Roses

Chapter 9

On the way home, I can't stop thinking about what Matthew said. How did he know about my problems? Nobody does... Despite Angela's presence, my mind wasn't completely focused on the movie. That guy... He seemed dangerous for a moment. I swear I won't let him near Angela anymore or me. For now, I really need to talk with her. But it will have to wait. It's the weekend and I don't have her number nor a cellphone. Oh, wait. She's my neighbour. I can go knock at her door and ask her to take a walk with me. Her parents are nice with me. Her mom often brings us pie.

But will I have the courage to do it?

I must.

I only have twenty-six days left.

Mrs. Bellerose opens the door and smiles.

"Liam! What a surprise!" she exclaims. "It's the first time I see you right in front of our door. What brings you here?"

She has a French accent when she talks. Angela does too, but not that much. Her mother is a tall blonde woman with green eyes. They got the same nose and lips.

"Good morning, Mrs. Bellerose," I say, smiling politely. "I hope I don't bother you or..."

"Oh, cher!" she interrupts with a gesture of the hand. "You don't! Come on in."

I start to blush intensively. I never went into Angela's house before.

"N-no, thank you very much, Mrs. Bellerose. Actually, I just wanted to know if... your daughter would like... to... to take a walk with me..."

Mrs. Bellerose's eyebrows are raised suggestively.

"I see... Unfortunately, I think Angela is still sleeping. You can come back later, I'll tell her about..."

"Hey, Liam."

Her mother turns her head around. Angela is standing behind her in a huge blue hoodie that matches her eyes. Mrs. Bellerose grins at her daughter and leaves after waving a hand at me. Angela blushes when she sees me and smiles shyly.

"I'm sorry. My hair is messy. I woke up when I heard your voice."

"Oh, gosh, I'm sorry!" I say, panicking a little bit. "I didn't mean to..."

"Hey, it's okay! Thanks anyway, because I would probably have woken at noon. And I don't like that."

"Okay, then."

She moves back.

"Give me... ten minutes maximum. I'll get dressed properly and fix my hair. It looks really messy."

Honestly, I don't see any difference because I think her hair is always beautiful. But I just answer:

"Yeah, it does."

She rolls her eyes and lets out a laugh.

"What a gentleman!"

"Exactly. I'll wait outside. Take your time."

I told her that she can take her time, but after seven minutes, she opens the door and sits beside me.

"That was fast," I comment.

"I didn't want to make you wait too long.

I stand up and offer my arm.

"Shall we go, milady?" I say with a smirk, hoping to make her smile like last time when I said that.

She takes my arm — with a smile. We walk for several minutes in silence. I'm nervous. I don't know how to tell her this. And I think she can sense it because she firms her grip on my arm, waiting for me to talk first.

"Hem... How can I begin... You know, Matthew was right."

"Yes..." she says softly. "You told me it was true."

"Yeah, I did... But there's something I didn't tell you."

She stops walking and looks at me, waiting. Is that... hope in her eyes?

Go, Liam! Say it! You were waiting for this moment!

"I... I don't even a month left."

Dummy.

"What do you mean?" she asks.

I take a deep breath and tell her:

"What I mean is that my mom and I will have to leave our house soon."

She lowers her head.

"But... I don't want you to leave..."

"I'm sorry, Angel... I don't have a choice."

"And where will you go?"

I was hoping that she wouldn't ask me this. I probably look unease right now.

"Hem... In my aunt's house."

Angela narrows her eyes, eyebrows frowned.

"And where is your aunt's house, Liam?"

"In New York..."

She gasps.

"It's... hem... really far," she finally says.

"Yeah..."

"What will you do about school?"

"I won't stay in this school, Angela."

"But..."

Instinctively, I raise my hand and softly touch her cheek.

"I don't have a choice. Even with a job, it won't be enough."

I take back my hand. Why the hell did I do that?! Fortunately for me, she didn't step back.

"I'll be really sad when you'll be gone because..."

She stops talking and looks at the ground. My heart starts to beat faster.

"Because nobody will piss off Matthew for you?" I finish the sentence for her.

She laughs and punches my arm.

"Of course, dummy! That's exactly why I don't want you to leave."

I smile. A sarcastic Angela, that's rare. Suddenly, she hugs me. I stand there like a blushing idiot during many seconds before wrapping my arms around her like I always dreamed.