Fade|Jon Moxley|

- 4

Rosalie

God, I hate being paranoid. What happened in the woods was never a recurring feeling for me, but when it was, I couldn't help the fear that I felt. I can still see the lasting image of the body. The cloth-like substance. The familiar fac-

"Rose! Rosalie, are you alright? You need some water, or..."

I glanced at Colby's worried expression, shaking my head in response. "No. I'm alright." I managed to notice our mailbox open when we found our way back home. I was currently searching through the damp, text wasted material, seeking the fireplace for warmth. Nothing special. "Have you noticed the person's face? It was quite familiar." Colby shrugged. "Nope."

I rolled my eyes. "You are always so non-helpful, Colby." "I just seriously don't know what you're talking about," he replied, taking a sip of water. I tilted my head, confused. Surely he had some idea of what I noticed. It's not difficult to identity what a decomposing body looks like. "Are you sure? You were looking in the body's direction."

Colby stared at me, with a blank expression. "There wasn't a body. Rosalie, what the hell is going on with you. Ever sinc-"

I lifted up from the couch, walking upstairs. I honestly couldn't hear anymore from him. He was completely oblivious to what I saw. Or, atleast what I thought I saw. I rolled my eyes, plopping onto my bed. This was driving me crazy!

I closed my eyes in calmness, trying to recollect myself. Surely what happened could've been just a fragment of my imagination. Nothing else.

Rose. Rosalie. ROSALIE!

"ROSALIE EVANNA LOPEZ!' I jumped up in fright, screaming. Mom must've jumped back, aswell, because she appeared quite worried. "Are you alright?" I nodded, but felt like the forest was a weird feeling. Like I dreamt of it all. "Yeah, sure. I guess."

"Well, good news! I'm throwing a neighboring party tonight! It starts at 7, so dress nicely." Mom almost walked away, but stopped herself, as if she remembered something. "Oh, and don't invite any little boys into your room. I don't need little Rosettes running around my house-"

"Okay mom, okay!" I covered my ears once she mentioned it, knowing that I would've probably token the risk. "No boys!" She grinned in triumph, running downstairs to remind Colby. I groaned, shoving my face deep into my pillow.

It was all probably just a dream. An annoying, gut-wrenching dream.

-

I applied the last coat of crimson lipstick, staring at myself in the mirror. The black romper might've seemed alittle too formal for a simple get together, but I did have to make a lasting impression, right?

Lucky for me, it was 6:45. Unlike most mornings, getting dressed wasn't a hassle for me. With a last glance in the mirror, I walked downstairs. The party began immediately at 7:00, but there were a few cars outside, already. "Looking nice for the occasion," I complimented Colby, who decided to remain casual; a simple button up shirt, and dress pants. It was an interesting combination, but he was able to pull it off. "Not looking so bad yourself."

The party began rather quickly, a lot of familiar faces from the neighborhood showing a sign of friendship. Most neighbors knew of both I and Colby's existence, but never actually saw us. So, fair enough to say, we received quite an amount of praise.

About a few minutes into the party, most were socializing. There were some teenagers, but they weren't interested; much like how I wasn't. Mr. and Mrs. James kid, Zachary, wouldn't stop following me. He's an ultimate jerk, and loves to break girl's hearts. I had to flip him off and refuse to dance a few times, but I think he got the message.

I bit into a chocolate covered strawberry, leaning against the counter. I watched everyone catch up on life, and such. It wasn't how I was planning to spend my Saturday, but its fine, I guess. Someone was standing beside me, I knew, but I didn't open my eyes until a scent of smoke entered into my nose, filling my mouth. I coughed immediately. "Sorry, brown eyes."

Jon.

"It's Rosalie, Jon." He smirked, as if he knew already, but found the nickname suitable for me. Either way, it didn't matter. "Enjoying the party so far, blond locks?" "No," he simply stated, with a disgusted face. "The neighbors are like grandparents, constantly pinching your cheeks, and shit. But, hey, I gotta give it to you. The food's good."

A grin tugged on my lips. Jon was easily someone I could relate to, and I enjoyed the feeling. "Well, I'm glad you understand. It appears you're the only person I could trust." Jon shifted, slightly, as if he was alittle uncomfortable. "We all need that someone, right?"Zachary appeared from upstairs, wiping his hands. Must have been using the bathroom. If it was mine, I'm going to kill him!

"Everything alright..?" Jon noticed my glare towards Zachary, seeming defensive. "I'm just dandy," I responded, sarcastically. "Don't worry about me." He didn't do anything but watch Zachary's actions, taking a drag every once in a while. "C'mon," he suddenly said, motioning me to follow him. "Let's ditch this party and do something, eh?"

I bit my lip, smirking. "Thought you'd never ask." He walked towards the back area. I followed him, closing the door behind me. The patio was enough for about three or four people, so we were comfortable. "So, Jon." His gaze met mine. "Yeah?" "Tell me about yourself." He chuckled. "Let's save that for a rainy day, Rose." Memories from my encounter came back. Great, now I can't hear the word 'rain' without freaking out. "Alright." I glanced behind me again, noticing Zachary staring at us both from inside. His head snapped in the opposite direction when I looked back, but I knew he felt livid about the situation.

"Wow, my life has just changed," I muttered under my breath.

"Haven't ours all?," Jon replied, staring at the scenery with a smile.