R O S E S

Chapter 1

Her name was Rose.

She was a very beautiful girl with long flowing pink hair that could be compared to the petals of a cherry blossom tree. Her skin was very pale, white as some may say, with stunning light pink eyes that glistened like diamonds in the sun. One would say her appearance was fairly odd, no one had ever seen someone with naturally pink hair before nor with the same colored eyes either. Maybe that's what made her so beautiful; it was unique. She reminded people of a delicate pink rose. In fact, Rose was very melodic and graceful in the way she moved, captivating people all around her. 

Although, very much like roses, she had thorns to her. Rose, despite being the beautiful graceful girl she is, is a very tough and strong willed person on the inside. She may not look like it, but Rose would never let anyone make her do something she didn't want to do and she wouldn't mind telling others to back off if they annoyed her enough. That's what everyone loved about Rose, her tough personality that contradicted her quiet girl looks. Even if Rose was still quiet and more of a loner, she still wasn't afraid of other people. 

Rose leaned against the kitchen counter with her phone in hand. She scrolled through Instagram idly while waiting for the toaster to pop up again. Her younger siblings were sitting at the kitchen table, dreading having to attend their new school. Despite it being November, Rose and her younger siblings would be attending a new school. Her mother had gotten a new job which forced them to move into River Valley, a small town with a very low population. Rose liked this town better than the city, there was less distractions and action happening. If Rose had a choice, she would live a quiet life in the country, painting the scenery around her. Of course Rose knew that dream was practically impossible.

The sound of the toaster caught Rose's attention. She turned around and set her phone on the counter before taking the final pieces of toast out and gently setting them on the plate. Rose grabbed her phone and took the plate over to the kitchen table, placing it in the center. Lucas quickly reached and snatched the top piece with a victorious smile set across his lips, that only caused his twin to angrily grumble as she grabbed the one underneath it. Rose sat at the table with her siblings and took a piece herself, slowly nibbling on the piece as she began scrolling through Instagram once again. 

Their mother was already at work which made it Rose's job to care for her siblings. She had to ensure they got to school alright and were fed before they went. The same routine happened after school as well, she picked them up and took them home to feed them and made sure they got their homework done. Because their mom was constantly working, Rose needed to step in and take the role of what a mother would actually do. She was only sixteen years old and so she couldn't help with everything, but Rose tried. She tried to be that 'adult' figure for her siblings. She tried to make her mother's life easier so she could work and support them. She tried and wouldn't stop trying. 

That's what was great about Rose. She doesn't give up easily and kept on fighting until she couldn't fight anymore. That's a rare case though, there's usually nothing that can stop Rose once she had her mind set to it. 

Rose looked at the clock ticking on the wall and sighed. It was about time. Rose didn't want to attend this new school but she knew she didn't have a choice. She thought it would be just like every other time she's had to move. Rose would get her schedule, she would introduce herself to her class, people would be fascinated with her, and she would resume being the loner until the next time they had to move. That's how it always went for Rose. It wasn't the fact that it was difficult for Rose to make friends, it was the fact that she moved so often that she never got the chance to really make any friends or get close with anyone. Rose was a very friendly person and would be consider outgoing in some aspects, but there was also the factor of getting attached. What if she had to move again? It would be so difficult to say goodbye. That's how it was the first time she moved, and the second. She learned after that time though.

"Alright, let's get going," Rose spoke as she stood up from the table. Rose grabbed her backpack which was hanging on the back of the chair and slung it over her shoulder as she slid her phone in her back pocket. Both of her siblings groaned before standing up. The twins understood the type of situation they were in and tried to be the best they could so they could make Rose's job easier, but sometimes it was difficult. They were thirteen years old after all. 

Rose grabbed her keys off the kitchen counter and made her way over to the front door. She opened it and let her siblings through first before leaving. She shut the door behind herself and locked it before going over to her car. It was nothing fancy, something old and used. Her mother could barely afford it along with her own car but she wanted Rose to ensure the safety of her siblings and really take care of them.

Lucas and Lily began arguing who got the front seat. They then bolted to the car door and fought for the seat. Lily won by shoving Lucas out of the way with her hip and sliding in with a smirk across her lips. The boy cursed under his breath before angrily opening the back seat and sliding in. It was a normal routine for the twins to fight with each other as if they were still in elementary school. It was a type of playfulness the twins would never outgrow. Rose hoped they never would, it made her feel at home...at their first home that is.

Rose put her backpack in the backseat before getting in the driver's seat. She started up her car and began driving to Lucas and Lily's middle school. It wasn't that far from her high school but she needed to make sure the twins got there early enough to find their classes and Rose had to make sure got to her school early to find her own classes too. Rose had to go to the principal's office and meet him anyways. 

Once she arrived at the middle school, she pulled alongside the front so her siblings could get out. Rose cast a glance at Lily to see her expression was full of power and confidence. She then looked at Lucas to see had a bit of a frown on his face. Rose knew Lily took these moves much easier than Lucas did, at least he had her to keep him going through school. "Thank you sis! We'll see you after school!" Lily smiled as she leaned over and kissed Rose on the cheek before getting out. It caused a small smile to spread onto Rose's lips.

"Later big sis," Lucas was practically pulled out of the car by Lily who seemed eager to rush into the building. 

When the car door closed, Rose proceeded to drive away. She could feel the butterflies rising in her stomach but she didn't let that bother her very much. Rose had every right to feel a little nervous, it was a new school and there would be a variety of new people there. Of course Rose knew the groups would still exist. The popular kids, the nerds, the loners and so on. Rose thought she classified under the loners since she never seemed to hang around anyone during school, she didn't care what she was classified as though. She never cared about what others thought. Rose ignored what others had to say, it became easier as more people seemed to find her appearance fascinating. Although, this year could be different for her. Rose highly doubted that though, she knew she couldn't get attached anyways. 

Rose finally had arrived at River Valley High. It wasn't a very large school since only two hundred students attended it. The town was small. Rose had parked her car and got out. She grabbed her bag from the back and put it over her shoulder. Rose took a deep breath in and sighed. Another year of school. She had to pass her Junior year and then she would only have one more year left. Maybe once she graduated and moved out on her own it would made things easier for her mother. Maybe they would have more money to be stable. Rose smiled at that thought. It would be nice to see her mother smiling again.