Thank you again everyone for your kind reviews and for my growing followers. Sorry this chapter has taken so long to update uni life is a bit hectic at the moment and I'm trying my best but anyway here is the next chapter!

In a few days it was going to be Rose's thirteenth birthday. This was seen as a very special event for the Dewitt Bukater family, there only daughter would be starting the first few steps towards womanhood. They had been planning the party for months and in a matter of days it would be here. The Hockley's had been invited to dine at the Dewitt Bukater's household that evening to speak important matters of business, but of course this was more of an irrelevance to Cal and Rose. Now sixteen Cal stood in front of the mirror fiddling with his bow tie, his hair had been slicked back and he was waiting patiently for his mother and father to finish dressing. The past few months had been a dramatic change for Cal; he had finally been pulled out of education despite his mother's protests and had been working alongside his father in the steel business. Seeing how hard his father worked and the fact the job was so boring made Cal wonder if this was truly to be his destiny, although in retrospect he had nonetheless been happy to be out of that horrible school environment.

He was excited for Rose's birthday his father had allowed him to buy her a special gift one that she could keep forever. It was a small locket with a rose engraved on the back. He knew it had cost quite a bit but money wasn't really problem and besides she was worth every penny. He had kept the box in his pocket scared of losing something so precious. He could hear his mother and father's voices as they came down the stairs and like a true gentlemen he went to greet them. Bowing slightly to his father he gracefully took his mother's hand and led her down the last few steps.

"My, my, my, what a polite and handsome young son we have here Nathan," His mother smiled resting her hand on her dear sons face.

"We do indeed my dear, our boy all grown up and ready to seize his own destiny," His father glowered.

His mother smiled but you could see she was faking it, she hated the fact that Cal had been pulled out of school so early. She knew he was having issues with a few bullies but he was a clever boy. Of course Nathan would win the argument he always did it was Cal's destiny to inherit the Hockley business.

The butler arrived to inform them that the car was waiting. Veronica took Nathan's arm and Cal followed behind them. The journey was made in silence and Cal tapped his fingers on his legs eager to get there. He and Rose rarely saw each other anymore they were both growing up it wasn't possible to see each other as often as they did anymore especially with Cal working.

Trudy welcomed them inside and immediately Ruth and Veronica engaged in a deep conversation, while Nathan and James compared business prospects. Cal stood out like a sore thumb he wondered why Rose hadn't come to greet him she normally did. Cal cleared his throat and both sets of adults turned to face him.

"I think Rose is in the garden dear getting some fresh air," Ruth informed. Cal nodded and exited towards the back. The cool night air was crisp and the grass was beginning to form residue from the cool summer evening. The garden was vast and endless but when he couldn't spot her, he knew instantly where she would be. He walked towards the forest it was dark and unsettling and he hoped Rose was ok. Pushing his way through the branches he escaped to the lake where Rose sat on the grass the big moon gleaming onto the water.

He went and sat next to her and she turned to smile at him. She was utterly stunning this evening, her curls had been twisted up into a high bun with a few strays hanging by her face. Her dress was an emerald green with velvet material and her skin made up.

"You're mother will kill you if you mark your dress," Cal smiled.

"The same can be said for you Cal," Rose smiled back but her voice was sad and confused.

"I don't like it when you come out here on your own I'm scared something will happen," Cal warned.

"Cal you can't live life constantly worrying about things nobody comes here," She replied bringing her knees up under her chin.

He knew something was on her mind. He patted her arm she was freezing.

"You're cold," He said removing his jacket. "Here have this," and he draped it over her shoulders, she smiled gratefully and tightened it to her.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Rose turned to look at him her eyes sparkling, "I'm thirteen in two days," She simply said.

Cal laughed slightly. "Well yeah but that's good isn't it I thought you were looking forward to it,"

"I was, I am," Rose corrected herself. "It's just..."

"What?" Cal asked.

Rose out a big sigh, "Mother and Father just told me today the day after my birthday I'm going to finishing school," She told him.

Cal felt his heart sink and a lump form in his throat. Of course she was he cursed himself for being so stupid that had always been the plan for Rose. When she turned thirteen she would be going back into full time education. He couldn't let her see how gutted he was about the prospect of losing his best friend so he managed to force a smile.

"Well that's great Rose! I mean you've wanted to be in school for ages and now you're going isn't this exciting?" Cal said maybe a bit too enthusiastically.

"I do, more than anything or I did I don't know it seems so sudden leaving everyone behind and I'll be gone for so long I just, I mean you won't be there and you're the person I tell everything to what am I going to do without you," Rose said sadly playing with the sleeve of Cal's jacket.

Cal let his head fall before picking it up again. "Rose you have to go because it's expected of you and nothing is going to change between us we'll right we'll see each other during holidays but it's time to move we're both growing up. I'm working with my father and you're turning into a woman don't let this friendship we have hold you back from what you want to do,"

Rose turned and smiled at him. "Why is it you always know exactly what to say?"

Cal shrugged before going into his trouser pocket; he pulled out the small box. "It's supposed to be your birthday gift but here open it now while it's just us two," and he handed Rose the box.

Rose looked at him curiously before flipping open the lid. "Oh Cal, thank you it's beautiful," and she embraced her friend her smile reaching the end of her ears. She fastened it to her neck and ran her finger over the engraving.

"I just wanted to let you know how special you are to me, we should probably head out to the house before they send a search party out for us," Cal smiled before standing up and pulling Rose up. She linked her arm through his and they walked slowly back to the house.

"Do you really think everything is going to be ok?" Rose asked her friend once again for security.

In all honesty he didn't know but didn't want to upset her, "Sure it is,"

Rose kissed his cheek before they both entered the house, luckily just in time for dinner.

"Oh you both have decided to show then we thought we might have to send out a search party for you both," Nathan joked taking a sip of wine.

Rose and Cal smiled nervously and Rose forgetting she still had Cal's jacket on cautiously handed it back. Ruth and Veronica exchanged smug stares which Cal and Rose decided to ignore they were both insistent that Rose and Cal would end up a couple but this was far from Rose and Cal's mind.

Dinner was served and the Hockley's and Dewitt Bukater's exited towards the dining room to take their seats as Rose walked past her father he gently grabbed her hand.

"Are you ok Rosie?" James asked and Rose nodded eagerly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes father I'm fine," she smiled while James kissed the top of her head.

Taking their seats it didn't take long before they all engaged in their own conversation. Cal and Rose eat in silence still a bit unsure about what to make of their conversation before when Ruth decided to speak.

"Rose have you told Cal of your good news?" She asked taking a sip of her wine.

Rose cleared her throat, "Yes mother I told him in the garden,"

"Well what is this good news Rose?" Nathan asked a little bit too abruptly but it went unnoticed amongst the grownups.

Rose wiped her mouth with napkin. "Errm I'm going to be starting finishing school in a few days," She said rather nervously.

"Oh Rose how fantastic, finally going back to school," Veronica praised.

"It's spectacular Veronica really, the school is in Manhattan and is the best school in the United States," Ruth boasted.

They all started to talk about the fees and the school's prospectus. Rose turned to look at Cal and gave him a small smile. Cal though it was hurting him forced a smile back.

Rose slowly slipped her hand onto Cal's lap and squeezed his hand. She knew although he pretended everything was ok he was hurting from this newfound revelation. She was too in a sense she'd always looked forward to the day she's go back to school but she didn't think about the fact she'd be living away from home for the past five years and then what come back and be married to some rich business man and be held to the household just like her mother and Veronica.

After dinner everyone exited into the lounge for after dinner drinks this was also just another chance for the men to boast about their businesses and for the women to listen adoringly to their husbands. As they were following their parents Rose suddenly grabbed Cal's hand and pulled him in the opposite direction to the porch in their backyard.

"Rose, they'll wonder where we've gone,"

"They won't care they're too busy talking about themselves," Rose replied kicking off her shoes, sitting on the swing and tucking her feet up underneath her. She patted the seat next to her and Cal sat down.

"Tell me not to go Cal and I won't," She said to him.

Cal sighed. "You have to go Rose," and he tucked a curl behind her ear. "It'll be ok I promise you that,"

Rose bit her lip before nodding and resting her head on his shoulder. Cal rested his head against her smooth curls trying to contain his emotion that in three days his best friend would be gone.

Hope you all liked and before anyone asks this is not going to be a Rose and Cal in love fanfic they will only be best friends for the purpose of the storyline which I promise is going to get a bit more lively in a few chapters time. Remember to review and I'll try my best to update soon!