Exquisite ~ Book One

Twenty One~

By morning, I'd forgotten about Dennis. Waking up, he sits on the opposite side of the room, looking to me with soft eyes. I jump up and catch my breath in one not so swift motion.

"Jeez, scare me awake why don't you?" I say in a down mood.

"What's first m'lady?" Andrew says in his honey sweet tone. I turn over to see him looking at me also and frown.

"As usual I go down to the café where I usually start up a conversation with Marge."

"Then lets go.." Dennis says grimly. I sigh and tell them to wait outside as I change, exiting after I've done so.

"Where are we going?" Andrew says through confusion.

"A café genius," Dennis says mockingly.

"Would you two grow up for one second." I say bitterly as I walk past them, smile on my face as I pass by a group of people, watching us. Someone nears us, a young boy that smiles at me. I watch him.

"Good morning, I couldn't help but tell you how attractive you must be." He says, in a swift motion grabbing my hand and kissing lightly. I blush slightly.

"Why thank you," I say through a small giggle of my own. "You're fine yourself," I say after giving him a look over.

"Why thank you." He says with a gentle smile. "Where to?" He asks next.

"The café." I respond.

"Might I accompany you?" He asks. I laugh aloud and nod my head, the guy linking arms with me as he leads us the way. Behind us, the two guys sulking and grumbling their ways.

"I'm Annabella, by the way." I say, introducing myself.

"John," he responds with a brisk smile. I return the gesture and look behind us in a quick glance. The boys watch me do so.

-

"Hello Marge," I say as the elder lady returns to me a glass of coffee, handing other glasses to the men beside me. I sit by John while the boys sit in the booth beside us.

"Long time no see," she says in way of greeting. I shake my head with a wide smile.

"As goes to you." I return.

"And who's the men you bring with you?" She says, eyeing up Andrew with notice.

"Asides from Dennis, in which I know you know, I've brought home with me Andrew and came in with a young man John." She smiles to him and nods her head.

"What a fine man he is." She says with a small laugh.

"Aye, he is." I respond with a blush.

"Well I'll leave yer two to be." She says, stepping away. I turn back to John.

"I couldn't help but notice how blue your eyes are, they nearly match the sky!" He exclaims. I shake my head with a grand smile.

"You're a mighty flirt if I hadn't known one any better." I compliment. He laughs now, his laugh soothing. I sip at my steaming coffee and listen to him as he talks. It seems as if time flies by before we part ways, him leaving in the opposing direction as we head the other.

"So Anna, what was that all about?" Andrew says bitterly. I turn to him with a sharp glare.

"Asides from the two of us, Rose, you yourself seem to be a leader, leading us men on in confusion and jealousy. Our love is not a game to be played over." Dennis says in agreement with Andrew. I frown.

"It wasn't wrong of me to ignite in conversation with another man, it's not as if you two own me nor have control in what I can and can not do." I huff out a breath of air. "Anyhow, since when are you two so close?"

"Well seems how we have no say in who you choose, we might as well compromise our time with you." Dennis adds on.

"Fair enough," I gather.

"Dennis told me where the rose garden is and I'd love to visit it with you," Andrew chimes in.

"Then we can return to my place and rest up a bit." Dennis goes on.

"I mean I guess," I say with hesitance.

"Lead the way madam." Andrew says after Dennis bids us farewell. I lead Andrew to the garden, through the maze of flowers to find the center of roses where I close my eyes and inhale the sweet scent of them. The smell of home. "This is truly where you belong Rose." He says, catching me off guard.

"Rose?" I ask in a shy voice.

"I meant Anna, I'm sorry love." I blush and turn away, my fingertips running over one of the silky petals.

"I'd grew up here for by far many more years then elsewhere." I comply.

"It's beautiful," he says under his breath.

Before leaving, I pricked my thumb on a thorn, blood falling to the ground before he has time to heal it.

-

"Rose?" Dennis asks from the other side of the door. I make my presence known, opening the unlocked door and stepping inside.

"It's only me," I answer sweetly.

"Oh goody," he says with a laugh. "I'd just finished making your favorite dinner." I laugh and wander my way through the home to the kitchen.

"There was no need to do that." I insist.

"But I've needed to apologize for how sharp I've been with anger, it's far beyond who I want to be when I'm with you." He smiles and comes over to me, kissing my forehead and pulling the chair out to seat me in. I take it willingly and allow him to push me in, dishing myself out as he sets to his seat opposing to me.

"Then apology accepted." I answer. "Although I must say I've been rather sour lately too." I bite my lip and shy away as I poke at the food, stomach sounding.

"You'll never be unforgiving for as long as my heart is yours." He finishes before silence falls and we return to our dinner.