CHAPTER 6

After talking with Kirova I decided to skip the rest of the week. I couldn't deal with the whispers and lies all the time. My charade could only hold for so long. I needed a break.

Tasha was quite happy to stay with me. Any reason for her to skip she would take. Rebellious! We made a perfect match. She's my best friend. I don't know how we didn't click before. Before the disaster happened. Before last year, November. When I was friends with her. It disgusts me now even thinking about her. How much we shared. How much we went through, for her then to throw it all back in my face.

"So … are you going to tell me what your scheming, thinking, planning on doing?" Tasha said between drags of her cigarette. "I know there's something, I can always tell" she winked and giggled.

"Indeed. You are correct again!" I laughed with her. "But, I will tell you later, you know I always do" I smiled, she didn't know what was going on but she was always willing to help.

"Just trying to speed up the process" She replied.

Chris called me in on Friday. So much for having the rest of the week off!

I sat in my old Mustang in front of the academy, breathing deeply. I didn't like putting on the tough Rose, the one everyone had gotten so used to seeing. I wanted to be who I was before. But I never could again. I looked up, slipped my act into place and elegantly slid out of the car.

People turned to look; everywhere I could feel their eyes on me. I hated it, but of course didn't show my feelings. As promised Tasha was there waiting. I strutted up to her, still in my role.

"Hey, why did Chris call us here?" I asked, quietly, making sure no one over-heard.

"I don't know" she didn't want to be here, her teeth were gritted, her stance stiff.

"Well he had better hurry up so we can leave again." as the words left my mouth he arrived, sulking up to us. "Hey" I started "So, what's the meeting for?"

"Her." His one simple answer hit me like a tonne of bricks. I was angry now. "I want you to talk to her" he said it as if it was the simplest thing in the world. I almost crumbled, my knees were shaking, I felt ill and he thought I hadn't already tried to talk to her!

"No!" was my only reply, his head dropped but he didn't push it. At this point the school day had ended and kids were flocking out of the school doors to their home like sheep following a shepherd. I noticed most of them avoided us and it stung.

Just then I noticed Adrian approaching, I loved him to pieces, only like a brother, I just don't think he understands that, one understands who I really am.

"Hey, hey, hey ladies … and Christian" his arms outstretched; like he was the best in the world, I think he expected us to run into his arms and hug him. That didn't happen. We just looked at him. His arms dropped and he turned to face me, I already knew what was coming so I smiled. He almost fell to the floor and I think he would have if I hadn't touched his elbow in reassurance.

"Right" he smiled too "I was wondering Rose, you, me, out on the marina, on my dad's yacht, drinking champagne eating chocolate strawberries? What do you think?" he winked, just to top it off. The giggles where bubbling up inside me, I didn't want to laugh, to embarrass him but it was just so cheesy! I resisted mostly, only a spurt of giggles escaped my lips.

I hugged him "I'm sorry Ade, not this time" he sighed and nodded, he was used to my reply.

Just as the atmosphere was high, I was in a relatively good mood, someone approached. It was silent and tense. He looked at me quickly glancing at the others with his gaze returning back to mine. Curiosity laced my features.

My eyes twitched to Chris and Tasha hoping for an escape, only to find Christian staring at her, again. "Christian, Stop It" his head snapped back to mine and he sighed in defeat. I didn't want to hurt him, I know he loves her, but I needed him to understand, it could never be the same again.

"I know Rose" the words pained me, I felt horrible. I turned to Tasha with pleading eyes; she caught my look and turned in the direction Christian went. She nodded, she understood.

"I'll get him and see you later." She turned and went to retrieve her brother, relief flood through me.

I closed my eyes and recomposed myself. Turning to Adrian he said nothing, nor did our third companion. "She's such a good sister" rushed from my lips, I needed to say something, fill the deafening silence. I still got little reply from either of the two boys standing in front of me. I needed to leave, it was getting tense again, and awkward. "Goodbye" was all I could think of so I turned and strutted away.

My escape plan had almost worked except I heard footsteps following and my name being called. I turned; I had a playful reply all ready for Adrian on my lips, however on turning I found a different face. It was the new student, from Russia, the one from the window.

I slipped my charade into place, he doesn't know me, and all he needs to know is the fake Rose, the cruel Rose, and the Rose whom fits with the rumours.

"Yes" my reply was quick and sharp. I glared at him, he was guarded. I softened my look, no need to scare him too much.

"I umm well... you see" he stammered, he was nervous, I felt bad making him feel this was, I wanted to smile and laugh it off, tell him I was just fooling around, but I couldn't.

"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" my tone was short and clipped, I had to stick to my act.

"No no... I do" I raised an eyebrow "I meant I have something to say, to ask." He smiled it was cute, I was drawn to him, like a magnetic pull, but I resisted.

"Alright then. Go on." I relaxed my stance hoping to give him more confidence.

"Well you see, I know I'm new and I know you don't know me but... I ... I "he froze "would you not go out with Adrian please" it rushed from his mouth and I couldn't help but laugh at how quirky he was, different.

"Really? That's all? Well you have no worries there." It was true he doesn't. "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." This wasn't that true, I did once have a crush on him, but that faded when I learnt he was a bit of a player. "I'm not going to give him the time of day" again I chuckled.

I turned away before I did anything drastic. The longer I spent around him the more I felt the magnetic pull toward him. I don't even know his name. But, I will find out.

REVIEWS PLEASE x