Chapter ThirtyFive: Rosie's P.O.V-
We all piled into the elevator in a flurry of puffy skirts. When we got to the bottom floor I felt a slight gilt in my stomach. Maybe it was the billowing anticipation or just the sheer fear of going to this thing with out a plus one, but the one thing I did know was that it was there. We walked off the elevator. The girls surrounded me and kept me in the middle until we spread out into a straight line at the top of the stairs. The guys were down at the bottom of the stairs staring up at their dates. I took a deep breath and followed the girls as they descended the stairs. I watched Carter go to Ross. He slipped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
These two hadn't had too many fights, but when they did, oh boy. You wouldn't want to be around that, but no matter what happened between these two you could always tell that they loved each other more than any couple ever had. I smiled as I looked at all my friends and their dates. My eyes wandered over to Camila and Grant. When she'd gotten to the bottom of the stairs he stepped forward, kissed her cheek, and slipped a corsage on her wrist. Seeing that she finally had someone who seemed so genuine and obviously wanted to court her made me so happy.
Rydel and Taylor were as strong as ever, but somehow they seemed stronger since they got engaged. As if the promise of being together forever had driven them to work even harder on their relationship. Rocky and Kaylynn were the couple in our little brood that had the most fights, but as they'd grown together their fights became cute and as if they were joking. Riker and Freya were perfect and I was so glad when they got married! They clearly belonged together! Although she had her moment's of vulnerability she was just as spontaneous as he was and even more crazy than he was. Ryland was standing with his parents off to the side of all the couples and I kind of felt bad for him.
I walked down the remaining steps and over to him.
"Wanna be my date to the dance?" I smiled.
"You don't have to do this, Rose." He said.
"Fine," I stuck out my hand "But at least let me escort you out to the car,"
"If you insist," He took my hand.
We walked out of the building and waited for the cars to pull up. On the ride there I couldn't help but notice a handsome man across the street getting into a cab. No doubt he was on his way to the ball. For the remainder of the ride my mind kept wandering back to him. He looked so familiar and I could have sworn that I'd seen that tie clip before.
Riley's P.O.V-
When I got in the cab I noticed the two black Suburbans that were pulling out of the hotel. I knew that it would be Rosie and her friends heading to the ball and that mere fact freaked me out a little more than it should have. I wanted to say that there was nothing more frightening then losing Rose, and there really shouldn't have been, but there was. I was worried that she wouldn't want to take me back, I was worried that she'd freak out because I'd never told her about Frankie, HECK I was worried that she'd notice my tie clip!
Part of me wanted to be noticed, but the other part just wanted to stay hidden till it was time to tell her. Knowing my luck, I knew that nothing would go according to plan. She'd probably recognize me from the moment she saw me, but I was willing to take that chance if it meant there was a glimmer of hope for us to get back together! I wanted her in my life, and it was even more than that because I needed her in my life too! The days and nights without her were terribly too long and it only gave me more time to think about her.
Now that I was on the ride to seal my fate, be it good or bad, I couldn't help but want to turn around! I wanted Rosie to know the truth, but I just didn't know how prepared I was to tell it. I'd been planning what I would tell her when the time finally arose to say it and now that it was time I was drawing a blank! Sure I could tell someone anything when it was for a business deal, but now that I wasn't gambling away my fathers livelihood it was a completely different story. We pulled up in front of the masquerade venue and I got out immediately. I walked inside and went to the refreshment table in search of a beverage.
