Worst nightmare

After enjoying an evening at the bonfire in the park, John and Alec's dad leaving them to stand arm in arm, Alec had pointed out the shooting stars and cascades and Rose was looking at him. Knowing this was what it was like to love someone, they prepared to spend their second Christmas together, intending on making the most of the mistletoe John was putting up again, not that he thought they needed it.

Alec had bought her a bright coloured scarf and a heart-shaped pendant to put their photos in and hoped she'd like them. Now Rose wasn't dragged to the pub with her mother and Bob, she had more time to look for something for Alec but still couldn't decide. She thought about a jumper but couldn't find one and didn't want to get him a Christmas one with santas on so when Alec was busy a few Sundays before, she asked John's advice.

"Weeell," John began, something Rose found amusing when he did it in class. "Alec's a bit difficult to buy for isn't he? Let's see, he's got a camera, you got him a writing set last year and a t-shirt for his birthday, though the trip to see the band was a late birthday present for him I suppose?"

"Yeah and I still can't get over they called my name out, I must have gone bright red," Rose laughed.

"Yes, I bet you did," John laughed back. "Back to the point then? So you thought about a jumper?" he asked, just to make sure.

"I wouldn't know what to get really, I was lucky with the t-shirt."

"Yes and I've seen the one you both have, so they did size skinny then?" John joked.

"I don't know how he does it," Rose admitted. "This isn't helping."

John had to admit defeat as Rose kept turning down his suggestions one by one before Alec joined them. That left Rose one more Saturday to get him something, since she already had her mother's, which was something for her and Bob, another set of wine glasses. It was also the last few days at school and they were told their class teacher was leaving and they'd be getting a new one after the holidays.

Both Rose and Alec hoped John would take it on but they doubted it as they sat on their bench one break time.

"What if the new teacher splits us up in class?" Rose wondered, trying to keep her hands warm despite her wearing her gloves.

She preferred to keep them off and let Alec keep her hands warm most of the time.

"Well whoever it is may be new and try. I think everyone in school knows nothing will ever split us up."

"Alec, I don't think anyone can, do you?"

Alec shook his head. Even though having Rose as his girlfriend was amazing, at the back of his mind there was also the thought Bob would try at some point. He'd given up buzzing for Rose on Saturday nights and Sundays, he'd let himself in and Rose would join him downstairs but the Saturday before Christmas, Alec was a bit early and came face to face with the boy Rose detested, even more than she had done.

Alec was just letting himself in when a couple and the teenager came up behind him.

"Hey, I know you," Jimmy told Alec, then turning to his parents. "You took Rose away from joining us."

Alec stopped putting the code in, realizing who it was.

"Well are you going to let us in?" the teenager's mother asked him.

"No, sorry, it's up to them to let you in," Alec tried to reply politely. "I'm not suppose to give the code to anyone."

Jimmy tried to stand taller than Alec, which was a bit of an effort.

"What does she want you as a boyfriend for then?"

Alec wanted to say maybe because he was the alternative, whatever they got up to on Saturday nights.

"This is Rose's boyfriend?" Jimmy's mother asked. "What's so special about you then?"

Alec tried to keep his temper.

"You would need to ask Rose that," Alec replied, knowing Rose would come down to see where he was.

"We're asking you," Jimmy's dad told him. "She won't come to the pub or our gatherings because of you. She also had a go at Jimmy for wanting to know why she didn't stay."

"That's up to Rose if she doesn't want to stay," Alec replied, hoping Rose wouldn't open the door.

"She should do as she's told like the rest of them," the woman replied back.

It was now getting Alec even more worried. What did they do up there? Whatever it was, he was glad he knew Rose was with him. What was her mother thinking of, trying to get Rose involved? Did her mother actually know? He thought maybe not, that it was the rest of them being clever and not letting on and her mother not being used to a load of teenagers around.

The man gave in and pressed the buzzer and Alec knew he would complain about not being let in but it really wasn't up to him to let anyone in, in case they had all fallen out. How would he know if they had? The door had just been released as he saw Rose getting out of the lift. He supposed the three who had gone in were late, since he didn't usually see anyone.

"Where are you going?" the boy's mother asked Rose.

"I'm meeting someone why?" Rose replied, not remembering the woman's surname.

"You're meeting that boy outside. He was rude and wouldn't let us in," the woman complained.

"Well he doesn't live here, does he?" Rose asked her.

"Why aren't you staying?" Jimmy's dad asked her.

"I stay until everyone gets here, it's not my fault if someone's late," Rose replied.

She made her escape, Alec having waited outside.

"What was all that about?" Rose asked him as she greeted him.

"They asked me to let them in and I refused. Maybe you should stay one night and find out what they get up to?"

"Are you kidding Alec? No way am I staying there. Geez Alec, I wish my mother would realize what might be going on. What are they tryin' to do?"

"Stop worrying Rose. You are out of it, that's all that matters. They can't force you to stay."

"What if Bob tries Alec? What if they complain and he makes me stay next time? I know I'm good at sneakin' out but I've not had much practice lately. I should tell your dad. Alec, what would I do if I had no-one to tell?"

"Well you have so stop worrying. We won't let anything happen to you Rose, I promise. If things get bad, you have our phone number, we can be round in five minutes. I hope it never comes to that though."

"So do I Alec, I'm so glad I have you."

"So am I Rose, I hate to think what things would be like if you had no-one. Maybe though you are worrying about nothing, they may not say anything?"

Jackie was laughing at something, Bob was wondering what since he hadn't found anything amusing as the teenagers gathered in one corner but Jimmy had been made to recall what had really happened a while ago when he'd confronted Rose.

"She did what?" Bob asked him, Jackie stopping to take notice.

"I only asked why she didn't stay and she twisted my arm," Jimmy was trying to tell him, not admitting he'd tried to grab her arm first.

"Rose wouldn't do that unless she was provoked," Jackie defended her daughter.

"Don't stick up for her Jackie," Bob told her.

"But Bob," Jackie protested. "I think I know Rose better than he does."

"Are you saying my Jimmy's a liar?" the teenager's mother asked.

"She's not saying that, are you Jackie?" Bob frowned at her, as if to say she'd better not be.

"He may not have told us everything," Jackie replied, knowing Rose would never turn on someone without a reason.

"She'll not spoil things Jackie," Bob warned her, Jackie wondering if everyone else knew what they were as well.

"She'd better not," someone else joined in,

"She won't," Bob tried to assure them. "Who wants a refill?"

After the last day at school, the class wondering who they'd get as a replacement teacher and John denying it was him to Rose and Alec, they had a few days to themselves before the big day, Rose still trying to get out of having Christmas dinner with her mother and Bob and Bob giving a firm no.

"It won't be so bad Rose, at least you got out of their Christmas Eve party," he reminded her.

"Yeah, that's something. I'd much rather spend it with you and your family," Rose told him when they'd been to his aunts, who had said she was more than welcome to join them.

Rose had thought Bob would put up more of a fight over her not being there. What was he up to? Would he make her stay in on New Year's Eve? She hoped not. She'd been told she was expected to help with Christmas dinner and she just hoped they'd not invited anyone round later. She didn't want to worry Alec about it though so she thought she should keep it to herself.

She knew he'd go crazy though if it turned out someone did pay them a visit. At least she was free to go out the following day. Maybe she should mention it though, just in case.

Alec noticed she looked a bit down as they went to his room. She lay on the bed while Alec put some music on.

"What's wrong Rose?"

"It's been too easy, getting out on Christmas Eve, what's he up to?"

"It may be nothing Rose, try not to think about it. It's better than last year."

Rose supposed he was right and she should be grateful.

"Alec, what if he's invited some friends round on Christmas Day instead?"

He sat on the edge of the bed, Rose reaching out for him.

He put his arms around her and pulled her up into a hug.

"Then just go to your room," he suggested. "He can only make you eat with them. If anyone turns up, just stay in your room until they leave."

"I have an awful feeling about it Alec. What if it's that Jimmy and his parents? Why are they making such a fuss 'cos I'm not there?"

Alec already thought he knew the answer. They were pushing this Jimmy and Rose towards each other but what for? He had an idea his dad and John already knew and weren't saying anything.

His dad had already had another discussion with John and neither of them liked where things were going.

"What do you think Uncle?" John had asked him while Alec was seeing Rose home the Sunday before.

"Well Rose not having to sneak out is one good thing but from what Alec told me, this one couple and their son are getting very pushy about Rose not staying in when they and others visit. I don't like it John."

"I know. Coming here and at school are the only places Rose forgets about it. You should see them at break time," John grinned. "Even when it's cold, there they are sitting on the back of the same bench and no-one even bothers them. It's like everyone knows they're they but they don't want to see them. I say they've got a perception filter around them."

"Well you would," his uncle laughed. "You mean it alters the way people look at them?"

"I think so. It's been over a year now and no-one's told them to stop. If they go around holding hands though, it may break the spell. They always seem to behave though but did you see Rose at the fireworks display?"

"Yes, I noticed John. They are totally gone on each other and as long as they accept they behave in my house, I'm not against it. The thing is though, they are getting older. I'm sure they will be sensible about it though. Back to Rose's problem though, we can't go barging in there and ask what's going on. Maybe you could express your concern as one of her teachers though?"

"She won't let me get involved, I've already asked her. Hopefully if it starts getting worse, she'll change her mind?"

His uncle just hoped he was right. Rose got out without any trouble on Christmas Eve, Alec waiting for her. When they got to his aunt's he told her she looked nice as she'd picked up a new top while shopping and hadn't let him see it.

"So we need to sneak off to the mistletoe?" she teased him as relatives were also coming round.

"Do we need to?" he teased her back.

"I hope not," Rose replied, wanting to sample the party food in the kitchen.

"You get enough kissing when we're on our own," he reminded her.

She reached over to whisper in his ear, "Never. We can never kiss enough."

Alec whispered back as he heard the door opening, "I know Rose."

"Come on you two, your other aunt and uncle and cousin are here Alec," his aunt told him.

Now he knew he'd get teased by his cousin after his birthday party and her asking if Rose was his girlfriend. A lot had changed since then, for both himself and Rose. Every day after school, they would spend time talking and kissing, Rose getting him to dance and them dancing even closer. He knew he loved every minute of it just as she did.

He was going to ask her in the new year what she wanted to do about it, when they got to be fifteen, things would begin to change even more, they were bound to but only if Rose wanted. The way he was feeling now, he knew Rose felt the same so he'd have to talk to John about it. He wondered though who Rose had to talk to about it. Maybe she confided in Sandra after school? She certainly couldn't talk to her mother about it, that was for sure and even if she talked to John, he wouldn't know things from a girl's point of view.

John agreed to walk back with Rose and Alec after the party. It was frosty compared with the year before with the snow and the two of them huddled together as they walked, making John smile.

"Hey, you two," John shouted, making them stop. "Been making use of the mistletoe again?"

"Nah, we don't need it, do we Alec?" Rose turned, still holding onto him.

"Things are getting serious between the two of you then?"

"Yeah, they are. I was going to talk to you about it," Alec admitted.

"Well I can maybe advise you both, if Rose doesn't mind?" John replied. "Rose, I know you really don't have anyone else to talk to. I'll do the best I can though."

"Thanks. I talk to Sandra a bit, she helps. I'd talk to my mum but if she talks to Bob?"

"I know, it's a bit risky. Something seemed to bother you tonight Rose."

"Yeah, these people mum and Bob mix with. Well Bob insisted I stay in tomorrow for Christmas dinner and I'm scared he's invited some of them round, those with that boy I told you about."

"You don t know that for certain Rose," Alec reminded her.

"Rose, I'm sorry. Just try and stay out of their way after you've eaten eh?" John suggested.

"I'm gonna, don't worry. I wish I could spend it with all of you," Rose replied sadly, Alec trying to pull her close.

"Let's get you home, it's freezing out here," John joked. "Don t take long saying goodnight."

After a few brief kisses, Rose went inside, John nudging his young cousin.

"Don't take long coming to me for that talk Alec," John told him.

When Rose got inside, her mother was slightly more sober than Bob. Rose guessed she'd be the one getting up early to start Christmas dinner then? Bob was just coming out of the bathroom and caught Rose.

"We're having guests for lunch tomorrow," he slurred, Rose looking at her mother as her worse nightmare was coming true.

"Mum, ya could have warned me," Rose told her.

"We're telling ya now," Bob replied. "Why do ya think we got extra food?"

Rose hadn't even been taking notice since she no longer went shopping with them and she hardly ate there herself. She'd taken the turkey out to defrost and went to check it, it being on a large dish and covered with tinfoil.

"Well I wish I was going out tomorrow, I thought it would just be us," Rose dared to answer.

She thought this was punishment for going out on Saturday nights when their friends came around and she could guess who their visitors were going to be. The next morning, being used to getting up early, she started preparing everything for dinner and was just getting her breakfast when her mother entered the kitchen, looking slightly worse for wear. Jackie saw everything was ready and the oven was on.

"Mum, why did ya have to invite anyone?"

"It was Bob's idea last night."

"It's that Jimmy and his parents. isn't it?"

"Yeah, sorry Rose, I know ya don't like him but Bob's been friends with them a long time."

"I know what Bob's up to Mum."

"What do ya mean?" her mother asked as she managed to fill the kettle and switch it on.

"You know Mum. He's trying to get me away from Alec and make friends with Jimmy. That's never gonna happen. Mum, I love Alec and he loves me, why would I want to leave him for that fat lump?"

"Don't be rude Rose. Jimmy's just a bit bigger and Alec, well he's so skinny, doesn't he get fed?"

"Yes, he does, he's just slim," Rose replied, not daring to add she thought he was quite fit when she saw him in the swimming pool and when he was changing into his t-shirt, her favourite part of getting into his room after school.

She was toying with the idea of getting him to go a bit slower and maybe do a bit of kissing before putting his t-shirt on. Well things were getting a bit tense lately or was that just her?

"Well don't go telling Bob what ya just said, he'll say ya too young to know," her mother replied, yawning.

"Well I'm not too young, I knew ages ago and not so long ago we told each other. I do love him Mum and I can't describe how he makes me feel. I'm sorry but when we've eaten, I'm not sticking around, I'll go to my room rather than be near that lump."

"Then Bob will get annoyed with ya. Rose, I know you don't like Jimmy but ya not giving him a chance."

"Huh? He's the one who grabbed me that time and asked why I didn't stay on Saturday nights. I should have told him he had to be joking while he was there but Bob interrupted me."

"His parents were complaining, I stuck up for you and said you wouldn't have started it. You didn't did you?"

"No Mum, he started it," Rose yawned, thinking she'd never survive the day and missing Alec already and wishing it was all over. "I'm not gonna sit anywhere near him either. What's Bob thinking?"

"He wants to be like his friends, with a proper family. He'd been all on his own Rose, ya can't blame him."

"Well he can forget trying to shove me towards that Jimmy. Does he seriously think it's gonna work?"

"Is what going to work?" Bob asked as he came into the kitchen.

"Having so many people for Christmas dinner," Rose tried to bluff.

"You and your mother can manage, looks like you already made a start?" Bob laughed, sitting at the table and expecting one of them to feed him.

All was ready in time and Rose heard the buzzer, wishing it was Alec calling for her. It was her worse nightmare as her mother let them in.

"I hope she's not going to run off today," the woman told Jackie.

Rose heard her and thought that was exactly what she was going to do after she'd eaten. She had to sit opposite the boy she detested, him grinning at her as they ate.

"Are you enjoying the holidays?" Jimmy's mother asked her.

"I would be if I was with my friends," Rose replied.

"That's enough Rose" Bob warned her.

"Jimmy told us you had a boyfriend? I hope it's not anything serious? I mean if he's your first boyfriend?"

Rose wondered how to tell the woman to mind her own business without being cheeky.

"Yeah, he's the first decent boy I've met since I've been here but he's not my first one," Rose announced, hoping her mother would go along with it. "I had one back in London, his name was Mickey."

"You never said anything," Bob joined in.

"Well everyone else knew, didn't they Mum?"

"You never stopped talking about him," her mother laughed.

Rose was hoping that would put Jimmy off, if she'd had two boyfriends.

"I remember ya didn't want to leave," her mother added.

Well that was true enough, it just wasn't the fact she'd left Mickey Smith behind. That had changed the day she'd seen Alec in the library. Now she knew what that feeling had been when he'd stared at her across the room.

"Well it's not like I'd never had a boyfriend before but I'm not looking for another one, thanks," Rose told anyone who was interested.

"It's not good, sticking with one," Bob announced. "You spend too much time with him when you should be here."

"I don't think I spend too much time with Alec," Rose disagreed.

"Well you wouldn't," the woman huffed, helping herself to more potatoes left in the dish.

"What difference does it make? What are ya trying to say? It's up to me who I go out with, not anyone else," Rose objected, debating whether to just get up and take her plate into the kitchen. "You think I'm gonna leave Alec and go out with him?" she pointed to Jimmy.

Everyone went silent then Rose did get up.

"You must be joking. Tell me you're not serious?"

"Calm down Rose, that's not what they're saying," her mother tried to assure her.

"Leave it Jackie. Rose, if you don't forget about Alec voluntarily, I may have to insist you come with us every Saturday to the pub and to our other friends' homes. It's time you learned there are other people, not just Alec."

Rose pushed her chair back, almost knocking it over and forgetting her half eaten lunch.

"What? You mean him? He's rude and obnoxious and fat, you want me to forget about Alec for him? What the hell is going on here? You've met Alec, he's good looking, he's slim, he's fun to be with and I love him. What sort of game are you all playing? Oh, I get it. You have all those other teenagers hanging around and when they're old enough, you're all gonna try to do the same?" Rose replied, almost in tears.

"Sit down and finish your dinner Rose," her mother suggested.

"You go along with this Mum?" Rose asked her, tears on her cheeks.

"Rose, I already told ya, this is what families are like. They get to know people and well, their kids get to know their friends' kids," her mother tried to explain.

"Mum, what are ya sayin'? How can you go along with this?"

"Sit down Rose," Bob ordered her. "Don't be so rude to Jimmy. You do as you are told in my home, remember that. Jackie, talk to her after lunch that she has to respect I'm in charge here."

"Rose, please love, sit down. We're Bob's family now."

"Well you might be but I'm not. I don't care about what's expected of me, I'm not being a part of it so forget it. I'm going round to Alec's aunt's and don't expect me back until later and I don't care what you all think."

Rose stormed out and went to her room, locking the door. She heard knocking and Bob shouting for her to come out.

"Get out here now Rose, I mean it."

"Go away. I don't care what you expect from me but I'll never agree to it."

"You won't have a choice if my plan I told your mother happens," Bob replied.

"What plan? She never said anything to me," Rose called back. "Are you two getting married?"

"Married?" Bob questioned her. "We don't need to be married, your mother agreed to live here under my terms and that goes for you."

"Well when I'm sixteen, they won't apply," Rose called back, hoping that would make her old enough to do as she wanted.

"You are not going to spoil my plans Rose. I agreed to wait a while to let you get used to living here but I'm running out of patience with you. You may not have to obey me but you have to obey your mother. We'll discuss this further but come out and finish lunch."

"Not until they've gone, I'll warm mine up or I'll go to Alec's. How can you say I have to leave him for that gross Jimmy?"

"You will have to learn to lower your standards Rose, at some point. Are you coming out?"

"Only to take my lunch into the kitchen to warm up. You'll never get my mum to tell me to leave Alec and go out with him."

"We'll see about that," Bob replied.

Drying her eyes, Rose unlocked her door and went back in the living room as everyone was finishing. She took her plate and went back out silently to the kitchen.

"Jackie, go talk to her," Bob suggested. "She has to learn I'll not keep changing my plans just for her."

"I know Bob but ya just sprung it on her," Jackie replied.

"I thought you'd talked to Rose?" Jimmy's mother asked him while the teenager was getting extra Christmas pudding after staring at Rose taking her plate. "I thought everything was agreed?"

Rose didn't want to hear the rest but Alec's dad and John would want to know. What could they do about it though? Would they report Bob and his friends to a society who dealt with this kind of thing? What proof was there though that anything was going on? Bob was being very careful about it and it scared the life out of her.

Was he playing some kind of game with her? She needed to talk to Alec but she'd be caught leaving, though it may be worth a try. She didn't feel like eating as she warmed the plate in the microwave her mother had talked Bob into buying and looked at it. She still had a lump in her throat from earlier.

Now she knew what she was up against, she could tell Alec's dad and see what he thought but was Bob just saying things to upset her? Did they really want her to agree to go out with Jimmy or was it something else?