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"Get in, we're going shopping, loser." I smiled at Rose's shock, the way her heart stopped for a moment then began to race as she stared at me. Perhaps I was smiling too widely, because suddenly she was backing up against her headboard. "Rosé?" I asked softly. She was staring at me with her mouth slightly open.
"Lisa?" she asked me, her tone somewhat accusatory. I cringed slightly. I suppose I deserved it, after breaking my promise. I stood up slowly and walked cautiously over to her bed, sitting down as far away from her as I could. "You weren't here this morning," she whispered.
I grimaced. "Forgive me, Rosé. But I wasn't sure if my staying was truly the right thing to do."
"What changed your mind?" Ever the perceptive one, I thought. Jisoo was right; you couldn't hide anything from her.
"You." She was confused. "Your emotions, your...well being," I tried to clarify. I sighed, unable to find the right words. "Rosé, you're desperately unhappy." She flushed, ashamed, and I had to clench my teeth against the delicious scent of her blood. She was silent for a few moments, her emotions swirling around with such intensity that I had to focus my energies so as not to react to them. Therefore it was a few minutes before I realized she was crying. "Rosé!" Humans were so fragile, I thought, so unpredictable. So.. confusing.
"I-I'm sorry," Rosé said thickly, trying to wipe away her tears, to no avail. She focused on her breathing for a few moments, while I watched in horror as her tears continued to flow. Rosé gripped her chest as she began again, "I'm r-really happy to see you, Lisa. I'm just upset because I miss them so much." There was no need to say Jisoo's name, we both knew who she missed the most. A little sob escaped her lips and I was hit with the intensity of her feelings once more, my head reeling. Out of habit I reached out towards her, grasping her arm, and she pulled herself closer to me.
A new scent hit me, one not very pleasant at all. I sniffed at her curiously; the scent was so disgustingly strong that it even masked Rosé's own enticing scent this close. I had to hold her at arms length, unable to make out an apology as I felt her rejection, and I wrinkled my nose. "Where were you today?"
"Downtown, reservation," Rosé answered, looking up at me with a little furrow in her brow.
Ah, now it all made sense. "I'm sorry Rosé, would you mind taking a shower first?"
"What?" she asked, blushing. She sniffed herself. "Do I smell bad?"
"It's not you, exactly," I tried to explain. "Rosé, it isn't my place to tell you. Please, just take a shower." I used my most convincing and reassuring tone, and it worked. Rosé nodded and gathered up her things, throwing me another look as she walked out the door. I took in a deep breath when it closed behind her, trying to clear the repulsive scent out of my mouth. Well, if there was one way to keep Rosé safe around me, I think I'd just found it. Just have her play with werewolves all day. I shuddered at the thought.
