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Copyright © MonMoncheese
All Rights Reserved
32 Published 03.30.2020

•••

ROSEANNE

My arm was hurting.

A lot.

I kept thinking about the day that Scott hurt me.

The throbbing pain on my arm only bringing me bad memories.

Ones that I wanted to forget.

Scott had never hurt me like that.

No one had.

Besides the verbal abuse, I was mostly pushed and kicked around.

No one had ever hurt me to the extent of breaking a bone.

Not until Scott did.

But I feared that things would worsen.

How far would they go to hurt me? To break me down until I could no longer move?

It was hard for me to guess. But I didn't doubt their future actions. Perhaps it was just a matter of time until they unleashed their true force.

I could only hope that I was strong enough to withstand their abuse.

For my sake, I had to be.

"Rose," I look up from the book I was reading before such dark thoughts invaded my mind. Turning to the owner of the voice, I see my dad staring at me with a thoughtful look on his face. "Are you okay?"

Even if I wasn't, I would pretend I am, because for my family I would always try to be okay.

"Yeah," I get rid of my thoughts and put a smile on my face. "Why?"

"You're more engrossed in staring at the wall than reading your book." He motions to the book on my hand.

I had in fact been reading a book, but the words no longer made sense. And I stopped reading the moment I read the same sentence four times.

"I'm good, dad. Just thinking about something. Nothing to worry about." I shut the book close and stand up.

Walking over to where he is sitting, I lean down to give him a side hug with my good arm.

He drops the pen from his hand and responds to my hug. "Are you sure you're okay?" He mutters.

Breaking away from the hug, I look at him.

There is a frown on his forehead. One that I wish to remove.

Dad is worried, but he's happy.

And I don't want to destroy that happiness.

"Dad, I'm fine, really. Don't worry too much, okay?" I tell him.

He stares at me before letting out a sigh. "You know I only worry for you."

"Yeah, and you need to stop before your forehead gets marked with wrinkles. It's going to ruin your handsome face." I nag.

His mouth falls agape.

"Honey, your mother fell in love with my personality, but it was my face that charmed her." He says motioning to his face.

I chuckled at his comment.

"He's not wrong." Both dad and I turn to mom as she enters the living room.

I watch as she walks so elegantly towards dad.

Mom leans down to kiss dad on the lips and I watch in admiration as the two exchange their love.

I would never get to have the love mom and dad have. But at least I was able to witness it.

And I was grateful for that.

My lips form into a smile at the two of them.

Their eyes shine with happiness.

That's why I could never tell them what happens to me at school.

They don't need that type of problem in their life.

They are happy, and I want to keep it that way for as long as I can.

Even if it means to endure the abuse.

"Hi, darling." Mom walks up to me to kiss my cheek.

"Hey, mom." I smile at her.

"Did your brother tell you that his friends are coming over?" She glances down at all of dad's documents that are scattered across the table.

"He did, and I think he's getting ready right now." I nod my head to the stairs.

"As he should be, your dad and I invited them over to eat dinner with us. We just want to meet his new friends." She says as we walk into the kitchen to leave dad to complete his work

So that's why mom told the cook to take the day off.

She wanted to do all the cooking.

"Do you need help with dinner?" I ask. If she is going to cook for nine people, she would need help. And even though my arm is broken, I could still do some things.

She shakes her head. "No, thank you, darling. But you should rest your arm."

"Are you sure?" I stare at her as she walks to stand in front of me.

"I'm sure." She grabs my arm broken arm and runs her hand over the cast. "Do you feel any pain?"

"Nothing I can't handle," I reassure her.

"Be more careful next time, okay?" She lets go of my injured arm and squeezes my hand softly.

Not knowing what else to say, I nod my head.

She smiles and heads to the fridge while I try to think of an excuse.

I needed a reason to get out of this dinner, I didn't feel comfortable eating with everyone else.

We've had people over to dinner, including Bryson and Ethan.

But lately, I feel conscious of eating with others.

And dining with 9 more people is too much for me now.

"Mom, I think I'm going to eat dinner earlier. Is that fine?" I lean against the wall, hoping she lets me eat earlier.

I wasn't hungry, but I needed a reason to escape this dinner.

"Are you hungry?" Mom stops what she's doing to look at me.

"A bit," I smile sheepishly under her look.

A lie.

I'm lying to her.

Despite my smiles, I felt the guilt eating me away.

It's not right for me to lie to my family this way, but it was the only way.

Mom glances at her watch and I shift between feet in nervousness.

It was only 05:06. I knew I could until dinner was ready, but I would have to come up with another excuse. And I couldn't say I was feeling unwell or she would get suspicious.

"Do you want me to cook something for you?" She asks me.

"No, mom. I can do it myself." I tell her. "But are you okay with me eating earlier?" I ask once again.

"It's fine, darling. But are you sure you don't want me to make you something to eat?" She pulls out a few things from the fridge and places them on top of the counter.

"I'm sure, mom. I'm just going to make something small to eat."

"Alright honey, but if you're hungry during the dinner just come down, okay."

"Thanks, mom. You're the best." I walk towards her to place a kiss on her cheek before getting out of her way.

Heading towards the couch I was laying on, I pick up the book and head to my room on the second floor.

Putting the book in the bookshelf, I hear a knock on my door.

"Yes?" I call out.

"Honey, it's your mom. Your dad and I are going to grocery store to buy some ingredients. Do you need anything?"

Tying my hair into a braid, I say. "No, mom, I'm good."

"Alright, don't forget to eat. We won't be long." She says lastly.

And I proceed to braid my hair.

•••

I'm sitting in the dining table, with a plate of food in front of me.

I had to eat it.

I had to.

With a sigh, I reach for the fork and take a bite of the seasoned chicken.

I ignore the voices in my head as I continue to take small bites of the food.

Deep down I wanted to eat, but the voices in my head screamed at me. Waiting for me to neglect it. To obey their commands.

Their cruel words were like stabs to the heart.

To the voices, eating was like a sin.

I'm too engrossed in my thoughts that when I stab the plate with my fork it only makes a noise.

Surprised, I look down at my plate.

It's empty.

I finished my food without even realizing it.

And I couldn't help but feel that I made a mistake

"I'm okay, nothing will happen to me," I mumble to myself as I push the chair back and stand up with the plate on my right hand.

Entering the kitchen, I rinse the plate and fork to place it inside the dishwasher.

I would wash my dish, but because of my cast it would be hard and I would end up making a mess.

•••

I'm in the kitchen getting a glass of water when the door rings.

Taking one last gulp of water, I place my glass down and walk towards the door.

As soon as the door is opened, I see two familiar figures.

Bryce and Ethan.

"Little, Roseanne!" Bryson exclaims when his eyes land on me. "Hello!"

"Hi, Rose." Ethan looks up from his phone and smiles at me.

"Hi," I smile softly at both of them as I step inside to let them in.

While Ethan walks in, he uses the opportunity to ruffle my braided hair. A few strands of hair manage to escape in the process and I push them away with a scowl.

"Don't pout, young lady." Bryson nags when he notices my scowl.

Ethan just chuckles in response.

"Nathan should be upstairs," I tell them shutting the door behind me.

"He knows we're here, but thank you." Bryson starts as he walks deeper into the living room.

Walking behind them, I stop abruptly the moment Bryson makes a sudden turn to face me. "Rose, how are you?" Bryson grins.

"I'm good." I tell him, pulling at my sleeves as I stand there.

Bryson cocks his head to the side with a lopsided grin. "We miss seeing you at school, you know?"

"You do?" I question dumbly before I even have time to register what I just said.

But as soon as the words escape my mouth, I have a strong desire to slap myself.

Ethan chuckles as my mouth hangs open in embarrassment.

"Come, let's sit while we wait for your brother." Bryson motions to the couches in the living room.

As Ethan and Bryson take seat on the same couch, I sit on the one opposite of them.

"But to answer your question, we do miss seeing you at school. We never became friends because you were too shy to talk to us, but it was nice seeing you at school. Now, we have no one to spoil Nathan'sembarrassingmoments to us." Bryson explains, sighing as he says the last part.

I smile softly as I remember the few times Bryson and Ethan would ask me to spill some embarrassing things about my brother.

Despite being in the same grade, I was too afraid of becoming their friend. Specially since some girls had asked me to stay away from them, in a not kindly manner.

"Oh, are you joining us for dinner?" Ethan asks, a hopeful look on his face.

"I'm not." I tell him and I watch as his face falls.

"Can I ask why?" He frowns.

"I ate earlier, and I'm still full from my meal." I tell them.

I feel Bryson's intense stare as I speak and feel my words becoming quieter.

Why hasn't my brother come down?

And where are my parents?

Did they suddenly agree to leave me alone with two boys, knowing that I'm a little timid.

"What about dessert?" Bryson asks. His eyes searching my face as if trying to look for something.

"Oh, um, I'm not sure." I bite my lip nervously.

"It's okay if you're not hungry. I completely understand." He reassures me and I let out a small exhale.

Bryson glances at Ethan before turning his attention back to me.

"Hey, Rose?" He stares at me.

"Yeah?"

"Would you be willing to hang out with us and your brother one day?" He asks and my eyes widened.

What?

Why is he asking me this all of a sudden?

"Wouldn't I be intruding?" I frown. "Specially since you're guys, I'm sure you don't want me there."

"What? No! We love to have you hang out with us." Ethan exclaims.

Bryson nods. "He's right. We want to hang out with us. But only if you want to, of course."

"Are you sure?" I look at them.

"Yeah!" Ethan responds.

Where was this coming from?

After thinking it over, I respond. "Um, yeah, why not? If I'm not doing anything, I guess I could hang out with you."

"It's settled," Bryson claps his hands once. "We'll be sure to let you know when we decide to hang out. And thank you, Rose. For agreeing to hanging with us." He smiles at me.

"But Bryson," I turn to him. "Would my brother be okay with it?"

"Roseanne, your brother would love to have you hang out with us, he misses you at school too. Not just us." He says.

I'm about to speak, when I hear the voice of my brother.

"Bryce? Ethan?" He calls out once we come into view. "What are you doing to my little sister?"

"We were just telling her that we miss her." Ethan replies.

"Yeah, and, good news. She has agreed to hang out with us if we invite her." Bryson tells my brothers as he comes to stand in the middle.

"Really?" He questions in surprise.

I nod my head.

"I'm really glad that you agreed, Rose." He smiles fondly at me.

I only smile back.

As my brothers greets Bryson and Ethan, my phone vibrates inside my pocket.

Taking it out I check to see a message from him.

New Message From Stranger

06:45 p.m.

Hey, Princess. I'll call you sometime late at night. Don't fall asleep on me.

My lips curl up into a smile as I read the message.

06:57 p.m.

Never.

I will be waiting for your call.

But if you leave me hanging, I will exterminate you.

Not even a minute after I send my message, he replies back.

06:57 p.m.

Wouldn't dream of it, babe.

With the phone inside my hand, I stand up.

"You're leaving?" Ethan asks as he turns to me.

"Yeah, I'm a little tired." I tell him.

I am indeed, tired.

I felt a bit sleepy.

"That's too bad, but it was nice talking to you. And don't forget, you agreed." Ethan squints his eyes at me and I let out a small laugh at his face.

"I got you to laugh!" He exclaims.

"I can do it as well, but she's tired." Bryson says before turning to me. "I look forward to hanging out with you, Rose. Goodnight, by the way."

"Thank you." I tell him.

Turning to my brother, I make a hand motion that I'm going to my room and he nods.

With that I walk away.

As I'm walking up the stairs, I hear the doorbell ring.

A few seconds before I hear four new voices, which must belong to the new guys.

Turning into a hallway, the noises grow smaller until I'm finally inside my room.

I head to my closet to grab a pair of pajamas and then I enter the bathroom to get ready for bed.

I wasn't going to go downstairs again, so I might as well just get ready for bed.

By the time I'm out the restroom, an hour has passed.

Everyone should be dining by now.

Letting my dry naturally, I walk over to the bed.

Getting underneath the covers, I sigh in content at the warmth they provided me.

I needed to kill some time while I waited for his call.

And I knew the perfect way to do so.

Sherlock.

Placing the laptop on top of the quilt, I log into Netflix.

Clicking on the show, the screen loads and Dr. Watson appears.

I'm not sure how much time passed when a yawn escaped me.

My eyes became heavy and I had a sudden urge to just close them.

The show was long forgotten.

Not being able to let my eyes remain open, I let them close.

My body slowly dozing off into a deep sleep.

Until the familiar ringtone of my phone snaps my eyes open.

Slightly startled, I pick up the phone with my right hand and answer his call.

I'm about to say something when his husky voice utters the following words, causing my heart to start racing.

"I want to know your name."

○○○

My babies! I was supposed to update yesterday, but I didn't. I had a stomach ache. I was feeling unwell. And I still do, but I'm slightly bette than yesterday.

I have failed you 😭😭😭.

Also! There have been so many sweet comments lately. And I love it because it makes me sad and happy. You guys are so supportive. And I just want to thank you for giving this book a chance and taking the time to read it. I wasn't expecting so much support. And it really does mean a lot to me.

Thank you, you guys are so sweet

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