Thank you to my lovely reviewers, and all those who have favourited and followed means a lot. I hope none of you are bothered about the age change I felt it was appropriate to make Cal longer so my story was more believable! Anyway onto the chapter.
"Head up Rose, that's it keep your back straight. No don't stick your tongue out like that child you need to act natural." Ruth ordered.
Rose gracefully moved across the room with a book on her head.
"That's exceptional Rose dear," Her mother praised. Rose concentrated impeccably on the task even though it bored her senseless and it was hard not to forget something when it's on top of your head.
The doorbell rang and Rose knew instantly who it would be. "Cal's here!" She shouted, the book fell off her head and she ran from the room.
"Rose!" Her mother cursed but she was already gone. She sighed and moved over to pick the book up before popping it back onto the shelf, smoothing her dress she moved slowly and gracefully from the room the way Rose will eventually master.
Rose was so excited that she ran down the corridor at such speed, she hadn't seen Cal in what feel like forever when in reality it had been a week at the most, she accidently knocked Trudy who was too going to answer the door.
Trudy gasped in surprise. "Sorry Trudy!" Rose called.
Trudy smiled and shook her head at the young girl.
Flinging open the door Cal was stood with his mother looking rather glum. Rose practically jumped on him.
"You're finally here," She said cheerily whilst Cal mumbled. Veronica cleared her throat rather loudly and Rose saw this as a sign to release her grip off Cal. She jumped down and straightened her dress and curls. She stood in front of Cal's mother and curtsied.
"Do come in Mrs Hockley and Mister Hockley," She giggled.
"Why thank you Rose darling I don't suppose you shall be taking the coats," Veronica joked.
Rose nodded eagerly and began helping her out of her coat.
"Oh no Miss Rose don't I'll get that for you," Trudy reassured. She wouldn't like to think what Mistress Ruth would think of her daughter taking off other people's coats in her own home. Trudy hastily took over and hung the coats up.
"Would you like me to show the way to Mistress Ruth?" Trudy questioned.
"Of course," Veronica replied. "Play nicely Cal," and they left.
"Play?" Cal scoffed. "I'm thirteen for Christ sake,"
Rose eyed him suspiciously, why was he acting so weird? It was true Rose and Cal maybe didn't constantly act like they used to, however time goes on Rose is ten Cal's thirteen a teenager, who goes to private school and learns how to become a master of the universe, or whatever they teach there, still though he's never normally in a mood like this.
"Why are you staring at me?" He snapped at her.
"Why are you been all stressy?" Rose snapped back.
Cal sighed and sat down the floor his head resting on his knees. Rose sat down next to him and played with the hem of her dress. Silence engulfing them both.
"I'm sorry Rose I didn't mean to snap at you, I'm just in a bad mood that's all," He sighed.
"What's the matter?" Rose asked putting her arm round her best friend.
Cal didn't know what to tell her, he didn't want her thinking he was a child. Even though Rose was so much younger than him she was definitely much tougher and acted much more grown up than her age. Looking at her sweet and innocent face and realising she did care he let out another big sigh.
"There are these boys at school who keep picking on me, calling me a girl and stuff," Cal said sadly.
"They are just been mean and cruel for no reason, and you shouldn't listen to them Cal. They won't be horrible forever," Rose assured him.
"That's easy for you to say! You don't even go to school," Cal scoffed.
It was true Rose was been homeschooled by a tutor who came round Monday to Friday for a few hours. Rose didn't particularly like her tutor he was very dull and dreary but her Mother was not allowing her to go to school until finishing school became an option.
"Yeah but you know why I don't go to school," Rose said softly playing with one of her curls.
"Yeah I know," Cal admitted instantly feeling bad for her. Rose had loved school, adored it even but she didn't fit in with the other girls. Instead of taking the time to help Rose fit in more they suggested that the money paid for her private education should instead go to a tutor, until Rose was ready to re attend. Her parents agreed and pulled her out there and then, that was three years ago and she still hadn't been back.
"I wish I was homeschooled," Cal sighed.
"We could switch," Rose giggled.
Cal laughed with her, "I wish,"
Ruth and Veronica were in deep conversation having afternoon tea. "The boy is struggling yes, but I do not know when I am expected to do Ruth. I can not exactly pull him out of education. That school is one of the best schools in the state and I know he can achieve great things there."
"I would not worry about it Veronica, he may have got this idea into his head from Rose's homeschooling but of course the situation is very different for girls," Ruth replied sipping her tea.
"But of course Ruth, education for girls is a waste of time. Little boys need it to learn how to be successful in life and superior. Little girls need to learn how to be good wives to their husbands," Veronica stated gently dabbing her mouth.
"I could not agree more dear, Cal will adjust eventually."
"All mother does is nag nag nag me all the time, and when I don't do something to her liking she tells on me to father," Cal explained holding the fabric that Rose was cutting up.
"Mother is the same sometimes, but Daddy always takes my side," She giggled, as she finished cutting the fabric and began threading her needle.
"That's alright for you then, what are you making Rose?" He asked.
"A dress for my doll, Trudy's been teaching me to sew she says I'm a natural,"
Cal observed as Rose's small fingers carefully sewed together the garments. She really was clever in almost everything she did.
"School will get better Cal, I promise and if those boys are horrible to you anymore I'll come and punch them,"
Cal laughed at her. "I'm sure they'll be terrified of you squirt,"
Rose punched Cal hard on the arm.
"Ow!" He exclaimed.
"See I told you I'm tough,"
"Well father said once I'm sixteen he's putting me in the family business and teaching me everything I need to learn then I'll take it all over one day," Cal smiled imagining how life was going to get so much better for him.
"I'm going to be a dancer!" Rose exclaimed standing up and spinning around. "And I'd make all my own clothes and everything,"
"Your mother would have a fit if you told her that," Cal warned.
Rose shrugged. "I don't need to tell her," sitting back down she continued her sewing.
Later that evening, Rose was sat on her window sill looking out at the night sky, when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," She called and her father entered.
"Hello daddy," She smiled.
"Hello Rosie, how was your day?" James asked sitting down next to her.
Rose shrugged. "Seeing Cal was the best bit, the rest wasn't great,"
"That doesn't sound good,"
"I want to go back to school Daddy," Rose whinged.
"A few more years my darling and you'll be back at school," James assured putting his hand on his daughter's shoulder.
"That's what Mother keeps saying," Rose complained tucking her knees under her chin. James wrapped his arms round her and she leant her head on his chest.
"Oh Rosie," He sighed planting a kiss on top of her head. "Everything will get better with time and age I promise," He said rubbing her arm.
"I'll get Trudy to get you ready for bed,"
"I love you darling," He smiled blowing her a kiss.
"Love you too Daddy," And she turned her attention back to the starlit sky, enjoying the last few minutes before bed time.
Meanwhile Cal was alone in his own private study attempting this stupid homework. Lovejoy entered, his personal valet although at the moment he was more his father's helper than his but this would change in years to come.
"Madam Hockley would like to know if you have nearly finished," He informed.
"I haven't got much more left to do Lovejoy another half n hour,"
Lovejoy nodded and left the room. Cal tapped his pen on the desk and stopped looking at his work, instead been distracted by the beautiful sky. Standing up he moved over to the window and looked out. He knew Rose would be watching, she was into that kind of thing he remembered a few years ago, they were at a dinner party at her house and they spent hours and hours looking at the mesmerising sky whilst the adults spoke about boring matters.
"It's like a thousand little gems dottered all over sky, like they're god's diamonds," Rose had said.
"I think they're like souls, people who have died and they're watching down on us all," Cal gave his theory.
"I like that one Grandpa might be up there," She smiled. "I think he's that one," She pointed at a sky that was shining the brightest.
"Caledon that is not doing your homework now is it," His mother's whinging voice interrupted his thoughts.
"I was just having a break mother," He sighed going back and sitting down at the desk. Veronica made her way over to him. She picked up his work and scanned through it. "This is good Cal; very good I wish you'd have more self confidence in yourself,"
Cal remained silent he didn't dare tell his Mother or Father about the bullies because he knew they would just tell him to stand up for himself, but he didn't know how.
Veronica planted a kiss on top of his head. "Don't stay up too long darling," and she left the room.
Cal twiddled with the pen his eyes staying on the door. He managed to finish the last of his homework and began packing it away. One day he would stand up for himself and one day all those bullies would be sorry for ever picking on him. He pushed the chair back under the desk and left the room.
His father was making his way down the corridor and they shared a nod. "Goodnight father,"
"Goodnight Cal," Nathan said and they both entered their bedrooms and shut the door.
Veronica was combing her hair when Nathan entered and began undressing.
"Nathan what are we to do about Cal?" She questioned.
"Cal is just fine dear,"
"He seems so quiet and reserved at the moment and he keeps going on about how much he hates school, but he's clever and he has such potential," Veronica explained putting her brush down and climbing into bed.
"Nonsense, Cal's future is with Hockley Steel's and you've probably turned him soft having him hang around with little girls," He argued referring to Rose.
Veronica rolled her eyes, knowing she was fighting a losing battle, "Whatever you say dear," She yawned and pulled up the covers before shutting her eyes.
Nathan followed soon after and snapped off the lighting.
Cal had laid in bed listening to the muffled sounds of his parents. He knew they were talking about him, that's all they seemed to do. He pulled the covers up under his chin and tried to snuggle down however once again sleep seemed impossible.
Hope you liked it! Sorry for the long update will try to be better next time. Remember to review! Until next time
Leah.