become familiar with for so long without ever having spoken to them.
“ This will be a good time,” Grady whispered.
The two sat down on the first row of the bleachers nearby, and stared at the shifting audience as the massive flame in the center violently flared.
Rose stared at Grady, and for a mild second felt her heart pumping at a greater pace than she could have ever anticipated. She was not used to it. For starters, it seemed ridiculous for her to believe she could ever admire someone who was status obsessed. Then an insight into the nature of their relationship awoke within her. It occurred to her that he was not the one infatuated with the notion of being someone well known, he simply was.
He gazed back at her, and she could not help but wonder if the same thoughts were on his mind. They leaned into one another. They had not even kissed yet, but something about his gaze melted Rose; she felt like the bonfire twenty feet away from them was igniting their souls together into an embrace. Just as they were about to lock their lips together into what would have been a momentous hold, she saw three people in the corner of her eyes which soured the mood.
Gina Radcliff, Emma Banks, and Jessica Faulkner were in the distance, approaching them with the same evident attitude a pack of wolves would a pile of raw meat. Rose fidgeted, seeing them nearing their location at a brisk pace, and by complete accident her hand tipped over a half filled orange soda. Its contents poured on Grady, the Styrofoam cup ruining his shirt.
She apologized. “I can get rid of that stain.” A part of her was close to finishing that sentence with the phrase a spell I know works.
Rose then pointed to the spot behind him. He turned around and saw the three girls standing close to the couple.
“ What are you doing going out with this freak?” Jessica asked, while Radcliff stayed in close proximity in the background. “Gina wants to go out with you, Grady. She’s willing to give you a chance if you dump this freak over here.”
The trio formed a malicious presence deadly enough to shrivel blossoms and set the moon on fire until it became another sun. Rose tried to pretend as if she had not heard these words, even though she could feel her rage building. The urge to rip out clumps of Jessica’s hair became overwhelming, but she wanted to not freak Grady out. First dates had to have a certain level of etiquette, and going on a murderous spree was not the best way to make a good first impression.
“ Gina’s never been interested in me. She should have moved in sooner.”
“ She will go out with you,” Jessica said. “But you have to leave the creepy one behind. I mean, who’s a better fit for you? A socialite like Gina, or Miss Voodoo?”
“ Cool it,” Grady said, an edge of menace in his voice.
“ You can’t blame me for being upset. Having a choice between Gina Radcliff and the loser Rose Whelan is like having an option between a princess and a slut. I mean, how much thinking does it take?”
“ Be nice,” Grady said with a growl.
“ You do know her past, right?” Jessica said while a smile formed at the corners of her mouth. “Even her own mother thought she was worthless.”
Not able to tolerate it anymore, Rose found herself lunging at Jessica with nails bared. Whether she had to claw off a face or scrape Jessica’s eyes out became unimportant, because either way permanent damage became her goal. The first thing she could recall experiencing was her palm connecting with the nose. The second thing was Grady’s firm arms wrapping around her torso, half a hug and half a move of resistance to push her away from the clique.
“ Let’s get out of here,” he whispered, dragging her away and turning his back to the three. Rose admired this move so much, the fact that he was willing to protect her, and it served as proof that he had chosen her over Gina. Pride filled her.
Still, she wished she wished to get in a few
“ This will be a good time,” Grady whispered.
The two sat down on the first row of the bleachers nearby, and stared at the shifting audience as the massive flame in the center violently flared.
Rose stared at Grady, and for a mild second felt her heart pumping at a greater pace than she could have ever anticipated. She was not used to it. For starters, it seemed ridiculous for her to believe she could ever admire someone who was status obsessed. Then an insight into the nature of their relationship awoke within her. It occurred to her that he was not the one infatuated with the notion of being someone well known, he simply was.
He gazed back at her, and she could not help but wonder if the same thoughts were on his mind. They leaned into one another. They had not even kissed yet, but something about his gaze melted Rose; she felt like the bonfire twenty feet away from them was igniting their souls together into an embrace. Just as they were about to lock their lips together into what would have been a momentous hold, she saw three people in the corner of her eyes which soured the mood.
Gina Radcliff, Emma Banks, and Jessica Faulkner were in the distance, approaching them with the same evident attitude a pack of wolves would a pile of raw meat. Rose fidgeted, seeing them nearing their location at a brisk pace, and by complete accident her hand tipped over a half filled orange soda. Its contents poured on Grady, the Styrofoam cup ruining his shirt.
She apologized. “I can get rid of that stain.” A part of her was close to finishing that sentence with the phrase a spell I know works.
Rose then pointed to the spot behind him. He turned around and saw the three girls standing close to the couple.
“ What are you doing going out with this freak?” Jessica asked, while Radcliff stayed in close proximity in the background. “Gina wants to go out with you, Grady. She’s willing to give you a chance if you dump this freak over here.”
The trio formed a malicious presence deadly enough to shrivel blossoms and set the moon on fire until it became another sun. Rose tried to pretend as if she had not heard these words, even though she could feel her rage building. The urge to rip out clumps of Jessica’s hair became overwhelming, but she wanted to not freak Grady out. First dates had to have a certain level of etiquette, and going on a murderous spree was not the best way to make a good first impression.
“ Gina’s never been interested in me. She should have moved in sooner.”
“ She will go out with you,” Jessica said. “But you have to leave the creepy one behind. I mean, who’s a better fit for you? A socialite like Gina, or Miss Voodoo?”
“ Cool it,” Grady said, an edge of menace in his voice.
“ You can’t blame me for being upset. Having a choice between Gina Radcliff and the loser Rose Whelan is like having an option between a princess and a slut. I mean, how much thinking does it take?”
“ Be nice,” Grady said with a growl.
“ You do know her past, right?” Jessica said while a smile formed at the corners of her mouth. “Even her own mother thought she was worthless.”
Not able to tolerate it anymore, Rose found herself lunging at Jessica with nails bared. Whether she had to claw off a face or scrape Jessica’s eyes out became unimportant, because either way permanent damage became her goal. The first thing she could recall experiencing was her palm connecting with the nose. The second thing was Grady’s firm arms wrapping around her torso, half a hug and half a move of resistance to push her away from the clique.
“ Let’s get out of here,” he whispered, dragging her away and turning his back to the three. Rose admired this move so much, the fact that he was willing to protect her, and it served as proof that he had chosen her over Gina. Pride filled her.
Still, she wished she wished to get in a few
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