colors | afi [WATTY'S 2017]

vingt trois

june 13 1986

third person's pov

"why am i even here with you? we look like those people who have nothing else to live for." rose exclaimed as she looked over at harold who had his feet dangling from the bridge.

harold let a string of smoke float out of his mouth as he began to speak, "well, it's a nice day and i just wanted to think. i invited you since your little girlfriend is touring colleges."

rose rolled her eyes, "she's going to be back in a few days." she turned from harry and looked out onto the small lake the bridge was built over, watching as the rain droplets hit the lake's surface. "seattle weather is so awful," she said.

"that's why we brought raincoats," harold deadpanned as started to swing his legs.

rose rolled her eyes again, "i can leave you harry, i hope you know that."

"i'm the one with the car rosie."

rose's face shifted in disgust, "rosie?"

"yeah, since mr. irwin calls you rosaline, i'll call you rosie."

"no thank you."

harold let out a laugh and a cough, before sucking in on the cigarette again, "okay rosie."

rose didn't respond but kept her eyes concentrated on the lake.

harold sighed as he finished the cigarette and let it fall into the lake.

"don't do that, it's just as bad for the fish as it is for you."

harold laughed and stood up from his seat on the edge of the bridge, holding his arm out for rose. "everything is bad for us in some certain extent rosie."

rose's eyebrows furrowed and she pulled herself up by holding onto harold's hand, "and what do you mean by that harry?"

they started to walk on the bridge towards his car, "i don't know, love, for example."

"why are you bringing love up? are you starting to love someone?"

harold chuckled, "no, I don't think. i just know that love can hurt. i've seen it in those movies you and 'manda make me watch. i've also seen it between my own parents."

rose looked at harold, his adam's apple bobbing as he spoke, his hands inside his pants pockets.

"what do you mean harry?"

"there's always something that tears it apart. sometimes, for my parents, it could be another person; a love triangle. my parents were always happy with each other, but my mother was mesmerized by another man. it hurt my father, my mother, the other man, and the whole relationship. i don't want that to happen to me, or anyone i know for that matter."

rose's head shook, unsure as to why harold was bringing all of this up. the "love triangle" part did stick out to her--she was in love with two people, whom were related. she didn't want to hurt either of them but she couldn't stop her feelings for the two.

"why are you even bringing any of this up though harry?"

harry shook his head, "honestly i don't know."

the two of them were silent, soon reaching his car where they slipped inside; words finally being spoken.

"are you in love with mr. irwin?"