Rosemary Fanfic

Rose

   Hmm. That's...interesting. I shut my laptop and place it neatly in my bag. I pick up my bag and walk out of my room, remembering to shut off the lights.
  My mom is already sitting at the table when I walk into the kitchen. She always insists on spending each meal together, if only to prove a point. We are a happy family, after all. I sit down and start eating the omelette that was already at my place. Not a word is spoken until I pick up our plates and start doing the dishes. I clear my throat. "I was talking to Dave earlier."
   She nods noncommittally.
   "He would like to know if I could visit him soon. He has something he wants to tell me."
Mom nods again, this time with indifferent consent. I thank her and go outside to catch my bus.

   Dave greets me as soon as I arrive at school. "Rose." I give a small nod. "Did she agree?" I say yes, and he...blushes? Well. I stare at him, trying to figure out what his secret is.
"Why can't you just tell me while we're both at school? It would make a lot more sense."
If anything, Dave blushes harder. "It's complicated. And private. Not for just anybody to hear."
   I decide to drop the subject, although my curiosity is piqued. I wouldn't want to embarrass my dear brother.
   I talk with Dave while we wait for class to start. Well, not really. Dave talks and I listen to him describing the cool sword fighting skills that his bro has been teaching him. By the time we leave for our respective classes, he has regained his composure, and his face is as unreadable as ever.

   I spend the rest of the day in a state of restless anticipation. I have never seen Dave look so embarrassed by anything before. What does it mean? I fill up my sketchbook with the imaginary monsters that I dream up, but none of my teachers notice.
   I am out the door and waiting at our usual rendezvous ten minutes before Dave arrives. He nods towards me and then glances away, walking quickly in the direction of his house. I follow closely behind him.
   John is waiting on the front porch when we arrive. "What took you so long? I've been waiting here for like, half an hour!"
   "Jegus, John, don't be so impatient. You know your school gets out earlier than ours does. Don't be a fucking douchebag and rub it in our faces."
   I look on, vaguely interested. "Are you planning on telling him your big secret too?" I ask.
    "Nah. He already knows." Dave flashes me a devilish grin. "Rose, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend."
    John face goes entirely red, but he's smiling as Dave leans down to kiss him. John still looks embarrassed, but Dave seems almost defiant, as though he is daring me to comment. I just smile, and hope that it looks genuine.

   I walk home a few minutes later. Although Dave invited me, it was clear that he wanted to be alone with John. Besides, I have a lot to think about.
   Of course, I've known that Dave was pansexual for a long time. It was never something that he hid, and it was never a problem.
   I frown slightly. Why didn't I see this coming? I've always prided myself on being good at reading other people's emotions and figuring out what they mean. Maybe I just didn't want to believe it.
   I never really liked John *that* way...did I? He was the one who seemed to have a crush on me. Did he give up when I showed no interest in him as more than a friend? Or was that all a figment of my imagination, a fanciful dream to make me feel wanted?
   I hail a taxi and get inside. It will take about an hour to get home from here, so I pull my knitting out of my backpack. I am so deep in thought that I don't even realize when the cab stops outside my house. The driver has to gently remind me to pay him before he drives away. I sigh with resignation and head inside, looking forward to a good night's sleep.