What next?

"What was all that about?" Alec asked her as they went downstairs.

"Bob wanting me to stay in. He lost," she replied, going to hug him for the first time in the lift because now, she didn't care.

"Have you forgotten we don't hug in the lift?" Alec reminded her.

"Why not? If Bob doesn't know by now, well?"

"Rose, be careful, please?"

"Hey, don't worry. Alec, I told ya, I'm not gonna let it get to me. Can we go for a walk before we go to your aunt's?"

Alec wondered what had come over her. They went down by the riverbank, finding a log to sit on. There was no-one around so they took the chance to catch a kiss.

They finally got back to school, the first morning finding out who was going to be their class teacher, someone new. A few days later, they were about to take their seats for registration when the teacher spoke up.

"Alec, Rose, is there any reason you always sit together?" they were asked, since the teacher took geography and had seen them sit at a desk.

"Miss, our other teachers say nothing," Rose objected.

"Rose, I understand where you come from, it may be acceptable to always sit together but you should mix with the rest of the class."

Rose had no idea if it had been acceptable or not at her old school, she'd never sat next to a boy there, had she?

"I expect you to at least sit next to someone else in my class."

When they got outside at playtime, they sat on their bench.

"Rose, just sit next to Sandra in geography," Alec suggested.

"Yeah and who are you gonna sit next to?"

"Don't worry about me, there are some spare seats. It was bound to happen sooner or later Rose."

"Yeah, just as long as it's only in geography. Speaking of which, I think I'm nearly up to date with Scottish lochs and the Highlands," Rose smiled.

"You are doing really well with that and history Rose. You won't have a problem with them this year. Want to start on something else?"

Rose leaned over to whisper to him.

"Do they include kissing as a subject?"

"No, be serious Rose. You need to talk to Sandra, get her to sit next to you in geography. I don't mind Rose, it's just one class."

"What if our new teacher speaks to the others?" Rose wondered.

"Stop worrying Rose. At least there's one teacher's classes we don't have to worry about."

Rose just smiled and nudged his arm as John came towards them.

"So, how's your new class teacher?" John asked them.

"She says we shouldn't sit next to each other in geography," Rose complained, wishing she could warm her hands on Alec.

"Well it was bound to happen sooner or later," John replied.

"Yeah, now I have to ask Sandra if it's okay if I sit with her. I suppose she'll be glad not to sit on her own?"

Rose waited until after classes when she usually met up with her other friend.

"Hey, it's fine Rose," Sandra agreed. "How did you get on with Alec over the holidays?"

"Good. He bought me a really nice pendant as a present, I put our photos in. So, any luck with that boy you like?" Rose asked.

"Which one Rose, keep up," Sandra laughed.

"Oh so there's someone else?" Rose also laughed.

"Yes, I don't stick to one. How do you stay together?" Sandra wondered.

Rose had no idea why they spent every moment they could together except that she loved him. Telling anyone else though would be a big mistake, it could get around the entire school and the spell or whatever that made them virtually invisible would be broken.

"We just do, I can't explain it," Rose replied. "Alec says it's just for one class."

"Well he won't miss you then?" Sandra laughed.

Over the next few months, things were beginning to get intense for the two of them when one day during the holidays, Rose had still been teasing Alec she wanted them to kiss before he put his t-shirt on.

"Aw, come on Alec, I see ya when we go swimming," she teased him when they got back from his aunt's one afternoon.

"You really want that?" he questioned her.

Rose went up to him and fingered the hem of his t-shirt when he'd taken off his jumper.

"Want some help?" she smiled as Alec put his hand over hers.

Before either of them knew it, they had lifted the t-shirt over his head and Rose had put her arms around his neck as he'd tossed it onto the chair. Rose led him over to the bed after they kissed.

"Rose, are you sure about this?" he asked, since John had tried to explain to him Rose may become a bit more forward in their friendship.

Alec had asked John about it.

"Well Alec, if you feel you can be a bit more forward, then let her know," John advised him.

Alec hadn't been so sure exactly when Rose would want to be more forward but after he lost his t-shirt and they were on the edge of his bed? He knew this was what John had talked about. They both kicked their trainers off then Alec pushed her onto the bed.

"If I leave my t-shirt off I'm going to want something in return," he teased her.

"Hey, we can work up to that, can't we?" she asked, putting her hands on his shoulders.

"If that's what you want? Rose, this is starting to get serious."

"Yeah, maybe it is? Should we wait a bit?"

"I'll be fifteen before you Rose, we should wait until we both are?"

"Well, no harm in a little fun?" Rose teased him. "Maybe I'll get around to taking my t-shirt off when we get used to this?"

"Really? I'll look forward to it. Maybe you should come and lie on me?"

Despite his slim frame, Rose still thought he was heavy. After that, things changed between them rapidly. They now kissed on the bed after Alec took his school shirt off and eventually, Rose would unfasten one button at a time of her school shirt but nothing else until Alec's birthday.

Rose had got him a present and neither of them could wait to get out of school as Rose had promised him he could take off her school shirt as she still had a few buttons fastened when they made out on his bed, which they had both enjoyed.

Alec had planned they would get dropped off at her place for her to pick up his present then they would go back to his house and they would have just enough time. Now he was looking forward to it, especially after their last visit to the swimming pool where he had watched her get out, convinced his mouth was open.

When they got to Rose's place, she made him open his present an ID bracelet with Alec/Rose on it in a blue felt gift box she had been saving for a while to get.

"Rose, I don't know what to say," he told her as he took it from the pad.

"I hope ya like it?"

"Like it? Yes, I like it, I'll wear it all the time when we are not at school. What made you choose it?"

"You have to ask? I wanted something you could wear and think of me when I'm not here and when we go out, people will see it. Alec you're fifteen now and in a few weeks, when I'm the same, well, maybe we can take things a bit further. Only if ya want to though?"

"Seriously? Yes Rose, I want to take things further if you do? I was a bit unsure as to ask you. I mean you did promise to let me help you take your school shirt off," he smiled, putting his present and card he'd glanced at what she had written into his school bag.

"Well, what are we still doing here?" Rose grinned.

They hurried back to his house, leaving their coats and school bags and hurried up to his room.

"Rose, you are not going to tease me are you?" he asked, just to make sure.

"Alec, I wouldn't do that to ya on ya birthday. Come here, a kiss first. Happy birthday Alec."

As they kissed, Rose was sure it felt different and felt herself melt into it, Alec feeling the same until they stopped for breath.

"Wow, where did that come from?" Rose wondered.

Alec didn't know himself.

"Rose, we can have more like that," he replied, fingering her top shirt button.

"Someone's in a hurry," she teased him but allowed him to unfasten it.

He stopped where they normally did, like he was asking her permission.

"Well, go on then," she encouraged him as he stared with his mouth open at her black bra.

Rose wished she'd had some more to choose from in her underwear drawer and now, she would soon be old enough to not feel out of place going to the more daring displays in the department store.

"You are beautiful Rose and you've been hiding yourself from me."

"Have I? I wasn't sure, ya know, that you'd like what ya saw?"

"Yes, I do Rose, now, want to take my t-shirt off for some more of those kisses before we run out of time?"

After that, they did the same every night and it was now approaching Rose's birthday and Alec was trying to think of a present for her.

John was trying to help him one Sunday before he went to call for Rose.

"You could always get her a bracelet to match yours?" John suggested.

"Well we always split up for half an hour when we go into town lately. The first time was for her to get my present but now, she likes to wander off and she just sneaks up behind me while I'm looking for her. John, do you think we're too young, I mean to be like that?"

"What? No, you're both perfectly happy with how things are, keep it like that but just be careful it doesn't go too far, you know, until you're both sixteen," John had advised him.

Alec didn't know though that Rose was trying to get up the courage to get her mother to take her to the local health centre to get herself covered in case things started to get out of hand, since it was obvious one of them was going to lose their skirt or trousers as they kissed. She enjoyed watching him change into his jeans but he always fastened them before they initiated the kissing, which was getting more intense.

Alec though had not suggested either of them should do anything but Rose had noticed his fingers were now also on her bra fastener and he'd snap one afternoon or she would just tell him to unfasten it.

They celebrated Rose's birthday, Alec thinking maybe they should have matching ID bracelets but got hers engraved with just Alec on it. That afternoon though, they finally gave in, Rose loosing her bra, well pulling it down over her arms and Alec decided it was time he didn't change into his jeans.

Rose was getting giddy as he teased her, going for his jeans.

"Well should I put them on Rose?" he asked, trying to look serious but failing.

"Are ya expecting me to take my skirt off?" she teased him back.

"If you're not ready for either, it's fine Rose, really."

"What? No, it's not that. Yeah, come here, without ya jeans on you plum."

"Well if you leave your skirt on, maybe you could lose the bra?" he asked hopefully.

Rose didn't look so sure about it though.

"Rose, I meant I'll undo it and maybe move it out of the way. I did not mean to suggest I actually saw you without it. If I did though, it would make me happy."

"Yeah, okay then and maybe we'll work up to that? I'm just a bit shy."

"Rose, you need not be shy with me. Shall we see where this goes?" he asked as he pulled her towards him.

It only took a few days as he got her to relax more and she sat up without trying to cover herself.

"Rose, I wish I could take a picture of you," he told her as he steadied her.

"I didn't want to disappoint ya."

"Rose, you could never do that. So, maybe think about losing your skirt or am I rushing you?"

"It's not that Alec, it was just something Sandra said."

"What has she been telling you?"

"Well, her older sister tells her things, ya know? She said once a girl starts to agree with things, well it gets out of hand very fast."

"In what way?" he asked, a bit confused as things seemed to be going well and he was now staring at her cleavage and wondering if she'd slap his face if he touched.

As they'd laid kissing, his hand at been just at the side, enough to make him think he'd liked to reach more.

"Alec, ya know I love ya? It was just that Sandra said once both of us got down to our underwear, well, nature would start taking over."

"Oh. Well yes, I expect it will but only if you want? I would never do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable Rose, you know me better than that, don't you?"

"Yeah, sorry. Sometimes it seems Sandra is the only one who understands. She said things can escalate very quickly and I don't know if I'd want to give in and let them."

"Rose, we should just take our time. Just take off your skirt or whatever you are wearing and see where it leads when you are ready?" he suggested.

Rose saw he was looking at her and if she didn't make a start, she never would. She took his hand and placed it in the middle of her chest.

"Rose, I meant it when I said you were beautiful."

"I know ya did. Maybe tomorrow, well, we'll make a start?"

"Oh. Well yes, I look forward to it even though then, we will have to wait until after the weekend."

"Well, I was gonna sneak off on Saturday and go around the underwear department. I got some money from my mum for my birthday so I'm gonna surprise ya."

"Then I can't wait to see you in it. Rose, will you slap my face if I were to kiss you?" he pointed to her chest.

Rose shook her head, Alec thinking it meant no but she pulled him close and indicated it was okay. He kissed each side just once and looked up to see Rose smiling. He hoped now that would begin to lead to more because his feelings were all over the place and he knew he wanted a lot more than kissing her there but it was a pleasant start.

Saturday morning, Rose was sat eating her breakfast, Bob still in bed and trying to get the courage to ask her mother about the clinic. The day before, Rose had relented and taken off her school skirt and the feelings she had got as they kissed, almost touching below, had sky-rocketed that she had almost called out. Now she knew she definitely liked the feelings and wanted more.

Her mother came into the kitchen as usual in her dressing gown and Rose had to find the courage but didn't know where to start.

"Mum, ya know me and Alec spend a lot of time together?"

"Yes and Bob's forever complaining. His friends are pushing him ya know, for you to be here when they come round."

"Well they'd best forget it Mum 'cos I'm never gonna be here, not when I have Alec. Mum, don't say anything to Bob but I want ya to go to the clinic with me, ya know, the family one," she said carefully so if Bob was around he wouldn't hear.

"What?" her mother asked, Rose thinking that was it now. "Just how serious are you two? You're only just turned fifteen Rose."

"I know Mum and no, we've done nothing but kiss but now, well I want to be sure I'll be protected if things do go further."

"Well at least ya being honest with me I suppose? Rose, I'm sorry Bob's friends are like that but I can't do anything about it. Why don't ya come to the shop on Monday and I'll miss my lunch break to finish early? Marlene won't mind, I don't make a habit of leaving early. I think ya can just walk in that part of the clinic. You're being sensible about it, I'll give ya that."

"Thanks Mum, I've not said anything to Alec yet. Why do Bob's friends keep going on about me though when I've made it clear?"

Her mother didn't know how to answer. She'd got no response when asking Bob about it, just that it was how they were and wanted Rose to be there but after Rose had come out that they were running a sort of dating agency, Bob had been quiet about it and she dreaded to think now Rose was fifteen what would happen.

Should she say something about it to him? Just maybe she was wrong about it but Bob had not mentioned anything since the confrontation last New Year's Eve but what was he thinking?

Rose was also trying to get around saying she was going on holiday with Alec and his dad again in August but they were going somewhere different and Alec wouldn't tell her. She'd asked his dad and he'd just told her to wait and see but it was further than last year.

Alec's dad knew he'd always wanted to find the Loch Ness monster so they were going up to Fort William and would go exploring, including visiting the said location. Rose of course had tried various methods of getting it out of Alec but so far, she'd not succeeded.

"Rose, I'll try to talk to Bob and tell him you don't want to join in. Just be careful though if I take you on Monday."

"Take her where Jackie?" Bob asked, since Jackie was supposed to be taking him his morning coffee.

"It's nothing Bob, Rose just needs to go to the doctor's," Jackie replied, hoping he wouldn't want to know why.

He just shrugged his shoulders and picked up the mug Jackie had just placed on the counter.

"Women's stuff?" he asked casually.

Rose saw her chance.

"Yeah, I need mum with me to tell them I'm old enough to go on my own next time," Rose told him, finishing her breakfast and counting the hours until she could meet Alec.

Couldn't she go a day without seeing him? Not now she had all kinds of new feelings after the last time they had been kissing in his room and now, she liked almost touching him wearing nothing on top and them both in their underwear. It had come close, the way he had his arms around her so it was bound to lead to one of them wanting to lie on the other. If that were to happen, she wanted to be able to tell Alec she was covered.

Would that put him off though and think she was presuming too much? Maybe the subject would just arise naturally? Jackie had gone back into the bedroom.

"What was that about?" Bob asked her.

"Rose already told ya Bob. She needs my permission to be seen on her own."

"Well I hope that's all? We need to talk to her again, about not being here when our friends come around. You heard Jimmy and the other boy's parents Jackie."

"Bob what about those two girls? Why aren't they coming any more? They only join us in the pub."

"Because Rose isn't here Jackie, you don't get it, do you?"

Jackie wasn't sure she wanted to get it but she was probably taking things the wrong way. Bob continued.

"The boys have to decide Jackie, Rose not being there makes that difficult. The boys just come along to see if Rose stays."

"Well what difference does that make?" Jackie wondered.

Bob shook his head. He would not have his plans for what his friends talked about spoiled by Rose not complying.

"Jackie, we've already put it off, they could all cut us out of it and I had enough of that before."

"Ya mean before ya met us?" Jackie asked.

"Jackie, don't take that the wrong way. It's not what I meant at all. Yes, I missed out on meeting them outside the pub but when I met you and Rose, well I thought we could be a family and I envied my friends with theirs. You know how long it took before we started seeing them outside the pub?"

Jackie supposed that was a fair explanation.

"Why though is it important Rose is here? You've got a family Bob, isn't that enough? We still see them in the pub, why do we need to see them every Saturday night as well?" she asked him.

"Well we may not see them on Saturdays nights, the way they were talking. I'm not happy about it Jackie, you need to talk to her."

"She won't listen Bob, I've already tried, ya know I have. She's stuck on Alec, that's for sure."

Bob muttered something about he'd already given her enough time to talk to her daughter.

Rose wasn't going to mention where she was going on Monday except she needed to meet her mother so she broke the news to him over their normal Saturday lunch.

"Rose, it's fine, you go if you need to," Alec was telling her.

"It's just one evening Alec, we have somewhere to go. I'll come round afterwards."

"You don't have to explain. So, do I get my hair styled differently or not?" he wanted to know.

That was what she loved about him. He nearly always asked her opinion on something and they nearly always agreed.

"Well while you go do that, guess where I'm going?" Rose teased him.

"To the library on your own?" Alec laughed, the drinks straw a fraction from his lips and Rose trying to resist leaning over and kissing him.

She did lean over but not to kiss him, which Alec was hoping she would.

"You'll find out on Monday."

Alec was hoping he would. They went off on their own, Alec to the barber's now his dad trusted him to go on his own and Rose daring to browse the lingerie section she'd avoided before and finally picking out two sets she thought Alec may like to see her wearing.

When they met up, she was surprised at his haircut.

"Wow, look at you," she grinned as he stood there, wondering what was in the department store carrier bag.

Now Rose was wondering if she should cut her hair and not just have it trimmed by her mother at home.

"You like it?" he asked, thinking she'd never go for it.

"Yeah, it's great. Alec, let's go out tonight, see a film or something, yeah?"

"That would be good, my treat Rose, I have some money left over from buying your birthday present."

So later, they sat at the back of the cinema and Alec dared put his arm around her as they shared the popcorn and sneaked a few kisses.

"That was as good as last year Alec," Rose smiled as they had a hot drink where they usually went for lunch.

"Really? I thought nothing would be better than that?"

"Well it was because we were sitting holding hands or you with your arm around me instead of jumping up and down at a concert," Rose laughed.

"Yes but you never had your name called out this year," he replied.

"Alec, I didn't care about that. It was good, yeah but it was about us, sitting together and I know we've been before but it was even more special this year. I'm gonna tell my mum about the holiday and if Bob doesn't like it, well it's too bad. Nothing's gonna stop me going, I'll run off if I have to, what can he do about it if my mum gives me permission? Actually, I may not need it any more."

"We'll ask my dad tomorrow. Rose, where are you going with your mother on Monday then?"

"I told Bob it was for her to give permission at the health centre for me to be seen on my own."

"That's not the real reason?" he wondered.

"I can't tell ya yet Alec, I swear I can't but there's nothing wrong with me. I'll tell ya when it's time."

"Tell me what Rose?"

"Alec, it could spoil everything if I tell ya now."

"No, it won't. We tell each other everything, why do you think you can't tell me this Rose?"

"Yeah, I know we tell each other everything but it's girl stuff and I can't explain."

"Rose, we do biology. It's fine if you don't want to talk about it but I think I know, you being a bit off every few weeks though sometimes it's less."

"Ya think I don't know? Well I might be able to get something to help with it," she told him, hoping that would stop the questions and she didn't have to admit the real reason as it may send him running but she really didn't know how long it would be before they would give in and see how far they wanted to go since she didn't want to be the one holding back.