During the next few days the police conducted searches and a full scale investigation into the murder of a student and the disappearance of the main suspect. This wasn’t going to calm down for a while but at least our lives could return to some kind of normal, if normal was ever actually attainable.
I’d just gotten used to spending nights over at Rose’s and something about her place felt more like home than my place ever could. Maybe it’s the people. Or her specifically. I was slowly falling even deeper in love with her. As lowkey as this fact remained, I couldn’t help but get the feeling that Melinda knew something I didn’t. I needed to find out what was going on. Luckily the perfect opportunity came up. Rose’s parents asked her to stay at their place for the weekend. So she asked me to stay with Melinda at their place until she gets back. Late Friday afternoon she left. I was now in the prime position to make my move and get the information I needed.
That night Melinda and I agreed we would sit out on the balcony and stargaze until the right conversation came up.
“You know, the past few weeks have been so hectic, sometimes you forget that there’s an escape from all that noise right infront of you”, Melinda said.
“I couldn’t agree more, Kyle says he’s doing alright back in Mountain view. I just hope he adjusts well enough, he might be there longer than we first thought.”
“Speaking of which, what did happen that day he left?”, she asked.
“It’s a long story, maybe some other time?”
“Yeah sure, I don’t mind, I wouldn’t mind listening to a good story right now, you got any?”, she asked.
“Well I have got this one. You have to promise you wont say anything to Rose.”
“Why?”, She chuckled.
“Another long story, she asked once and I told her I’d tell her eventually.”
“Oh okay, this sounds interesting. Go ahead, throw it at me.”
“So this is a story about me and my ex girlfriend, Amelia. Or at least it’s a story about how things ended. Amelia and I we’re tight, we had a bond. Not just any bond though. I’m talking about a real ride or die.
We knew eachother better than we knew ourselves and I’m pretty sure that if we we’re ever put in a situation bad enough, I would’ve taken a bullet for her. Back home there was this gang, El Diablos. They practically ruled the drug scene in Mountain view. If you lived amongst them, you had a choice, support them or stay out their way. Amelia wanted a future with me more than anything in the world. Well, almost anything. She wanted to be part of the gang. The respect and power that came with being a member was almost irresistible. She couldn’t help it though.
She started the initiation process and eventually got to the last step. She had to kill someone that wronged her in the past. I’d always known about this tradition but I never knew the day would come when she would actually go for it. Before she did, she invited me over to her place. We spoke, argued a little and ultimately cried. I tried my best to convince her not to do it but she was too far gone. I broke up with her on the spot, told her I couldn’t take the heat and I left. That night she completed her initiation, joined the gang and ever since then I hadn’t heard from her.”
Melinda looked shocked.
“Wow Carlos, I didn’t know you had all of this bottled up inside you. Do you still think about her?”
“Truth be told, I never stopped. Every day she’d come to mind. I’d think about what could’ve been."
“You’re okay now though, you’ve got Rose and I", she said.
“Yeah, Rose", I sighed.
“Wait what’s wrong, I thought you and her we’re cool after what happened at the festival", she said.
“What do you mean? What happened?”, I asked.
“You cant remember! You guys hooked up. Things happened that night. Oh Lord! You were both probably too drunk to remember", Melinda shouted.
“I figured! This whole time, I didn’t even know, she didn’t even know.”
“Carlos, I don’t know much about this stuff but I think you need to talk to her. You don’t think I’ve noticed the way you look at her, the way you act when you’re around her. Its obvious! You’re in love. Don’t confuse yourself or her anymore. You need to give eachother clarity.”
That night I didn’t respond to what Melinda said. I kept quiet but my face told the whole story. I now knew what had to be done. I was tired of chickening out every time I got the chance. I needed to tell her exactly how I feel.
Monday afternoon she got back from Mountain view. Melinda and I were happy to see her home safe but something was wrong. She looked like a shadow of her normal self. As she approached the entrance she dropped her bags and gave us both a hug. She started crying.
“Rose what’s wrong, what happened?”, Melinda asked.
She remained silent for a few seconds but eventually uttered out the words.
“My parents are getting a divorce.”
YOU ARE READING
IF ROSES BLED INK
Jugendliteratur"Insert Synopsis", Imagine if I actually told you about the story before you read it.
