas, or had it happened long before that?

Alec had led her to a gap in the cliff a bit further up and stopped to grab hold of her, since somehow he was now chasing after her when she'd suddenly stopped and run around him, Alec trying to grab hold of her.

"Can't you stay still?" Alec asked, trying to get his breath back.

"Nah, you know me," Rose laughed as they sat in the shade. "There's no-one around Alec."

"Yes, I noticed Rose," he smiled as she leaned over, making her jump by pushing her back.

Rose began giggling when he started to tease her by making her reach up to kiss him, Rose putting her hands on his shoulders and him moving his head.

"Stop it Alec," she told him as he pretended to go for her neck.

"You have been teasing me the last few weeks," he reminded her.

"Have I?" she replied, trying to sound innocent and trying to go for his hair.

"You know you've been teasing me for the last year. You started in the library."

Rose wondered why he'd done nothing about it at the time.

"Jamie was holding ya back, wasn't he?" she asked him when he'd kissed her lightly on the lips.

"I didn't know what I felt Rose. I wanted to go talk to you but I thought Jamie liked you and if I did go over, you'd tell me to go away."

"You're a plum Alec, I wanted you to come and talk to me. Short of getting up and telling ya, I didn't know what else I could do."

"I thought I wasn't interested in girls but I was following Jamie. Now he's the one who doesn't like girls and maybe never will," Alec replied, Rose trying to reach his lips but put her little finger on them instead.

"Well ya found out and I'm sorry I had to be the one who made ya. You'd have figured it out on your own Alec, you want to be a detective."

"I've wanted to be one for a while Rose, before I admitted it. A few years back, dad took us up to Loch Ness and I wanted to be the one who actually saw the monster. I never even told them about it, or John."

"Wow, I'm honoured then? Mmm, what can I tell ya that no-one knows about me?" she teased him. "Remember we talked about that bike I had before I moved here?" Alec nodded, teasing her by kissing her finger that had remained where it was. "Well I didn't think it was really aliens that had left it but I didn't want to upset my mum by saying I think somehow, my dad left it for me."

"That's sweet Rose, he must have been watching over you? Maybe I should write you a story where you go back and see him?" He saw she suddenly went serious. "Rose, I never meant to upset you," he added.

"No, it's okay Alec, it's just, well it's nice of you to offer. Yeah, I'd like that, thanks. No-one ever said anything like that to me before."

"I told you I would do anything for you Rose," he reminded her, wondering if she'd really slap him if he went to kiss her neck. "You know I care about you, a lot?"

"I care a lot about you as well Alec. Let's enjoy the rest of our holiday down here, away from everyone?" she asked him, knowing what he wanted to do.

She put her hand back on his shoulder and tried to indicate she wouldn't slap him into next week for trying to kiss her neck.

"I spent the last holiday we had hiding under some golden cliffs because my mum kept having a go at my dad because she was getting ill and he didn't know. I wish I could remember the name of the place. We were in a caravan on top of a cliff, there was a steep path down to the beach and there was a line of boats all chained up. Dad wouldn't drive the car up and down the lane at night, it was really narrow and my mum kept going on at him to be careful."

"Alec, I'm sorry ya didn't know your mum was getting ill, until it was nearly too late," Rose told him, running her fingers through his hair instead of ruffling it.

"Thanks Rose, no-one really understood why she changed, not even my aunt. Why didn't she tell us Rose?" he asked, Rose seeing the look on his face.

"I'm so sorry ya miss her so much Alec. Come here," she replied, trying to pull him close and putting her arms around his neck. "Don't hold it back Alec, if it upsets ya, we'll talk about something else, yeah?" she offered.

"It's okay Rose, thanks. John keeps telling me it will take a while," he replied, enjoying the hug and resting his head on her shoulder as she did the same.

Rose tried to look at him.

"We should do this more often," she smiled.

"Things don't seem as bad as they were, since I met you. You think your dad left you that bike?" Rose nodded, putting her head back on his shoulder and wishing he wasn't wearing his blue t-shirt, that he'd got out the night before. "Well I think my mum sent you, so I wouldn't be on my own."

Now Rose wanted to join him in feeling sad.

"Aw, yeah, that's a nice thought Alec, though if mum hadn't met Bob, I wouldn't be here but it's funny, he could have chosen any of the women on the estate and he chose my mum."

Alec thought she would have to mention that, when he was trying not to get upset over his mother. Of course Bob had chosen her mother, she'd had a thirteen year old daughter with blonde hair, gorgeous hazel eyes and a smile that would melt a block of ice. Was that why he'd noticed her, well apart from not being able to tell what colour her eyes were from across the other side of the library.

He had promised his dad he wouldn't mention Bob or what they suspected about him while they were on holiday.

"Well you're here now and you thought you would never settle," he reminded her. "Just like I thought I would never begin to get over losing my mum."

"Yeah. Hey, stop getting all soppy on me," she tried to cheer him up. "We should have brought a towel but maybe we can walk back in the water?"

Alec looked up, Rose watching him.

"Maybe after we do some more kissing?" she teased him.

"What are you teasing me for?" he asked.

"I'm not teasing ya Alec, there's no-one around, I already told ya that. We should definitely do more hugging."

Alec couldn't have agreed more but kissing was better, the way her lips would tingle when they first met his own and not wanting to be the first to break it. Both were now kneeling on the sand supporting each other, Rose had to be the one to break, a smile on her face and giving him that look of hers.

"We'd better get back before the tide comes in," she told him as she was now facing the sea and it had got closer than when they'd arrived.

"We can both swim Rose," he reminded her, letting her lean on his shoulders to get up, then Rose reached her hands to help him.

"Not in our shorts and t-shirts," she laughed, now leaning on him to take her sandals off, Alec having carried his trainers earlier.

He thought maybe she had a point. Alec's dad spotted them walking back in the water, Alec also carrying Rose's sandals and holding hands. Rose had seemed happy the last couple of days and he didn't want to spoil things such as reminding her in less than a week, she had to go back and face reality. He needed to talk to John, Rose may take more notice of him, being closer to her age than himself.

The following day, Alec's dad drove them to a nearby attraction which Rose seemed to enjoy and then Wednesday morning just after ten, he dropped them outside the holiday park they'd been to before.

"I'll meet you two out here at five," Alec's dad told them, making sure they had money for drinks and lunch.

"What are you going to do dad?" Alec wondered as Rose held his arm.

"I saw some fishing trips going down the coast, I will go see if I can get on one. You two enjoy yourselves," his dad replied, noticing they only had one rucksack between them and Alec was holding it.

He knew Alec was getting very protective of Rose lately, doing things for her without her asking him to and Rose didn't seem to be taking advantage of it, thankfully. He didn't think she would really, she was always willing to help even though he insisted she did enough at home.

This Bob she and her mother lived with was taking advantage and her mother couldn't see it, just like she couldn't see where things were heading and there was nothing either he or John could do about it. He didn't want to drag his brother-in-law into the middle of it though John may have mentioned something to him and John's mother knew Rose was unhappy at home and despite being a little put out, had agreed to cover for Rose while she was away.

Rose wanted to drag Alec on the carousel again when they'd paid to get in, just getting away with not being accompanied by an adult. Alec had put the nylon rucksack on his back and let Rose drag him up the few steps of the carousel, stopping to take a photo of her as she climbed on the back of one of the horses.

"Next time we come on, we should find a coach to sit in," Alec suggested, nodding to where some smaller children were scrambling for seats.

"Well I'm not sharing with them," Rose laughed as Alec grabbed hold of her.

"I hope not," Alec whispered in her ear, making Rose tingle a little as his lips touched her ear, or was it her hair that was making it tingle?

They went round the various rides until it was lunchtime, going to the fast food outlet again then went to the swimming pool. Rose wasn't that bothered about actually swimming since the pool was full again and soon had Alec going down the slides, taking it in turns to sit in front and the lifeguard not even bothering when they were fooling around at first.

"Let's take it in turns Rose," Alec suggested the second time after she'd made him go first.

Rose pretended to consider it while waiting their turn, seeing his face and nudging him. He knew she liked to tease him but he could only take so much before getting her back. He did as Rose was climbing behind him by going without her and waiting at the bottom, catching her as he came from under the water, making her shriek, not that all the other kids weren't screeching or shouting so she couldn't be heard above them.

"You!" she laughed as he spun her around.

"I wonder if they will turn the wave machine on today?" he asked her as he pulled his goggles up, thinking at least he now had an excuse if he saw everything was blurred.

"Yeah, maybe the kids are too young though?" Rose wondered as they made their way out of the pool and up the few steps. "Go ask that guard over there," she pointed to a lifeguard with a whistle around his neck.

Alec went over to ask if it would be turned on.

"We only turn it on when someone asks, we then have to clear the area of those who can't swim," the lifeguard told him. "I'll see if I can get it switched on for you."

"See," Rose grinned at him. "Are we waiting or risking going back on the slide?"

"Let's just wait?" Alec suggested, thinking they should have a rest and going over to where there were some plants on an island.

Rose went to stand beside him, hoping they wouldn't get told off for holding hands as they leaned back. After twenty minutes of messing around in the waves, Alec was dragged for a last few goes on the slides then Rose wanted to go back on some of the rides. Alec knew now he had suggested getting in one of the carriages on the carousel, Rose would follow it around when it was about to stop to make sure they got one.

Sure enough, Rose was keeping her eye on one of the smaller carriages that wouldn't tempt a few parents with smaller children to try to join them and dragged Alec behind her trying to keep up as the ride came to a stop, Alec pulling her back to let people off. He couldn't really blame her for being keen and wished he'd suggested it before as Rose had the advantage of beating a woman and her two kids and climbed in, Alec trying to hold onto her.

"You're big enough to go on the horses," the woman with a broad Scottish accent huffed.

"Sorry, we were here first," Rose declared, trying to sound southern. "Maybe if ya hurry instead of arguing ya might get another one?" she suggested, Alec trying not to laugh.

Rose did start laughing as the two younger children were climbing on the back of a horse while their mother was arguing with her.

"Don't get us thrown off the ride," Alec tried to sound serious.

"Maybe she doesn't want to admit she doesn't like actually sitting on the horse and blames it on the kids," Rose replied as the woman was still fussing.

"You are wicked Rose, do you know that?" Alec smiled as the ride started and the woman tried to climb on a horse next to her two kids.

"I'll take that as a compliment?" Rose laughed into his arm, getting a sideways scowl from the woman, who Rose thought should be watching her kids didn't fall off instead of watching herself and Alec.

Rose realized what time it was and said they should head to the entrance to meet Alec's dad.

"I had a great time today," Rose told him as they waited near the guest car park.

"Yeah, so did I Rose, this week is going so fast. Can I tell you something?" Rose nodded. "Despite my mum not being here, I think this is the best holiday I've ever had."

"Really, why's that?" Rose asked innocently.

"Maybe because I'm spending it with you?" he replied as he saw his dad's car coming towards them, that he could see without it being blurred.

He knew he had to tell his dad, he'd thought it was just the other day coming out of the pool but it was more than that. As the car pulled up, Rose dragged Alec into the back, making his dad smile.

"Had a good day?" he asked them.

"Yeah, great and I managed not to drown us on the slides," Rose laughed.

"Dad, I need to talk to you when we get back," Alec told him, not thinking it was a good idea to admit his sight problem in front of Rose.

Rose questioned him.

"Nothing serious?" she asked him.

"No Rose, I just need to ask him something," Alec replied, seeing his dad eying him through the mirror though if he could see that, he may not be that bad.

After going out later, Alec decided to wait until Rose was going to bed, Alec delaying leaving the kitchen area as Rose was taking her time.

"Night then," she smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "I really did have the best day ever."

"So did I. About what I wanted to talk to dad about, it's not concerning you."

"I never said anything Alec," Rose replied. "You have family things to talk about, I get that. You're lucky you have a dad to talk to, I can't talk to Bob."

"I know that Rose, sorry. Maybe I should start that story when we get back?"

"Yeah, I look forward to it. You go talk to your dad then. I get you can't talk to me about everything."

"If dad thinks you should know, I'll tell you but you may find out anyway. It's just this time, I'd rather talk to him first. Goodnight Rose."

Rose glanced over to where his dad was watching TV and pulled Alec towards the doorway. She reached over and surprised him by giving him a kiss. He figured she deserved it, she had behaved in front of his dad the last few days.

"Alec," his dad called, realizing they were both taking their time.

Rose kissed Alec's cheek again and disappeared into the bathroom.

"What did you want to talk about? Is Rose being too forward when you are both out?"

Alec thought his dad had just seen them.

"She got in one of those carriages on the carousel so we could sit together," he admitted, not wanting to say she'd argued over it. "Then she was messing about on the waterslides but no, it doesn't bother me dad."

"Then what is bothering you?"

"When I came out of the water today and the other day, well I'd had my goggles on but things were a bit blurry. I didn't want to worry Rose about it."

"What things were a bit blurry?" he was asked.

"The clock and the last few days when I've been trying to read something."

"Well, we'd best make you an appointment for your eyes testing then when we get back. I'll try to get you one late on, you can meet me in town when I get out of work. Are you going to tell Rose?" Alec shrugged his shoulders. "Alec, she'll find out Son, best tell her now. Why don't you want to tell her?"

"I don't know Dad but maybe I'll only need something for reading?"

"Let's just wait and see eh? Tell her Alec, she won't run away."

"Well maybe not until we get home," Alec tried to joke.

That was half his problem. The other half was having to wear them in class but several others did in the classroom though they made sure they removed them in the playground. Maybe he'd get away with it but if Rose was on his side, she'd kick anyone's ass who went for him over it. Why was he so worried what she'd say?

After being on their own for the day, they went off into the town with Alec's dad and looked around the various shops, Rose getting some heather perfume for her mother and a floral drawer line for Alec's aunt to say thanks for covering for her.

"She doesn't expect you to buy her anything," Alec had to smile as she went to pay for them.

"She's been really good to me," Rose reminded him. "Hey, we should each get one of those t-shirts," she pointed to a rack in the corner with 'I love Scotland' on them.

Alec raised his eyebrows, doubting her choice.

"You did not want to come here," he reminded her in a quiet voice so as not to offend anyone.

"Aw, it's not so bad when you're here," she just smiled back, going to see what sizes they were, since she thought Alec needed a size skinny one.

"Really?" he asked, going to join her and thinking a black one wouldn't be too bad.

"No, you 'nana. You said I made losing your mum bearable, you make being here bearable Alec."

He picked two up in size small, Rose indicating she wanted a medium one as she liked them to be baggy. He decided to treat her to one, despite it being her idea. His dad had to smile as he saw them from the opposite corner of the store.

He still couldn't believe how Alec had changed in a year, well not even a year since he'd first brought Rose home with him that afternoon and she'd become part of the family. He'd been worried Alec spent all his time with Jamie and now he spent it all with Rose, a sign that he didn't have to be worried who Alec made friends with.

Now, there was only one more day to go as they got up the next morning, Rose and Alec finally hiring bikes while his dad tidied the caravan and put things in the car they wouldn't need, not daring to go into Rose's bedroom though. All too soon they were having their last swim in the pool and the last night dancing after the evening's entertainment.

"Alec, I won't ever forget this week," Rose told him as a slow tune came on.

"Neither will I Rose, it's been great. Maybe dad will bring us back next year?"

"Alec, I don't even know if I'll be here next year."

"Why do you think that?" he asked, stopping suddenly. "Your mum keeps telling you that you're here to stay. You said I made it bearable."

"You do Alec," she replied, getting him to move again. "What if Bob takes a job somewhere else?"

"Rose, I can't see that, can you? I know he took that job on your estate but he came back. He might go away for a few weeks but he'll be back."

"How can you be so sure?" she asked him.

Alec knew she wouldn't like the answer.

"Because now, he has someone to go back to," was all he could think of without saying her in particular.

"Yeah, I suppose so then? Sorry, I'm spoiling things."

"No Rose, you could never spoil things. Want to go sit outside by the pool for a while?"

They went back to tell his dad.

"Be back before it gets dark and no being late up in the morning eh Rose? We have to hand the key in before ten."

Rose wondered what he was insinuating. They walked the short distance to the pool, some tables and benches outside and went to the furthest one. They sat opposite each other, Alec reaching for her hands around the table.

"Rose, I wasn't trying to hide anything from you when I wanted to talk to my dad."

"Yeah, I know ya wouldn't do that Alec."

"Well I just wanted to tell him first that I may need to go get my eyes tested, things are getting a little blurry sometimes."

There, he had told her.

"Is that it? You are a plum sometimes Alec Hardy. Did ya think I would say something?"

"I didn't know what you would think Rose. Dad's going to make me an appointment next week, after he gets out of work."

"Want me to go with ya?" she asked, hoping he'd say yes or she'd be on her own.

"I'd like that Rose. You don't like the thought of being on your own?" he managed to joke.

"Alec, that's not funny. I hate being on my own, I'm on my own even when my mum and Bob are in, well it feels like it and I don't know how but Bob's trying to get me involved in something by telling me to make friends with the kids of his mates. What the hell are they into Alec?"

"Rose, we promised no talking about them, remember? Leave it for now, we can deal with that when we get home. Rose, let my dad and John try to do something, please?"

"They can't help Alec, Bob would never listen to them and if he did, he could throw us out, then what?"

"Rose, something has to be done, I hate to think what's going on. I had something else I wanted to say. You know I care about you and I would do anything for you?"

"Yeah, I care for you too Alec. I've never had a friend like you before."

"You mean Scottish?" Alec smiled, since they were both wearing their new t-shirts.

Rose nudged his knees with her own then he edged nearer.

"Rose, promise not to hit me?"

"What?" she asked, wondering what he was up to.

"I talked to John before we left, I told him something."

"Well? What did ya tell him?" she wanted to know.

As they'd been leaving his aunt's the Sunday before, John had stopped him and asked him how he felt about Rose, being with her all the time for a full week.

"Rose, he asked me if I loved you."

Rose let go of his hands, Alec trying to stop her tipping her chair over and trying to judge her reaction. Surely she'd known this was coming over the last few months?