Rose Among Thorns

5-Meeting new people

Rose pov:

I wake suddenly, a loud noise breaking through my sleep. Blinking in the morning light, I find myself surrounded by five unfamiliar faces peering down at me, eyes curious and cautious. A quick glance around reveals the man Alice called my father yesterday, dozing in a chair beside my bed. Nearby, I spot Oliver, who helped with the blood test, standing next to another man I recognize from the front door.

A boy with a mop of messy blond hair grins widely, then bolts across the room and jumps onto my bed, landing on top of me with a bounce that sends a jolt of pain through my sore muscles.

"Hi! I'm Theodore, but everyone calls me Theo!" he announces with a voice that could rival a trumpet. The noise jars my dad awake, and without even opening his eyes, he mumbles, "Theo, get off her," his voice gravelly with sleep.

"But Dad, I just found out I have a sister! How could I not be excited?" Theo protests, bouncing a little as he settles onto the bed beside me.

"Off. Now," Charles says firmly, finally opening his eyes. Theo rolls his eyes but hops off the bed, beaming as he settles down on the floor near me, too restless to sit still. As my body throbs with pain, I realize his bouncing didn't help, but I try to keep my expression neutral.

"Hello, Rose. I'm Charles Bond. I'm... well, I'm your father," he says, his voice steady as he takes in my expression. I study him for a moment before nodding, uncertain what to say. He gestures to the boys gathered around me. "And these are your brothers."

Theo, unable to contain himself, waves at me with both hands. "I'm Theo! And I'm not the youngest anymore!" His smile stretches wide, pure delight sparkling in his eyes. He adds quickly, "I'm 16, so I'm old enough to drive."

Oliver steps forward with a polite smile. "Hi, Rose. We met yesterday. I'm 23."

Next to him, the tall man with a serious expression speaks, his tone deep and firm. "I'm Grayson, but you can call me Gray. I'm 25."

Then another boy with a warm smile leans forward, his brown eyes gentle. "Hi, Rose. I'm Owen, and I'm 20. I'm really happy you're here."

A pair of identical faces look at me with sleepy eyes. One speaks first, saying, "Hey, I'm Luca, and this is my twin, Nico." He gestures lazily to the boy beside him. Nico offers a quiet nod. "We're both 18," Luca finishes.

"Hello... I'm Rose. I'm 15," I say, trying to hide the tremor in my voice, surprised at how high-pitched it sounds under their gazes. It feels strange, even surreal, to be introducing myself to my supposed brothers and father.

Suddenly, a voice from the doorway chimes in, soft but firm. "Alright, boys, time's up. I need to talk to Rose alone," Alice says, stepping into the room with a reassuring smile.

"Nooo!" Theo cries, immediately flinging himself onto the bed and wrapping his arms around me in a dramatic display of clinginess. This time, he lands on a sore spot in my stomach, and I can't help but wince as a flash of pain shoots through me. Oliver, standing nearby, narrows his eyes, his look shifting to one of deep concern.

"I just met her! I can't leave her yet!" Theo protests, clutching my arm as if I might disappear. With reluctant sighs and a few backward glances, the others slowly start to shuffle out, leaving Charles(father), Theo, and Alice in the room with me.

"Theo we need to have a conversation with you sister, you will still have enough time to get to know her." Charles says to Theo.

The realization hits me like a wave: I have brothers. I have a family I didn't know about for fifteen years because my mom hid them from me. It's almost too much to process, the fact that there's this whole life I never had, yet here I am, standing in the center of it, trying to fit in with people who have known each other all their lives.

Theo loosens his hold on me reluctantly, his eyes softening. Just as he's about to leave, he pauses in the doorway, then darts back over to my bedside and wraps his arms around me in a tight, warm hug. "I'm really happy you're here," he whispers close to my ear. "My room's the one on the left of yours—come by whenever you're ready." His voice holds such sincerity that, for a moment, I forget the ache in my body.

Then he lets go, grinning, and with one last wave, he leaves, and I'm alone with Charles and Alice.

Charles clears his throat, his gaze a mix of curiosity and caution. "Now that we're alone, we have a few questions for you, Rose," he says, his tone gentle but direct.

"Could I freshen up first, before you start questioning me?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. I feel vulnerable in the oversized nightgown Alice gave me, which is shorter than I'd like, and I'm still getting used to the idea of them seeing me at all, much less asking about my past.

Alice nods understandingly. "Of course, pumpkin. Your bag is in the closet—right through that door over there," she says, pointing to a door on the far side of the room. "And that door's connected to your bathroom."

"Thanks," I murmur, but before I head toward the bathroom, I add, "Could you both...turn around?" They look at me, taken aback. "The nightgown's a bit short, and...well, I don't really know you yet," I say, hoping I don't sound too defensive.

Charles and Alice exchange a brief look, then nod, turning their backs and speaking to each other in hushed voices while I slip across the room.

I open the closet door, my hand brushing against my familiar bag, which is crammed with clothes I picked out. Their bright colors and worn fabrics feel like pieces of my old life. I grab a set of clothes, head into the bathroom, and turn the shower on, letting the warm water wash away the lingering exhaustion and anxiety. I swallow some painkillers and apply the cream Oliver gave me the night before, carefully dabbing it onto my bruises, which look even darker under the harsh bathroom light.

Once I'm dressed, I take a deep breath and steady myself. Today, I'll have to answer questions I'm not sure I even know how to answer.

1074 Words

If you ever find any mistakes feel free to point them out so i can corect it.