KISS

9-Innocent Rose

Iris waved at Chester dejectedly before going to school. She wished his declaration of never leaving her side would mean more, but they were only friends. She remained the prime specimen in a lab, people continued to stare and whisper. Did something else happen that she wasn't aware of? Suddenly, one of the people in question walked up to her. She looked at him perplexed.

"Sorry, didn't know you and Axel were dating. Be careful, he's dangerous you know."

She frown further. What was Brad a jock from the football team doing talking to her? Even though she was ranked among the popular she remained in her own class. She wanted to rebut him, but she bit her tongue. Why would she please any of them? She ignored him and continued to her next class.

"See ya round, innocent rose." He chuckled as he walked away. Iris eyes widen for a moment. Was that what this was about? Her virginity? This was clearly a testosterone filled issue. It had nothing to do with her. She shook his comment off and continued to her class. Settling into her seat, it felt strange to not have Axel sitting behind her. Oddly class had been boring, Natasha sat to her left rocking in her desk. The sounds she made were in sync with the ticking of the clock. She wondered what Axel was doing and the reasoning behind his absence in school. She hoped it didn't have anything to do with his mother being sick. He held up his end of the bargain, she would have to give him her number.

"Hello anyone there?"

"Huh?" she looked up at Natasha. "I wondered what's got you spacing out."

"I was just think about Axel."

"Really?"

"No Natasha not like that. I just, oh I don't know. He wasn't in class and Brad said something pretty weird to me."

"What did he say?"

"He called me innocent rose."

"Well, from the sounds of it. Axel kicked as his butt. He was banged up pretty bad. You know, if you want to see him that bad he doesn't live too far from the school. Here's his address." Natasha said passing a piece of paper to her. Iris looked at her in surprise. She didn't know Tasha knew him.

"Our parents are friends," she said answering her unspoken question. She watched her friend retreat down the hall. Why was everyone acting so strange? She wondered if there was anything in the lunch meat.

Iris found herself in front of a nice two story two car garaged home. It was the type of home you'd expect to see in suburbia middle class America. The red brick told of its traditional style, and the bushes were trimmed meticulously. It was a nice colonial styled home. She stood facing the door with her hand raised and wondered why she was even here. She was just here to drop off Axel's homework and hightail it back home. She glanced behind her. She had Ryan parked the car a couple of blocks away from the house.

"I don't even know what I'm doing here," she said aloud running her hands through her hair.

Iris stood at the formidable mountain. Its jagged cliff sides seemed imposing and dared her to take a step closer. She moved to take a step, suddenly loose boulders came down the mountain bringing her to a halt. She swallowed her nervousness and screeched when a hand fell on her shoulder.

"What are you doing here?"

"Axel," she whispered looking into those blue eyes. Today they seemed darker and much more imposing. Why was she here? She held her breath as he circled her reminding her of a predator right before it pounced tearing into the flesh of its prey. "What are you doing her little swan?"

She looked on bewildered that was a new name, one he'd never used before. She chewed her lip nervously. She was standing trial, those who judged sat at tall and threatening podiums watching her squirm like a worm from a bird.