/hey-mish/

♡♡♡

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.

♡♡♡

Rose was upset.

After Aaron left his apartment with a slam, her eyes couldn't stay dry. There were always tears running down her cheeks, even after wiping her face clean (Aiden used his shirt, which now that she thought about it, was kind of gross) her eyes were always glassy; the tears waiting to spill down.

Aiden helped her a lot: he held her as she cried, he wiped away her tears when her hands felt too numb to, and he even encouraged the rest to continue on with the movie.

Aiden and Rose were the first ones to go, leaving after Rose gave Andrew his usual hug and smiles and waves to the rest. The walk home was quiet, and frankly, Rose didn't even bother with talking.

Perhaps it was just one of the powers Aaron had over her, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"Hey," Aiden told her softly. "Do you want to go home now?"

Rose looked at him weirdly. "Aren't I?"

A small smile crept up Aiden's lips. "Are you up for some ice cream?"

Ice cream won't fix this pain.

But Rose found herself nodding, a small smile on her lips. "Okay."

Aiden seemed pleased with himself before he took her hand and lead them both to the ice cream parlor just around the street. Rose felt grateful towards Aiden, she really did. She had no idea what she would've done if it wasn't for him.

After he paid for their ice creams (Rose was mad at his persistence), Aiden managed to make small talk as they ate. Aiden told her a bit about his family and how he had a younger brother, and she managed to tell him about her own family.

Aiden smiled as she rambled on about her creepy aunts and annoying cousins, and she couldn't keep her laughs quiet when he was complaining about his Mother's slight obsession with shaving gel.

After both of them finished, Aiden walked Rose home before he went his separate way.

And Rose couldn't thank him enough. (Literally, she couldn't stop saying 'Thank you')

When she went back home, her eyes were almost normal now except for the little swelling that was there on her lids. But Rose gave her parents quick kisses on the cheeks before she headed up to her room.

And it was then that the silent crying started.

Maybe it was Rose's signature way of crying, but she did it anyway. She locked her door first before she let out a soft breath. But when her eyes caught hold of Great Expectations lying on her bed side table, her tear ducts were moistening again.

She rubbed the tears away furiously, almost as though she hated herself for crying. She took in a deep breath before she managed to change into a pair of pajamas and tie her hair into a bun. She rubbed her eyes once more before she plopped onto her bed.

After the silent crying it was always the thinking.

She seemed to always think about what happened, was she really not a friend to him? After all this time, after all the effort, she couldn't even reach friendship base?

The thought made her eyes water with angry tears.

And she tried to hate Aaron, she really did.

She tried to hate his beautiful beautiful beautiful blue eyes, and his silky, luscious brown hair and his stupid face, along with his stupid eyelashes and his stupid stupid smile.

She tried one more time to hate him.

Because as she lied on her bed, her eyes pooling down with sleep, she tried to think of more things Aaron had that she couldn't possibly hate.

◈◈◈

The next morning Rose woke up exhausted. Her parents practically forced her (Well it was mostly her Mom) to visit their family and friends downtown. It was apparently their high school reunion or something, and Rose had to go. ("Or else I will never let your father buy you anymore books again.")

So it made sense when she woke up aching everywhere (She had to hang out with hyperactive kids too) and she was going to prepare herself for school until her Dad entered her room with a gentle smile on her face.

"Mornin' pumpkin," He smiled at her, sitting down at the edge of her bed. "How did you sleep?"

"Alright," She replied groggily, rubbing away any lurking sleep from her eyes. She yawned. "Just a lil bit tired."

Peter ruffled her untamed blonde locks, a smile still evident on his lips. Rose never saw her Dad without a smile: if he was angry, he was angry smiling with a clenched jaw; if he was sad, he was sad smiling with pursed lips; and if he was happy, he would smile with his teeth.

It was something that Rose admired all throughout her life, and she knew she also wanted to be seen always smiling. Because it always made her feel better. If she was having the crappiest day in school, her Dad would flash her the been-there-done-that smile and she'd feel loads better.

Maybe it was just because his eyes were always so beautiful when he smiled, but Rose didn't care about it anyway. She adored her father's smile, period.

"I knew you'd be," Peter said, letting out a sigh. "That's why I called you in sick today at school."

Rose's wide eyes met his teasing blue ones. "You did what?"

Peter bit his bottom lip (But he was still smiling) as his chest vibrated in laughter. "Just don't tell your Mom."

"But how will Mom not know?"

"I might have or might have not woken her up half an hour early for work,"

Rose grinned. "You're the best Dad,"

Peter laughed too, smiling at his daughter. "I know," He winked. "Now come on downstairs, and let me cook up some breakfast."

It was Vegan Wednesday, which meant her Dad was going to come up with some vegan breakfast for today, and Rose couldn't be more anxious. It wasn't that her Dad was a bad cook, it was just that she never looked forward to Vegan Wednesdays, but the excitement in her Dad's voice when he came up with the idea was just too much for Rose to say no.

It has been about 7 years since Vegan Wednesdays were introduced to the family, and Rose was still as worried as the first one.

After leaving a small kiss to Rose's forehead, Peter left Rose to wash up and take a quick shower. Since she was staying home today, Rose just slipped on some pajama shorts and shirt before she went downstairs, only to be greeted by the smell of burnt butter.

She peered at her Dad from the corner of the door, noticing how he was handling so many pots at once and she could hear occasional curse words fly from his mouth. She grinned at how much money he would have put in the swear jar if her Mom was here.

Rose watched some TV as her Dad knocked up some breakfast (She could hear him talk to the pans) and after precisely 13 minutes, Peter hollered her into the dining room to eat.

She could smell the pepper in the air (She had no idea how) as she sat down in her seat. And then she looked to her plate.

It looked anything but edible.

Rose gulped, nervously taking her fork in hand. "What's this Dad?"

Peter shrugged. "It's suppose to be a tofu waffle,"

Rose nodded. The problem was the waffle looked gooey and raw in some parts, and the tofu seemed to be pretty much solid. But nonetheless, Rose and her Dad cut a small piece before they shoved it in their mouths.

They chewed.

They swallowed.

And then they looked at each other.

Rose got up. "I'm getting the bacon,"

Peter followed her. "I'm on the eggs."

◈◈◈

"Alright I'm going to work now," Peter said. "And I'll probably pass by the grocery shop after, do you need anything?"

Rose looked up from Great Expectations to her Dad. "How about you get me a life with a pinch of a social skill?"

Peter nodded. "Would you want that with a side of your OTP?"

Rose grinned. "You know me too well,"

Peter chuckled before he nodded his head. He watched as Rose made her way to the door, giving her a small kiss on the forehead. "Okay bye Rose, have a good day." He Dad smiled. "And don't open the doors to any strangers,"

Rose rolled her eyes smiling. "Yes Dad."

"Okay bye now pumpkin, see you at 6." With one last kiss to her forehead, Peter left off in his suit. And Rose could hear their car go off the pavement as she continued reading, and it always felt like a small pinch to her heart when Peter left for work.

Peter was an English teacher at a nearby University, and that was probably why Rose got into reading in the first place. She always watched Peter read a book while she grew up, and soon, she found herself doing it. Peter always smiled whenever he saw her read, and she always felt a little bit closer to her Dad whenever she did.

Helen took part time (She was getting bored in the house) at a small beauty parlor a few neighbourhoods down, and always filled up the family with the gossip that was circling around town. Peter talked to his wife about her bad habit, reasoning with her that privacy was a very important thing, but as soon as his wife started telling him about the rumor that included him, he never spoke of it again.

Rose loved that both her parents had jobs that they loved, and she obviously wanted one too. Reminding the fact that her 17th birthday was just a couple days away, it made her anxious on how she still didn't decide on what she wanted to do.

Rose read for a couple more hours; getting up either for a toilet break or to make a cup of tea (They ran out of decafe). And as she read, and Rose saw the quotes Aaron had told her before, she couldn't stop thinking of him.

And maybe that was the part that hurt, the part the didn't feel right.

Thinking about Aaron was never something new to Rose, but thinking about Aaron as she cried holding Great Expectations against her chest was.

She couldn't believe she cried again, but she did anyway. She couldn't help it really, Aaron had already occupied too much of her heart to ignore this pain.

She thought of him before she took a nap, she thought of him as she continued reading, and she thought of him as she wiped her final tears away.

Perhaps it was then that she realised that maybe her and Aaron DeGarner were never suppose to be friends.

◈◈◈

Rose was feeling much better.

She ate a few biscuits that her Dad left her, and was almost a quarter way done with Great Expectations, when her doorbell rang.

Rose could feel a sliver of fear crawl up her spine, wondering who in the world could come see her now. She remembered telling Chase that she wouldn't be coming today, and if anyone asks, he could tell them.

She went out of her room and down the stairs, and she tried to calm herself down. It was probably just her Mom, she thought, she just came home a bit early.

Shrugging away her anxiety, Rose was expecting pretty much anything on the other side of a door. A dragon ready to blast its fire at her, or maybe even Pip himself, and she also thought of her Mom and thought of how ridiculous she was being.

But she wasn't expecting Aaron.

◈◈◈

She did admit, she absolutely hated the fact that Aaron came here.

But now she really didn't.

"How many pages do you think you have left of Great Expectations?" Aaron asked her, flashing her a small smile as he sat across her.

Rose took a glance at the book on her side, her eyes looking at the bookmark as she estimated the number. "I think 65 or something,"

Aaron nodded. "You can finish that in half an hour,"

Rose rose a curious eyebrow. "How do you know my reading pace?"

Aaron shrugged. "Just because I notice things Rose, doesn't mean I am an overly psychotic sociopath plotting a sick and vile way to murder you and your loved ones."

Rose giggled. "Just checking."

Aaron rolled his eyes, an annoyed sigh escaping his lips. "This isn't the first time you've accused me of stalking you know?"

Rose nodded, still smiling. "Noted,"

Rose thought that Aaron would act awkwardly after she practically blurted out her feelings for him, but he as usual, proved her wrong. He was pretty chill about it actually, if anything, he seemed more comfortable with Rose. And of course, that was good enough for her too.

"So you've been repeatedly called me a stalker for no apparent reason?" Aaron made a face. "I take it back, you're the Hermit." He scowled.

"But the Hermit usually means being alone."

"That way you'll be sure I won't be stalking you,"

Rose let out another laugh. "God Aaron, sometimes I can't even handle you,"

He shrugged, but she could see the secret smile smothered against his lips. "I tend to do that to people."

"You're becoming so conceited that it's actually worrying me,"

He bit his bottom lip, as though he wanted to keep the smile on his lips from widening -she didn't want him to, didn't want him to, didn't want him to- "And you're becoming so observative that it is making me concerned as well."

Rose narrowed her eyes at him. "I'll let that slide because you got me my homework and notes,"

Aaron smiled sarcastically. "Always nice to know that my effort has been appreciated."

She gave him a sarcastic smile back. "I know the feeling,"

She could see Aaron pushing aside the chuckle that wanted to escape his lips, but his chest was vibrating ever so slightly. She laughed out loud at that. "After I finish Great Expectations, I'll be sure yo hand it to you the next day at school."

Aaron nodded. "What are you planning on reading after that?"

Rose shrugged. "No idea, guess we're just going to wing it."

Aaron peered at her carefully, but the little pinch of a smile was on his lips. "Would it be bad if I gave you another classic?"

"Yes it would; you're making it seem like I don't own any."

He quirked an eyebrow. "Well do you?" His eyes were already on her bookshelf.

"Of course I do! I have-"

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory doesn't count, Rose."

"Well then I own-"

"And neither does Matilda."

She frowned at him. "You're no fun,"

Aaron seemed like he was a brink away from laughing. She wanted him to, wanted him to, wanted him to. "But you still don't have any classics."

She shrugged. "Sue me."

And the smile that she has been waiting for bloomed right across her eyes. She has made a decision that one day Aaron's dimples will be the death of her. "Then I guess I'll see you in court."

Which in a way, Aaron didn't lie about.

◈◈◈

The next day at school, Aiden and Andrew bombarded her with questions as she walked the hallway. She explained to them during her walk to English, and explained to them again at lunch.

"And you kept this all to yourself because..." Luke was smiling teasingly at her, which did manage to crack a smile from Rose's side.

"I thought it wasn't that important," She shrugged, giving a small smile to Lana. "And besides, I told Chase to tell you guys if you asked,"

All eyes were on Chase now. "He said he didn't know," Andrew looked like he was about to kill.

Chase didn't even flinch. "Thought I'd see what you all would do."

Tristan rolled his eyes. "I'm not even surprised."

Aaron was unusually quiet at lunch today. Rose always knew he was quiet, but today he seemed distant as though he was in deep thought. But that didn't stop her from stealing quick glance of his brilliant blue eyes, and she couldn't help but swoon every time his left dimple indented while he chewed on his food.

Rose was the stalker, not Aaron.

"So is anyone going to this University crap that they told us a few days ago?" Aiden asked, taking a swig of his coke.

"I have a family outing then," Chase replied. "And more football practise."

Andrew looked at Chase. "This football thing is really serious to you isn't it?"

Chase nodded. Shrugged. "It's my ticket to a scholarship to UOT,"

"Well I'm not involving myself in shit that might fuck me over," Luke said, chewing on his sandwich. "And there's no way in hell I'm giving up my Spring break for this."

Andrew nodded in agreement. "Yeah man, and besides, Unearthly Part 2 is coming out in 2 weeks and I need to get my hands on it."

Luke grinned. "You've been counting down?"

Andrew grinned too. "You know video games are my thing man, so what else was I suppose to do?"

"What about you Tris?" Aiden flickered his attention to the blonde sipping on his water. "You up for it?"

Tristan nodded. "Hell yeah,"

Rose gave him a high five. "Same."

Aiden snickered. "Nerds," He muttered under his breath.

"Intellectual badasses," Rose and Tristan corrected, giving each other one more round of high fives before Rose looked at Lana. "And what about you? You coming to get high on knowledge?"

Aiden snorted.

Lana shook her head. "My family and I are travelling."

Luke's ears seemed to perk up. "Where to?" His eyes were practically sparkling.

She shrugged. "Visit family and what not. Because apparently I don't see them enough,"

Aiden laughed, which immediately made Lana looked at him wide eyed. Aiden cleared his throat awkwardly.

Andrew shook his head in annoyance.

"So since the weekend is just around the corner, how about we all go out after tomorrow?" Luke asked, grinning as he saw the curiousity in everyone's eyes.

Aiden nodded. "Hell yeah,"

Tristan contemplated before nodding his head. "I guess I can go."

Andrew and Chase both nodded their heads.

Everyone's gaze was on Rose. "Umm, I honestly don't know-"

"She's coming with me," Chase answered for her, immediately receiving a deathly glare from the Rose. "We'll be there."

Lana nodded too, smiling. "It better be fun though,"

Luke scoffed. "Has anything not been fun with me in it?"

Rose let out a small laugh while her eyes (Along with the rest of them) settled on Aaron. Noticing their gazes, Aaron shrugged. "I'll be there as a guardian."

Aiden scowled. "Did you forget that you're the youngest one Aaron?"

Rose could see the surprise in Chase's eyes. "Seriously?"

Luke nodded. "This guy's going to turn 18 soon,"

Tristan just gave them all flat looks, kind of like he was implying 'Not this shit again'.

"Where we'll go?" Andrew piped in, licking his lips as he exhaled.

"I'm thinking the amusement park," Luke answered, slightly smirking. "It sounds like a lot of fun."

They all nodded, exchanging the addresses back and forth between them.

And when the bell rang, and Rose headed off to English, she didn't see Aaron there waiting for her.

And for the rest of the day for that matter.

◈◈◈

The weekend rolled by in a breeze and right now Chase was seated right beside Rose as they watched another episode of Law and Order. Criminal related series and movies were a definite favourite of Rose's and she got hooked on it when she turned 6 after her Aunt handed her CSI Miami season 3. She even got Chase hooked onto that stuff.

"I don't get it," Chase muttered, his eyes on the TV screen. "He's mentally damaged, he isn't suppose to go to jail."

"But then again he killed 15 innocent lives Chase," Rose replied, chewing on her popcorn. "It's called being irresponsible."