~∞ ROSES ∞~

Chapter Nineteen: Hidden Roses

He really liked his girlfriend, — that was for sure — but for some reason, he was falling for her. She had been at West High since high school had begun, but he had never really paid attention.

Honestly, he would not have had, either, unless Fang had brought her to his attention.

Not that Sam didn't like Lissa, — he truly did — but sometimes, she was just… too much.

It was complicated to explain. Maybe the self-consciousness, the perkiness, and the overwhelming happiness she radiated. Alternatively, was it her red hair? He was comparing Max to Lissa — even down to the hair color. He had always hated the color red.

Sure, it was against bro-code to date a girl your friend is dating. Sure, it was rude, but this was Fang he was talking about. Man-whore, player, bastard — that was him.

Sam still couldn't believe that Max had somehow managed to whoop his player ass into shape, and tame that womanizing beast. He liked her because of it.

Maybe a little too much.

There was something worrying him, however. And this problem, happened to be named Fang.

Was Fang truly falling for Max? Had he already fallen? Or, was this just another girl he picked up because of a bet? Sam would not be surprised if it was — Fang and Iggy were always betting.

Sam walked into his room, in which he shared with his dorm mate, Dylan Gunther-Hagen.

Dylan was one of his friends as well, although Lissa and Fang never seemed to like him… ever. He often wondered that if he hadn't been assigned to share a dorm with Dylan, would he be as friendly as he was now with him?

His roommate was on the couch, with his girlfriend, Maya, their lips connected. Sam crinkled his nose in disgust; he would never make-out with his girlfriend — soon to be ex-girlfriend — as if he was eating her alive. "Bro!" Sam shouted, effectively causing the two to cease to kiss.

"Not cool, Sam," Dylan snapped, as Maya sat up, straightening her shirt. She kissed Dylan on the cheek while tying her dirty blonde hair in a ponytail, before glaring at Sam and leaving. "What the frick was that for?" he snapped.

Sam rolled his eyes, staring at Dylan's wide, outraged turquoise ones. "If I hadn't interjected, y'all would be at it like rabbits, so be thankful I was the one stepping in, rather than Head Master Pruitt," Sam replied nonchalantly.

"Whatever," Dylan muttered, heading to his separate room.

He cut in before Dylan could close his door shut. "I have a favor to ask you."

Dylan stared at Sam for a moment. "I'll do it, but it won't be a favor, since I'm not doing it for free."

Sam sighed with relief, grabbing his wallet out of his pocket. "Here, one-hundred bucks," Sam said, holding the money up with the hand not holding his wallet.

"Good," Dylan smiled, leaning against the doorframe of his room, as he took the money and began counting it. "What do you need me to do? Get you a life?" he asked, only half-teasing, a smirk on his tan face.

Rolling his eyes, Sam replied, "No. I need you to follow Fang tonight on his date with Max."

"Fang? Date?" Dylan asked incredulously, an eyebrow cocked in amusement. "For that girl?"

He was quick to cut in. "She's not just a girl!"

It was Dylan's turn to roll his bright turquoise eyes. "Okay, whatever."

"So you'll do it?" Sam asked, his eyes hopeful.

Dylan walked into his room, shutting the door with a click of the lock.

"Consider it done."

...

Lupo Greyback was unusually excited for her date with Iggy. At least… she hoped it was a date; that is what he implied, right? She wanted to literally face-palm herself. Don't start getting hopeful, Lupo Avril Greyback! She scolded herself inwardly. Even if you're pretty sure that they were going on one.

Her phone buzzed beside her, in her dorm room. She tapped her phone, only to see that she had a text from an unknown number. Curiously, she opened up the message. 'Tomorrow at seven-thirty?'It read. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she brushed her silver streak out of her face as she typed back a reply.

'Dafuq?!'

The reply was almost instantaneous. 'Whoo, Miss Greyback's got a potty mouth!' It was soon followed by a, 'It's Iggy, by the way.'

She cursed to herself for her face immediately heating up. 'Oh… Hi. How'd you get my number?'

'I have my ways… *insert mysterious eyebrow wiggle* xD' Iggy replied, causing Lupo to bust out laughing at his response. She clicked the button to reply back to him, but another message filled her inbox. 'But seriously. You're avoiding the original question.'

Lupo thought back to their conversation so far. '… A… Question?'

'Tomorrow. At. Seven. Thirty?'

Oh, Lupo thought, a small smile coming to her face. 'Oh, I don't know…' She sent the message. Right after, Lupo started another one. 'Are we? (;'

'I guess so. I'll meet you at your dorm (:'

She blushed. ' Dorm number 401. I'll see you there.'

I guess we're going on that date after all… Lupo mused to herself. She collapsed backwards on her bed, a small smile on her face, staring blankly at the ceiling, before her eyes began to droop shut.

...

This was not the way Dylan wanted to spend his Friday night. Crouched down in some bushes, listening to sob stories, his car parked in the forest, to his annoyance.

Oh, and to make it worse, he had to go to the bathroom. Badly.

He groaned almost silently in aggravation, hoping they'd leave soon, so he could. Dylan really should have raised the price to two-hundred-fifty.

"H-he was taken to the hospital, and that's when I found out he had cystic fibrosis. Dad… Daddy died at that hospital at the age of thirty-seven, due to lung complications. We buried him with sixty-five roses," Max sobbed. I thought she was supposed to be tough. She just sounds freaking pathetic, Dylan thought bitterly, his annoyance clear.

"I always thought I would have his roses, at least. But when my aunt took me in and shipped me off to West High, I had nothing to remind me of him. Nothing. Until you," she sniffled, "took me home and… God, I'm acting like a brat right now, but it feels so good to just… let it all out, for once." Yeah, you are.

"You're not a brat. You're Max. The Max I love," Fang said. Dylan almost couldn't contain his snickering. Pathetic. I repeat: P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C. And she is so a brat.

Now he could only hear quiet murmurings… So quiet, Dylan could barely hear. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For listening. For being there. For keeping your promise. For everything."

"No, thank you. For telling me this."

"You won't tell anyone? I just don't know... I don't want anyone else to know or pity me or Dad..."

"I promise."

What a promise that'll be, when Sam hears this, Dylan thought, a sinister grin on his face. And believe me, Sam will know.