Rose
I don’t care too much for romance. Being a sixteen year old girl you think I would but I don’t. People date and break up and date someone else. We’re too young for anything to work out so why bother when you know you’re going to get a heart break. I have some guy friends. Like Hunter, John and Mute. I’m friends with Jake but it’s not like I’d date any of them.
“Now children,” my history teacher begins. Unlike my math teacher, my history teacher is young and somewhat pretty. “Most of your grades are terrible.” She announces looking at Joe who (unfortunately) is in this class with me. People can complain as much as they want about the annoying kids in their class but nothing could be worse than having the thirsty boy who tried to kill you a few seats away. “So in order to boost your grades I’m assigning you a project,” she pauses when a few kids groan. “And I’ll let you choose your partners.” She finishes. A few kids cheer a little for that. I walk over to Joy’s desk.
“So, what should we do for our project?” I ask. She laughs and then her mouth forms an “o” when I look confused. “Um . . . do you hear yourself right now?” she asks. “What?” I ask defensively. “You’re basically, like, forcing me to be your partner.” She scoffs. “Um . . . I didn’t think you had any other friends in the class.” I mumble. “Oh my God! Do you even know what you’re saying? You’re saying I have, like, no friends.” I cringe when she says “like”. She says that a lot. “You’re lucky I’m nice. If you said that to, like, anyone else they’d bitch slap you. You’re such an idiot.” Joy has always been on the mean side but lately she’s been extra bitchy. “Okay that’s a bit of an exaggeration.” I argue. She laughs again. “Oh Rose, if I could record you right now and play it back you’d see how dumb you sound.” I scowl at her. “You don’t need to have an attitude.” I say angrily. “That’s it. I’m working alone!” she shouts too loudly walking away. A few boys hear her and start laughing. “Hey Rose?” a voice asks. I whirl around angrily. I think it’s another rude boy but it’s Jake. I feel heat in my cheeks. “I’ll be your project partner if you want.”
After school, he walks over to my locker. “Hello partner,” he begins smiling. “Hello.” I say the color rising in my cheeks again. I think my heart skips a beat. I don’t like him. I tell myself this over and over. We’re only friends and going out would ruin everything. “How about you walk home with me so we can work on the project together.” He suggests. “Sure.” I say dreamily. “What?” Jake asks. “Nothing. I mean . . . that sounds good.” I mumble quickly. He laughs. “Okay then. Meet me in the shared wing by the stone wall in ten minutes.” He says walking away. I watch him leave. He turns and looks back at me but I look down at my books quickly.
After 10 minutes go by, I hang out by the stone wall and wait for Jake. He walks up to me. He’s wearing a short-sleeved shirt with a skull on it and saggy, faded blue jeans. He wears the same thing almost every day. He’s like the cute emo boy that can make a girl giddy. “So are you ready?” he asks. I nod afraid my voice will crack if I speak. We walk out the front doors of the school together. I follow him to a neighborhood I’d never seen before. It looks a cozy neighborhood. The sky is cloudy and it’s pretty cold out. A lot of the houses are brick and some have smoke coming out the chimney. Jake’s house is white and clean looking. He pulls out a key and unlocks the back door. I can’t swear my parents would approve of me going to Jake’s house when his parents aren’t home but it’s for school. He holds open the door. “Ladies first.” I giggle and blush like some stupid fangirl. “Such a gentleman aren’t you?” I tease walking inside. The first thing I see is his kitchen. It has a shiny wood floor and white walls. There are dirty pots and pans spread out all over the counter tops. Jake notices me looking at the mess. “Try not to stare at my mom’s failed attempt to make meatloaf.” He gestures to all the dirty pots and pans. I laugh and turn away from them. I look into his eyes for a second. Big, gray, sparkling. I’m tempted to ask him how he could possibly not have a girlfriend. But I don’t.
We finish the project quickly. History is my best subject. We collapse on his couch. “God that was hard.” He moans. I nod rolling my eyes. It wasn’t hard for me but I like to agree with people. “Um . . . yeah . . . So are your parents at work?” I ask. I don’t really know my way home and my parents are busy. I kind of need a ride. Jake nods. There’s a knock on the door. “That’s probably them now.” He says standing up. I don’t even get a chance to ask him why his parents wouldn’t have a key to their own house. Jake opens the door and looks around. I walk up to the door and look outside. I don’t see anyone. “Was that some kind of prank?” he asks. I shrug and look at the starry sky. It’s not that late but it’s already dark out. I step outside and look around. “I’ll check around back.” He explains walking back inside. I walk down the pathway that leads to his door. I hear a twig snap. Before I can turn around a cold hand clamps over my mouth and an arm wraps around my neck. And my attacker is glowing orange.
I squirm trying to break away from Nick. Joe and Matt walk in front of me. “What’s the matter? Don’t want your little boyfriend to find out your secret?” Joe taunts. I slowly move my hand toward my pocket where my gem is. Nick’s arm moves away from my neck. He uses his free hand to grab my hands behind my back. I try to pull them free but he has a strong grip on me. “Rose?” Jake’s voice calls out. I bite Nick’s hand. He slaps me. I finally pull my hands away from him and fall onto the grass. The three of them loom over me. Jake comes rushing down his driveway. “Who the hell are you?” he snaps at Nick, Joe and Matt. They ignore him. Joe pulls out his gun. “Stop! Don’t shoot!” Jake yells. I feel my gem in my pocket. I hope Jake can still see me the same after this. I lift up my gem and transform. I don’t look at Jake’s face too scared to see his reaction. Instead, I hold out my hand and shoot a pink beam at Joe. I get up and run past Nick, Joe and Matt. I run down the street fighting tears of embarrassment. I hear footsteps pounding the concrete behind me. I only run faster thinking it’s Nick, Joe or Matt. “Rose!” Jake’s voice cries. I keep running but I feel his hand grab mine. I stop running. Jake catches his breath.
“Why are you running from me?” Jake asks between gasps. “What do you mean? Look at me! I’m a freak!” I cry fighting tears. “No you’re not! You look beautiful. I don’t know what this is all about but I do know you don’t have to hide anything from me.” he says softly. I blush realizing his hand never left mine. I nod unable to find words. I take a big breath. I have a lot to tell him.
