Rose in Bloom

Chapter Two

❀Rose'sPOV❀

“It’s been so long since I’ve gone past the rules!” Ariel wails as she stuffs a portion of fries in here mouth. I couldn’t help but shake my head and dip my fry into the different toppings I set up on a plate before me. As you may have guessed, I’m the dipping type and Ariel is one who squirts all the ketchup all over.

     The rules she was referring to were her diet rules. She models for her mother’s fashion company and these are the only rules she needed to follow: no carbohydrates and no fat. Difficult, I know.

     “You have a show this weekend, how are you going to burn all that excess fat?” I question her, taking a sip on my soda. Ariel roles her eyes at me and then purses her lips together, still swallowing the remains of what she was eating. After taking a few big gulps of her drink she replies.

     “Instead of worrying about me worry about you; the life you’re living isn’t healthy Rose. You can’t allow persons to pick on you like that. I can’t stand it!” She exclaims, prepared to destroy her plate with the fork. Her action made me jump in my seat a little but I knew she only meant good.

     “I-I am u-used to it-“

     “What shit are you talking now? Look at me Rose, in the eyes,” Her command wasn’t harsh but I did as she said immediately. “This is going to stop. And it’s going to stop on Friday. By tomorrow I’ll transform you into the person you are afraid to let show. Confident and determined…”

     Staring at my blond, green eyed best friend who smiled satisfied at me, I couldn’t help but be a little skeptical. I mean, some miracles just don’t happen. How on earth was she even going to accomplish such a great transformation in only one day?

     “B-But-“

     “Shush, I’m not done yet. Before you go to bed, take these,” She says, digging into her purse and handing me a yellow tablet which I knew all too well. My eyes widen and I leaned back into the chair. “But when I drink this pill it makes me sick till three hours after I wake up. I’ll miss school tomorrow if I do.”

     “Exactly,” She states, a smirk was now glued on her face.

     “I don’t know Ariel… School is very important to me and you know that,” I say hesitantly, taking the last bite of my burger and devouring my last fry. “If you don’t know then, I do. I’ll pick you up at ten and we’ll be at my house up until your time for work.”

     Nodding in agreement, I place a loose strand of my golden brown hair behind my ear. All the while, my hazel eyes were glued on the table. My mind was wondering off on so many levels at this point, you have no idea.

     What would persons think when I don’t come to school tomorrow?

     How will my mother react?

     How did I ever get a friend like Ariel?

     We were two opposites. She was respected, she hated the word popular. She would dress the way she felt and still look like a million dollars. She was brave, courageous and a risk taker. She has good people skills plus she is an A student. Not to mention she’s really beautiful and talented.

     I on the other hand am not popular, a nerd, the punching bag of my entire school population. I have haters and she doesn’t. I could only risk wearing long baggy pants and sweaters. Well, that and the other fact that I couldn’t afford anything better. I am shy, clumsy and a little too innocent for a seventeen year old. Overall, I’m not even worth to be called pretty.

    “Earth to Rose, hello…” Ariel chants, snapping her fingers in my face, bring me back to the present time. I had this bad habit of over thinking stuff and then spacing out. She knew this but said that she doesn’t quite mind.

     “Uh, yeah…?” I ask.

     “Could you please throw our leftovers while I go to the washroom?” She asks politely. I simply nod, grabbing both trays and began walking towards the disposal.

     I wouldn’t be 'Rose' if something embarrassing didn’t happen. Today being Wednesday, I chose to wear my old pair of converse, luckily for me, the laces were undone. Accidently stepping on my on laces, I began to tumble to the floor. Oh my God, please help me. My body was in enough pain as it is!

     My dying wish was not heard and I crashed onto someone who sat at their booth alone. The trays hit him square in the chest as I fell on my face. A soft whimper escaped my lips because the impact hurt really badly. I didn’t dear getting up as yet because I heard the frustrated grunt escape the individual’s lips.

     “The least you could do to save yourself less humiliation is to get off the floor. Some persons are wondering if you’re dead.” His voice was forced to be calm because I heard the two deep breaths before he began talking.

     Doing as told, I struggled up from the floor, trying my best to not show any sign of pain. My eyes were already welding up because I couldn’t take it on. A cut I seemed to have gotten earlier, opened up and the white long sleeved shirt Ariel borrowed me showed the blood stain. This was even worst than the time I got my period at school and I was wearing white pants.

     “A-Are you alright?” The guy questions, his bright green eyes darting directly to the blood stain close to my tummy. Looking up at his face I got out of breath. He was gorgeous, had a sexy voice, extremely hot body and was talking to me? I ruined his light green T-shirt and pants…

     “I-I-I’m so sorry!” I practically shouted as I ran out of the diner, holding onto where that was bleeding. Though I ran worst than a one legged duck, I made it out of the diner on one piece. Resting my back against the wall outside, I placed my free hand on my chest. I was hyperventilating for three reasons right now.

     1) That guy was just too hot. His dark brown hair, green eyes, strong facial structure and the softest looking pink lips almost had me in a daze. His arm, chest and abdomen muscles were perfectly sculpted and were visible through his shirt and almost gave me a heart attack.

     2) What was going on in his mind when he saw the blood? I think he noticed the bruises on face too. I’m so glad that the sleeves of this shirt were long, if not he might as well pin me down and get the answers out of me.

     3) Damn that little run was a hassle.

     “Rose! Where are you?” Ariel’s concerned voice was clearly heard as she steps out of the diner’s doors. “I-I’m here,” I respond. Her head snaps into my direction and the first thing she saw was the blood stain on her shirt. Oh my, this was her favorite shirt!

     “You’re going home. I need to tend to those wounds, bruises and whatever is going on with you right now,” she says, walking up towards me and grabbing hold of my hand. He little purse was in her right hand and she pulled me along towards her car with the left. “They went overboard this time Rose, they really did,” Her voice was soft as a whisper and her eyes were threatening to let out tears.

     She was pissed at the guys and worried about me. “I’ll be alright Ariel, I promise,” I say, not trying to convince her but myself. She turns from the driver’s seat, gives me a blank look, shakes her head and then drives towards my house. The home I don’t actually look forward into returning to.

     “I’m going to be alright,” I whisper to myself as I stared at the most painful bloody spot of my body. I needed to convince myself that I was going to be okay, I just needed to. Amidst all my convincing I couldn’t help but wonder who the guy from earlier may be. I’ve never seen him around and yet he saw me at my worst.

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A/N: Hmm, Sad start I know, but... things will fix themselves I swaer!