CHAPTER 5

"WOW!" Adrian started to whoop, like a crazed animal. "She was HOT! And this year she will be mine!" he high-fived the group got to me and noticed something was wrong. I still sat there staring at the wood grains of my desk, still as stone. "Dude, this is a call for cel-e-bra-tion! Be happy for me"

How could I? How could I be happy for him, when the most outstanding woman I had ever seen had just crushed me with her name and my new 'friend' was planning on dating!

I dragged my face into an expression which somewhat represented gladness saying "Yeh... I'm happy for you" and then turned back to my inner rambling.

I didn't see Rose for 3 days afterward. But I looked. Every swish of dark hair or swing of hips caught my eye, I looked yet it was never her.

Until the Friday of my first week in school she was there again. I saw her through the window of my English class, stood outside with a slightly taller girl with black hair and crystal blue eyes; her resemblance to Christian was uncanny! She laughed; fixated by her I almost missed the bell ring. I grabbed my things and glanced back outside to see Christian had joined them. I saw the chance and took it.

Running out of the academy's doors I saw Adrian had also joined the congregation. This angered me, seeing him touch her, making her laugh. Anger, boiling just below the surface. Get a grip! Why am I so affected?

I approached. Adrian's face dropped compared to rose whose face lit up with curiosity. I glimpsed at Christian and the girl whom also had a similar expression as rose and Chris was again, staring off at the girl again.

Rose broke the silence. Through gritted teeth came "Christian" it was a warning, powerful. "Stop it" his eyes flicked to her face and instantly dropped.

"I know Rose" and walked away. The girl glanced after him a look of exasperation on her face.

"I'll get him and see you later" and followed Christian.

"Ok Tasha" rose replied turning to Adrian "she's such a good sister. Goodbye" walking the other way toward her car, I followed ignoring the calls from Adrian and Eddie whom had joined him.

"Excuse me? Rose?" she turned. Her glare piercing then softening ever so slightly when she saw I was no threat.

"Yes?"

"I umm well... you see" I don't usually stammer. But for some reason I did.

"look I don't have all day, so if you have something to spit out please do, if not then move away and leave me be" her tone was short and clipped, she didn't want to talk.

"No no... I do" she raised an eyebrow "I meant I have something to say, to ask." I smiled hoping to reassure her. Her stance relaxed and she sighed.

"Alright then. Go on."

"Well you see, I know I'm new and I know you don't know me but... I ... I "I froze "would you not go out with Adrian please." This question all of a sudden rushed from my mouth. That wasn't what I wanted to ask. Why couldn't I just ask her?

She laughed. "Really? That's all? Well you have no worries there. Ade has been after me for as long as I can remember and I have never given in or even remotely been interested in him. I'm not going to give him the time of day" again she chuckled and turned her back. The answer took away the slight tug at my chest but still did not answer my real question.

Who is Rosemarie Hathaway?