Sincerely, Tyler ▸ (Sequel to Dear, Rosemary)

14

Rose and I didn't make eye contact as the final paperwork was being completed for my bail. She, Ryan and Josh had all split the money amount in order to get me out of this place, something I'd surely return back to them in no time.

"You're free to go, Mr. Joseph," The unamused woman seated behind the desk finalized the information, handing me the regulations I needed to follow for the next few months in order to be fully done with this entire situation. My lawyer would have to take care of all of this.

"Thanks," I nodded over to her, swiftly trying to get myself looking as presentable as I could possibly be in front of Rosemary. I guess I forgot she'd already been too familiar with the numerous amounts of times where she had taken care of me in my bad states. It was kind of hard considering my clothes had scuffs of dirt along the sides of them, my Vans had a large hole in the front, my face was covered with bandaids, and I reeked of marijuana and alcohol. It was worth a try anyways.

Rose trailed behind me, Ryan and Josh seeming to lead the way out. My breath hitched in my throat as I felt a gentle tug at my sweater. I turned around to face Rose, my heart beating immensely just looking at her in person again.

Her hand trailed up to my face suddenly without a word from her mouth, the wrinkles around her eyes protruding as she squeezed them shut tightly, glancing away from me. She sniffled, wiping her eyes of tears with her sleeve.

"Babe, why are you crying?" I'd blurted out, completely unaware of how inappropriate it was to forget where she and I stood in our current situation. That wasn't what was the most important to worry about right now, though.

My hands gripped hers before they pushed the hair away from her face. Her hazel eyes were so bright in comparison to my dark brown ones. I always loved seeing the little flecks of green and brown surrounding her pupil just before we'd kiss. The small freckles I loved that gently laid across her nose and cheeks were incredibly visible in the light we were under.

I realized she had indeed cut her hair like how she was hoping to. It saddened me that I wasn't the one to take her and watch her small transformation, like how she wanted me to before.

"Who did this to you?" Rose stuttered, snapping me out of my daze and referring to the gashes in my face, "W-Why were you in here, Tyler? Josh and Ryan didn't say anything to me but the fact that they thought it would be best for you to explain."

This conversation wasn't something I was too keen on continuing. I blew out a long breath of air, my fingers combing through my hair as I tried to find the words to explain. It took me a good moment to recollect all of my stupid actions and stunts I pulled today, "I, um, I got into a fight with some asshole at a party. He was touching up my...girl."

Immediately she took a step away from me, her arms crossing over her chest out of the newly formed tension surrounding us. I tried to approach her once more, "Come back to our house. Please, Rose, let me explain everything to you," I begged, beginning to pace back and forth, "I just can't leave you with this image of me in this place, with these marks, in this entire atmosphere."

Disappointment filled me as she began shaking her head, "I don't think that's a good idea, Tyler."

I was understanding, and told her that I wasn't going to push any further if she was uncomfortable with my offer. We approached the exit doors, and I slowed my pace as Rose fumbled trying to put on her jacket. I helped pull the hood out from the back of the long coat as it managed to get tucked away in the fabric.

She'd thanked me quietly, her eyes never meeting mine as we'd gone out into the parking lot, "I'll see you later, Tyler."

"See you later," I mumbled to myself as Rose had already taken off, walking in the opposite direction to a silver Honda Civic. It was most likely Mila's.