When Thorn Met Rose

Chapter 21

Thorn's Point Of View.

''Alice? Do you seriously think I will believe that?'' I said to Jared. 

''Believe me it's true. I can prove it.'' Jared replied. 

Deep down maybe I knew it was true. I didn't need any proof. I just wanted to know why she had done it. I thought her and I were friends. We had always been friends, ever since I could remember we always stuck together. What changed? Why was she acting so weird and doing such terrible things to my girl. 

''You can't tell her I told you.'' Jared said. He still looked extremely terrified. Good.

''Oh please.''' I said already thinking of what I would say to her.

''You can't. She will kill me.'' Jared said. 

''What do you want me to do then?'' 

''Just drop it alright. Here take your money and go. My mum is going to be home soon.'' Jared said handing me the fifty note. 

'Thanks.'' I said and took it. 

''I'm sorry mate, but''

''No forget it.'' I cut him off and walked away. 

I couldn't even trust the people that I called my friends. 

I walked to the local grocery store. It was starting to look really dull and grey outside. The sun was hiding behind the dark clouds. It seemed like it was going to snow. I stuffed my hands in my jackets pockets and kept on walking. 

My life was a mess.  It had been ever since mum died and I had no idea how to put it back together. I didn't know where my father was. I didn't know where my brother was. My best friends were betraying me and doing shit behind my back. I was poor and had to borrow money. I didn't even have food to feed myself. How could my life get so messed up? I was pretty sure that I was slowly killing myself by smoking and drinking my thoughts away. 

Somehow, maybe there was still a small light. It wasn't there before but ever since I had the chance to spend time with Rose, something started to open up inside me. When I was with her I felt myself letting go and looking at what was in front of me. I liked Rose and I didn't even understand why. She was nothing like me. She was clean and smart and probably the nicest person I knew. Yet I couldn't imagine being with someone else apart from her. 

Before I knew it, I was at the shop. It was small and green. I walked inside and let the heat from the place warm me up. 

I walked to the frozen food section and picked out three pizzas. That would feed me. I then walked to the drinks and took a bottle of coke and walked to the checkout. 

The lady at the cash register didn't even smile at me. She was old with dark hair. She wore glasses and had wrinkles around her eyes.

''Hello.''' I greeted her and set down my items. 

''uh huh'' She murdered and scanned them. 

I needed to buy some fags but as I was underage so there was no way she was going to sell them to me. But it wouldn't hurt to try.

''Could I get one of those'' I pointed behind her. 

''You mean the cigarettes?'' She asked.

''Yeah.'' I replied. 

''ID?''

''Um, I left it at home.'' I said. 

The woman eyed me and raised a suspicious eyebrow.

''Do you think I'm stupid?'' She woman asked.

''Um. no.'' I replied. 

''That would be seven fifty three.'' She turned back to the cash register. I took that as a not on the cigarettes. The only other person I could get them from was from Alice and I didn't exactly feel like seeing her. Maybe I could find some at the house. 

I gave her the money and she gave me back the change.

''Goodbye.'' I said but got no reply. 

It seemed like everyone judged each other from the way they looked.

Rose's Point Of View.

'You could have told me about his mother.'' Ella said as we sat in Theo's living room. 

''I know, I forgot plus I didn't get a chance.' I replied.

I was feeling slightly better. The incident at school was just a nagging thought in the back of my head. In the past week my life seemed to have taken a turn for the worst. First it was that terrible slap from Liz. Then there is me skipping school and now the stupid posters. What had I done to deserve that? I didn't even ask for it. I didn't ask for Ms. Crow to pair me up with Theodore. It was all because of that. If only I had been paired up with someone else, none of this would have happened.

'' Ella.'' I said and turned to her.

'Yeah?''

''I don't think the thing with Theodore and I can work.'' I said, feeling like my throat would close up.

''No, what are you talking about? Don't be like that.'' Ella said.

''I just. all of these things...'' I trailed off.

''Rose, come on, Theodore obviously likes you, and just because a few little things have gone wrong doesn't mean you shouldn't be together.''

I sighed and shut my eyes. Was Ella right? I mean I liked Theo as well. Despite the fact that we weren't even alike. Maybe it was true what they said, opposites do attract.

I didn't have anything to say. I turned away from Ella and stared at the fireplace in front of me. It was a big white marble fireplace. It seemed extremely expensive, it could have even been hand made. It was empty, there were no fire logs inside it or any coal. On top of  it was a single framed photo. I stood up and walked over to it.

I took a closer look at the picture. It was a picture of a young woman. She didn't look a day over 35. She had very long dark hair. In the picture she had her head thrown back as she was sitting on a swing, swinging. It seemed like the picture was taken in summer. She wore a light blue summer dress. I was guessing that it was Theo's mother. She has so beautiful.

Suddenly I jumped as I heard the front door shut. It was probably Theo coming back.

''You took your time.'' I said but got no answer.

''Theo?'' I called, feeling confused. I glanced at Ella who shrugged.

''GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!'' Out of nowhere a man appeared in the doorway. He was angry and in his hand he held a knife.

Oh no.