Hi guys- sorry for those of you who noticed the mistake in my last chapter- Rose kissed Zed, not Zoe. It has been updated now to make sense as Benedict Fan pointed it out for me!- Silly me for writing when I was half-asleep! Here's another update to make up for the previous long delay!

-xx-xxx-xx-

The romantic gestures started the next day. I walked out to the parking lot and found a beautiful bunch of white daisies and blue tulips tucked under a windscreen-wiper on my car, with a small yellow envelope attached to it. I looked around and realised I wasn't the only one who had noticed. Girls were whispering and guys were trying to look subtly in my direction.

Thankfully, my phone rang, making everyone head back to their business.

'Hello, is that Sky Bright?'

'Yes it is.' I replied, nervously, worried something had happened to someone I cared about.

'Hi, I'm Casey and I work at Hollister in downtown Vancouver. You handed an application form in the other day for a job. We'd like to invite you to an interview tomorrow.'

'Fantastic!' I smiled. 'What time?'

'Is 2pm okay? Just dress in something you'd expect to find in our store. We'll need to take some photos of you as well, so just wear minimal make-up.'

'Okay great.'

'See you then!'

'Bye!'

I grinned like an idiot; first interview. Sure I might not get it, but it was a start.

When I woke up the next morning, there were two bouquets of flowers outside of Jenni's door, alongside a blue envelope with my name scrawled across it in familiar writing. Zed.

'Are you planning on moving those?' Jenni asked, heading towards me with our morning Starbucks we'd started as a ritual.

'Sorry.' I picked them up and brought them in. 'That's three bunches now.'

'You'll have seven tomorrow.'

'Don't be daft.' I placed the flowers in some water on the desk I had claimed in her bedroom.

'Fine, if you don't believe me...'

She was right. Outside the door were four bouquets of a dozen roses, as well as another envelope.

'Told you so.' She winked, returning with our coffee. I grabbed the flowers and followed her inside.

'What am I going to do?' I sighed.

'I don't know.' She shrugged. 'Only you can choose that. Have you heard anything after your interview yesterday?'

'I don't think I've got it.' I sighed. 'The girls there were so pretty. And I'm not sure I photo well.'

'The pictures from the other night suggest otherwise. You've had so many likes!'

'Ha! My friends are a little biased.' I laughed.

'Yeah, yeah.' She shook her head. 'Come on, I guess we'd better find some more vases.'

Three days later and my hayfever was killing me. We had so many bunches of flowers that we had started knocking on random doors and leaving them outside as a nice surprise for someone. The only problem with that was that all the girls in the dorms were walking around in a daze, wondering if every guy they passed was their secret admirer.

I was curled up on my bed with a new course book when my phone rang.

'Hello?'

'Hey, is that Sky? It's Casey from Hollister.'

'Oh hi.'

'It was really great meeting you the other day.' But you haven't got the job.

'Yeah, you too.'

'We'd like to offer you the job! You're perfect for Hollister and you'd be a great member of the team.'

'Really?' I gasped in surprise, not expecting it at all.

'Sure! We'll need you in on Saturday for training and you'll need to wear the stock so we'll give you a discount card. Is that cool?'

'Yeah, absolutely.' I smiled, glad she couldn't see my stupid grin.

'Super! See you at ten this Saturday.'

'See you then.'

I hung up and took down the walls in my head. I needed to tell Zed. I paused. No I didn't, not yet. I'd tell Jenni when she got in from her lecture, though. I looked across the room to the vases of flowers on the desk and sighed. Next to them was a small pile of envelopes; one for each day I'd had the flowers. I felt like Ally in the Notebook, after her mother had returned all of her letters from Noah.

I picked up the pile and took a deep breath before opening letter number one, which was in a yellow envelope.

Sky,

I can't sleep without you here beside me. Please speak to me. I've heard something about Rose that has really worried me and you might trust me again. I love you so much. Please don't leave me,

Zed xxxxx

I placed it beside me, feeling the tears stinging my eyes. I had to keep reading, it filled my head with his voice. I picked up the second envelope, a blue one.

Sky,

Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and I'll keep sending these to you, so please hear me out and forgive me again, you're more than my lover, you're also my friend.

Zed xxxxx

I never knew he could write until I'd read that. Sure he was musical, but he'd never seemed particularly poetic. Goosebumps covered my arms and I blushed at the thought of someone writing something like that for me. My phone beeped, grabbing my attention.

I looked at the screen, surprised to see a message from someone in my sorority- Dana. After all, I had abandonned the idea without telling them. No point spending time with those I couldn't trust.

Hey, I know you're pissed at Rose right now, I heard what happened. Can we meet in Starbucks in an hour? It's important- D x

I frowned, not sure if I wanted to do that. Besides, Starbucks was a thirty minute walk away and it would mean getting out of the comfort of my onesie.

Will Rose be there?

No. I'm not as loyal to her as you might think. See you there- D x

I decided I'd better make myself look less crap and make an effort for going out in public. I threw on a navy tea dress with white and blue flowers, as well as my tan-coloured boots and brown cord jacket. I ran a finger through my curls and put on enough make-up to make me look normal. Then I grabbed my brown satchel bag and headed out the door.

The day felt quite autumnal for September and I knew the mild weather wouldn't last much longer; the trees were starting to turn orange and the summer flowers were starting to lose life. The blue sky was filled with white, wipsy clouds like candyfloss.

When I turned the corner at Starbucks, Dana was already waiting there, phone in her hand and smacking her glossy lips together.

'Hey.' She pulled me into a hug, which I awkwardly returned. 'Come on, let's grab a drink.'

I sat opposite Dana, mixing a teaspoon of sugar into my mug. 'So...'

'God, I wish this wasn't so awkward.' Dana sighed. 'We're supposed to be sisters.'

'I'm sorry, but after what happened, I can't be in Alpha Phi.' I shook my head.

'I know, I completely understand. Rose is just insane.' She bit her lip. 'She's a little full-on.'

'A little?'

'Okay a lot.'

'If you don't like her, why are you still a member?'

Dana's eyes dropped to her drink. 'You know what she's like. Plus she'd never let me leave.'

'Well too bad, you've got free will.'

'Do you remember what I said, that night at the party?'

I thought back to the party and other than meeting Jenni and Ben, most of it seemed like a blur. 'I don't know.'

'Well we're all savants, we all have abilities right?' Dana took a sip of her latte before continuing. 'Well Rose's ability is dangerous. She can take away your free will. She can control your actions; what you say, what you do...'

'She should be locked up.'

'But how could you lock someone like her up? She'd stop you doing so.'

'I guess you're right.'

'I think she did something to your fiance.'

'I know, she kissed him.' I shuddered at the memory of discovering the photo on Zed's phone, which I had quite possibly cracked the screen of.

'I don't think he's to blame, though.' Dana looked thoughtful. 'No one has mentionned it but I know we're all thinking it; she changed his free will, she made him kiss her and pose for those photos.'

'He did say he couldn't remember anything...'

'Do you believe him?'

'I don't know.'

'Well I think you should.' Dana replied, having another sip of her drink. 'I heard Rose say you were soulfinders. You're lucky to have him, and from what my parents always told me, soulfinders can't hurt each other without really hurting themselves. I don't think he would hurt you if he had the choice.'

'I hope not.' I looked down at my empty glass and sighed.

Dana pushed a pink envelope across the table to me, along with a red rose. My name was scrawled on in Zed's handwriting.

'Did he give you this?'

Dana nodded. 'I searched the campus to find him after I heard you'd left him. I had to tell him about Rose, tell him not to blame himself.'

I felt guilty. I'd given Zed such a hard time and I'd refused to believe him. Perhaps he hadn't been to blame afterall? I carefully opened the envelope and pulled out the note.

The first place we ate when we moved here.

'What is it?' Dana asked.

I showed her. 'I'm not sure what it means.'

'Maybe he's going to meet you there. Do you remember the name of the restaurant? I'll give you a ride on my way home.'

The restaurant was empty when I arrived.

'Can I help you, miss?'

'Oh... I got this from my fiance. Sorry I thought he wanted me to meet him here.' I showed him the note and looked around, feeling a little disappointed.

'Ah, you are Sky!' He handed me another pink envelope and my second rose.

We hired a canoe here.

'What is your next clue, miss?'

He was right, they were clues. Zed was sending me on a treasure hunt with a note and a rose at each one. At each place we'd been to together, there was a pink envelope and a red rose waiting for me. It was a romantic gesture, though it was exhausting and I was getting to the point where I just wanted to find him and apologize for everything.

Catch the 27 bus from across the road. Ask for a one-way ticket to Rosewood.

Rosewood? I looked at the collection of roses which were attempting to stick out of my bag. The thorns had already scratched me a few times and made a cag on my dress. I spotted the 27 Bus turning the corner, and quickly rushed across the road towards it.

'Where to?' The grumpy bus driver asked, running a hand through his disgusting combover.

'Erm... Rosewood.'

'Nine dollars.'

I handed over the money and he gave me a ticket. 'How far away is that?'

'An hour.' He replied, bluntly.

I decided it wasn't worth striking up a conversation with him or anyone on the bus; most people had headphones in. I quickly sent a text to Jenni to let her know where I was heading and what had happened and told her not to wait for me, but to go ahead and grab dinner with Ben. At least he would thank me for that; he was clearly head-over-heels for Jenni, whether she realized it or not.

The journey went quicker than I had imagined, and before long the bus announced it was approaching Rosewood. I threw my jacket back on, to prepare for the cool air, and climbed off the bus. Looking around, there wasn't much about. There was a sign for a hotel, a sign for some gardens and then a sign for the nature trail. I looked around, feeling confused. There wasn't anyone about. Now what was I supposed to do?

That was when i noticed the red rose petals on the ground. Was it just me or were there a trail of them leading into the trees? My gut told me to follow them, so I threw my bag back over my shoulder and headed off. It was just as well my boots had a good tread; the ground was uneven and a little muddy from the rain we had had the previous night. The woodland was starting to get dark and I could hear animals rustling amongst the leaves nearby.

The rose petals took a turn and I was glad there was no breeze to blow them away, or I may have followed the same fate as Hansel and Gretal. The path became lighter and I noticed the number of trees was lessening. I reached the end of the woodland and I gasped at the view before me; I was on the top of a cliff with a beautiful view of a valley and river below me. The sky was orange and red and the sun had started to set.

Sky.

I turned around and Zed was stood there, holding the last rose in his hand.