Remembering Rose

Chapter Eighteen: Grim Gala I

Galen's POV:

I always hated coming back home. 

To see that imposing manor sitting at the end of a oak-lined drive never failed to make my stomach coil in knots and set my nerves on edge. Flashes of awful memories assaulted my thoughts with just a single glance at the light exterior of that house of horrors. Every few seconds I heard the ghost of screams coming from under locked doors and fear-filled whispers echoing down dark corridors. With every passing minute we drew closer and I found myself being haunted by a past I loathed, unable to escape the bloody claws it had wrapped around me. Why had I even come to this Gala? Why did I ever come to this stupid game of pretend? Why-

"Galen, I swear to God, if you don't stop bouncing your fucking leg I am going to rip it off," Vanessa growled beside me. Her low voice jerked me to attention and I was yanked from my dark musings. With a small, controlled sigh I gave her an apologetic smile. "You aren't the only one whose nervous, Galen. I mean I haven't seen Father in almost three years; Peony and Knox are basically riding on a thin line between torment and death; Farley is about to be dragged into his Father's funeral all over again; Lil, hell I don't even know if Lil is going to stay for the first hour! We are all nervous, but we aren't the ones that need to be--Walker has a target on his back and Rose is about to meet the man that has singlehandedly ruined all our lives!"

Vanessa's speech helped to refocus my mind and every word made me realize that she was terribly right. My eyes searched the crowded car, full of my closest friends dressed in their finest, and found the pair of concern. Rose, who had been drilled all week about proper behavior and etiquette, was looking out the window the layers of her forget-me-not ballgown piled around her. An unruly curl had managed to escape from complex knot Lilith had created, but it fell in such a way that my eyes couldn't help but notice the soft pink of her cheeks and the shimmer of her full lips. While her attention was focused on the lavish front lawn, she was absent-mindly holding Walker's hand protectively in her dainty grasp. He sat there, golden mop-top mess tamed and his face free of any dirt, looking at the scuff at the tip of his new shoes. A wave of concern hit me like a brick--what had I drug them into?

As if sensing my resurfacing panic Rose turned from the window and glanced over to me. Her stunning ice-blue eyes instantly calmed my racing heart. Her gentle smile sent my fear running. Her calm manner settled my anxious mind. They would be fine, I told myself.It wasn't as if they had a choice to change their minds anyway, because the car stopped and we were there. 

"Let the show begin," Vanessa whispered (probably more to herself than anyone else in the car) and I watched as she transformed into the confident, cold woman she had be. Her amber eyes steeled, her back straightened, and her collected smirk found its way onto her face. The rest of the gang went under a similar transformation, and suddenly anxious glances and fraying nerves were hidden behind guarded eyes. I waited for Rose to exit the car, looped my arm through her's, and began the journey up the front steps that led into the manor.

The journey to the ballroom blurred by and suddenly the gang was at the entrance to the Grim Gala. The room was full of people, all wearing their finest gowns and suits, making small talk and anxiously waiting the supposed appearance of the Wolve Gang heirs. However, the appearance of the two youngest Blackwoods, also managed to catch their attention. Whispers echoed off the marble floors and danced around the decorated columns.

"Well if isn't the play-pretend gang," one man scoffed while elbowing his mates around him.

One woman let out a gasp and hid behind her undoubtedly costly fan,"That's the Blackwood that went rogue!"

"I heard the youngest girl left for that pathetic Endler boy!" Twittered a lanky woman to her petite friend before sharing a giggle.

"I can't believe the scum that those two are with. How could they end up like this?"

Vanessa shot one of the gossipers a cutting glare, effectively silencing her, however it was the graceful entrance of Mother that truly made the ballroom fall quiet. My heart seemed to stop, seeing her stood there surrounded by my remaining three siblings. She looked like a queen dressed in red and adorn with layers of shimmering diamonds. She stood with the stature that commanded respect, looking down among the guess of her gala.

The crowd parted just for her and as she came to stand before our small group which caused the ballroom erupted in hushed talk. I was taken by surprise when she suddenly wrapped her arms around me and proceeded to coo about how tall and handsome I was. Her arms were slightly bony and I noticed when I returned her hug that she was much smaller than I remembered. I couldn't even utter a "hello" before she moved on to give her allotted motherly affection to Vanessa. "Mum," Vanessa complained quietly.

"Oh, hush! Your brother let me hug him," my mother answered before kissing my sister's cheek. When Vanessa finally managed to escape mother's hold we turned to the rest of our family.

Three pairs of startling green eyes bore into me, neither of them looking as welcoming as my mother's had been. My brothers', Greg and Gavin, eyes were filled with nearly palpable malice. Each of them hating my existence for my decision to leave the family business. My sister, Victoria, though just looked frightened. She knew what was waiting for us, I was sure, and she alone feared for our well being.

"So where is the girl," Greg demanded foregoing any small talk my mother had been hoping for. I stared down at him for a moment, debating whether or not it was too late to just abort the whole thing and move to America or not, when he shoved me roughly. "Answer me, you worthless little shit," he spat. 

"Language, Gregory," Mother hissed. Greg simply ignored her and raised his hands to shove me again, however Rose's delicate fingers snatched his meaty wrist and twisted it tightly. 

"Don't do that again," Rose warned in a low voice. Slightly surprised by the ferocity that lingered in her tone I turned my head to look down at her. The first thing I noticed when I looked was the dark sapphire color of her beautiful eyes.

"Rose," I leaned down and whispered in her ear, "That's not polite."

She answered me with, "Neither is shoving." 

My mother made a small sound, of distress or amusement I didn't know, and carefully separated Greg and I. She looked carefully at Rose, taking in her protective stance and cold eyes, then gave a short glance at the hand she had clutching my forearm. Mother gave a short nod, but said nothing about our obviously close relationship.

Instead, she said, "Mr. Blackwood wants to speak privately with Galen and the girl, so I suggest the rest of you find something else to do. No fighting or gun-pulling allowed. Now, excuse us." With that my mother led lead Rose and I away: further from our friends and closer to our enemy.

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Hello dearest readers! So, this the first part of the Gala chapters, whoop whoop! I think I am going to have three parts in all and by the end of them there will be a huge game-changer. I'd love to hear what you guys believe is about to happen!!

~agirlmadeofstars

p.s- I decided to edit this part (I just couldn't handle the cringes I got when I re-read it to write Part II) It isn't anything too major, but I feel like this version is more of of stoic, attentive Galen's POV. So thanks if you re-read this part to catch the new details, and if this is the first time you've read it then you didn't miss much.