Roses

Chapter 10

I could stand like this forever. But she releases me with a slight cough.

"Hehe... Sorry..." she says, passing a hand through her hair.

"It's okay," I answer with a stupid smile on my face. "But what were you going to say before I interrupted you?"

She blushes even more and stammers out:

"Oh... I'll be sad when you'll be gone because you look like Hiccup. And you said that I look like Astrid."

"I see... There's a convention and you wanted us to cosplay together?" I say with a smirk.

She bursts in laughs.

"Exactly!"

***

I'm not sure about what Angela wanted to say even though I have a little idea. But I can't be sure about it.

What if it's not what I was hoping for?

I play some chords on my guitar. I never mentioned it, but that guitar was a gift from my dad. It used to be his before. And he gave it to me because I wanted to try. He taught me how to play and when he saw that I was better than him, he offered it to me one day while saying: "Happy birthday, Liam. Take care of it. You are talented in many ways. Don't forget this."

Then, he ruffled my hair and said: "I love you, son. Maybe one day, you'll be playing a song with this guitar for a future Mrs. Montgomery." He winked at my mom and she smiled. It was the last gift he gave me. I thought about Angela when he said that, as if he already knew my feelings for her before my mom and I did.

I lay down the guitar on my bed and put my head in my hands. Tears are flowing. I miss my father so much. And I guess it's probably worse for my mom. The door creaks, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Honey?"

I don't answer, even when I feel my mom sit on my bed beside me. She wraps her arm around my shoulders and hugs me.

"What is it, baby boy?"

"Mom, I'm not a baby anymore."

"Even if you're sixty, you'll still be my baby. Now, why are you crying?"

"I miss Dad, that's all. Remember that guitar?" I say, pointing it.

She glances at it and looks at me again.

"Of course... He used to play my favorite songs with it."

"Do you think Angela will love me one day?" I ask with a sigh.

"If your dad was here, he would say yes. And I agree. You have a lot of qualities that makes you unique."

"Mom, everybody is unique."

"Yeah, so are you, honey. What I mean is that there's always somebody meant for you somewhere. Just go tell her about your feelings. We don't have a lot of time left here. Besides, I think she likes you too."

She kisses my forehead.

"Now, let's go eat before the food gets cold."

Okay, stop with that coward attitude, Montgomery. Just stand up and talk to her.

My mom is right.

***

"Just by curiosity, is there someone you like?"

"Yeah, Percy."

Ouch.

"Oh... uh... Who is that Percy?"

"Percy Jackson, dummy."

Phew.

"Someone that is not fictional."

"Well, there's... Hiccup."

"But Hiccup is..."

"No, he's not," she interrupts.

She looks at me in the eyes. Then, she smiles and turns away while blushing. Suddenly, she starts to walk faster.

"Hey! Wait! What was that supposed to mean?" I say, running after her.

"Nothing!" she laughs.

"Oh, c'mon!"

"I'm not telling you," she replies, sticking out her tongue.

"You're so childish."

She smiles one last time before closing her door.