The Tangled Rose (Book One in the Tangled Series) (Editing)

Chapter 20

Rose's POV

As I am walking down the cold streets of New York, my tears feel like ice sickles sliding down my face. That is another person that has let me down. Why? What did I do wrong? How am I supposed to get through this again. Holding my chest, I stop and look at the  night sky but there are no stars because of all the lights. Sucking in a breath of cold October air it his the back of my throat. I can choose to reach out or keep to myself and I know how badly the later ended. Maybe just maybe I could finally tell Crystal... I want to confide in her.

I pull my phone out and dial her number as tears continue to fall. It rings a few times before her soft voice anawers.

"Hey Rose it's been a while. How are things?" She asks. I open my mouth to answer but nothing comes out and my lip quivers. "Rose?"

"Help... I-I need you." I whimper softly.

"Of course Rose! Where are you?" She asks and I can hear her rushing around.

"I'm a few blocks down from Andre's place." My voice cracks as well as another piece falling off my heart. It hurts so much. What am I gonna do? She says okay and hangs up. I wrap my arms around my waist holding my body tightly. Without realizing it my nails dig into my sides. I can't do this alone. Not again.

About 15 minutes of wandering around. My blue cheep Ford Focus comes into view with  Crystal in the driver's seat. She comes to a stop and runs out of the car and over to me. She is wearing pajama pants with anime chibi on it and a tank top with a grey jacket sewn over her barely zipped. She isn't wearing any shoes as she comes up to me wrapping her jacket around me. I can tell she left in a hurry.

She helps my shaking body into the car as I wipe my tears from my face. The numbness inside is taking over and I try to push it down I can't let it take over. Pulling my knees up to my chest in the seat I cry into my arms. The dress flexes with my shaking body as my sobs turn into breaths of silence. Crystal doesn't try to press me as we drive but I can feel her gaze shifting to me every once in a while. My heart hurts as we pull into a parking spot and Crystal gets out walking over to my side. Holding my hand she helps me into her apartment which used to be ours. The thought jolts through me. I left her for a guy that just hurt me in the end and she was still here for me like nothing ever happened. I don't deserve someone like her... but do I really deserve anyone? We get inside and she rushes to her room and comes back out with a tank and sweat pants handing them to me.

"I-I figured you wanted to change before you talked." she says cautiously handing them to me. the way she looks at me is like ill break any second. I force a small smile at her as I take the clothes. I know she is trying really hard to help and I can tell she is really worried because she has never seen me like this. I go into  her bathroom and change laying my dress across a rack and I turn on the sink placing my hands on both sides. Letting out a shaky breath, I can feel myself weakening. I am so tired of disappointments. Looking up into the mirror I see my makeup smeared so I rinse off my face of any makeup I had on. Wiping my face, I can feel my sadness start to return. There is a knock at the bathroom door before her soft voice rings in my ears. "I am here for you Rose. I promise. You can tell me anything." she says and a few moments later I open the door and she looks up at me before walking with me to the couch. 

"Im sorry..." The words that come out of my mouth surprise her like she hasn't heard my voice in ages. She holds onto my hands pulling them closer to her. 

"You have nothing to be sorry for. If you want to talk about what happened... I am here to listen." she says looking at my hands and a ball of sadness starts to swim up my throat. I nod at her before looking down at her hands. the words seem to pour out of me. The pain. The hurt. The love. Everything that I have been dragged through the past 4 years of my life. How it all started with Kyle, then Eric, Colton, my family. It all just poured out of me and through that whole conversation, Crystal didn't falter once even as a few tears fell from her cheeks as well. I could see how much she cared about me. In that moment I knew she was the one real thing I have right now.