Loving in Red

Chapter Four ~ Rose Tells the Truth

Chapter Four

Rose Tells The Truth

    Albus snagged the seat beside Rose in Potions, Olivia shooting him a glare as she had to go sit beside Gregory Univac, a boy who always tried to look down her jumper. He waited until the lesson had started, then passed a note to Rose:

Rose…what’s going on? Really going on. I saw you and Scorp at the ball the other day, and in the court yard…why were you screaming at him? Tell me what’s going on, Rose.

 

Rose’s hand hovered over the page, but didn’t write anything. Cold air blew through Hemmingway’s window, as always, and it blew the hair from her face as she read the note again and again. Her hand was shaking, and she looked sick-Rose was always pale, but even the light dash of freckles across her nose seemed to have paled.

Then she turned suddenly and rushed from the room, holding a hand to her mouth. The class turned in their seats to watch her go, some giggled and Hemmingway cleared his throat.

“Mr. Potter, please follow Ms. Weasley to make sure she’s alright. That bug is going around, you know.”

Nodding, Albus grabbed their bags and rushed out of the classroom and turned into the first empty classroom he came across; he wasn’t surprised to find Rose sitting on the teachers desk, knees pulled up to her chest.

“Hey Rosie-Pose,” he smiled, sitting beside her “Are you…is everything okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Well obviously you’re not,” Albus gestured to the magic waste bin, which was making disgusting noises “You threw up.”

“I’m okay, really Al.” she gave him a forced smile and sighed, as if in defeat as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

“You’re not…um, y’know…um…” Albus’ face burned as he said it, and Rose cracked a smile.

“Don’t be silly,” she scoffed “Just because I threw up doesn’t mean I’m carrying Scorpius Malfoy’s demon spawn, Albus.”

“Who said it was Malfoy’s?”

Rose was silent as she stared out the sun soaked window, golden light streaming through. Albus was her best friend, her cousin, and she had always told him everything. Everything but Scorpius.

“I owe you the truth, Al.”

“That’s an understatement,” said Albus and she shot him a glare. “Sorry.” He apologized and smiled at her, hoping she would just tell him everything again. He missed it, being as close as they once had been “You can tell me Red, from the beginning.”

“Okay, but, Al?”

“Yeah Rosie?”

“Don’t call me Red.”