GOLDEN ROSE • THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY

CHAPTER SIX

Five fled and everyone was left in the kitchen confused.

"Go find him," Diego says to me, and I looked at him confused.

I hopped of the counter. "What? Why do I have to go find him, why can't you?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Because he'll actually talk to you," Diego says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. But still, I shake my head in doubt.

Klaus laughs. "I don't about talking, probably more of this," he says, putting his hands together to make it look like they're kissing. He starts smooching at me and I groan in disgust, stomping away.

Ugh, guess I have to go find him. I went back to his old room, and saw him standing in the middle of it.

"Five," I say as I step near him. "What things?"

He looks at me confused so I continue. "You said Dad dying complicates things. What things?"

He sighs, sitting on his old bed. "All kinds of things. What's today's date? The exact date?"

"July 14, I think," I said, sitting next to him.

He frowns. "That doesn't leave us much time," he replies, still looking around the room.

"Time for what?" I ask him, leaning forward in curiosity. But he didn't reply, just kept a cold face.

"He kept all my things," Five said quietly, looking at all the toys and books around the room.

I played with my fingers, adverting my gaze. "Yeah, um," I started. "After you... disappeared... I asked dad to keep everything the way you left it. Just in case you... ever came back." I laughed even though it wasn't funny, more like a pity chuckle. "Guess it's a little too late for that."

He looked at me sadly. "You might be surprised to hear this, Zero, but I missed you when I was gone. Everyday I thought about what you yelled to me when I stormed out of the house. How you told me not to leave" He said quietly, placing his hand on mine.

"I- I," I started but was really hesitant. "I missed you too Five, more than you know. I would've done anything to hear you laugh at me when I messed up in front of dad or make fun of me when I forgot something again."

His eyebrows furrowed and he turned to face me. "I was pretty shitty to you, wasn't I?" He said in something that almost sounded like regret.

I shook my head. "No, no, it wasn't just that," I said honestly. "I trusted you the most. When you left I found myself kind of lost."

He gave me a crooked look. "I didn't mean to let you down, Rose."

"You didn't let me down Five. After all, you're back. I always knew you would come back."

He leaned in closer to me, now grasping my hand fully. My heart stilled for a moment, before he said. "You know Rose, you were one of the only reasons I kept trying to come back. If it wasn't for the fact I knew you were here, I might have not have tried as hard. Or maybe at all."

I leaned in now, closing the gap between our bodies. "Well I'm happy you did," I said, and we both started to lean in. Our lips almost touching, before we heard the door open.

Five jumped to the other side of the room and Vanya walked in. "Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," she said, sitting next to me.

"Not at all," Five said nonchalantly from his desk, and my heart beat out of my chest.