Rose Blossom

chapter 4



"He freaking kissed you! Seriously?" Mel's voice was high pitched and squeaky as she cornered me in the back of our first period government class Monday morning.

"More than once," I nodded; my smile lighting up my entire face. He'd done more than that but strangely the bruise I'd expected to grace my neck had never appeared.

"And Ice Lady is seriously going to let you guys date?" She asked, talking about my mother.

"Yes, with a little persuasion from my father," I told her, reaching into my bag and pulling out my book and homework. The last thing I needed was Mrs. Feverton telling my dad at the union meetings that I had been gossiping during class.

"This is so amazing Rho, like a new part of your life is beginning. I never thought I'd see the day your parents would let you date," Mel sat back in her seat, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder.

"Yeah, he called me twice on Sunday just to make sure I hadn't changed my mind, I can't wait to see him again," I said dreamily as Mrs. Feverton began to take roll and collect our weekend assignments.

Mel grilled me for details the whole class, so I was relieved when the bell rang. Part of my relief; however had nothing to do with her and everything to do with seeing Julian in English.

As Mel darted off to P.E. I made my way as fast as I could to my English class, when I got there I looked around, trying to find him, but he wasn't there. My eyes dropped as a wave of sadness washed through me and I told myself, "you didn't imagine the weekend, you didn't, you're not that far gone." I walked to my seat in the back and began thinking of how to tell Mel I was completely cracking up. But just as I sat down Julian appeared by my side, I hadn't even seen him come in.

"Hello sweets," he whispered, sliding into the desk next to mine.

I grinned and looked over at him, biting my lip as his bright gaze caught mine and I felt the world around us slow. He reached over and took my hand rubbing the skin of my palm with his fingers.

"Hey," I said back, feeling like an idiot, couldn't I come up with something better than, "hey"?

As Julian leaned in to kiss my forehead I felt someone staring at us, well quite a few some ones. My eyes darted up and around to see half the class ogling us. Girls were whispering behind their hands and boys were grinning at Julian, I stiffened and Julian must have noticed because he too looked up.

I watched his face become still, like a statue, his eyes narrowed and one by one people stopped talking and looked away. Julian looked almost scary, I sat up a bit from him, not sure exactly what had happened.

"I don’t want them looking at you, no one needs to gossip about you Rose, I won't have it," Julian told me as he reached a hand over and cupped my chin, making me look at him. I blushed and Julian's face relaxed. We sat there for a few moments before Julian's eyes narrowed again and something dark filled his features. He was looking over my left shoulder so I turned around to see what had upset him.

Athol was sitting there, looking not only furious but disgusted at the same time. I tried to smile at him and raised my arm to wave. His eyes caught mine and he shook his head ever so slightly before looking down at his English book

"That boy wants you Rhodanthe," I heard Julian say a few minutes later after roll call.

It wasn't so much his tone that made me put down my silent reading book, but the use of my real name. I turned my head in Julian's direction so I could look at him and scooted a little bit closer to him so Mr. S wouldn't get angry that we were talking.

"What?" I asked.

"The brown haired boy wants you," he almost snarled the words.

"Athol?" I asked, confused, "Julian, c'mon, Athol and I have been friends since second grade; he's probably just weirded out that I'm being allowed to see anyone."

"He smells of jealousy," Julian's eyes were almost black and he was radiating anger.

"Julian, please," I begged, and my heart rate began to speed up, I didn't understand what was wrong, but I didn't like it. I also didn't like that it seemed Julian could smell emotion.

It was like a light switch, Julian's head turned slightly and at the sound of my heart, his face relaxed and he smiled at me, "Calm down Rose blossom, you're right, of course. It must be nothing." He reached over to me and wrapped a runaway curl around his finger. He seemed more peaceful, but through the rest of class I watched him throw evil looks in Athol's direction.

Julian walked me to Home Ec after English; he kept an arm wrapped around my shoulder the whole time. About five feet from my classroom door he pulled me to a stop.

"Botany's the other direction and I'm going to be late," he smiled and leaned down to place a cool, tender kiss on my lips, "but it's so worth it." He straightened and took a few seconds to just stare at me.

"I'll see you at lunch, OK Rose?" he asked me. "Try not to get in too much trouble."

"Oh yes, that's me the trouble queen, I am that exciting," I said sarcastically. He raised his eyebrows at me and walked away as I was laughing.

I turned to go into class and ran right into Athol; he seemed tense and a little anxious.

"Hey Athol, what are you doing here, shouldn't you be in Math?" I asked, confused.

"I had to see you, had to make sure you were okay." He grabbed my shoulder and pulled me to a nearby bench. I was so shocked I didn't even think to fight him on it.

"Of course I'm okay, why wouldn't I be?" I asked, "Are you okay Athol, you don't look so good."

"I'm worried about you. I had heard you were at the dance with Julian but thought it was too weird to even really consider." Athol took a breath, "he's strange Rho; you shouldn't be with him."

"What?" I asked, eye widening at Athol's craziness, "I really like him Athol and he likes me, it's not odd and there is nothing to be worried about."

"He's not normal Rho, please believe me, something about him just feels off," Athol leaned in and took my hands in his.

I felt my heart sputter; he couldn't really know Julian was different, could he? Athol just had to be acting twice as crazy as normal, right?

"I mean if it's a matter of your parents finally letting you date then date me! I'll talk to them and everything, I've always thought you were a cutie, wanted to ask you out a hundred times!" Athol rambled; I pulled my hands out of his and stood up, turning to face him, embarrassed.

Athol was my friend and I didn't quite know what to say, "Ummmm Athol, that's awful nice of you but I really do like Julian, I want to be with Julian, so I'm sorry but no thanks." My words didn't seem to make things better. Athol stood and, his face stormy and his eyes angry.

"Fine then Rho, but don't say I didn't warn you," Athol turned around and stomped off. I just stood there for a few seconds before heading into class.

I spent the whole time we were supposed to be taking notes for the next day's cooking activity thinking about Athol and his strange behavior. By the time the bell rang for lunch I had almost convinced myself he'd just forgotten whatever meds he must be taking to keep the craziness locked inside.

I walked outside my class and down the hallway until I reached a small grassy area with picnic tables, I sat at the one Mel, Killian and I always sat at and waited.

Mel and Killian showed up a few seconds later, but lunch wasn't about eating, for them it was more time for lip lock fest 2010.

After several minutes I noticed Julian was sitting next to me; I jumped, startled, and by the look on his face he wasn't happy to see me. I began to scoot away, sadness and hurt leaking from my pores when suddenly he grabbed me around the waist and squeezed me to him. His eyes almost desperate, haunted.

"I can smell Athol on you," his voice was low, musky floral pouring from his mouth onto every inch of my face. "What happened?"

"He just stopped me before class to talk," I shrugged, not wanting to make a big deal out of it.

"I don’t want you to talk to him anymore Rhodanthe, there is something that bothers me about him and I don’t quite know what it is," Julian told me.

Funny that's what he said about you, I thought, "like what?" I said out loud.

"His thoughts are...fuzzy," Julian shrugged, "for lack of a better word, I can usually read most people’s thoughts if I try, but not his."

"You can read people thoughts!" I whispered, eyes wide, my chest ached as I thought of all the mushy private things I had thought about with and around Julian. I didn't want him in my deepest most secret fantasies, not now and maybe not ever!

"Breathe Rose blossom, your thoughts are also...fuzzy, I cannot read them in detail, mainly just bits and pieces when you are practically screaming them," Julian wrapped his arms around me and brought me to rest against his chest in a light embrace. How does a human being learn to read people's thoughts? I wondered. I knew I should feel way more freaked out, but I didn't.

I was however completely relieved he couldn't read my mind like a book. But it did make me wonder what thoughts he HAD picked out. I pushed these wonderings to the back of my mind and just relished in the feel of him holding me, but the romantic moment was broken as my stomach growled. I felt Julian's chest shake with laughter and turned my head up to see him.

" I shall go get food for you, any requests?" Julian asked, sitting me up so he could stand.

"A muffin maybe?" I asked, a little embarrassed.

"A muffin it shall be," he left in search for food.

"He is so smitten," Mel giggled, I looked toward her to see that she and Killian had come up for air long enough to hear the last part of our conversation.

"I guess," I smiled.

"Wow, Athol looks right pissed, what's up with that dude?" Killian asked, looking over my shoulder.

"No clue," I muttered and turned around; sure enough Athol was striding over to our table. He stopped in front of me, breathing heavily.

"Rho, please I am begging you break it off with Julian."

"Go away Athol I am not speaking to you right now," I said, tired and not wanting Julian to see him.

Athol's hands came up and he gripped my shoulders hard, "I won't go away, not until you promise to break things off with that creep."

"Leave her alone Athol, what's gotten into you?" I heard Mel ask. I smiled a not-so-happy smile hearing the mothering tone in her voice.

"Yeah dude, better back off before Julian or Mel decide you're worth an ass kicking," Killian's voice drifted over my shoulder.

"Not a chance," Athol's eyes looked past me and a sadistic grin stole over his features, before I knew what had happened he kissed me, I struggled away from him, heart lurching into an uncomfortable pattern as the sound of blood rushing began to fill my ears.

But before it could get much worse Julian was there, I heard him snarl something and then Athol was flying through the air, almost 10 feet. It happened so quickly most people didn't even notice until Athol landed with a huge thud into some bushes.

I heard Mel's gasp and I looked around to see several people taking notice and beginning to form a small circle around us. Julian was standing near Athol, hands clenched at his side, face full of rage. I did a double take, there was an odd shadow over Julian's face, like a dark spirit was raging a war inside him and his hands were curled into claws. But as I blinked everything returned to normal and he just looked like Julian again.

"Stay away from her Athol," he growled and Athol shook his head. Julian advanced and I knew it had to stop before Julian hurt him, and deep down, I knew he could, too. I wasn't sure what Julian was exactly but it wasn't a normal teenage boy, and if I didn't do something Athol was dead.

"Julian, I don't feel well," I practically whispered the words. They were partially true. I felt faint and a little sick but my heart was coming back under control.

Julian whipped around and was at my side in seconds. He picked me up, cradling me to him.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," he told me, his arms almost crushing me, their coolness causing me to shiver. "I shouldn't have reacted like that, you make me forget myself."

When Julian took me to the nurse's office ,people parted for him faster than I'd ever seen, like they were in fear and awe of him, I briefly noticed him making eye contact with his sister Avalon who was hiding in the shadows of the hallway.

When we walked into the office, the nurse, who had known me since I was a child, and the office secretary instantly surrounded us, pestering Julian with questions and fussing over me.

"I think it's just a bit of shock really," Julian was telling them, "she hates it when her friends are upset. I really shouldn't have argued with the boy," I knew he was stretching the truth and charming them into believing him, but I didn't care, I was feeling sleepy, lounging in Julian's strong arms. I only took a moment to second guess their easy acceptance and my overly tired state.

"I would just like to take her home, if I may?" I heard him ask and I closed my eyes. I didn't open them again until he had me buckled into the passenger seat of his truck and we were half way home.

"Wake up my Rose blossom," I heard him say and suddenly I was wide awake.

"What did you do?" I asked, sounding a little scared.

"Just some basic compulsion magic to make them believe me and make you tired so you couldn't contradict my story," Julian looked worried, like he thought I might hate him or something.

I swallowed, "Compulsion magic? Just another of your weird quirks, I guess?"

"It seems I have no control when it comes to you Rose, I am sorry," Julian pulled over to the side of the road, and put the truck in park, he undid his seat belt and mine, picked me up and held me in his lap. Cupping my face he made me look at him, "I am sorry I scared you, do you still want to be with me?"

"Of course I do, but Julian, I think," I took a deep breath, "that you need to tell me what you are. I can't keep getting a different piece of the puzzle every day."

"I know, I was thinking about that in the nurse's office," Julian kissed my nose, sending shivers through me and making my toes curl.

"I think it's time I took you to meet my family, it's a little sooner than I would have liked....but today seems to have sped things up a bit," Julian hugged me, his flowery masculine scent enveloped me and I felt like I could breath easily, I felt healthy and whole, I tilted my head and kissed under his chin, wrapping my own arms around him.

We sat there for a few minutes before I got back in my seat and he drove me home. After we parked in my driveway Julian brought my hand to his lips, hot breath flowed over my fingers as he kissed my knuckles.

Letting me go he said, "how about Friday I pick you up and we'll ditch. I'll take you to meet my family. I know Mel usually picks you up for school but let me, okay?"

I smiled, perking up at the thought that even though I had to leave him he was making future plans with me and that was promising. I leaned up and kissed him, catching him off guard as my happiness bloomed within me.

He kissed me back, and when it ended he murmured, "Rose." I opened the door and suddenly his hand was on my shoulder, I turned back to see his eyes darkening like earlier, "Don’t let me ever see you with Athol again."

"Why would I? I have you," I asked, I opened the door, and slowly dropped to the ground, and saw that while his mouth was still grim his eyes were sparkling.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow," we both said together, laughing.

I turned and began to walk to my house, excited about going to school the next day. When my parents got home they thought it was just because of the great report card I had brought home, but truly that was the furthest thing from my mind.