The Gatekeepers

Business as Usual

"Rose. Are you listening to me?"

Rosalynn turned her head.

"Yeah mom. Be normal this semester, make friends that aren't friends with Carolynn, Cut off the umbilical cord."

Rosalynn could not help but notice the worry lines immediately turn sour as she could feel the dark feelings begin to ooze out of her mothers every pore.

"Don't make me sound like that." Her mother snapped at her, every word more sour than the last.

"Sorry." Rosalynn began to feel her mothers darkness sour her own spirit.

"Maybe, if you made more friends, you wouldn't have to be up your sisters ass all of the time."

Rosalynn knew that her mom's words may be hurtful, but she was just scared. Her psychiatrist is really the one to blame. Why do this to her? Why tell her mother that she was really to blame for all of Rosalynn's problems fitting in. That she was to blame for what happened to Rosalynn when she was a child. Rosalynn knew the truth and that was the furthest thing from it. Her mother lost her aunt only a month after losing her mother; if anything, her mother was more hurt that day than Rosalynn ever was

At least her mother wouldn't make her go back. Ever since this woman told Rose that she could "cure" her, only five minutes into their first session, she realized that this was not the place for her. It only took her mom two years to be on the same page.

"I... I'm sorry; I didn't mean that."

"Mom, it's fine."

They remained silent in her mother's car just sitting idle in front of her high school.

"I'm going to go now."

It killed Rosalynn to leave her mom in her thoughts like that, but she had a project due. If she didn't make it, Carolynn would kill her.

Rosalynn felt the familiar drop of her stomach as she walked through the dimly lit hallways that made up the winding maze that was her school. She straightened out her dark uniform, dreading what would happen if the administrators even saw a hair out of place. She couldn't afford a point against her. Carolynn would be furious.

Rose began to notice just how empty the halls were and this confused her. Where are the adults? Usually they flock to the first sign of a teen to inspect every inch of their being, always waiting to see who they can get into trouble with the headmaster next. Where were they?

Her question was answered as she passed the front office. A new kid.. Poor boy. You're always their favorite target during your first week. Anything you did they would know about in an instant. They were like buzzards flocking to the smell of roadkill. Disgusting.

"Miss Commendi!"

Without a second thought Rosalynn answered immediately.

"Miss?"

"As the Vice President, It is your duty to do your very best for your fellow classmates, am I correct?"

"Yes miss."

The harpy old woman always leading the group of boomers in her pack gave Rosalynn a curt nod of approval.

"Good. Now, Give Mr. Fairior the grand tour and I will excuse you and your group from your quarterly project."

Rosalynn's eyes dimmed. "Yes miss". She had worked every day and night for the past two weeks to make sure that her group's project would get a perfect A.

Once Mrs. Umberick and her cronies were no longer in sight, Rosalynn let out a long breath.

"Excuse me? I'm sorry. If you couldn't give the tour you could have just said no miss Commendi-"

"It's Rosalynn; please don't call me 'miss Commendi' . We are the same age, dude. It's fine. I just put a lot of effort into that stupid project."

"Great okay in that case, M' name's Killian"

Rosalynn finally looked up at the lanky boy in front of her and when she did she was shocked. It wasn't the wide brown eyes that shocked her; it wasn't the perfectly straight nose, the delicate pink lips, or the soft jaw. It was the eyeliner forming a perfect cat eye and the beautifully applied mascara. So this was why they wanted the vice president to give the tour. This will be an entertaining year.

When she stopped focusing on the perfect points of the liner, she noticed the scared look on this tall, awkward boy's face.

"No no, sorry for staring. I was just wondering how you get your eyeliner to look so... sharp?"

Killian visibly relaxed as if he was holding everything he could in his very being. He gave a wary, unsure smile to match Rosalynn's beaming dimpled one full of reassurance.

"Well, if we keep talking, I could show you sometime?" He sounded hopeful, almost desperate.

"How about after school?" Rosalynn was feeling brave. This wasn't normal, but then again, neither were the both of them.

Killian chuckled. " The old lady taked about you as if you were a queen, so I'm expecting a great tour of your kingdom."

"Please, if anyone is a queen here, it's my sister. She is the head of every committee and club that matters here and has also kept up quite the social life. "

"Well, you'll be happy to know that you are the fan favorite among the staff."

Rosalynn smiled. " Huh. Good to know."