Waveland

Chapter 15

Rose had purposely avoided Xavier all day. It wasn't that hard with him needed at the infirmary for the minimum paper cuts, and broken arms from the clumsy children and adults. Even if Rose's was dangling by a thread she would refuse to go in there to get patched up.

She sat on a log in the middle of a patch of dead grass. The bright orange sun setting behind her. Logs centered around a mini fire they built. Even the small fire made her anxious. Taking her back to her own days. The fire hints the tiniest of smoke for someone strolling by with a gun tied to their waist to find an isolated girl all by herself.

No. She was safe. She wasn't in danger. She didn't need to keep one eye open when she slept. She took a deep breath. Collecting her thoughts, and reinserting herself back into the present. Tyler sat on the log next to her. Starring at her. Minutes passed and he still didn't look away. Most likely unable to understand the fact of being rejected when she purposely didn't sit next to him. She prayed the annoying male didn't get any ideas from their fun. They weren't allies. She still hated him with every ounce of her blood.

She swung back the flask of the metal tin can that lay between her palms, the cool alcohol attacking her throat. The strong taste warmed her soul.

Across the fire sat Xavier's friend Olive. The giggling sunshine she always was and that boy she could never remember the name of sat across from her. At least he wasn't trying to talk to her. She didn't understand why so many people paid attention to her when they never did before. Rose's biggest advantage was her ability to stay in the shadows because no one cared about her until she arrived her at this camp. Could it be there were just impressed with her survival skills and nothing else? Probably the truth but it did sting a little bit. She would never the happy girl Olive is, her hair not as clean or bouncy. The beauty she would never have. Her survival instincts is all she had.

"Xavier!" Olive practically screamed. It took everything in Rose to not roll her eyes. She could still feel the intense stare of Tyler. Inches away. She could have sworn he was attempting to get closer. Or was it the dizziness in her head.

To Rose's relief Xavier threw his body over the log sitting next to her. For a second she thought he would go over to miss sunshine. Based on their last interaction and the way she had been avoided him all day she wouldn't blame him. But for once someone chose her. When there was another option she was the first pick. The tiniest of warmth spread through her chest. She gloated, swinging back another swig.

"We found some old marshmallows." Rose quirked her brow at Olive who started making her way over to Xavier. An intrusive thought occurred wishing she would trip and fall into the small fire.

To hide her laugh she took another sip. Xavier would not approve of that joke. Dark humor didn't seem like his thing.

"Actually I stole them." The boy who sat next to Olive spoke up. Still not knowing his name but the tiniest bit of theft did catch Rose's attention.

"How rebellious of you." She rosed her flash and the boy did the same. Xavier's friends weren't so bad after all. The night continued. Rose listened to their stories, the only enjoyment was their face lighting up as they told their stories. If only their stories were as exciting as their bubbly faces thought and not something to bore Rose to sleep. The full moon overtook the sky and hovered over them as she sat listening the group talk and laugh. She wished she could be apart of something as special as this. But this was all pretend. They would never be her friends. If they knew the truth they would all run in the end or find ways to betray her. That's what people did. The only person she could trust was Xavier. Her brain told her not to, but her heart didn't care.

One by one the friends disappeared. Rose didn't even notice when Tyler finally made his exit. Rose didn't even think they were friends she wondered why he was here. Probably to get further under her skin.

"I thought you didn't like Tyler." Rose rested her chin on Xavier's shoulder. She could feel his shoulders tighten. At the name Tyler or her touch she wasn't sure.

"We are not. Olive always tries to invite him though, he never has shown up until now." She ignored the suspicious look Xavier gave her.

"He is friends with Olive?" Rose started laughing barely able to contain herself. She imagined the broody version of Tyler talking to miss bubbly. Honestly the most ridiculous thing she ever heard. Everything seemed hilarious in this moment.

"Yeah they are." Xavier didn't find it funny at all. She forced her smile down. The dizziness no longer in her head. "I think he came for you." Those brown eyes trained on her. A comfort stare unlike the other boy you could never take a hint. Rose no longer cared about what happened with this morning.

"That is the last thing I wanted to hear." Oddly enough that put a smile on Xavier's face. She felt him rise from the logs.

"Let's hand back." Xavier laid out his hand for her with one of his bright smiles. She should take it. She should follow him back. She should always take his lead.

"I will catch up with you." The disappointment in his eyes was visible. Rose had to look away before her weakness would start to make her feel guilty. She had a lot on her mind and she still wanted to stay in the darkness for a little while longer. She was perfectly fine with being left alone.

"I will have a pair of clean clothes ready for you." He smiled down at her. "Just in case." He winked at her before leaving with a simple look over his should relieving that perfect kind smile that always made her soul warm. Something she didn't think that was possible. She was amazed how easy Xavier was able to break through her cold interior and for once she didn't mind.

The problems from earlier vanishing. They couldn't be anymore different, but Xavier never blamed her for it.

Rose only nodded her head. Words failing her.