AN: OK, guys, I am really sorry for the delay. I'll try to not do it again. I was occupied and my mind was busy, if that makes sense. I'll concentrate on this story nowonwards.

So enjoy! :D

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A good friend will bail you out of jail but your best friend would be the one sitting next you saying, "damn that was awesome". - Anonymous.

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Chapter 8- Changes

It was early morning and the birds were chirping. The bright atmosphere didn't match the mood of the early waker.

"Screw those birds..." Rose muttered as she dragged herself from the bed. He eyes wandered to the other side of the bed and she was unsurprisingly disappointed.

She hadn't even seen him yesterday night and he had already gone before she woke up. But she was used to it. It had, of course, been a week since they had reached here.

She stepped into her washroom and checked her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were tired and she had dark circles. She couldn't believe that she was letting a man like him do this to her.

She watched her eyes turn furious as she thought of how ignorant the man was. He took her for granted and didn't even bother about her. After doing her morning routine, she stomped to downstairs. After a measly breakfast, she went to check the letter box and found two letters. One was addressed to her and the other was to her husband.

She rolled her eyes. Even when he wasn't at home, work would come searching for him.

Home. She had never really thought of this place as one. It would probably be because she didn't have any memories here, or because no one to share those memories with.

She trudged back upstairs and went to his study. The wooden door looked intimidating and as expected, didn't move an inch when she tried to push it open.

She kneeled down and pushed the letter into the room through the small gap.

She got up and started walking towards her study. Her husband had 'graciously' given her a separate room for work. And she was currently the new biology teacher at Brooklyn Academy.

And the letter in her hand told her that she would have to reach there at 8.

Great, and she was still in her pyjamas.

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"Good Morning!" a girl chirped as Rose walked past her. She smiled her fake smile at the girl and walked towards the reception.

"Morning," she greeted the woman at the reception. The lady looked up at her and smiled kindly.

"Yes, dear," the lady said softly. The woman's red hair with grey strands and crinkled blue eyes gave her a sense of security.

"I'm Rose, the new biology teacher. So I was wondering..."

"Oh, Mrs. Spencer?" the lady asked enthusiastically. Rose looked behind her in confusion trying to figure out who the lady was talking to, before she realized that Mrs. Spencer was none other than her.

"Oh, yeah," she replied sheepishly.

"Well, here is your class time table dear and the school map. The instructions are also in the envelope. Hope you have a great day, dear," the lady said with a sweet smile.

Rose smiled back. She hadn't exactly been in pleasant company for a long time and this was a pleasant change.

"Thank you, Mrs..."

"Mrs. Streak. But call me Ruth."

"Definitely, Ruth. See you later," Rose said and turned back. She started walking outside and her sweet smile morphed into complete blankness. Loneliness began to settle in again.

She walked quietly peering closely at the map in hand. It didn't take her long to figure out where her class room was.

As she was walking towards the classroom, she didn't see the man that was walking towards her.

Before she could realize, she had crashed into him and sent them both tumbling to the ground.

She opened her eyes and looked furiously down at the man who had tried to break her backbone.

She was surprised when she was met with gorgeous chocolate brown eyes.

"I'll guess you are not a student?" the man cleared his throat. Rose nodded and then blushed looking down at their uncomfortable position.

"How much ever this position is pleasing to me, I think we will have to get up before we give the kids the wrong idea," he chuckled. She again blushed and quickly scrambled to her feet. She looked around at her papers on the ground and quickly got on to her knees and started picking them. To her surprise, the mysterious man also started helping her.

"So, is this the part where I ask you if it hurt?" he asked me as we both straightened.

"Hurt?" she asked questioningly.

"Yeah, when you fell from heaven?" he said with a charming smile. Rose rolled her eyes.

"No, but I scraped my knee when I crawled through the firey pits of hell," she said dryly and started walking towards her classroom.

"Hey...you seem witty. OK, how about this?" he said running and trying to catch up with her.

He blocked her path and she looked questioningly at him.

"Do you have a band aid?" he asked her brightly.

"No..."

"Because I scraped my knee falling for you," he continued.

"Go to the clinic, they might have one," she said and moved away. He looked blankly at where she was and then realized that she was already walking away from him.

"Hey wait up..." he said running behind. Rose smothered a smile and turned back to face him.

"Ok, the last one..." he said, "I seem to have lost my phone number, can I have yours?"

Rose didn't reply. She just gave him the look and walked away.

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The day had been pretty hectic for a first day. She had had only the juniors till now and they were okay. It might be because they hadn't reached their rebelling stage yet.

She settled down by an empty cafeteria table and glanced around at the curious looks she was getting.

"Hey beautiful..."

Rose sighed and looked at the approaching man.

"What now?" she asked him as he sat opposite her.

"My doctor says I am lacking Vitamin U," he stated.

"Your doctor must not have gone to school," she replied back and concentrated on her sandwich.

"Damn, I'll come up with something better next time," he promised solemnly.

"Whatever, Mr. Pick Up Lines."

"Alec."

"What?" she asked.

"My name. It's Alec Reed. May I know yours?" he asked with a smile.

"It's none of your business," she retorted.

"Rude," he mused to himself.

She sighed. It wasn't this stranger's fault that her husband was cheating on her with his work.

Husband, she noted. She should stop using that word, even in her thoughts. It was damaging her even more. It was time she accepted the truth.

"It's Rose... Rose Green," she said quickly. That name had just popped in her head.

"Rose Green..." he said doubtfully, "Isn't it supposed to be Rose Red?"

"Oh, shut up," she said making a quick note in her head to change her name in the records. She was done living in his shadows.

"So, I presume you are single?" he asked. She nodded with a smile and tried to push away the weight in her chest.

"Well, as you walked into the biology classroom, I'll guess you are the new biology teacher. I am the chemistry teacher here, of course, the best liked teacher in the school," Alec said.

"That title would soon be moved to me, I think," Rose replied teasingly.

"I don't mind it," he replied.

His eyes seemed to catch something behind her and he waved his arm. Rose quickly turned back, for a minute thinking it was the demon.

Demon, that sounded good in her mind.

She chastised herself when she saw that it wasn't him but another unfamiliar man. Blond hair and hazel eyes. It was a contrast to her brown haired, grey eyed companion.

"Hey, Alec," the man said with a shy smile and then turned to me.

"Hey, I am Rose, Rose Green," she said quickly getting up. He smiled coyly at her and took her hand. He kissed her hand and whispered, "Jace Mirage, ma'am."

"Ok, dude, stop seducing her. I set my eyes on her first," Alec said with a playful frown. The gentlemanly behavior of Jace changed and soon he was chuckling.

"Gentlemanly works better, doesn't it?" Jace asked her with a smile.

"I prefer genuine," Rose muttered and sat down.

"I didn't mean that way," Jace said, "And I am the only gentleman here."

"I'll second that. He is the only one who doesn't know how to get a girl," Alec said.

"I am better than you, ok?"

"Woah...woah...are you guys twins or something?" Rose said.

"Best friends," Jace said.

"Don't tell that out, it will ruin my image," Alec said playfully.

Jace hit his arm. Then he turned to Rose and said, "I'll guess you are the new biology teacher? Alec mentioned you."

Rose nodded and said, "What about you?"

"I am the drama teacher," he said.

"Drama is your passion?" she asked interested.

"Yeah. I like all forms of art and drama is the best," he said.

"You sound like my old ex. He was a crazy nut case," Rose said with a smile, "not that I meant you are one."

She was greeted with his happy laugh and she was again in comfort zone.

"Excuse me," Alec interrupted, "you are deviating from the main topic."

Seeing our blank stares, he continued, "That is me!"

This time, even Rose hit his arm. She smiled as she watched her new companions laugh and joke around. She felt more at ease than she had ever been.

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AN: So there you go, the story is getting its life. Hope you guys liked it.

And do vote, comment and like.

Until next time,

Amour,

Ashley.