Why Fear The Face ?

Chapter 4

Rose's P.O.V

I worked that morning not talking to anyone, moving boxes, helping customers as I always did, nobody would know anything was wrong or different. The one thing that was different about this specific morning was the small fact that there was something more in that large store floor. Behind a corner, behind the old, out of fashion dancing shoes was a bag. A simple brown satchel, containing the contents of what should be in a suitcase.

It was lunch break before I had the chance to pursue my plan.

"Ooh father! Father! Father!" Vanessa, my irritating step-sister, called out to papa just about as I was about to leave.

After my mother died when I was 7, my father soon arranged a marriage with the woman he was courting with behind my mothers back, this I had found out from my stepsisters.

Francesca is the eldest at 26, happily married with her backside of a man, this of course was an arranged marriage on behalf of my stepmother, Josefine.

Next is Vanessa, she's only slightly older than me at 21. My 20th birthday had just passed, but it wasn't really celebrated so nothing exciting. Josefine had again arranged this marriage for her daughter for her 21st birthday as she had done with her eldest. She was not going to so the same for me.

"Yes dear?" Papa called back from the back of the shop. Vanessa came galloping down the stairs her fiancé glued to her side.

"Father Albert tells me that there's a production of Hanibal at the opera ! Oh father please may we go ?" She cried, piercing my eardrums.

"'Tis true sir ." Albert joined in excitement plastered on their paired faces.

Father looked troubled and scratched his head standing up and stretching." If you wish dear."he sighed.

The couple clambered out of my shop after Fran kissed papa on the cheek. It made me sick at the thought. Josefine did not love him. Nor did Francesca nor Vanessa. I was starting to wonder what love truly was, for I did not want to be such a fool as papa was, trusting these people. These people who were not after our love but our money and protection.

I was tired. I was hungry. I didn't care what anyone had to say anymore.

Once the shop was deserted and Papa and Josefine had gone out to lunch. I picked up my bag and lay my note down softly before taking a big deep breath in. That day I left my home for the last time.

My letter simply told my father that I would be leaving, for good and would not expect to see them again.

Harsh but simple. I was tired and had no where to go, I hadn't thought this properly through at all. I was starting to think of going back but I wasn't going to put myself through all of that pain and drama, all for nothing. I wanted to be happy. Was that to much to ask in this screwed up world of ours?

That night I wondered the streets of Paris. Singing to myself softly to keep my spirits up, for that's all that I could do. When the sun finally awoke I decided to pay a visit to my dear old friend ...

"Meg..." I knocked on my friends bedroom door softly in case she was still asleep.

"Come in!" A bright meg giry called through the pink piece of wood.

"Rose !" She grinned hugging me which gave me a little more confidence in what I was about to do."What brings you here so early on this fine morning "she asked a grin stretched across her face, whilst she fixed her hair into a tight ballerina bun.

"Meg..." I began my eyes fixed on the floor " Do you think there's any openings here? At the opera house? For work ?" I stuttered, I couldn't believe I was showing such cheek to my friend.

"Why ? What's wrong?" she whispered to me.

"My step family are just purely unbearable... I just... I just want to be happy. They're all just so cruel! I hate them!" I declared sinking to the ground my head in my hands. I hadn't had any sleep in a good 24 hours and I suppose the adrenaline had kept me awake. Everything suddenly came rushing over me. The pain, the guilt, the tiredness, the tears. The next thing I knew I had collapsed on the floor and was looking up at meg girls pale pasty skin, before I was attacked by sleep.

Meg's p.o.v

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Last nights performance was exhilarating. The adrenaline I got after I came off stage was almost unbearable to handle. Christine was perfect, I was beginning to envy her, she can do everything I can do and 10 times more.

I sat at my dresser turning over the dance in my head. I began pinning up my ballerina bun as I heard a soft knock at the door.

" Come in!" I called happily letting the stranger in. The door creaked on it hinges as a rough looking Rose walked into my bedroom.

"Rose!" I exclaimed unable to contain my excitement as I gave my friend a quick squeeze. "What brings you here so early on this fine morning?" I asked whilst finishing my bun.

"Meg... Do you think that there are any openings here? At the opera house? For work?" She asked softly her eyes were brimming with tears. I stood up and felt extremely concerned for my friends well fare

"Why what's wrong?"

"My step family are just purely unbearable... I just... I just want to be happy. They're all just so cruel! I hate them!" Rose exclaimed, shocking me before dropped to the floor and collapsed in a heap of tears. I tried to sooth her but within minutes she had fell asleep.

I pulled my unconscious best friend onto my bed and left her to sleep whilst I went to rehearsals to find my mother.

Once we had finished up for the day before the performance tonight I caught up with mama.

"Mother!" I called pushing my way through the crowd of ballerinas.

"Meg my child what's the matter?" She asked whilst still talking with one of the set managers Mr.Silvet.

"I was wondering is there any openings for any work at allay the opera house?" I breathed wondering how was going to tell her the story of rose .

"Why ? Who are you asking for?" She looked at me sternly, this wasn't good.

"My good friend, Rosalinda, mama..." I looked down at my feet.

"Well it seems some of the boys have been fired from the set so there's an opening there if your friend wants to join the likes of Joseph Bouquet !" Mama and Mr.Silvet walked away.

I wondered to myself as I sat by Roses bedside if she would accept the offer or not. Anything got to be better than living and working with someone you hate. Though I suppose I would have no experience in the subject...