p u r i t y

c h a p t e r 2

Red.

Her hair was red.

No, it wasn't just red. It was vibrant, velvet red. In resemblance to a firetruck, her hair was the flames.

There wasn't a single root or remain of Rose's gorgeous brunette locks. Why on Earth would she dye her hair that colour?

That wasn't the only change I noticed about her. She was extremely underweight. Her cheekbones were worryingly prominent, and her knuckles were almost piercing her alabaster skin. Her legs looked like twigs that were about to shatter at any time, and she had deep circles under her eyes. She looked like she hadn't slept in weeks. Whenever she stood up, she had to have someone by her side to support her. She was painful to look at.

I was looking at her, dressed in leggings and an oversized black jumper which I'm sure fit her the last time I saw her wear it, through the window of her house. The bodyguards were at every entrance, denying anyone any access. I'd tried telling them that I was Rose's best friend, but it was no use.

The red tape around the property was crawling with curious citizens and reporters, flashing their cameras. I even noticed some people from school hovering about.

"Please, I just want to talk to her," I repeated to the bodyguard, sternly stood like a statue.

"Ma'am, I shouldn't even be letting you near the window. Like I said before, you're not going in."

It was obvious by his brusque tone of voice, that he wasn't joking. I was growing more frustrated by the minute. The guilt I felt for not being there for her was unbearable. My eagerness to tap on the window, just to let her know I was there, was almost pouring out of my fingertips. I would stick by my best friend, no matter what, especially now.

I felt a sudden buzz in my pocket. Reaching in to take out my phone, I remembered I hadn't told anyone where I was. My dad's number was on the screen. He must have either heard about Rose or was wondering where I'd gotten off to. He was like that. I wandered over to a secluded corner, and pressed answer.

"Dad, hey."

"Where are you?" he blurted down the line.

"I'm okay, don't worry."

"El, that's not an answer. Do you know what's happened? Did you see the news?"

"Who hasn't? Half the town's outside Rose's house."

"Including you?"

"Yes, and I'm fine, seriously," I sighed.

Dad worried too much. He was very protective - he didn't want to lose the one remaining person who mattered most to him. He was probably pacing impatiently around his office at work.

"How's Rose?"

"They're not allowing anyone in."

"Just be careful, okay? You know how dangerous these situations are."

"Of course. Have you taken your medication?" He had to take a special drug for his severe insomnia and paranoia.

He paused before he said, "Yes, don't worry about that."

That was when I felt a soft weight on my hair. I reached up and inspected what must have fallen down from a tree.

It was another white rose. What was going on with these roses? Was I attracting them like flies, or was it just a coincidence?

"Dad, I have to go," I said into the phone.

I didn't wait for a reply. I began to look around for any more roses, trying to persuade myself that I wasn't losing the plot, but a familiar voice rang through my ears.

"Elodie?"

I turned around, a little too quick for comfort. Stood before my eyes was Rose.

She knew who I was! The light in her eyes, that wasn't there before, looked almost blinding. It was like her visible suffering had faded, and she was her normal self once more. And I was the one who restored it. The circles under her eyes had vanished, and her complexion had gotten much healthier, in the matter of a nanosecond.

"Rose," my voice leaked with emotion.

I was then being engulfed in an unexpected hug. Too shocked to respond, I lost my balance a bit and stumbled. The hug felt foreign. I felt like I was being hugged by a person I'd never met before, and not my best friend. She was completely different, and I didn't know how to feel about it.

When she removed her fragile arms from around my neck, her parents were stood behind her, a look of pride on their faces. They were glad that Rose and I had reunited. I grinned at them, happy that they didn't have to worry or stress anymore, happy that a fortunate end had come to such a terrible mystery.

"Elodie, why don't you come inside? We sure have much to talk about," Mrs Collins said, placing her hands on Rose's shoulders.

I restrained myself from poking my tongue out at the bodyguard. He nodded an apology and waved us through to the front door. However, when it opened, I hesitated. I hadn't stepped foot in their house for a year. What if it felt different? I wasn't sure if I was prepared to see the inside of the infamous 106 Darkwood Drive. I had to be certain Rose was here, and that she was herself.

"Honey, you okay?" I heard, although I'm not sure who said it.

I gulped, "I'm fine."

Stepping over the threshold, and into the plush beige hallway, I saw the glass coffee table had a vase of white roses in the middle of it.

"Digestives and Bourbons," Mr Collins placed a fine china plate of biscuits down. I was surprised he remembered those were my favourite.

He joined his wife on the sofa. I noticed how happy they both looked, now that they were free of the burden that was grasping onto them for an entire year. They were finally free.

I sat opposite them, and looked around the room. There was a pearl coloured rug on the wooden floor, looking like an elegant cloud. The flat screen TV, next to incense sticks and picture frames of Rose when she was younger, was on an old fashioned styled cabinet. The room extended into a kitchen, with sparkling black granite worktops and white cupboards with clear doors. They mostly contained crystal goblets and delicate glasses. The ceiling held skylight windows and a jewelled chandelier, that glistened when the sun hit it.

There were white roses on every table and cabinet in the room. I was starting to feel a little intimidated that I was seeing them everywhere, ever since I laid one at the memorial. There was no way it was a coincidence.

"I missed you," Rose whispered, splintering the silence. She smothered my hand and entertwined her frail fingers with mine.

I suddenly felt anger bubble up inside my core at what she just said. Did she expect everyone to act like she never disappeared? Like she just went on a business trip or vacation to the Caribbean? Like hell I would. I was going to bombard her with questions and demand answers, and I wasn't leaving without a decent explanation.

"We'll... let you girls talk... alone," Mrs Collins said, dragging her husband's hand out of the room. Rose got up and quietly shut the door behind them.

It was obvious when she turned around that she was expecting a giant rant. Her eyebrows furrowed, she looked like she was about to be hit round the face with a baseball bat.

I was pumped.