Roses aren't always Red

Making Up or Out?

[AN] This is back to normal from Ari's POV. Happy holidays. Hope you enjoy.

After spending a long time sulking in the library I finally decide to go up to the dorm and talk to Casey. I open the door and she is sitting on her bed listening to music. I can't tell if she seems upset or not.

"Did you talk to Rose?" I ask Casey as I close the door to our dorm. She looks at me and nods, smiling. I hope that smile means it went well. I put down my stuff on my bed, take off my sweatshirt and go sit with her. She turns so she can look at me.

"Then how'd it go?" I ask putting my head on her shoulder. She shifts So she can wrap her arm around my waist and she strokes my hair. I smile at her and she smiles back before responding.

"Well, i guess it went ok. She just told me what she was feeling and it makes sense as to why she exploded. I'm surprised she only told me what she felt  just now. She's still frustrated but we are going to be ok" Casey says nuzzling my neck gently with her face. I kiss her cheek gently.

"What was she feeling then?" I ask, turning my head around to look Casey in the eyes. Casey kisses me, making me blush when she puts her arms around my neck, looking at me, her eyes not breaking from my soft gaze. I look down slightly, unable to match her intense gaze with my face burning bright red.

"She said she didn't want me to tell you, Red. She made me promise" She says using the nickname she hasn't used In a while while touching her fingertips to the side of my face, gently rubbing her thumb over my lips.

"She won't have to know if you tell me though," I say leaning forward and looking at her again. I see something in her eyes flicker like she is thinking about telling me, but she doesn't want to break the promise she made to Rose.

"I... I can't. You can ask her about it if you really want to know" she says as she gently moves her hand down my neck, playing with the top of my shirt. I bite the inside of my lip nervously.

"Okay. Maybe I will later then. "I say as she leans in to kiss me, when my phone goes off. I sigh and take it out of my pocket. The screen reads.

Isabelle
Answer.       Reject.

I glance at Casey and she nods at me, telling me to answer it, but is crossing her arms across her chest looking at me. Knowing I probably am going to get a lecture from her afterward, I hit answer anyway.

"Hey, what's up. I'm really sorry I didn't meet you for tutoring today. Some stuff came up" I say quickly, wanting her to realize I was really sorry.

"Yeah, well you can make up for it now because Alex is mad at me for not doing the homework and she's insisting I get it done. But I can't do it" she says sounding frustrated.

"Oh, I uh," I hesitate, not sure if Casey will let me go. I glance at her and there is a frown on her face.

"You're with Casey huh? Whatever. Never mind" she says but before she can hang up I talk quickly.

"No, no. It's fine. I'll come over right now. Give me two minutes" I say. She says ok and I hang up. I face palm and then look up at Casey who is looking at me annoyed.

"What was that about and why are you going?" Casey says sternly.

"I'm sorry. I promised her I'd help her today and I forgot with the Rose incident. It's only fair that I go and help her now if she wants it" I say, pulling on a sweatshirt and grabbing my ID card.

"Just be back soon" Casey says pouting a little. I kiss her gently and promise her I'll be fast and then I walk out of the room before she can convince me to stay. I hesitate outside of the room, but I turn away and walk down the hallway to Isabelle's room. I get there and I move to knock on the door, but it swings open causing me to stumble a little into Alex who opened the door.

"You. You help her finish and then leave. I don't like you but you're smart and you can help her. Don't you dare try anything" she says in my ear as she walks past me. I grunt a response as I slowly push myself past her into the room. She stands at the door for a moment longer before closing it and walking out into the hallway.

"Hey. She's going down to the gym while we're up here. We have about an hour before she comes back" Isabelle says, surrounded by papers and textbooks on the floor.

"Alright. She has problems with me that aren't really justified and I really don't like it" I say sitting down across from Isabelle on the floor. I pick up the paper closest to me.

"What do you want help with first?"

An hour later all the work is finished and Isabelle actually understands how to do most of it without any problems. The knob on the door twists and it swings open as Alex walks in, sweating.

"You guys almost done? I'd like to have my own room back" she says looking me in the eyes. Isabelle talks before I can make a retort.

"Lay off of her. She just finished helping me. Which is more than you could do," she says and Alex just stomps past us on the floor, to their bathroom.

"Thanks Iz. Did you want to meet up after school. I swear I'll actually be there this time. I'm still really sorry I didn't make it today" I say, helping her pack up the rest of the papers and textbooks.

"If you can, that would be awesome" she says smiling as we stand up. I smile back.

"I will be there. Really. I'm glad I can help you out."

We hug and she holds the door open for me. I wave and she waves back as she closes the door. I go back to my room. I slide my ID card and open the door. Casey is laying on my bed snoring quietly. I smile to myself and close the door as quietly as possible. I get into her bed not wanting to wake her up and whisper goodnight as I start to doze off.

[AN] Once again, happy holidays to everyone who is reading this! Thank you for reading!