Sorry for the long wait! I'm glad that people actually like my story! I really think that it can get more reviews if all of my loyal readers would just review! Anyways….I'm not gonna update Bitter Rose, Close to my Heart, or even this, this summer because I'm gonna be so busy. I might update the odd poem or something once in a while, but I think that's it. I'm just so sorry!

Anyways, I've got a new story up called Where Loyalties Lie for those who are interested in RedXStarRob triangle love story. Please check it out!

Chapter Four

Once she left my room, I journeyed to sit on my bed. I thought about the person who made me sit in this prison cell. He was the one who betrayed me, and allowed me to receive punishment for his wrong doings. Just to think, he cared for me when he wanted me to be his girlfriend. Suddenly, I remembered the day when I met him and his gang of wrong-doers.

-Flashback-

Next to the library and my room, my favorite place to be was at the beach. It was one of those places that you know you won't be judged on who you are. From the cliff I was standing on, I could see forever on this clear morning. I made out the islands scattered across the mouth of the wide bay, distant ships on the glittering horizon. Below me, at the foot of a dizzying drop, the waves crashed against the shore onto the smooth white sands.

I was about to leave the cliff to go onto the beach, when I thought I saw my step-sister and a group of people strolling on the beach's sand and laughing amongst themselves. This wouldn't have been surprising if she said she was going to the beach. However, my step-sister told my step-father that she was going to the library to study with some friends.

I left the cliff to talk to her, regardless of how many people were there. Once I was off the high cliffs and on the low level of the beach, I took a count in my mind of how many people were there. There were exactly six people-including my step-sister. Not trying to sound as if I was disappointed, I walked casually to where her friends were. However, I had to admit that I felt betrayed by her lies to my step-father, even though I hate him.

I paced my walk a bit faster, and was brought to a halt when I was just a few meters away from my step-sister. I took a deep breath, and then said, "Rose Lillian Wilson, what are you doing on the beach, when you said you were going to the library! You are in big trouble when I tell your father!" I had finished lecturing my sister, and she looked as pale as her white, silky hair.

I would have been very strict in this situation if it weren't for the boy beside her hadn't talked. He was a very handsome boy, with white hair and dangerously good looks. There was something very familiar about him that I couldn't seem to quite catch. "Oh, you must Rachel," he begun, but I prevented him from talking anymore.

"Rochelle." I responded with a glare, "My name is Rochelle Roth." I averted my attention away from this mysterious character to my step-sister. "Oh, father, it seems I need to be burning the midnight oil tonight if I want to finish my history assignment." I mimicked what my sister said before she left the house.

"Don't worry, Rose. We won't allow anyone find out you were with us if it is that much of a crime. The only thing I need to do is charm this young lady with my good looks and mysterious character. Tell me Rochelle, what do you see in a boy?"

I glared at him with anger, knowing that it would not be wise to loose my temper around these people. "I like a man who is not so full of himself, and a person who doesn't have overconfidence, a person unlike you."

Everyone in the crowd started laughing at her witty comment, and soon she smirked at her accomplishment. As everyone was laughing, she took a good look at the type of people her sister was hanging out with. Besides the white haired man, and her step-sister, there were four other people. One girl had pink hair in pigtails, and sleek, cat-like eyes; another girl had jet black hair with red streaks and scarlet red eyes. The last two seemed as a couple, as the girl with cherry long hair and astounding emerald eyes was clinging to a tall, black haired, hazel eyed, elegant man. Before long, everyone stopped laughing. She rolled her eyes at the thought of them. They laughed at her comment, as if it was the funniest joke ever said.

"Hey, you know, we could use a girl like you in our gang. A practical, witty gal like you." The one with black hair and hazel eyes gave me a wink secretly, probably hoping his girlfriend wouldn't notice. Practical huh? That was what Vic said when I first met them. Trying to keep their images out of my mind, I asked for them to introduce themselves.

The one with pink hair went first. "I'm Mallory Bauer. I love hexing people, if you call that interesting. Otherwise, I am East Indian, even though I don't look a thing like Indian."

"What language do you speak?" I asked as I knew a few Indian languages myself.

She seemed surprise when I asked her this question. However, she smiled gently before answering, "I know Sanskrit, Tamil, Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi. Do you know any?"

"In fact, I do. I know everything you know, plus Bengali. I learned all of these languages from reading if you are wondering." I responded to the bewildered look on her face.

The one with black hair with red highlights started to introduce herself, ignoring the slight smile creeping up Mallory's face. "The name's Toni Monetti. I'm from New Zealand, even though my name seems like Italian. I love to prank, along with Mallory, and I love learning about the dark arts, and about sorcerers and such. From what I am seeing and guessing, do you like the dark arts, and are you Goth?"

Taken aback from her comment, I felt offended. Did I really dress and seem as if I liked the dark arts? Inhaling deeply, then letting out a deep breath, I responded, "I don't like the dark arts, but I do like being dark. If I wanted to, I might even categorize myself as being a dark person. Do you know the history behind Goths, or what it really means to be called Goth, Toni?"

I knew I had struck Toni when she seemed taken aback by my statement and question. I tried not to be mean to Toni, but I couldn't resist. I knew I had really struck her hard, when her voice turned into a whisper, "No."

Everyone else seemed astonished by my performance, and I knew they were waiting eagerly for me to say the answer. "Well, Toni, when you are talking about Goth, you talk about being a member of a Germanic people that overran the Roman Empire in the third, fourth, and fifth centuries in A.D. These people settled in South and East Europe. Either that or you are being called an uncivilized person, or a barbarian, when someone calls you a Goth. Would you call me uncivilized?"

Toni lowered her head in shame, and didn't talk to me after that. Realizing of what I have done, I replied in monotone, "Don't take it personally, I just want to tell people the real meaning behind Goth. Anyways, I love the dark arts, and fantasy stories behind them. Would you like to come over, sometime and see my collection?"

Everyone seemed surprise, especially Rose, at my offer to Toni. Luckily, Toni agreed whole-heartedly. The next person who I was introduced to was the one with red hair and emerald eyes. When she spoke, I found it hard to believe that a person had such a melodic voice. "My name is Korinne Anders, but my friends call me Kori, and I love playing volleyball, and cheerleading. I am from Tamaran, a small country in Europe. I am the princess of there. It sure is glorious to meet you." She beamed as she leant over to embrace me. By her strength and the tightness of her hug, I reckon volleyball had done her good.

Once we broke the hug, her boyfriend introduced himself to me. "My name is Xavier Redd, and I'm from Spain. I love breaking rules for fun, and I'm running up captain of basketball and soccer. "He winked at me and gave me one of those cocked grins Richard used to give me, when I talked to him. It seemed abnormal, but it seemed as if Richard and Xavier were twins, except the eyes, I think.

Lastly, the wide haired, mysterious man introduced himself. "My name is Mackenzie Kiore, but my friends call me Mac. I'm from Germany, in Europe, if you don't know."

"I know where Germany is," I snapped back in his face. This character was really starting to bug me.

"Anyways, I love writing and reading, and am the head of the newspaper crew at our school. Same as X, I love breaking the rules. Anything else you wanted to know, my maiden?"

My maiden? Okay, maybe drama has really gotten into his head. "Nothing else, my brave dark knight," I responded with sarcasm.

"Just stop this feud between you two. Would you like to join our group, Rochelle? We could use a girl like you, a girl with your brains, looks, and attitude I dig." Xavier asked, but was pinched on the arm by Kori.

"I don't know. Rose?" I asked, hoping my step-sister would get me out of this loop hole.

"Why not? You would be an asset to our group." I stared at her, as if she was nuts. An asset? She thought of me as a benefit?

"No way, Rose. I am not an asset to anybody."

Xavier's eyebrow raised and he asked in doubt, "What's an asset?"

I rolled my eyes and restrained to say something I would regret, but instead replied, "An asset is a benefit, or help. She wants me to help you with something! And Rose, there is no way I will be an asset to you or your gang!" I was about to walk off, when Mac halted me when he stepped in front of me.

"She didn't mean it that way, Rochelle. She just wants you to be part of the group, not the actual group, you understand? Maybe you should just switch your attitude and give us a chance. Why don't you reconsider and join us?" Mac finished with a grin, that couldn't even rival Richard's cocked grins.

Without giving an answer, I stalked off leaving everyone in shock and despair (not the literal way). I thought of giving them a chance, and joining their group. If I did join them, my other friends may not even talk to me. It beat seeing Gar everyday with the group. I smiled, before turning around, and yelled to them, as I was about half a kilometer away from them. "SURE, I'D LOVE TO HANG OUT WITH YOU GUYS! TELL ROSE TO TELL ME WHEN AND WHERE TO MEET YOU GUYS TOMORROW!" I turned around, and heard cheering from the people behind me. I finally put my mind in rest; I had new friends to hang out with. However, I knew little of which hanging with them would cause a life turning event, which would sting and harm me forever.

-End of Flashback-

I tried not to remember that dreadful day, but it was hard not to. Walking gently to my bed, I took out my journal and flipped to the seventh page, where there was writing in Sanskrit. Something I did with Mallory. Instantaneously, I remembered what we did with these Sanskrit words. These were the words to a puja, something done to invoke God. Mallory and I had done it to help us cleanse ourselves of the trouble we were in and with the gang.

I flipped to the next page where I had written the day when Mac had asked me out, and to be his girlfriend. At first, I had been thrilled because no one had ever asked me out. Not even one boy had taken a liking of me. It was a day I was full of joy and the hope that Mac might actually be the one. Even though we had a rough start, we had an immediate liking towards each other. Just as I had done with Gar, Mac and I spent most of our time together and strengthened our friendship. Eventually, when he asked me out, our friendship turned into something more. I wished deeply that I had never even gone out with him because it had affected my entire life. I wouldn't have been in this cell if it weren't for him. I skipped to the next page, hoping not to remember my first date with him.

You guys finally found out who the him is, or the first him anyway. Please review!!

Forgiveness is the scent that the rose leaves on the heel that crushes it.

-Rosefire