The Rose

Chapter 3

Phoebe didn't talk to me after that. I decided to name the rose , Phoebe. She muttered something about how she already has said too much. I didn't let it bother me too much. She sounded deranged and I've learnt the hard way. Who was she talking about anyway? No one knows I'm here except for Lexi and Ms. Patricia.

I went outside after eating and walked towards Brutus. I forgot about him. He was still standing tall and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes.

" No need to cry, Kate. I'm not that ugly"

"Are you sure, Brutus? When was the last time you've looked at yourself in the mirror" I said chuckling.

" I've missed you. I got lonely. Ben here , isn't really a chatterbox like me."

Ben is the young willow tree standing beside Brutus. He doesn't talk much and he doesn't like me at all. He says my ability is unnatural.

"Brutus, I need to talk to you about something."

"Go ahead. I'm listening."

"Someone left something in my room" I said with a quivering voice.

"And?" he replied ,slightly annoyed. "Get to the point, Kate"

"They left a rose. Brutus . A fricken rose. Her name is Phoebe and she warned me and told me to get out and that he knows. Do you think she was talking about him?"

"Was that all she said?"

"Yes , she doesn't want to talk anymore. Brutus, I'm scared and I really do not know what to do. Should I believe her? Should I just ignore it?"

"Don't worry, angel. It's probably just someone trying to prank you. I don't think you should read too much into it. They just want to freak you out. I say don't worry about it"

"It is a sick prank, but I guess you're probably right" I said slightly feeling better.

"Of course I am. I'm very smart, you know."

"Why are we friends? Seriously?" I said chuckling.

"Because I'm awesome and you love me"

"True , true" I agreed and we talked for hours about how shitty my life has been and he kept making sarcastic comments. Brutus can always cheer me up, another reason why he's my best friend.

I went up to my room after ordering some pizza and I tried to talk to Phoebe again, but she wouldn't budge. A rose removed from its bush won't survive long and she's already turning brown. I hate to see plants die, I can feel their pain, their suffering and its horrible. People don't know what they are doing to plants. They only see it as something pretty and plucks it sentencing it to a long and painful death. People are so ignorant.

My silent rant was interrupted by the doorbell." Mhmm the pizza is here" I said licking my lips. I opened the door and was greeted by the smell of delicious pepperoni pizza. I was so focused on the pizza that I didn't even notice the guy standing before me. He looks like a Calvin Klein model. He is tall with brown eyes, dirty blonde hair and a perfectly shaped jawline.

"New to town?" he asked, which caused me to snap out of my dream-like state.

"Uumm yes, I guess, well not really. It's sorta complicated" I said sniffing my pizza.

"Okay, well it was nice meeting you. I'm Ethan" he said sticking out his hand for me to shake.

I shook his hand and instantly felt the butterflies in my stomach forming. I could feel my cheeks turning red.

"I'm Kate" I stuttered , his touch still affecting me.

"Well then, Kate. Here's your pizza"

"Oh thanks" I said and gave him the money.

"We should hang out sometime, okay?" he shouted while he walked back to his car, but he came running back "Wait I forgot to get your number" he said giving me his phone. I saved my number and gave it back to him.

"There ya go"

"Bye Kate. Enjoy your pizza"

● ● ● ●

I plopped down on the couch and I ate my pizza while watching Vampire Diaries. I finished and went upstairs to take a shower. I stood there and felt how the scorching water is hitting my skin, when suddenly a huge pain shot through my chest.

It was Phoebe. Something is wrong. I jump out of the shower and ran towards my room. There she was laying on the floor , the vase broken and a black cat towering the scene . "Shoo" I scream at the cat. The cat looked up and walk towards me, rubbing herself on my legs. She looks oddly familiar.

"Mittens is that you?" I ask, looking down to the black cat with the snow white paws. All I got was a 'meow' before she jumped out of the window onto the tree just outside my room.

Mittens is the cat my mom adopted when she saw Mittens walking around the cabin. She was wild and didn't want to be held. She only let my mom touch her. They had a special connection. Mittens did not like me at ALL. She always scratched me when I tried to hold her.

I picked up Phoebe and got her a new vase. I swept up the broken glass and threw it away, ignoring the flashbacks as hard as I could.

After that I went to bed. I woke up to a buzzing sound. I switched it on and saw that I had a text from an unknown number reading:
Hey Kate 😊. It's me Ethan.

I replied and we talked for hours while I did the laundry, washed the dishes, taking out the trash and cleaned the house. It felt like we knew each other for years. No awkwardness, which seems to follow me when I talk to guys. Every time his name came up on my phone, my heart skipped a beat.

Do you wanna do something tomorrow?

Like what? I replied

I don't know. Maybe watch a movie?

We can have a Harry Potter marathon at my house if you'd like

What time should i be there?

I just need to stop at the grocery store. After 12?

Should I bring something

Maybe just something to drink

Sounds perfect. Can't wait. Good night, Kate. Sweet dreams xxx

Night, Ethan xx

And I went to sleep