Rose's class had ended, and she took one last circle around the room, checking the sketches of each student.
"Great work everyone, I'm hoping we'll be able to start painting next week, but if that's a problem for anyone come talk to me and we'll work something out." Rose smiled, standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by teenagers carefully putting their artwork and supplies away.
As she began to clean the counters, the kids began to grab their bags and jackets, getting ready to head out the door.
"Hey Paige, it's time to go." A deep voice that immediately sparked memories called.
"Clay! Guess who my art teacher is? Actually, I'm too excited for you to guess. It's Rosie!" Paige all but screamed, tugging on her older brother's arm.
"Rose?" He asked, looking a little shell shocked when as the short auburn haired girl turned away from the counter she was wiping.
"Hi Clayton, how are you?" Rose asked, looking down at her shoes.
"I've know you for your entire life Angel, don't I get a hug?" Clay asked, giving her a half smile and opening his arms slightly.
Rose awkwardly shuffled towards him and gave him a small hug. The warmth of it made her feel safe, but before she could relax into the feeling, she pulled away.
"I've got to finish cleaning up." Rose muttered, turning away and wrapping her arms around herself.
"How long until you're done for the day?" Clayton asked, following with his sister in tow, typing on her phone.
"I have no more classes, I'm just cleaning up." Rose answered, grabbing a wet cloth and washing the tables.
"I just texted mum and dad, they want me to ask you over for dinner tonight." Paige exclaimed, pushing past Clayton and looking at Rose expectantly.
"Go Rose, I'll finish up for you." Hillary smiled, revealing that she had been eavesdropping.
"Great, you can follow behind us on the way home." Paige bounced out of the room, with an enthusiastic smile.
Rose grabbed her jean jacket and her backpack, throwing them into the passenger seat of her car. She pulled out carefully and followed Clayton and Paige to a beautiful house in the nicer side of town.
"This might have been a mistake." Rose whispered to herself, hesitating to leave her car.
She followed a bouncy Paige towards the front door, wringing her hands as her anxiety overtook her.
"It'll be fine, my parents have loved you for your entire life and they can't wait to see you again." Clayton whispered into her ear. She offered him a shy smile, but continued to pull and twist her fingers.
As Paige swung the door open, Rose let out a large sigh and scuffed her foot along the ground.
"Hey mom! We're home!" Clayton called and hung up his jacket, holding his hand out to take Rose's.
"Rose! Oh darling, we've missed you so much. It felt so strange to not have you over everyday after school." Shanon came down the hallway and engulfed Rose in a large hug, completely ignoring her children standing next to her.
"It's nice to see you too, Shanon. How was Vancouver?" Rose asked, slowly untangling herself for the tight hug.
"It was amazing! Everyone was so kind and there was so much to do there." The motherly woman explained, leading Rose into the kitchen.
"Let her breathe mom, it's the first time she's seen you for two years, she might feel a little uncomfortable." Clayton said, leaning against the entrance to the kitchen.
YOU ARE READING
The One They Left Behind
Romance"If you loved me, why was it so easy for you to walk away?" Rose was used to being forgotten. Her mother had left, then her brother. The one person she never expected to leave her was Diana, her best friend. Diana left in 10th grade, leaving an opt...
