JustAnotherFanGirl2004: Rose did have quite a mood swing, but I figured that once she calmed down a bit realized she realized shouting wouldn't do anything. And I have plans for the end of this story, although that won't be for a while. And yeah, like I said it's so easy to forget she's twelve.

Green Meadow1870: This chapter will be a huge leap in their friendship. I know it all kind of happens quickly, but I just wanted to get it done. And Rose and Jackson will be there for each other a lot, whenever someone needs support or help or just free therapy.

I'm glad you both liked the cover picture! I was starting to wonder if I should change it because of how much this story is changing from what I had planned.

In this chapter we find out about Jackson's past and hear Rose's story all at once. Enjoy!

Chapter Nineteen

After that night, Rose's trust is Jackson started to grow. More time passed, and they became even closer.

Finally, he asked something that had been on his mind for a while.

They'd just finished a performance and everyone was leaving. Rose was sitting in her hoop, swinging, and staring at her lap. Her red dress fluttered around her ankles as she moved and her hair was falling down her back.

"Rose?" Jackson said, walking in.

She looked up and gave him a small smile,

"Hi Jackson. What is it?"

"I'm wondering...why aren't you more afraid of people?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I recognize the signs. The way you don't let people touch you, how you never let anyone in until you know you can trust them, how careful you are with what you say...I know something happened to you."

She flinched, but he continued, "But the thing I don't get is, how come you're not afraid of all people? I mean, you are in a way, and you don't like touch, but you don't get terrified of everyone or refuse to speak to them. You just...guard yourself. But you have no problem with talking to anyone."

Rose was quite, then-

"I suppose it's time you knew the truth. But if I tell you, you have to tell me your story first."

Jackson sighed, nodding.

"Here it is. I had a normal family for a while. Parents. But when I was six, my mother died. My father became mentally abusive towards me and my sister."

"Sister?"

"Her name was Elena. She was three years younger than me and I loved her."

"What happened?"

"The abuse became physical while I was on a walk. He got drunk...she didn't make it."

Rose stared at him in horror. She could never imagine losing someone like that.

"I couldn't take it anymore. I ran away. To New York. Then I got the job. I'm not afraid of all people because I know my father was just an idiot. Not everyone is bad. Your turn."

Rose nodded. She took a deep breath, but as she was about to speak Anne called out, "Rose! It's getting late and we have to get home!"

Rose nodded and called, "Coming Anne!"

She turned to face Jackson and said, "Get here early tomorrow morning. We can talk then."

Then she jumped down from the hoop and ran up to Anne.

They both arrived early the next morning. When Jackson came Rose was already there, sitting on the steps of the circus. She was watching the sunrise.

"Everything feels so peaceful in the morning, doesn't it?" she said quietly. "The people aren't awake yet...and everything's quiet. The world is going from dark to bathed in light in a matter of minutes. It's beautiful."

Then she blinked, breaking herself out of the spell and turned to him. "We should go in."

She walked up to the door and put in the key, letting herself in.

"Hey kid!" a man suddenly called, and she turned around. He looked like he was just heading off to work.

She stood on the doorstep, waiting for him to reach her.

"Hello sir. Do I know you?" Rose asked politely.

"What are you doing, girl?" the man sneered, and she motioned to the circus.

"Entering a building."

"More like breaking into a building."

"On the contrary I work there. Jackson?"

He nodded and walked up to her side. "She's telling the truth. The two of us work at the circus."

The man snorted, clearly not believing them. "What is the girl? The maid? You circus folk couldn't afford one."

"Actually I'm-"

"I wasn't talking to you, girl!"

He turned back to Jackson and Rose's eyes hardened. In an emotionless voice, she said, "You know, you should really work on expanding your vocabulary. If you call every female you meet 'girl' then you'll just confuse the single brain cell in your head. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to get to work."

Then she grabbed a surprised Jackson's hand and pulled him into the building, closing the door behind them.

Letting go of his hand, she walked confidently to the hoop, which she had left down last night.

"I was born Samantha Levy," she said, giving Jackson hardly any time to process what was going on. "But my parents were poor and couldn't afford me, so they left me on the steps of an orphanage. A white orphanage. It was awful. I was treated like a slave. The other girls bullied me and she would hit me. Then it burned down. I was caught in the fire, but I lived. They didn't even try to look for me, just assumed I was dead. I was only eight. Then I lived on the streets for three years. It was tough, but I learned how to survive. I learned my way around the city in case I had to make a quick getaway. I learned how to guard myself and my secrets. I learned how to uproot myself and move away in a matter of minutes. I learned how to make money by performing on the streets. But most of all, I learned how to fight back. I learned that I was never going to be pushed around and treated like I was worthless again. Then, when I was eleven, I read about the circus in a newspaper. I decided to join, and I loved it. For the first time in my life, I had a home. A year and a half passed, and I learned to trust everyone at the circus, including you. Now, I have more than a home. I have a family."

He stared in shock.

"That all happened to you?"

"Yes. But I survived. And it was worth it." She smiled. "I'm here now."

A couple hours later everyone arrived and they had breakfast. They all sensed something different between Rose and Jackson, but knew not to comment on it.

A month later, Rose took Jackson's hand and led him back into the performing room.

"I want to show you something," she said happily, picking up her guitar from the corner. Jackson frowned. He had always wondered whose guitar that was.

She gave him a small smile, then started.

Times like this, I wish I never existed
Nobody wants to listen
I'm screaming out for help
Times like this, I wish that I could let go
And open up a window, free to be myself

But then there's you
Standing over me, tryna make a fool of me
Tryna get the best of me
Oh, then there's you
Tryna shut me out, tryna kick me when I'm down
That ain't gonna stop me now, no

How does it feel to know that I don't care at all?
Your words don't mean a thing at all
I choose to rise, you choose to fall
How does it feel to know that I am capable
Of more than you will ever know?

Don't tell me I'm not good enough
Don't you bring me down
I'm moving up and you're over now
You gave me fire
Every time you came around
My feet are steady on the ground
And you won't knock me down

No more, oho, oho, oho
Now I'm unbreakable
Oho, oho, oho
Now I'm unbreakable

She finished and looked up at him with a nervous smile.

"That was amazing Rose!"

She grinned, bashful. "Thanks."

He hesitated, then slowly asked, "Can I hug you?"

She bit her lip, then took a deep breath and nodded. He pulled her into his arms. It was a gentle, loose hug. So she knew if she ever became uncomfortable she could pull away.

But she didn't. She felt safe, comfortable. She moved away after more time than Jackson would have expected.

"Your voice is amazing...but why don't you sing?"

She looked down and muttered something.

"Rose?"

"Her," she looked up at him and repeated the word. "Her."

"Who?" he asked carefully,

"She was in charge. She told the other girls to bully me. She ran the orphanage. I don't know her name."

He nodded. Her story was worse than he would have thought, but she was strong. She would always fight back.

"Rose! Jackson!" Anne called, walking in, beaming. "We have a date!"

The kids blinked, snapping out of the spell they were in.

"A date for what?" Rose muttered.

"Our wedding! We're getting married in two months - on April 20th!"

There we go! An action-packed chapter to make up for not updating in a while. I hope you liked it!

Also, I came up for a date for Rose's birthday! I'm not sure if I mentioned it in this story, but if I did it doesn't matter because here it is!

Rose's Birthday = January 23

Anyways, what you think of Jackson's story? And how do you think Anne and Phillip's wedding will go? Please review and tell me what you thought of this chapter!

-Creator of Magic