Broken Down (Desert Rose Sequel)

Broken Down Chapter 6

“It's not the suffering of birth, death, love that the young reject, but the suffering of endless labor without dream, eating the spare bread in bitterness, being a slave without the security of a slave.” -Meridel Le Suer

“What?” Rose said. She shook her head. “I think you've had too much firewhiskey, Hope. Ivan would never do that. I'll see you around. Maybe.” The twenty year old redhead left the bar and traveled home. Rose's thoughts simply rested with her boyfriend coming back in a few days and getting answers from Scorpius. She couldn't really label the Malfoy. She had settled on 'ex-boyfriend' until she had thought of a better one. 'Guy who ripped my heart out, nearly killed me, and expects me to forgive him three years later'. She bet the muggle movies couldn't top that one.

“Oh Scorpius! You idiot. Try thinking through things first!” Emilie scolded as she made lunch. She smiled when Rose came in. “I want to thank you...for giving me a little freedom while I'm here. First time in a while. Therefore, I want to serve you lunch and do whatever you want me to do.”

'Keep away your lips from Scorpius, get out of my loft, and stay away forever' bubbled up to Rose's lips but she refrained from speaking her thoughts. “Thanks for lunch.” She said with a forced smile. Rose took a seat as Emilie set a plate down in front of her. The Weasley girl made a discreet face at the amount of red on the plate.

“Its just pasta and shrimp. Don't be a chicken, Rose.” Emilie said. “Scorpius and I already ate. We were just waiting for you.”

~Few days later

“Ivan!” Rose squealed as she ran outside, barefoot. She jumped into his arms and gave him a loving squeeze.

“I've missed you too.” Ivan said, replying to an unspoken statement.

“I heard the daftest thing the other day.” Rose said as Ivan carried her back to her loft.

“What?” Ivan asked. He often liked to enable her to continue with stories.

“I was in the Leaky Cauldron on my day off and Hope Parkinson comes up! She starts talking to me like we were the best of friends back in school and then tells me she's having an affair. With you of all people!” Rose said with a laugh. She scanned his expression as he pushed open the door.

“That's...weird.” Ivan said with a snort. “Maybe since she couldn't hook Scorpius, she figured she'd make a pretend romance between me and her.”

“Sounds like her.” Scorpius said, “Except she doesn't spread word unless its actually happening.”

“He's still here?” Ivan said in an aggravated tone. “For your information, I don't break hearts, Malfoy.”

“Right. You mend them. How's it feel to have someone's sloppy seconds?” Scorpius said, without thinking.

“Scorpius!” Rose gasped.

“How can you say something like that Scorpius?” Emilie said as she shook her head.

“Well its true! Admit it Rose. You missed me and cried over it. And you probably still do. Ivan is just a temporary distraction.” Scorpius stated.

“Can I talk to you privately downstairs?” Rose said coldly as she removed herself from Ivan's arms. She opened the door and moved out. Scorpius followed soon after.

The reached the basement/storage of the building and Rose whirled around to face Scorpius. “How can you just announce something like that?!”

“Because you know its true, Rose.” Scorpius said, “And I cant stand that you are seeing Ivan.”

Rose shook her head. “Well you are going to have to deal with it.” She moved to the corner of her storage and dug up a box.

“What's that?” Scorpius asked.

“Nothing. I just had to check something was there is all.” Rose said softly. She politely ignore the silence that had started to hang around them. Scorpius blocked her from exiting and dipped his head down. His lips had barely touched hers before she jumped back and bumped her head on the concrete wall.

“Bloody hell.” Rose grumbled. A few other creative words followed but Scorpius ignore the less interesting ones. He chuckled as he picked her up and sat her on one of the cardboard boxes.

“Its only a bump.” Scorpius said. He leaned down again to have Rose reject him.

“We can't do this. What about Emilie? Ivan?” Rose asked as she pushed him a few inches away.

Scorpius inwardly groaned at ever giving Rose the impression he was hooking up with Emilie. Besides, that had only happened once and it had been a year and a half ago.

Scorpius's POV;;

“What Emilie doesn't know won't kill her.” I replied gruffly. Wrong move on my part.

“What she /doesn't know/ just MIGHT kill her.” Rose replied. I watched as her face turned a splotchy red from her mounting anger. What could I have said-? S.hit.

“Rose-”

“Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy you are the most selfish bloke I have ever met!” Rose stated, “And you are...”

Scorpius kissed her. To shut her up and because he wanted to.

Rose pulled away, “Are...are..what was I saying?”

“Nothing of importance, I believe.”