So yeah here is another Chapter! Reviews would be greatly apperciated!
I began to remember her face. Her dark features. No wonder my dad hated me. I was her reflection. Her dark eyes and long dark hair made her skin white as snow. She was beautiful.
I began to remember when I was still small. I couldn't have been more then seven years old and my mom was helping me with my schoolwork.
"Mom. Why do I have to use something so stupid? I'm not going to use multiplication when I'm older." I whined.
All she did was laugh at me. Her smile was like the sun, so bright and happy.
"Who said you aren't going to use this when you are older?" She asked. Her voice was honey. So smooth and loving.
"Daddy said that it was a waste of time." I remember saying scribbling on the paper.
"Well daddy is wrong. You are going to use it a lot when you get older so we need to start practicing. Don't you want to be the smartest girl in class?" She asked pulling me into her lap.
"Not really. Won't people make fun of me mommy?" I asked leaning against her shoulder.
"No they won't make fun of you. And as I promise I'll make you you're favorite cookies, Chocolate chip!" She said excitedly. I jumped up and cheered with a wide smile on my face.
I stopped thinking and turned away from the clock. Time was going to slow. Only ten minutes had passed. I closed my eyes and thought about today at school.
Devon had met every one of my friends and I was happy. Tohru gladly accepted his friendship but everyone else was a little shaky. Kyo and Yuki really didn't warm up to him.
I jumped up from my bed. I had completely forgot to meet Yuki after school. I checked the clock and it was a little after four. Yuki was on the student council so he should still be there. I ran through the living room and opened the front door just to run into Devon.
"Where are you going?" He asked startled.
"I completely forgot to meet Yuki after school today." I said fast trying to get around him. My heart raced at the sound of his voice.
He grabbed me by my shoulders.
"Its okay. I saw him when I was coming back from your house and I invited him over. He said he would be here as soon as he could."
"Oh." That was all I could say.
Devon looked me in the eyes and smiled his sad grin.
"What is it?" I asked dazed.
"You should have told them about your dad. Even though he tried to hide it, Yuki was worried about you." He quickly pulled me into a hug. "Even I was worried about you, and I knew where you were."
I didn't want him to worry. It was like my dad said. I wasn't worth protecting, being worried over; I'm not worth anything; just a waste of oxygen and space.
"You hungry?" He asked more cheerful this time letting his hands rest on my shoulders again.
"Kinda." I lied. My stomach churned at the thought of food.
"Well then I'll start making some dinner." He picked up some bags and set them on the couch.
"I got most of your things but I'll need to go back and get the rest." He said from behind the counter pulling out pots and pans.
I still stood at the door, leaning against it.
"You're dad didn't even notice that I was there. He was sleeping on the couch when I left." He spoke lightly, trying to make the mood in the room better. I smiled as best as I could but his eyes told me that he didn't believe my cover face.
I was startled by a knock on the other side of the door. I turned quickly and looked through the peek hole.
It was Yuki, still in his school uniform. My heart skipped a beat as I turned the knob and pulled the door towards me.
I smiled. "Hey Yuki."
"Hi." He smiled sadly. I could see in his eyes the worry that Devon talked about just moments ago.
Devon suddenly appeared behind me.
"Well come on in and make yourself at home." Devon sounded like the sun compared to Yuki and I, just like mom. He was my sun.
I forced a smile and moved out of the way to let him in. Yuki and I sat on the couch while Devon was cooking in the kitchen.
It was very awkward. I looked one way as he looked another.
"Rose, about that question I wanted to ask earlier." Yuki whispered. I saw from the corner of my eye that he had turned to look at me.
"I was wondering where you got those bruises from."
I glanced down at my arms and stared at the black and blue spots. I truly was a disaster. I couldn't tell him. I was going to break before I had the chance. I had been so close to breaking these last few days. Everything in my world was crumbling out of my control. My throat became so tight that I had to hold my breath, afraid that breathing would make the tears come sooner.
"Rose?" Yuki whispered, reaching for me.
I stayed silent until I knew that my voice was steady.
"I got them from my dad." My voice cracked when I said dad. My walls tumbled and I collapsed into tears.
He wasn't a father. A father wouldn't hit me and tell me that I was worthless. A true father wouldn't tell me that he hated me, telling me that he was always hated me. I know I should hate him. I desperately wanted to feel like I could rip his heart out and make him eat it but I couldn't. I had every right to but I couldn't bring myself to hate the only person I had left.
"I got them from my dad." I said again trembling. I felt the tear in my chest rip even more. Tears ran down my face as I held myself together.
Devon was instantly at my side. I could feel his warmth as he pulled me off the couch and into his arms. I sat uncomfortably on the floor between Devon's legs. Sobs ripped from my chest and I dug my face deeper into his shirt.
"It's okay." He whispered softly. "It's alright."
"No, no it's not okay." I sobbed. "I shouldn't of- He was right-"
Devon pulled me face up to his. He stared me down with sad eyes, making me lose my voice.
"Listen to me Rose, you have done nothing wrong. Do you understand? Nothing."
"You're wrong. I've made mistakes that would make anyone hit me. I'm a mistake." I whimpered.
I felt an extra hand on my back.
"You're wrong about that Rose. There isn't anything in the world that would justify another person striking you." His voice was strong. There was no hint of doubt in his voice that questioned what he was saying.
"And who told you that?" I questioned anyway, moving my face to see his eyes filled with emotion.
"Someone that sees the good in everyone. Someone that saw me for me and didn't turn away." he said sternly.
I half-laughed. I felt anger and resentment toward whomever he was talking about. "There isn't a person like that." I mumbled not thinking.
Yuki's eyes saddened even more then glanced up quickly to Devon then back at me.
"Devon hasn't turned away from you, neither have I. Do you think that we will just abandon you when things get hard?" He questioned me.
I stayed silent not because I didn't want to answer but because I couldn't answer. I was sobbing harder now absorbing what I had said. I wanted to look up at Devon but I was too embarrassed. I wanted to apologize but afraid that he wouldn't accept it.
"Rose, we won't abandon you." Devon whispered softly. His voice reassuring enough but I still had my doubts.
"How do I know that you won't abandon me?" I asked.
"All I can give you is my word." He responded. "Is my word enough?"
I slowly raised my head. His eyes were filled with worry, sadness, and anguish. His jaw was clenched waiting for my answer. I took a staggering breath.
"Yes." I breathed.
Yuki was the first to stand and he extended his hand to help me up. I smiled as much as I could and let him help me to my feet.
The rest of the night was unlike anything. Devon cooked dinner; we talked, laughed, and had our silent moments for me it all seemed unreal. After dinner I sat quietly while Devon and Yuki talked about school.
"Rose?" I glanced up from my plate. Both of them were staring at me with caution in their eyes.
"Yes?" I answered calmly.
"Could I ask you a question?" Yuki's voice was dripping with uncertainty.
"You just did." I grinned. "But you could ask another one."
He gave me a small smile then turned serious once again. "Why do you keep everyone unaware of your troubles?"
I grimaced and stared back to my plate. I waited a few seconds to answer.
"I don't know." I explained. "I just don't want people to know. I guess I don't want their false pity, or I don't want unnecessary problems, or I could just be too scared to tell anyone. I have no idea."
I felt their stares but refused to look up at them, didn't want things to get too uncomfortable.
"I was the same, you know. Before this school year, before I joined student council, I was distant from everyone. I put up this façade that I thought would please everyone and thus I became the Prince of the school."
I traced the edge of the table with my finger.
"Why did you change?" I whispered glancing into his eyes then back to the edge of the table.
"I got tired." He confessed. "I was tired of pretending to be something that I knew I wasn't. I wanted to be outspoken and so I changed, of course I had some help from people but I became the person that I wanted to be." He laughed.
"What?" I asked confused.
"I bet you think that I sound like a complete fool." He smiled.
I looked back down at the table. "No, I don't think that." I mumbled again embarrassed.
I sat quietly again and began to think, what if I could change like that? There isn't any guarantee but if I don't try then I would never know.
"Now don't get ahead of yourself Rose. I didn't tell them my problems straight out but it does help to know that if things ever did get too tough, that I could count on them being there." He added with a light tone.
"That's what friends are for right." I said with a smile.
"That's right." Devon smiled his crooked grin.
"Well I feel better. Thank you." I said cheerfully.
"It's nothing." Yuki said a slight pink rose across his cheeks. "I do need to get going though. Tohru will probably worry where I am."
"Was she… one of the people that helped you?" I asked quietly. He looked at me with kind eyes.
"Yes she was." He sounded happy but sad too.
We said our good-byes then he left and we were alone again. Of course I didn't mind that we were being alone with him made my skin tingle. I sat at the counter while he tended to the dishes.
"It was a very tiring day. Why don't you get some rest." Devon suggested.
I wanted to tell him that I didn't want to leave him but I decided against it.
"I'm not tired yet." I lied. Though the sound of water was making me very drowsy.
"You never told me how you got my stuff." I mumbled. His jaw clenched but the rest of him stayed as if I never said anything. I maintained my posture as well. My hand cupped my right cheek as I leaned against the counter.
"Do you really want to know?" He asked a little tense still looking at the dishes as he dried and put them away.
"Yes." I whispered unaware that I had leaned closer to him.
He stopped and leaned toward me, his face inches from mine. His aqua eyes piercing through mine making me unable to breathe.
"Magic." He whispered. His breath blew into my face making my head spin. I stayed still for a few moments the frowned.
"If I had just met you, I swore I would have believed it." I whispered back at him.
The side of his mouth twitched as he attempted not to smile. We were still close to each other, slowly leaning in. My heart was pounding against my ribs and my face was burning as he kept staring into my eyes, then he stopped. I stopped when he did, uncertain of what was going to happen. He brought his hand to my face and placed it on my cheek. The heat off his hand didn't help calm me as a matter of fact it made my heart beat faster.
"You really should get to bed." He muttered to me pulling away. He turned and continued putting the plates into the cabinet.
I was glad that he couldn't see the disappointment on my face as I said good night and slowly walked to my room hoping that he would call me back and we could finish what he started. I walked as slow as I could without seeming too suspicious and the true disappointment didn't happen until I shut the door softly behind me. Two plastic bags were placed on the bed and I went through it. Most of my clothes and hygiene accessories were in one bag and random knick-knacks that would be found in my room were in the other.
I changed into my black sweat pants and my red shirt, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and placed the bags on the floor next to the dresser. I would find places for them tomorrow before school. The events that had happened today made me too exhausted and I needed sleep. I don't remember when I fell asleep but surely enough the next morning came and the clock read seven thirty a.m. when a soft knock was heard on my door.
I got up, quickly smoothed my hair, and opened it. Devon was standing there in all his glory smiling.
"Time to get up sleepy head. We leave in forty-five minutes." He reported moving my hair from my face. "I hope you had a nice sleep."
"I did." I replied rubbing my eyes. "I'll be out and ready in thirty minutes." I mumbled.
"Okay. I'll go and get breakfast ready." He smiled and walked toward the kitchen.
I shut the door and leaned against it. I smiled to myself feeling energetic and lively.
Time for a new day and it's going to be different.