Just Rose

21

'So, he didn't kiss you back?' Abby was still limiting the damage to Rose's make up with Kleenex and water, brushing her hair out and trying to bring some sense of normal back to her ravaged look. Kneeling in front of her in the tight cubicle.

'No...Yes...No... I don't know!' She was sitting on the toilet lid, no longer crying, having recapped the sorry tale already.

'Well he either did or he didn't!' Abby rummaged for a lip balm and started using it on Rose's mouth.

'He stopped me, but not like right away. He didn't pull away, he just held me a second, mouth to mouth. Like a kiss but not an open mouth let's take it further kiss. Just lips pressed on lips. Just sort of stopped and waited for a second to pull away.' Rose sighed and took the balm herself to apply a generous layer, her mouth felt swollen from repeated lip biting when she had been howling her eyes out.

'So, he did kiss you, he just didn't let it get out of hand?' Abby said thoughtfully.

'I think he was more concerned with the fact I was drunk and emotional and he was trying to not make me worse.'

'I have nothing!' Abby slid down onto the floor in the tiny space. 'Honestly I have no idea what the heck it even means. Without seeing how he was or anything. It's Rob... He is sometimes a complete enigma to me.' Abby sighed.

'Thanks. He's your brother!' Rose raised her palms in exasperation, if his sister had no clue what went on his head, then how would she?

'Maybe he wanted to kiss you back, but he just knew he couldn't.' She raised an eyebrow, a helpful one to that charming voice.

'Maybe he just didn't want too and tried to spare my embarrassment.' Again, Rose sighed, deflated and fast sobering up.

'I thought you were done with him, Rose? Why did you even try?'

'I don't know...I wasn't thinking about it, he was just being soo...'

'Like when you were together?' Abby blinked at her sympathetically, a hand coming to brush hair from her face and behind her ear.

'Yes. I just wanted a moment of that back. I miss him so much it hurts.' She dropped her gaze to the floor, shame washing over her at her stupid move. 'I really am pathetic, aren't I?' A single hot tear escaped her eye and rolled down her now blushed, clean cheek. Abby moved towards her, dabbing at it with her tissue.

'Your broken-hearted Rose! Not pathetic... Just struggling and all of this is enough to make any woman break.'

'Why can't he just keep his distance...? He's always there. Always showing up to torture me! Always with her.' She pulled the tissue from her friend and began shredding it between her fingers.

'Maybe it's time you let me talk to him?' Her green eyes tinged with hope, she really wanted to end the way her friend was suffering but Rose shook her head.