Peekaboo, I See The Real You

Peace After Trauma

The next few days were strange for Rose. Whenever she saw Alex, she awkwardly smiled and moved on. Her relationship with Alex was not very clear: there were odd moments where she felt things she couldn't describe, yet other moments where she wanted to punch him and worsen her reputation with the local police. Whatever was going on, she realised it wasn't very clear, so, after talking through the plan a million times, she decided to speak to him at break, if, of course, her fans didn't catch her talking to him; popular girls like Rose weren't supposed to be talking to weirdos like Alex. 

Making her way across the grass, coated in a layer of leaves, Rose headed towards the tree Alex was usually at. However, the closer she got towards him, the more curious  she got, for there was not one person sat underneath the tree, but two! They are rather close, Rose thought, stepping closer, and the woman whom he is speaking to seems rather fond of him. Rose shuddered, as jealousy took over. One step closer told her exactly what was going on - Alex wasn't in fact remotely single, for, sat peacefully underneath the bare tree, he kissed with another girl whom Rose had never seen before. She was not careful anymore strutting away. She didn't care how many leaves she crunched, how many heads had turned. She felt betrayed. 

Then next few days were a blur. Sure, many people realise Rose was much more angrier than usual, but she knew her fans weren't people to turn to, so she wiped the tears away and smiled. The problem was, Rose had no real friends to turn to. Not unless she counted - no, she thought, he is a horrible person and he deserves the punch I served him. He deserves much more. The thought never came across Rose that she never was betrayed. In fact, she didn't even ask him if he was single. Even the thought of once thinking about him in that way and gazing into his eyes made her shudder, so, hopeless, she avoided him for the next few months. 

The leaves soon left the ground, replaced by a thick layer of white cotton. When Rose walked her way across it, her feet dented the perfectly smooth ground. To the right, towards the trees, she noticed two sets of footprints, leading to someone she never wanted to think about. Moving on, she headed straight for the warm interior of Appleville High. Inside, snowflakes were hung all around and trees stood in classrooms, decorated with the most beautiful baubles Rose had ever seen. Ranging from colours such as red and gold to blue and silver, it was truly magnificent. She then thought of how Christmas had been when she was younger. How her parents always used to lifted her up so she could put the angel at the top. She then thought of how she fantasized Christmas to be months ago, with...

"Rose? Are you daydreaming? You said you were hanging with us. You know, because you are our friend." 

Roses head quickly turned to face whoever said his, realising all her friends were stood glaring down at her. 

"Oh, yeah. I'm coming," Rose replied sighing.

"We thought we couldn't let people ruin our Christmas, so we are going to make sure they never can," the boy, slightly taller than Rose with streaky blonde and blue hair. 

"Huh?"

"You know, what we do every year, Rose. Seriously, first daydreaming and now not even remembering our Christmas tradition. Well, we better get started," he grinned down at her, "There is a loser always sat beneath the trees. I heard you got in a fight with him, but I don't think his punishment is finished yet. He just seems too... Happy." He now moved his hand towards the door, referencing for all to follow. As he did, nerves hit Rose. If he was who he really meant, she was going to beat up him, once again.

Nearing closer, they stopped at the roots of the tree, facing him and his sketchbook. He just looked at her innocently. 

"Well, go on, Rose. He deserves it," her friend then continued Jeering at him. 

"You know what," Rose asked nervously, lowering her fists and pushing her friends back, "We should call this off. I think I have uhhh... Homework. 

"Really? This is so unlike you. Last year we punched practically all the school, and wow, we proved how lame they are. Can't even throw a punch!"

Alex just gazed at her innocently, calmly. They both knew what was going to happen if she did, but he didn't seem scared; he just stared at her. It wasn't until a familiar girl came over, red hair and grey eyes, moving to hold Alex's scarred hand, action took place. This girl was Rose's worst enemy. She was another of the popular girls, still way less popular than Rose, but, when interviewed at the school about Rose, she didn't hesitate to curse and call her extremely rude words. So, Rose put the pieces together, then stared at how she looked at him. No, she thought, I    am his, not her.

"Go on! Give him some nose bleed," her friend Max shouted at her. So, obeying, she did. Rose focused her attention on all that anger bottled up, and stepped closer to his face. He didn't blink, he just stared, his girlfriend shielding him. Closer and closer she moved to him, yet she couldn't sense any fear within him. 

"You drew me as an arrogant and cocky popular girl, but I never got to say my opinion on you." Rose's fist was now an inch off his face. "You think you can say this stuff about me, then kiss your girlfriend as if nothing happened? You, did this. You! YOU CAN'T EVEN SAY ANYTHING WITHOUT YOUR PRECIOUS GIRLFRIEND SHIELDING YOU! ALL THIS ANGER I BOTTLED UP, I HOPED WE WOULD BE - BE." She lowered her fist but then raised it towards him. 

A loud bang could be heard as Rose was shoved against the tree, Alex's arms shoving her back, wrapped around her neck. As he did this, Rose noticed the many more marks and scars on his arm as his knuckles grew whiter and whiter. His girlfriend was screaming, begging him to stop. He never did. Struggling for air, Rose pulled and tugged on his arm, but it wasn't until she said one simple sentence that he released in shock,"What would your father think?" Stumbling to the ground, Rose struggled for air, coughing up blood, her friends all shook, cowering behind a tree. 

"WE'RE OVER, ALEX. I don't want a murderer for a boyfriend! YOU HEAR ME? YOU MURDERER!" Rose could hear the shrieks of his now ex-girlfriend as she stormed off, tears in her eyes, but she felt nowehere near as terrible as Alex did. 

Sitting down next to Rose, he mumbled, "Sorry. I know you'll never forgive me, but I want you to hear me out. I-I-I lost control." He then showed her his scarred arm. Rose didn't show any empathy. "Look, my father. He isn't that... kind. When I was six he gave me this," showing her the largest of them all, stretching from his wrist to his elbow. "Sometimes, if I did something bad, he would punch me." Alex then gulped. "Listen, I'm sorry. I really am. I don't know what came over me." As he said this, he held out his hand. "Friends?" He asked, a nervous look in his face. 

"Friends," Rose shook his scarred hand, but nothing could stop the tears streaming down her face. Alex realised this and wiped the tears off her cheeks, gazing deeply into her emerald green eyes. Quickly, he looked away, blushing, as though embarrassed. 

"Well, see you soon. I get it if you don't want to talk to me again. After all, I'm a dick." Rose smiled in response as Alex said this, now getting up and walking away. No sirens were heard this time. Obviously Rose's friends were too cowardly to want to call the police and Alex's ex girlfriend was not ready to face what he'd done.