Black Rose

Chapter Six * (Edited)

A/n: Hello my precious diamonds here's another update!

Next update: Sunday, November 17th at 7PM CST... but if we reach 200 stars I will update Chapter 7 early!

C H A P T E R   S I X

Elliot's POV

As soon as I reached the arena, I quickly removed my helmet, holding it in front of me while checking my phone to confirm I was at the right place. Looking up, I noticed a small group of girls nearby casting curious glances in my direction. Feeling a pang of awkwardness, I considered asking them about Rose but hesitated. When I finally decided to approach them, they were already walking away.

"Wait!" I called out, louder than I intended. They paused, turning to watch me as I got off my bike and jogged over, nerves bubbling up as I approached. I stood before them, clearing my throat before speaking.

"Is Rosemarie here?" I asked, instantly cringing at my choice of words. Why did I use her full name? One of the girls chuckled, clearly amused by my awkwardness as I scratched the back of my neck, casting my gaze downward.

"And who are you, exactly?" Her question caught me off guard. How was I supposed to answer that? Who was Rose to me, really?

"A friend," I finally managed, though my voice lacked conviction. She raised an eyebrow, and the other girls exchanged knowing smiles.

"Oh really? We're her friends too, yet we've never heard of you or seen a picture of you," she said, her tone challenging. "If you were important, Rose would've told us by now. How do we know you're not some kind of stalker?"

My nerves intensified, especially as she added, "When's her birthday?"

"That's too easy—what's her favorite food?" the girl with dark hair chimed in, crossing her arms.

"Forget all that! What happened in third grade that she won't talk about?" demanded the redhead, a smirk playing on her lips.

I didn't know the answer to any of these questions. Rose Romano was still a mystery to me, but if I admitted that, they'd never let me in.

"He's not answering—he must be a stalker!" the dark-haired girl declared.

"But wouldn't a stalker know this stuff?" the blonde countered, squinting at me.

"So how can we trust him?" asked the dark-haired girl suspiciously.

"We can't. Let's call the cops," the blonde suggested, and my eyes widened.

"Forget the cops," the redhead said, her gaze assessing. "We've got our skates, and I have a bat in my car. We can handle this right here if he doesn't come clean."

I raised my hands defensively, feeling my pulse quicken. "There has to be some misunderstanding."

"Look at him—he only speaks up when we mention the cops or a beatdown," the redhead pointed out with a smirk.

"No need for the cops. I can handle him all by myself," she continued, twirling her bat menacingly.

Just then, Lily, one of Rose's close friends from school, emerged from the arena, her eyes flicking from the bat to me.

"Elliot, what are you doing here?" she asked, her tone serious.

"I need to talk to Rose," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Lily's expression darkened. "I don't think she wants to talk to you, Elliot. She told me what happened." Her eyes narrowed as I nodded.

"I'm here to apologize." She studied me for a moment before sighing.

"I'll take you in, but let me be clear: if you hurt her again, I won't hesitate to make you regret it. I'll break you limb by limb and serve it for your dinner. Got it?"

I nodded, realizing I hadn't been breathing. These girls were seriously intimidating.

"Limb by limb," Elizabeth, the redhead, echoed, tapping her bat against her palm for effect.

"Okay, that's enough to scare him," Lily laughed, rolling her eyes. "Tone it down, before you get another restraining order. I'll be right be right back." She waved to the other girls and gestured for me to follow her inside.

As we walked, she spoke in a quieter tone. "Look, I know Rose can be... direct. She doesn't always filter her words. But if you're here because of something Ava said, make sure Ava backs off in the future. Rose hasn't been herself since, and I'm genuinely worried about her." She swiped her ID card at the security desk and nodded to the guard, indicating I was with her.

"Take a right down the hall; you can't miss it," Lily instructed. I nodded and started to walk away, but her voice stopped me.

"If you miss it, may the lord help you," she called after me, and I could tell she wasn't exactly rooting for me.

As I walked down the hall, a cold draft cut through me, like a harsh winter wind under a bleak sky. I took a right and immediately felt a rush of warmth hit me, making me even more aware of the nervous energy building up inside.

And there she was, in the center of the rink. The glass separated us, but I could see her clearly as she skated, graceful and effortless. Her eyes were closed, her body moving as if in sync with some quiet rhythm only she could hear. She looked at peace here, her movements natural and smooth, as if the ice was her sanctuary.

Her hair was swept back in a messy bun, her lips curved in a small smile as she nailed a spin. She raised her hands as she yelled in excitement, her joy lighting up the whole rink. I leaned against the wall, unable to look away, feeling my own smile creeping in as I watched her.

Then, I chuckled quietly to myself, and the sound broke her focus. She looked over, her eyes widening in surprise when she spotted me. Slowly, her smile faded, and I felt my cheeks flush, suddenly aware of how long I'd been staring.

I straightened, clearing my throat. "We need to talk, Rose."

A/n: love his POV's but I suck at writing them.