A/N for various reasons, the next year for them, I won't be going into great details until they begin to form a closer relationship and talk about where they are heading as they get a bit older.
"Say something Rose," Alec was asking her as she flopped her head onto the table, something she seemed to do a lot of. "Have I upset you?"
Rose raised her head slightly.
"No. Why didn't ya say anything Alec?"
"He just came out and asked me Rose, then we were getting ready to go away and I didn't want you to miss out on the holiday because I came out and told you. Would it have spoiled things?"
"Well, what did ya tell him then?" she asked, seeing it was getting a bit darker.
"I said I think I do, well, I'm pretty sure I do, if wanting to be with you all the time and hating when you go home counts? This last week though, you thinking we would never survive being together all the time? We have survived it, my dad asked me about going away next year and I said maybe you wouldn't be talking to me when we get home."
"Alec, I said I may not even be here then," she reminded him. "Yeah, we have survived and do ya know what?"
Alec shook his head, hoping she wasn't really mad at him and he'd blown any chance things would change when they got home.
Rose continued. "I'm still here Alec, not just because I can't get home on my own," she tried to smile. "If like ya say, wanting to be with each other all the time? Then yeah, I do want to be with ya all the time, I hate going home."
"I know you do Rose. What you said though, about what Bob is trying to get you into, please be careful."
"I will, don't worry. Well the most he can do is kick me and my mum out I suppose? I don't think he'd do that though but I wish she could see what was happening."
Alec got up and moved his chair nearer.
"So do I Rose, maybe she will?"
"You have no idea Alec. She saw a chance at a better life and took it, nothing will get her to change her mind without any actual proof."
"Maybe she will if he makes a mistake though?" Alec wondered.
"Well he's not making it with me, is he? He's just gonna have to find out how awkward teenagers can be, isn't he?"
He held his hand out to help her up and they walked back to the caravan.
"Best go get packed Rose," Alec's dad suggested.
"Yeah, I wish we could stay a bit longer."
"I know you do. You have the rest of the summer though so make the most of it eh? One thing though, both of you. You've had this week where neither of you have had any time to yourselves so when we get back, there are going to be a few new rules, understand?"
Alec looked at Rose, then his dad.
"We only go to my room for an hour in the afternoons, when we get back from my aunt's or the park or somewhere," Alec insisted.
"I never said anything Alec. You are both getting older now and you have a few more weeks with no school, this time last year you had not met properly so you are going to be with each other a lot more than the normal one or two weeks. Just be aware that spending a lot more time together, well there could be times when it gets too much and one of you may want to back off a little."
"Well that won't be me," Rose insisted, doing that thing Alec had noticed lately where she inspected her fingernails and pretended she wasn't interested.
"I am not saying it will Rose. I don't want either of you to feel that it's too much and not give each other some space. As long as you both promise me you will not spend all your time in your room, Alec, then just be downstairs when I get home or just coming back from somewhere and we'll see how things go."
Alec wondered what his dad was getting at but he knew he'd find out sooner or later if Rose had anything to do with it. All too soon, Rose was being reminded to get a move on and Alec's dad used things up for breakfast while Alec put things they didn't need into the car, still waiting for Rose's things.
"Alec, call Rose again eh? She knows we have to get going."
"She'll just get mad with me Dad," he insisted. "She's already been out to the bathroom."
He went to knock gently on the bedroom door and asked if he could enter. Rose was sitting on the bed, the duvet and covers at the bottom.
"Come and get breakfast Rose, please?"
"Yeah, I was just taking the bedding off. I don't want to go back Alec."
"I know you don't Rose but you won't be on your own all the time, I promise," he replied, trying to get her to stand up. "Come and eat while I put your things in the car."
Rose went to put her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I don't wanna go straight home Alec."
"I know, just drop your things off and I'll wait for you, then come into town with us. Won't your mother need groceries though?"
"She mentioned they'd be going out anyway when they got back, she never left me any extra money to get them. Come on then, back to the real world?" she smiled.
As they handed the caravan key in and prepared to go home, Jackie and Bob were sitting by the hotel swimming pool waiting for the coach to take them to the airport, Bob drinking from a pint glass even though it was only just after eleven in the morning.
"That was a great week Bob," Jackie turned to him.
"I suppose it was. It would have been better had Rose come along. We should have been more insistent with her Jackie."
"Well if she sees any sense, she'll come with us next time," Jackie replied, sipping her large fruit cocktail.
"Well there won't be a next time Jackie if she doesn't want to come," Bob told her.
"Can't we just have a week away without worrying about her?" Jackie wanted to know. "She's old enough to stay with Alec's aunt."
She wondered what his problem had been all week with just enjoying the sunshine, the drinks and the nights out, Rose wouldn't have been able to go in the resort club and bar with them.
"We need to go shopping when we get back you know?" she reminded him as he caught the attention of a passing waiter.
"You should have got Rose to do it Jackie, we'll be late enough in the pub anyway."
"Are we still going?" Jackie wondered.
"For one at least, then leave the unpacking, we are still going out tonight, we missed last week."
Jackie wondered what was so bad about that? She herself could take or leave going to visit their friends and could only be herself when they were being the hosts. The rest of the time she had to worry about getting Bob home without waking Rose for some assistance.
Once on the plane then getting a taxi home, Jackie questioned Bob driving into town when there was barely enough time to get groceries, let alone get yet another drink but he'd sobered up a bit on the plane, sleeping off what he'd had earlier.
When Rose had got back after spending the afternoon with Alec when they'd had a short visit into town, her mother and Bob were getting ready to go out.
"Coming with us?" Bob asked her.
Rose thought after a week away from him, he had to be joking.
"No, Alec will be calling for me later," she replied.
If he thought she'd change her mind, he had another thing coming.
The next day after getting to Alec's aunt's, his dad took John to one side while Alec went to meet Rose.
"So how did they get on Uncle?" John grinned.
"Fine, have you tried keeping them apart?"
"I gave up," John admitted. "You wanted to talk about what Rose said?"
"Yes, she said some very disturbing things and Alec admitted what she'd said to him. She asked him what this Bob was getting her into. I wonder that myself John."
"So do I. We can't do much if she won't let us," John replied.
"All we can do is be there for her and be on her side."
"Well she's no need to worry on that score, especially with Alec," John grinned.
"Well she knows she's not alone at least. Let's hope that's enough."
Just one week before they were going back to school, Rose was dreading her mother would get a letter to say she had to find another school but got away with it. So one afternoon down by the river, the two of them getting bolder with each other and Rose needing no excuses to start the kissing, they were laid by some trees on the riverbank, Rose in her shorts and a sleeveless top.
"Are ya looking forward to going back to school?" she teased him by ruffling his newly cut hair, thankful it was still spiky.
"Last year, well I wasn't so keen to go back, except to see if that was where you were going. When I first saw you in the library, I had no idea where you'd go."
"Yeah? I thought somehow you'd go to the grammar school. I didn't know if ya'd talk to me though? I saw what Jamie was trying to do, get you to go over to me but now, I know why he was doing it. He was seeing if ya'd choose between him or a girl."
"I know that now Rose. All that time he was pretending though, what was he expecting? Did he think I was the same way as him?"
"It doesn't matter Alec, ya made the choice, it just took him a while to let on. We could still be wrong?"
Alec didn't think they were and time would tell. The day before they went back to school, they had been out again then back to Alec's aunts and Alec had something to ask his dad after they had talked.
"I'm going to ask my dad if we can have a bit longer in my room, if you want?" Alec had asked her.
"Do ya think he'll agree? Ya mean when it starts getting cold again and we can't go out after tea?"
Alec wondered what else she thought.
"Yes Rose, maybe an hour or so before you go home? I could write some more stories, put some records on? What do you think?"
They had reached his aunt's house.
"Yeah, that would be great Alec. I'm glad ya got sorted with your reading glasses, they make ya look cute," Rose smiled, kissing his cheek as they reached the kitchen door.
Alec had been relieved that after his visit to the optician's he'd only needed them for reading and Rose had made a fuss of him but when they got back to school, he was going to follow the example of the others who had to wear them for class work.
Much to their relief, Alec's dad had said they could have a trial of going to Alec's room once it wasn't practical for them to go out on the condition he heard them moving around but Alec had not yet answered John's question and he knew Rose was being patient with him over it.
As they walked back to where Rose lived, she decided now was the time to bring up the subject of what John had asked Alec.
"We've not talked about it much," she reminded him.
"Well a few weeks ago, I thought that was what I was feeling, what about you?"
"Yeah, I think so too Alec, so what happens now?"
"Well, I guess we maybe tell each other?" he suggested as they stood at the end of the short driveway.
"Maybe we should have done that while we were out?" Rose smiled.
"Does it really matter? Rose, I think I love you."
He leaned forward and kissed her very lightly, taking her by surprise.
"Yeah, I think I love you too Alec, actually, I'm pretty sure I do."
"Then so am I, I guess this is how it happens?"
"I guess so. Maybe we need a bit of advice?"
"I can't keep relying on John to tell me I suppose? He's been really good though. We have to find our own way Rose, what do you say?"
"That we stop messing around when we get home from school by pretending we're thinking about it?" she offered with a grin.
Alec couldn't have agreed more. After school, they would do their homework instead of leaving it until later, Rose had taken a few things to Alec's house and would get changed in the bathroom but she still insisted he didn't do the same, which amused him she was still shy.
Since Rose no longer went to the pub with her mother and Bob, Alec thought she seemed a lot happier, now they spent most of the weekend together and both Alec's dad and John hoped it wouldn't all come crashing down on them by them spending too much time together. She had even gradually got out of being around when their 'friends' arrived, seeing the boy she hated had got even more obnoxious as she was going out.
He had however stopped her one night.
"Why don't you stay any more?" he more or less growled at her.
"Because I don't like you, you moron, now get lost, my boyfriend will be calling for me soon."
"I think you should stay," he tried to suggest, grabbing her arm.
Rose was having none of it as she twisted out of it and pulled his arm up behind him, making him yelp.
"Get it in that thick head of yours, I don't have to do anything you say, got it?"
He managed a squeal of agreement as she let go.
"What's going on out here?" Bob asked as he left the living room, Rose thought probably because she and this big lump were both missing. "Getting to know each other?" he asked, seeing the boy rubbing his arm.
"No way, he's a moron," Rose replied. "I'm off now, Alec will probably use the intercom, just leave it."
"Hold on the missy," Bob told her as Jimmy started to say something.
"I was asking her to stay and she went Bruce Lee on me," he complained.
"I've a good mind to make ya stay," Bob warned Rose.
"No way, he's gross and Alec will wonder where I am," Rose replied, wishing Alec would call on the intercom. "Why would I want to stay, looked in the mirror lately?" she asked Jimmy.
Alec was constantly telling her how pretty she was, especially when she let her hair out of the band she tied it up with for school and one side covered her eye most of the time, which kept prompting him to push it back and use it as an excuse to kiss her.
"Leave it Rose," Bob told her. "I want you back before everyone goes home."
"What? Why do I have to do that?" Rose wanted to know, since she'd not been getting back until around ten as Alec's dad had agreed to walk back with them now it was dark early.
It was coming up to bonfire night and they had all agreed to go to one being held in the park, John saying he would join them there and Rose wondering why there hadn't been one last year. Now Alec's family were getting closer than her own, as she didn't consider Bob to be family.
"Because everyone has been asking why you've not been here," Bob replied.
"Well let them miss me then, it's not like I know any of them," Rose told him, wishing she could escape and glaring at the boy who had prevented her from doing so earlier.
Now Alec would wonder why she wasn't downstairs waiting just inside the doorway for him.
"Well you would get to know them if you got back earlier."
"Why would I want to do that?" Rose replied as her mother came out.
"Do what?" her mother asked.
"Nothing Jackie, go back inside," Bob told her. "I was saying Rose should be back before our friends leave."
"Yeah, ya should Rose," her mother agreed. "Ya missing out on everything."
Rose didn't want to know what she was missing out on.
"What do ya mean by everything?" Rose asked worriedly, since Jimmy was watching her, more so than he'd done before. "Forget it, I don't want to know so I'm off."
Bob tried to grab her arm but she shrugged him off.
"You're still in my place Rose, I expect you to respect that," he reminded her.
"Well that shouldn't include making me stay when all your friends are here. Why do ya want me to stay?" she asked, hoping to get an answer so she could tell Alec's dad or John.
She knew they were up to something and desperate for her to join in but what the hell was it? She somehow doubted they were playing 'Trivial Pursuits' or 'Monopoly' junior editions.
"I'm not discussing this with you Rose," he replied as Jackie tried to get Jimmy away.
"I don't want to know anyway, I don't care what ya get up to in there but don't ask me to be a part of it," Rose replied defiantly.
"You just watch yourself Rose," Bob warned her. "You may be getting older but you are not going to spoil mine and your mother's evenings with our friends, understand?"
Rose wondered why the hell her mother was going along with this? What influence did Bob have over her mother and was trying to get her involved in as well? She heard the buzzer on the intercom as she had a staring contest with Bob.
"If that's your boyfriend, I've a good mind to tell him you're not allowed out tonight so watch yourself next time or I will. Be back before ten."
Rose felt he meant it and hurried before Alec buzzed again and ruined the fact she'd given him the code to get in as she didn't want Bob to know he could come in when he wanted to. Alec only did so during the holidays anyway as sometimes, he'd stayed and helped Rose tidy up for her mother. Rose had felt guilty leaving her mother to do the cooking but Jackie had got away with it so far.
"Rose, I was just going to buzz again," Alec answered worriedly when Rose said hi to him.
"Sorry, I'll be right down, I got held up," Rose replied as Bob glared at her as he went back into the living room.
As she heard laughing coming from the living room, her mother's being amongst it, she let herself out and thanked her lucky stars she had escaped. What the hell was going on now?
"What happened Rose?" Alec wanted to know as they greeted each other outside, since the landlord had installed security cameras in the entrance and Rose only risked waiting a few minutes for Alec usually.
"Nothing much, just that moron trying to get me to stay," she told him.
"Which moron would that be, Bob or that boy?" Alec tried to joke.
"It's not funny Alec, they're all up to something and I dread to think what it is. What the hell are they doing?"
"Calm down Rose," he tried to tell her, putting his hands on her shoulders and trying to ignore it was cold. "Tell my dad what went on."
"Alec, I don't know what's going on. It was something Bob just came out with and that moron Jimmy tried to stop me from leaving."
"He did what? You're right Rose, what is going on? How does your mother not know?"
"You tell me. Let's go, it's freezing out here."
"Yes, we should go. Whatever it is Rose, just tell my dad, he'll figure it out," Alec tried to assure her, taking her cold hand as she'd forgotten her gloves while trying to escape.
"Why do I need gloves when my hand fits in yours?" Rose smiled as they walked along.
"I think you forget them on purpose Rose. Don't worry too much, my dad will figure it out but what then?"
"Yeah, I know. Maybe it's just the way they are? I just don't like being there, they all give me the creeps. You wanna be a detective Alec, I know why now."
"You do? I want to help people Rose. People who have lost someone like I lost my mum and I didn't know why and now, to help someone like you who doesn't know what's going on with their family."
"Bob is not my family Alec, he never will be and if my mum marries him, there's no way I'm letting him adopt me. If she waits until I'm sixteen, he can't unless I agree."
"You had better hope so," Alec agreed as they reached his house. "Maybe we can start going places on Saturday night? We could get the bus into town and go bowling or something?"
"Yeah, we should. Thanks for tryin' to cheer me up," Rose replied, kissing his cheek as he was opening the door.
"You know I would do anything for you Rose, I love you."
"I know ya would and I love you too Alec. We don't have to tell your dad, about what just happened."
"Yes, we do. The more he knows, the more he can do something about it. Don't keep anything back Rose, please. We all worry about you."
"Yeah, I know ya do. You're all more like my family. Hey, I thought you were tryin' to cheer me up?"
After telling Alec's dad what Bob and Jimmy had been doing, he was thinking carefully as to what to try to do about it.
"Rose, you're old enough to understand where myself and John think this is going. I'm sorry Rose, you are doing the right thing keeping away from them but we have no actual proof it's what we think it is. I'm not even going to ask you to try to find out."
"I don't want to find out Mr Hardy, trust me," Rose replied as she sat on the sofa next to Alec, wishing they could hold hands but had decided a while back not to risk doing so.
"No Rose, you don't want to," Alec agreed.
"I wish I could do more, really I do. All we can do is be there for you Rose, we all are and you must tell me everything that goes on. If I tell John as well, that's two of us who believe you if we have to take it further at some point. You have over a year before you can legally tell Bob you don't have to do as he says."
"I know, I wish it wasn't that long," Rose told him, leaning back. "At least he's said nothing about adopting me and marrying my mother. I hope she has the sense to keep putting him off but he could ask her out of the blue and knowing her she'll say yes. They're still debating going away again next year but I'll be fifteen then, maybe I should just admit I'm going with you?"
"It may be best you do Rose, that will prove you can make your own mind up. What I don't get is though, they know about Alec so why are they making you stay in when their friends come round?"
"I wish I knew Mr Hardy but there's no way they're getting me involved in whatever it is."
After Rose had left, Bob got Jackie into the kitchen.
"Rose had a go at Jimmy," Bob told her. "He was rubbing his arm when I saw them."
"Bob, she'll have only been defending herself. Maybe Jimmy was trying something?"
"Maybe he was only trying to get her to stay?" Bob wondered. "Still, he shouldn't have done it out in the hallway, he knows better than that. I warned Rose she'd better be careful or she'll stay next time, whether she likes it or not. It's time you talked to her again Jackie. She'll be fifteen next year and you keep putting it off."
"Yeah, I know Bob but it's best she gets a bit older, don't ya think?" Jackie replied, trying to remember what the agreement was all about.
Jackie still didn't understand half of what he meant by Rose getting older. She wondered if it was so Rose would agree more readily to what Bob had planned but why did he keep changing them all the time and not telling her exactly what they were?
As Alec and his dad were walking her home, letting them walk in front, he had a pretty good idea what this Jimmy had been implying but Rose having her arm in Alec's, he thought whatever Bob was up to, there was no way any of his friends could entice Rose away. They'd not said anything in front of him and always behaved but he knew now they were already in love with each other.
He just hoped nothing would spoil it since Rose seemed to be on very shaky ground at home.
