The White Rose

Entering the New World

"Cara! It's 8 in the morning! You need to be at the film studio by 9! Get up, sleepyhead!" Loraine opened the large satin curtains and the bright light filled the magnificent room fit for a princess. Except for the fact that Cara didn't feel like a princess as she sat up in bed with her gnatty curls hanging over her face and in her wrinkled, over sized night clothes.

          "Oh my goodness, Cara!" Loraine fussed as she delicately moved all of Cara's hair from her face. Cara squinted from the warm light and held a hand in front of her eyes.
Loraine giggled with excitement as she took Cara to the luxurious bathroom. "Today, you are actually going to be personally on set with the one and only Cristhian Orabría! Oooh he is such a daydream!" Moments later, two maids appeared and guided Cara behind a folding screen. The maids delicately stripped the groggy Cara as the vintage pearl white bathtub filled with warm water. Loraine sighed. "You have no idea how much the entire female population wants to be in your place right now! So... Tell me what happened last night!"

"Lori... That's the thing though. Nothing actually happened with Cristhian." Cara sighed as she was instantly submerged with warmth from the streaming, bubbly water. As she laid in the bubbles, one maid immediately began massaging Cara's shoulders while the other maid began rubbing her feet. Cara closed her eyes and she felt tension release from her muscles. "This is heaven."

Loraine sat on a satin stool beside the bath with a fresh new outfit in her lap. "Cara? What do you mean that 'nothing actually happened'? I hope you're not messing around with me!" She pouted slightly.

Cara laughed. "Lori, of course not. Why would I do that? You're my most closest friend. Look, all that happened was that Cristhian took me to a really fancy place for dinner, the Celestial Crown I believe... And we talked about ourselves, our film history, and then..."

Loraine's eyes lit up as she leaned closer, gripping slightly on Cara's right hand. "...then?!" She spoke with excitement.

"Well... I wasn't feeling myself. I felt something in my heart that might have been the reason why I was so overwhelmed and why I ran out of the restaurant. Cristhian ran after me and we were both outside and I was about to leave on my own before he caught my hand and... He kissed me."

Loraine gasped as she grasped her chest. Her smile widened as her eyes grew larger than the moon. "KISSED?!"

Cara sighed as she rolled her eyes. "Cristhian just kissed me. It's not that big of a deal-"

"Not a big deal?" Loraine squealed with enthusiasm. "The Prince of Espania kissed you! If I were in your place I would marry him right on the spot!"

"I don't even know what I'm feeling, Loraine. Something new with Cristhian brought back memories of my last heartbreak. Being able to easily open to someone new... I felt so bad for leaving Cristhian like that but I was scared..." Cara looked up at the ceiling as she remembered every good and worst moment of last night. "I'm a horrible person for doing such a thing to someone so special like Cristhian..."

"No, Cara, no..." Loraine gripped tightly onto Cara's hand. "You're an amazing person. Anyone would be blessed to have you! And I think maybe the reason why you ran away from Cristhian like that is because perhaps... You are scared to love again?"

Cara thought deeply for a moment. She spoke softly almost to a whisper. "Thank you, Loraine. But... Do you really think I'll be able to love someone again?"