When Thorn Met Rose

Chapter 9

Rose's Point Of View.

''You fell.'' Mum said while I helped her set up the table for dinner.

''Well, yes, I slipped during gym class.'' I replied, hoping I sounded as convincing as I thought. I put down three plates and then sat down. 

Mum looked at me and then shook her head.

''You were always a clumsy little kid.'' 

Well, at least she bought it. I didn't feel too good about lying to my mum, but if I told her I was physically abused by a girl in my class she would probably make sure Liz got suspended. I didn't need that, this was enough attention. 

''How's everyone'' Dad came into the kitchen. 

''What happened to you?'' Dad asked me, after he gave mum a quick peck on the cheek. Before I could answer mum was already talking.

''She fell'' Mum said, wiggling her eyebrows, and saying the word fell in a weird voice. I wondered what she was trying to do. 

'Right'' Dad laughed and shook his head.

''What?'' I asked, looking from mum to dad. They just stated at me, with this weird look. 

''Your school called today.'' Mum said. 

Oh.

''Why?'' I asked, trying to pretend like I didn't know what they were talking about.

''Apparently you fell on some girls hand'' Mum said, raising one eyebrow, not looking very happy now. Dad had put his hands on his hips. 

For a moment I sat there wondering if I should say anything. Maybe they would forget about what they just said.

''Why did you lie?'' Mum asked.

''I'm sorry'' I said, trying to put as much sincerity into my apology as possible. 

''You shouldn't be getting into such trouble'' Dad said.

''It isn't how we raised you'' Mum added.

Ok I was starting to get the idea that maybe they thought that Liz slapping me was my fault.

''I can't believe you said such terrible things to that poor girl.'' Mum said. 

I raised my eyebrows and just stared at my parents. Did they really think...Wait, did they really call Liz poor? Maybe she was, emotionally. 

''She was the one who abused me.'' I said, feeling a bit frustrated. 

''You called her very mean names.'' Dad said in a voice that made me feel like he was talking to a five year one. 
I couldn't believe my parents weren't taking my side. I was probably the perfect child. Yet they decided that me being attacked was the thing that would make them think I was a terrible kid.

''Ok, I'm sorry.' I said, feeling annoyed, and hungry. I wanted them to drop this conversation.

''I don't want this to happen again.'' Dad said, his lips in a thin line. 

''Ok'' I replied, I could smell the food that was cooking on the stove. My stomach rumbled.

''Great.'' Mum said and turned around returned to the food cooking. 

Dad shook his head and walked off into the living room. Well, I guess that was over. I knew there was no way for me to prove that I didn't do anything wrong. Because, party it was my fault for calling her insecure, but did I have a choice? 

After a very awkward, and silent dinner with my parents, I called Ella. My mind was filled with thoughts that I wanted to get out. I decided to tell her that there was a weird moment between Theodore and I. But it didn't mean anything. 

''Ok, so you are still saying you don't feel anything towards him?'' Ella was pacing back and forth in front of me. I sat on my bed staring at her, wondering if I made the right choice by telling her. 

''Yes, I don't feel anything towards him'' I replied.

''Right, and the reason why you told me that you almost kissed is because you don't like him.''

''We didn't almost kiss' I said, feeling quite frustrated with everything.

 ''Does he like you? Obviously he does, how could he not'' Ella was pretty much talking to herself. I fell back onto my pillows and stared up at the ceiling. 

''You're not even listening to me'' Ella said, well, more like complained. 

''Sorry''

''Whats up?'' 

''I don't even know'' I said sitting up and putting my head in my hands.

'You've got the love syndrome'' Ella sat down and put her hand on my back. She said it so sincerely I almost didn't laugh.

''Alright Ella, stop obsession over this. How's things with Robert?'' I asked, needing to get my mind off everything. I was pissed off at my parents for being so mean, I was pissed off at myself for being unable to get Theodore out of my mind.

''We broke up'' Ella simply replied. I turned my head and stared at her in shock.

''And you didn't think this was something you could share with your best friend.'' I tried to look hurt.

''I'm sorry, you brought up Thorn and it slipped my mind.'' Ella replied.

''What happened?'' 

''He was cheating on me, you were right, I'm sorry I ever doubted you. I always thought it was something I done. But turns out he just didn't care. He was cheating on me!'' Ella almost shouted the last bit.

''How do you feel?'' 

''I actually feel good, I feel like I don't need to be worried about why he isn't texting me back or where he is.'' Ella said, and I could tell that she was telling the truth.

We spoke about everything for the next hour or two until Ella went home. I was extremely tired and went to bed quite early that night. Hopefully I would feel better in the morning.

Theodore wasn't as school for the next two days. I mean, I never really paid attention to who showed up to school and who didn't. But somehow, his absence made me extremely distracted throughout the day. At one point I just stared off into space, wondering if he had gotten in an accident. My Biology teacher wasn't too happy about that. Especially when I had a scalpel in my hands and I was cutting a frog in half. 
I wasn't even sure what was up with me. I felt like something wasn't right, like there was something missing and I couldn't think of what. Unitl it came to English and Theodore's seat was empty. 
I had only spent two hours with this guy and for some reason he had gotten under my skin. There wasn't any other guy who had ever done that. I mean I had male friends, but I never felt emotionally drained when I didn't see them for a period of time. 

Maybe I was menstruating and everything was getting to me. 

I didn't even bother opening my Play notes because I didn't feel like it was right for me to try add or change anything without Theodore's consent. 

I felt like one of those crazy teenage girls who had realized they like a guy and now everything they did revolved around them. But no, I didn't like Theodore, I just felt like his presence was necessary. 

On Friday, however, I did see him. It was quite early, I was out on my morning jog when I saw someone lying on the bench in the local park. My town wasn't a very big town but we did have homeless people, so at first I ran past him, thinking it was a homeless person. Until I noticed his unmissable, long black hair. I stopped in my tracks, breathless and confused. 

''Theodore'' I said, feeling weird just saying his name. He didn't move. He was just sleeping on the bench, wearing a hoodie and jeans. 

''Theodore'' I said again, putting my hand on his shoulder. He didn't move. He was breathing but it seemed like he had passed out. 

''Theodore'' I said, louder now. He groaned and his eyelids flickered. 

Sorry for not posting yesterday, I will post another chapter a bit later on today.