A/N: This chapter will see them moving on and a lot of detail will be left out at the end.
When they got back to school, every afternoon they would go straight to Alec's room and stick to Monday and Friday as they ventured into a sexual relationship, taking it slowly at first until they were both more confident. Alec had of course got nervous the first time they tried properly, making Rose giggle and telling him it was okay.
It was the last day of the late holidays, it was getting cold so their outings were cut down and Alec had got up to clean himself up, Rose scrambling back into her underwear.
"Honestly, don't worry about it," Rose was telling him as he used some tissues and thankful she was covered and he wasn't wearing anything. "You just got a bit carried away, that was probably my fault. We don't exactly have any experience."
"I know that Rose. You getting all excited did not help. Are you supposed to be on top?"
Rose giggled again as she put her vest top on.
"Um, I don't really know, it really was my fault for moving around I suppose? Are there any rules?"
"Be serious Rose," Alec replied, getting his shorts on and praying nothing had happened to the bedclothes in as such he'd need to wash them before his dad found out. "We can't ask anyone about it and don't believe everything you see on TV. Maybe next time, we should try with me on top?"
"Yeah and that way I won't get ya so excited? It was still okay though, wasn't it?"
Alec got back on the bed again, Rose sitting up and hugging her knees.
"Yes Rose, maybe I did get carried away? It won't put us off trying again though, will it?"
"What? No Alec it's not put me off. If anything, it makes me wish we didn't have to wait until Monday. Are we going downstairs?"
"Are you teasing me again? No Rose, we can go back to kissing, if you want?"
Rose leaned over and he pulled her down. He was about to help her pull her underwear down again when they both stopped suddenly when they heard knocking at the kitchen door.
"Are you expecting anyone?" Rose asked as she pulled her underwear all the way up and Alec was scrambling into his jeans.
"No, why would I be? Maybe it's John?"
"Why would he be calling round?" Rose wondered.
"How would I know Rose?" Alec asked as he put his t-shirt on, hearing more knocking.
"Just pretend we're not in," Rose suggested. "My mum was always doing that."
"That's not helping Rose. Are you getting dressed?"
"Oh, you're not coming back up then?" she teased him.
"Seriously, stop it Rose. Best hurry."
Rose huffed as Alec went out, closing the door behind him. She thought even if it was John, he was being inconsiderate.
John was about to give up when Alec unlocked the kitchen door.
"What took you so long Cous?" John greeted him.
"Rose had her records on loud," Alec offered, hoping it would work and that his t-shirt wasn't inside out.
"I didn't hear any music," John told him.
"One just came to the end and we heard knocking. Why are you here?"
"Where's Rose then?" John wanted to know.
"She went to the bathroom, you know how long girls take," Alec grinned.
"Yeah, I suppose so. I wanted to talk to the both of you. Alec, I know you're helping Rose with her homework and other stuff but this time, if she doesn't get a good grade, she could be out."
"I thought we would have got our results by now?" Alec asked him.
"Those exams were different Alec. You know you're going to be asked about college or university?"
"Yes and Rose is sure she won't be accepted. What do I do if I can't get in one near home?" Alec asked him.
"You mean if Rose doesn't get in? You have to face it Alec, you want to go on to the police collage, you'll be away from home then."
"Rose could move with me, I'll get some accommodation. She'll be able to get a job," Alec replied.
Rose was just coming down the stairs and heard him. So, he wanted her to go with him, when he was old enough to be accepted into the police? She'd not thought that far ahead and it seemed he had.
"Yeah, like he said," Rose joined in, going to sit at the table next to Alec.
"Rose, I came to offer you some extra tuition, if you've scraped through your last exams. I know you tried your best but I can help you with science. I know you pay attention but you missed out on a lot before you got in at the grammar school. You could find yourself having to change schools."
"It's that bad?" she tried to joke as Alec took her hand.
"We'll get you through this year Rose, won't we John?"
"We'll try Alec but I found out the criteria for those who were accepted under special circumstances, like you were Rose, is changing. They expect a certain grade and the last exams is the last of the old criteria. I was called to a meeting yesterday, I thought I should warn you."
"We do our homework," Rose insisted. "I take notice in class, unlike I used to do at my old school."
"I know you do your best Rose," John tried to assure her. "I can at least help you in two subjects. How about I come round twice a week, say Tuesdays and Thursdays?"
Both Rose and Alec were relieved it wasn't Monday and Friday. Rose accepted John's help and thought about where she needed to concentrate and when they got back to school, the exam results were published, everyone gathering around the notice boards to see what they had passed in.
Alec had got good grades when they got to the board and Rose had done slightly better than she thought, except in science and maths but was afraid next year, she wouldn't pass any of them. Alec tried to assure her she'd so okay when they got back to his house.
"They must do things differently in Scotland then?" Rose asked, thinking the results should have been back a while ago.
"You've been here two years Rose. Don't you feel like you belong yet?"
"I feel more at home here, with you. Going back every evening after leaving you, well I just wish I didn't have to."
"I know Rose. I was thinking, if I have to go away to college, you could come with me?"
"You said police collage Alec, I heard you telling John."
"Rose, I can't go to collage and leave you behind. I love you Rose, I can't just see you in the holidays. It works for my cousin Peter, it can work for us. His girlfriend already lived there though, she had her own place but we can manage."
"To share a tiny bed-sit or a flat? Well it would be better than me staying here with my mum and Bob. We have plenty of time to think about it."
"I just don't like the thought of you having to change schools next year. We'll get you through your next exam Rose, I promise."
Rose knew he would keep that promise so she was determined to do her part and do her best to get through the next exams. Now she wished she'd not messed around in her last school. Neither John or Alec had said anything about it or judged her but she supposed they figured she was at least making up for it and it was in the past.
As they got closer, sometimes breaking their initial plan of only being together twice a week and the rest of the time listening to music and dancing, Rose was getting home as late as she could on a school night and even later on a weekend night and avoiding Bob's friends when they were visiting but Alec got delayed one Saturday, Rose getting nervous.
"So, Alec let you down then?" Bob goaded her as she waited in the hallway.
"He'll be here," Rose insisted wondering where he was.
"Well, you can come and join us," Bob gestured to the living room, Rose hearing her mother laughing over something.
Alec had always told her if he was late, that she should go to her room but maybe it was worthwhile seeing what they got up to? She left her coat on and wandered into the living room.
"Rose!" her mother greeted her.
The other couple and the boy she couldn't remember the name of who had seen them in the takeaway all that time ago was lounging on the sofa. He looked up as Rose stood there.
"There's room here Rose," the boy spoke to her.
"No thanks I'll stand, I'm just waiting for Alec," she replied as the boy moved.
Was it just her or did he look even more gross?
"Why do you bother with him?" Jimmy asked.
"It's nothing to do with you, is it? Why do ya think I've been avoiding you and your friends?"
"Don't be so rude," Jimmy's mother told her.
"Oi, leave my daughter alone," Jackie defended Rose.
"Bob, you said you would get her to stay," Jimmy's mother told him.
"Rose, just sit down," Bob insisted.
If there was one thing Rose had learned, it was to avoid doing as Bob said, since she was hardly there.
"No, I'm off to wait downstairs for Alec," Rose replied, heading for the door.
Bob suddenly blocked her way.
"Do as I say Rose and go sit down. If Alec calls up for you, he can wait or go away."
"What?" Rose asked.
"You are going to go sit down next to Jimmy," Bob still insisted.
"Rose, just do as he asks," her mother tried to keep the peace.
"Mum, you can't agree with him?" Rose wanted to know, trying to get past Bob.
"Your mother has no say in it," Bob told her.
Rose knew her mother was just going along with whatever Bob wanted.
"Let me past," Rose stood her ground, hearing the door buzzer in the hallway. "You can't make me stay."
"You are under my roof Rose and my guardianship. I let you do as please, don't push me."
"Guardianship? Mum?" Rose asked as she heard the buzzer again.
"It's not formal," her mother replied. "It was just an arrangement we made when I agreed you and I would come and live with him."
Rose could hardly believe what she was hearing. Bob turned towards Jackie and Rose saw her chance to get past him. She ran to the door, since Alec had let himself in the building.
"Alec, let's just get out of here."
"Rose, what's wrong?" Alec wanted to know as Bob called for her to go back. "Wait a minute, why is he calling for you to go back?"
"I'll tell ya later, why are you late?" Rose asked him as they headed for the lift.
Alec had been talking to his aunt as he'd called in before collecting Rose. There were only a few weeks before Christmas and he wanted to surprise Rose by asking his aunt if she could stay there until after boxing day.
"Well Alec, if that's what Rose wants?" his aunt had asked him. "Are things so bad at home for her?"
"Yes, you know she's unhappy. I just wanted her to enjoy herself and not have to worry about going back. I wanted to surprise her when I go meet her, I wanted to tell her she didn't have to go back."
His aunt had smiled at him, feeling sorry for her nephew that he cared so much about his girlfriend he'd do anything for her.
"If Rose wants to stay, she's more than welcome. Go on, don't be late, John said you two go out on a Saturday night."
"Thanks Aunt Mary, it will mean a lot to her. She says she feels more at home with us."
He'd been about to leave when John had come into the kitchen.
"What are you doing here?" John laughed as his mother left.
"I wanted to ask if Rose can stay here over Christmas. I wanted her just for once to feel safe if her mother and Bob have their weird friends round."
"That's very commendable of you Cous, I'm sure Rose will be grateful, if your aunt agreed."
"Yes, she agreed. I should get going, she'll wonder where I am."
"Alec, it's a shame you're not old enough to get a mobile phone contract," John laughed. "I mean if you could afford one. Want to use the house phone?" he offered.
"No thanks, she knows to wait for me, she will probably make her way downstairs."
So now, they were waiting for the bus into town, knowing they would miss the start of the film they wanted to see and Alec was trying to get Rose to tell him what had happened.
"I went in the lounge." Rose began to tell him. "That boy, the large one, he was sprawled out on the sofa and I have to sit there," she admitted, thinking now, she'd throw a cover over the sofa before she sat there again.
"Calm down Rose," Alec tried to tell her.
"How can I calm down? He told me to go and sit next to him and I said no way or something like that. I just wanted to get out of there and Bob stood in my way, even when you rang the door buzzer. He wasn't gonna let me go Alec. He told me to sit down and more or less insinuated to sit next to that moron. What the hell were they expecting if I did?"
"Rose, I told you not to go in there," Alec reminded her as he saw the bus up the road. "You agreed to wait in your room for me. What were you thinking?"
"I was tryin' to find out what they were up to. Geez, I wish I'd not bothered. I thought just for a minute 'cos I'd heard them arrive while I was in the kitchen. I thought they'd just be talking, I heard my mum laugh at something."
The bus pulled up at their stop and Alec paid the fares, since their passes had long since run out. Rose went upstairs and sat down, annoyed with herself she'd gone in now to see what was going on. Alec sat down and Rose put her arm in his.
"Rose, I said to be careful, did I not?"
"Yeah, sorry. What did they expect, if I'd been stupid enough to sit down next to that moron?"
"I don't know Rose, you should have got out of there when you saw him on the sofa."
"I was just stunned, it was like he'd made himself at home. Geez, no wonder they kept asking where I was, what the hell was gonna happen Alec?"
"Rose, we have to tell my dad or John. It sounds serious when Bob would not let you leave. No wonder you were in a hurry to get out then? I'm really sorry I was late. I called at my aunt's and John caught me. I should have rung you to go and wait downstairs for me. I went to ask my aunt something."
"It's okay Alec, I should have gone downstairs, I don't know what I was thinking of but I'm glad Bob got distracted. The worse thing is, my mum was just sitting there, she didn't say much. I don't think she knew what was going on either, just that their friends were there. Is that what she thinks being a family is?"
"Probably, by the sound of it," Alec agreed, "Tell my dad tomorrow, tonight, just forget about it and we'll maybe just be in time to see the film, there will just be the film trailers and adverts first. My dad said at one time, there used to be two films on, now they just try to get as many people in as they can."
"Shame they changed it then. How can I tell my mum?"
"There's no easy way, she's being blinded by him into thinking it's normal," Alec replied. "I hate to think you even went in there when they were. Why is it always them who visit?"
Then he realised he'd been right but how could he tell her as she clung hold of his arm and he squeezed her hand. He did love her, he knew he did and he hated what might be going on. At least he knew she'd be safe over the upcoming festive holidays.
"Rose, I was late because I was asking my aunt if you could stay with them over Christmas."
"Oh. What did she say?" Rose asked, a bit surprised.
"What do you think Rose? She said yes, you can stay until the day after boxing day. What do you think?"
Rose would have kissed him, had they not been on the bus.
"Your family are the best Alec. Can I ask something? You have a spare room in your house, won't your dad let me stay there?"
"I never asked but I don't think it's a good idea. I mean I'd love for you to stay but it's too much of a temptation and my dad would think so as well. Rose, I just wanted you to feel safe, over the holidays."
"Alec, that's one of the nicest things you've ever done for me. I don't think I could face any of mum and Bob's friends over the holidays. I always see them as I'm waiting for you or just leaving. Come on, this is our stop, we won't have time to get popcorn now."
"You get the popcorn while I get the tickets," Alec smiled.
They showed their tickets and climbed up the steps to the back of the cinema and settled down, arm in arm, Alec sneaking a kiss now and then. They delayed their journey home, just sitting opposite each other by the window in the takeaway, Alec's hand on hers.
"Seriously Rose, stay out of their way next time. I hate to think what would have happened to you. Shall I tell you something?" Rose nodded. "All this time when I've been taking you back home, I hated leaving you there."
"Alec, I know ya did, you've been so worried about me. I would have gone crazy without you, what the hell was my mum thinking about, bringing us here?"
"I really don't know why she did Rose but we would never have met otherwise. When you are sixteen, you're old enough to leave home. I can ask my aunt if you can move in there, until we leave school."
"Alec, she's been like my aunt as well, I can't ask her that."
"Yes, you can, I'm sure she will agree, until we decide what we are doing. Your mum won't be able to stop you and neither will Bob. Until then, please, don't go near their friends again but now, I'm worried about what Bob has planned."
"It gives me the creeps Alec, then my mum wonders why I'm never in. When I have to be there, Bob's all over her, whispering things and she won't say anything. What the hell is he telling her?"
They got the bus back and Alec walked her to the door.
"I'll mention what happened to my dad, he can ask you about it tomorrow. Rose, you need to get out of there or be very, very careful."
"I'll just have to be careful then. Bob thinks he's some kind of guardian, goodness knows what my mum agreed to. She was too blind with him, with what he told her before we moved. She's not the same as she used to be and I've always hated the fact she has to go out to work."
"Bob must have forced her. Can't he afford to keep her? This place must be expensive?"
"I've no idea. Well, I hope their visitors have gone but I'm going straight to my room, I won't make the same mistake as earlier. What do ya think would have happened? I mean if Bob hadn't got distracted and I got past him?"
"Please Rose, don't think about it. I will see you tomorrow, just be careful eh?"
After they kissed goodnight, Rose entered the apartment quietly and went to her room but as she ventured to the bathroom, Bob caught her.
"Don't think you got away so easily Missy, you will make friends with Jimmy, whether you like it or not."
"Seriously? I'll see what my mum has to say about it first," Rose replied.
"You mother goes with what I say around here. I'll give you a bit longer but I'm running out of patience and so are they. I could send you and your mother back where you came from but I promised I would look after the both of you and she promised me something in return."
"Yeah? What did she promise then?" Rose asked.
"As if I would tell you, you live under my rules here and you've got away with far too much. I thought you having a boyfriend would make a difference. You may as well admit it Rose, you and Alec are having sex, are you not?"
"What? I'm not answering that unless my mother asks me."
"You don't have to. Be very careful Rose, you may not get away as easily as you did earlier the next time."
"You think I'd go back in there? You have to be joking."
Bob grabbed her arm, which Rose wasn't too happy about. He saw the look on her face and let go, thinking that wouldn't help his cause, which was to get Rose to comply. Rose went off to the bathroom, wondering what the hell had just happened, Bob questioning her if she and Alec were having sex, not that her mother didn't already know, with Rose getting her to take her to the clinic.
She'd since been on her own, she had been told she could stay on what she had been given until she got older. She had discussed it with Alec when she'd been told after the initial trial period after their first time, Alec had said he would take the responsibility if she had to come off them.
There was no way though she was going to admit it to her mother, let alone Bob. Why did he want to know anyway? Was it some kind of sick game they were all playing? She didn't want to think about it and at least over Christmas, she could forget about it. Now, she couldn't wait until she was sixteen and could leave home.
Rose enjoyed the Christmas holidays a lot better since she didn't have to go back home. Bob was complaining to her mother after Rose went off early on Christmas Eve.
"Where are you going with that bag?" Bob asked Rose.
"I'm staying over at Alec's aunt's for the holidays," Rose told him, hoping Alec wouldn't be late collecting her.
"Jackie, did you know about this?" Bob asked.
"Well yeah, what's the harm in it? We'd invited a few friends round anyway."
"You know why we invited them round Jackie," Bob reminded her.
"Hold on, you invited them round because you thought I'd be here?" Rose wanted to know. "Mum?"
"Well we thought ya would be here but it doesn't matter does it?" her mother asked.
As the door buzzer went, Rose just hoped her mother would be okay without her being there but this time, she had to think of herself her mother had made her own choices with Bob and there was no persuading her otherwise. She had tried, after the incident where Bob was preventing her going out but Jackie had brushed it off and she had given up.
She had told Alec, who had assured her if her mother didn't want to listen, there was nothing she could do. Alec's dad had tried to assure her also, after the other incident that she was best staying away as much as she could and stay in her room until they had any proof what was really going on.
It didn't make Alec feel any better.
"Alec, we've done all we can," his dad had assured him as he prepared to collect Rose on Christmas Eve, after they had done some last minute shopping together in town. "At least you don't have to worry about her for the next few days and I hope you have a nice present for your aunt, since she's letting Rose stay? You know why we couldn't ask Rose to stay here? It was different in the caravan."
"Yes, I know Dad, I explained it to Rose, she was fine about it. I just did not want her worrying about going home during the holidays."
"That's very thoughtful of you Alec, I'm sure Rose appreciates it. Anything more about what happened a while ago?"
"No, she's said nothing. I told her how much I worried about her. I wish she could leave home and she will, as soon as she reaches sixteen, she promised me."
"Well, we'll have to discuss that later Alec, it all depends on what she's doing at school."
Rose was still trying to get away from Bob and her mother.
"When are ya coming back?" her mother asked her, as Bob looked annoyed and their friends would be arriving soon.
"After boxing day Mum, I may as well, I'll be going there anyway, she says it's okay. Hope ya like the present I got ya."
"Well have a good time then," was all her mother could think of.
Rose heard the door buzzer and picked up her holdall and the presents. As soon as she left, Bob turned on Jackie.
"You should not have allowed her to go Jackie."
"Well, like she said, she goes round anyway. We can still enjoy ourselves can't we?. So, who's coming round tonight then?"
He wanted to say they would all probably leave since Rose would be missing all the holidays and they'd invited people who were bringing their older teenagers. He'd been warned by a few of them they were getting tired of waiting for Rose to join in with them.
Rose soon forgot about what was going on at home as Alec's relatives came to visit, she felt part of a real family and hoped her mother would soon realise what was going on. As everyone was leaving, she got Alec out in the hallway after his other cousin teased them.
"Sorry about my cousin," Alec apologised.
"Aw, it's okay. Guess we don't need the mistletoe this year?"
Alec looked above the door.
"Oh, I don't know? I can't believe it's two years since our first kiss under it. This last year, well I hope next year will be even better."
"Yeah, so do I Alec. Whatever happens with school, if you want to go to college, I won't stop you."
"I can always go locally Rose, I'll still get into the police one but it's in Glasgow, I'll have to travel a bit further every day and who knows, you may get into the local collage with me?"
"I'm gonna try Alec, I promise. You know how hard I've worked to catch up."
"Yes, you have worked hard. Now all we have to do is wait until you can leave home, then I'll stop worrying what Bob and his friends are doing. I swear to you Rose, when I join in the police, I will find out."
"Alec, we have no proof except they're a bunch of weirdoes who drag their kids to the pub every Saturday afternoon. As long as I keep out of it but what if those kids have no idea what's going on either?"
"Rose, forget about it, I will find out, I promise. I'll see you tomorrow, I'll come round early."
"You don't have to, I'll be fine and I'll help your aunt get everything ready, if she doesn't throw me out of the kitchen," Rose smiled.
"Feeling happier about leaving her?" his dad asked on the way home.
Alec was a lot happier, now Rose didn't have to face any of Bob's friends who were delaying leaving in the hope of Rose going back early. Things were not going so good though as the guests were leaving.
"We're very disappointed," Bob was told as everyone got their coats.
"Yes," another one agreed, looking across at Jimmy and his parents. "I'm sure Jimmy and my Craig are disappointed.
"My Morag was disappointed as well," another woman complained, fussing over her daughter's scarf.
When they had all left, Bob turned to Jackie.
"See Jackie, we are going to insist Rose stays a while for the new year party."
"Is it our turn?" Jackie asked.
Bob shook his head, since he was too annoyed to argue with her and he'd get even more complaints and some of them would be he should have more control over Rose. Maybe he should be more firmer, though Rose acted older than she actually was, which would be an advantage if he could get her to stay.
All too soon, the Christmas holidays were over and Rose had to reluctantly return home, Alec walking her back and since Bob had gone to work, she invited him in.
"Rose, why doesn't Alec ever come in when Bob's here?" her mother asked as poor Alec sat reluctantly in the kitchen while Rose went to put her laundry in the washing machine.
"Maybe he's just tryin' to stay out of the way?" Rose turned and smiled at him.
Alec thought just how true that was, he didn't want to add to Rose's problems with Bob and get questioned as to why she was out all of the time. Rose got changed and they went back to Alec's house, giving in and Alec wondered why all of a sudden, the agreed two days a week of them actually having sex together instead of fooling around, which he thought was almost like having sex the extra days as Rose got all giddy with what they were doing, didn't seem nearly enough.
"We have to talk about this," Alec told her as they got dressed.
"Yeah, I think we do. I mean the rest of the time, it's good and we won't get that much chance once we go back to school. So maybe we can just see how we feel about it, when we're on holiday but we both have to agree."
"That makes sense Rose, let's agree that neither of us will get annoyed if one of us doesn't agree?"
"Okay then, we'll do that but you know I get a bit grumpy at certain times?"
"Yes, I know that Rose so that cuts it down. I promise not to get mad when you are a bit off."
With that agreed, Rose saying if he backed off, she wouldn't get mad at him and they would just enjoy what they normally did, the new year was approaching and they both knew it was crunch time to get Rose into the local collage and if Alec got a choice, he would hold back and hope he could still get into the police collage later.
They spent new year's eve day in the town, Rose getting a few bargains in the sale, Alec leaving her and saying he'd see her later and she was staying over at his aunt's again after it was suggested she may as well. Bob had an idea she would try going off early again to avoid their guests but Rose just wished they'd go out for a change.
As if Jackie already knew he was going to say something, she kept him in the lounge as Rose was leaving. There were trays of party food scattered around on various coffee tables in the spacious room, something Jackie liked, unlike their old flat they'd left behind.
"Jackie, this could be the very last time some of our friends agree to come over, you know that," Bob was saying.
"Well why don't we go to some of their homes?" Jackie asked.
"You know why, since we can't even get Rose to stay when they come here. We have to do something soon Jackie, she'll be sixteen next."
"Yeah, old enough to leave home," Jackie sighed, not wanting that to happen but she knew her daughter would choose to do so, maybe even off somewhere to college.
"Why do you say that?" Bob asked, unaware Jackie hadn't intended for that to come out.
"I'm not sayin' she will Bob. She'll have to get a job or get somewhere in the collage. She'll want to go to the same one as Alec."
"She'd be better staying locally Jackie, she lives here for free but I'll expect her to make some kind of payment when she's old enough," Bob replied.
Then he heard the door buzzer, Jackie standing in his way.
"Let her go Bob, we can't keep her here when Alec calls for her."
"I'm telling you Jackie, she had better change her attitude to staying here when our friends come round. She has until her next birthday, after that, well."
Jackie just shook it off and went to get more plates from the kitchen. If there was one thing she liked, it was having parties and while she missed Rose being there, she knew her daughter was where she wanted to be with Alec.
