Copyright © MonMoncheese
All Rights Reserved
66 Published 05.20.2020

•••

JAMES

Closing the door to my room, I head straight to the bed. 

To say I was tired was an understatement, but it was all worth it when it came to her.

Everything would always be worth it for Rose. 

Placing the small bag on top of my bed, I take out my things from the pocket of my jeans and throw them on the bed.  

With no hesitation, I slip off my shirt and bring both arms over the base of my neck, enjoying the feel of my muscles being stretched tightly. 

With a moan of relief, I walk towards my closet and pull out a pair of trackies along with a t-shirt. 

After making sure my door is locked, I begin to strip out of my jeans until I'm only left in my black boxer briefs. 

Pulling the trackies up, I tie the strings in the front as they hang dangerously low across my pelvis. Throwing the shirt over my chest, I pull it down and head towards the bathroom. 

Stepping inside, I turn on the bright lights and walk straight to the sink. Catching my reflection, with the tip of my index finger I move aside the light brown strand of hair that seemed to have fallen over my forehead. 

Reaching for my toothbrush, I wet it under the water. Spreading the blue toothpaste over the brush, I wet it once more.

Closing the faucet, I bring the brush to my mouth. Just as I'm brushing my teeth, my mind drifts to the events from earlier, the way Rose had suddenly leaned forward.

I thought she was going to hug me, but I was wrong.

She kissed me on the cheek.

Bringing a hand to my cheek, I slowly touch the place she had pressed her lips on. 

Her touch still lingered on my cheek, and I recall the tingling sensation I felt. 

My face had hidden all the emotions I was feeling inside, but my heart had no shame in beating at concerning speeds. 

Spitting out the toothpaste, I rinse my mouth with the cold water and reach for the mouth wash. 

By the time I'm done with everything, my face is wet and I reach for a small towel to pat my face dry.

Throwing the total inside with the rest of the dirty laundry, I walk out of the bathroom. 

Walking to my bed, I take a seat and throw the duvet over my lower half as I reach for the Tifanny & Co. bag that was laying in the middle of the bed.

Bringing the cyan coloured bag to my lap, I slowly pull out the box. 

Inside was something I bought for Rose when I left her at the store. 

But after what happened, I regret ever leaving her. 

I shouldn't have done that.

It was a mistake. 

Those words she heard, they will only add to her demons. 

And it was all my fault. 

I feared that their words would do more damage than I anticipated. 

Opening the box, I pull out the necklace, there was a rose hanging in the middle, symbolizing her.

My Rose.

But the time to give it to her is yet, unknown.

I knew she wouldn't be comfortable receiving a gift like this from me, so I had to wait.

Carefully putting the necklace inside the box, I throw the covers to the away from me before getting up and walking to my study desk.

 Placing the box on the desk, I turn around and my eyes come in contact with the painting I did a while back. 

The girl in the painting seemed to be clear now.

It was Rose the first time I saw her at her house and then the way I imagined her to be. 

Only her back was painted, but there was someone else. 

I could see another girl... the one from Elven park. 

Frowning at the painting, I walk closer to it. 

But why would I paint the girl from the park?

She was still a mystery to me.

But despite knowing who I had painted, the image of the girl was clear. 

I could see her. 

The image of that day had been imprinted in my mind. 

It was like Rose reminded me of her, or more like she reminded of Rose.

Shaking my head, I look away from the painting. 

Perhaps, I was imagining things. 

Walking towards my bed, I turn the lamp off before getting underneath the covers.

And eventually, I fall asleep with a smile on my face.

•••

Taking a sip of orange juice, I place the glass on top of the table. 

We had been watching Toronto's sports channel as the four of us decided to laze around today. 

Theo had even joined us at some point, but during a game, he decided that playing with his toys was more interesting. 

"Adri, how was your date with Rose?" Alec steps out from the kitchen, carrying a plate of sliced fruits.

As he leans down to place the plate over the center table, my eyes dart to his own. There was a cheeky look on his face, one that told me he had been waiting to ask me that. 

"It was not a date," I tell him and Alec gives me a poker face in return, but a laugh interrupts him.

Glancing towards the owner of the laugh, my eyes come in contact with a golden-haired boy. 

"Alexander, you even sliced cubes of cheese?" Nico laughs as he picks a cube of cheese with a toothpick.

"I did," Alec states as he makes his way to the couch next to me.

"Your mother would be proud," Nico shakes his head, a playful look on his face. 

"The coaches said we need to have a healthy diet, and since I can't munch on the many delicacies this world has to offer, I opt to have a different snack because one, I refuse to give up food. And two, I like fruits." Alec says as he takes a seat on the couch next to me. 

Throughout this exchange, Vince is the only one that stays quiet, but his silence doesn't last long before he turns to me and utters the one question I was not expecting to hear. 

"Adrianno," He turns to me and I wait for him to continue. "Do you love her?" 

"Of course I love her," I say unsure of the reason behind his question.

"No," he shakes his head. "Do you love her?"

The moment he rephrases his question, my lips part in shock and I look away from his eyes, focusing on the phone in my hand.

"I- no." I look up to him, but somehow it sounded like a lie to my own ears.

And even I didn't like my response. 

"You hesitated." Vincent points out. "If you didn't, you would have said no immediately. And if you did, you would have wasted no time in replying." 

"But you hesitated." He ends, his tone lower than before. 

And we both knew that there was a reason behind it. 

"You know, with Melody, you took a long time before you claimed to love her like that. But I don't think it's the same case here." Nico speaks up, his brows drawn together as he focuses on me.

It took me a whole year to say that I loved Melody, but even then, what I felt for her was nothing compared to what I feel for Rose.

With Rose, I feel things that are way more powerful, stronger.

Feelings that seem to intensify by the second.

Some of which I recognise, but there are things that I have never felt before, not for anyone, except Rose. 

But what did those feelings mean?

"Melody and Rose are two different people," Alec mumbles quietly breaking me away from my thoughts. 

He's right. Rose and Melody are two different people. 

But Rose is the only one I care about. 

Melody doesn't mean anything to me anymore. 

"Adri, I think your heart knows the truth, but your mind doesn't," Vincent says, a cryptic expression on his face.

He seemed to know something I don't. 

But what, what did he mean by that? 

What truth?

○○○

OOOOOOOOH MYYYYYY FREAKING DINASOURS. 

I normally don't look at my votes and reads because I focus more on reading your funny and lovely comments more, oh, and writing. I rarely do search for my votes and reads, (but of course, I do that sometimes, BECAUSE I GET CURIOUS) unless my eyes just suddenly land on it.

BUT HAS ANYONE SEEN THIS????

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND MY EYES SUDDENLY SAW THIS!!!!

AND BECAUSE I HAD JUST WOKE UP, I THOUGHT I WAS SEEING THINGS.

BUT NOOOOO. 

I TRIPLE CHECKED. 

Unless I'm dreaming...

*Whispers* Okay, okay, I have to remain my cool.

Let me be professional. 🧐

FORGET ABOUT PROFESSIONALISM, I AM GOING CRAZY HERE!🤯🤯

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO CRY OR JUST FREAK OUT. 😭😭😭😭

My babies, seriously, thank you so much. I'm honestly writing this book because I enjoy writing it and reading your comments. You guys are funny and so kind to me and the book. I write because I love it, I reached for me and for you, so I don't really expect to receive this much support from you guys. It's really so new to me that I don't know how to react. But really, I want to thank you all. And congratulations to you too, this book is yours as well. 🥳🥳 I'm honestly a little speechless so I won't say much, but know I love you!

I serious love you all. You're my everything. All of you are. 😔😔❤❤❤

Also, Tiffany & Co doesn't have any rose necklaces, but for the sake of me, let's just pretend they do. 

Did you guys see the abs at the beginning, the gif? *smiles in embarrassment*

I'm totally not blushing while I look at that gif.

Nope, not me.

My cheeks are fine.

But let's pretend that's James taking off his shirt.