I follow Rose into the house quietly, ashamed that once again someone else had to come to my rescue. I don't want to be a burden on my pack mates. I have to get stronger.

'Agreed.'

I come back to my senses and Rose has disappeared. I haven't even gotten to say thank you! Shit, I need to find her. She's probably in her room, so I head there. I open the door to see a very topless Rose facing away from me. I accidentally squeak as I go to shut the door.

"What the hell?!" Rose rushes to cover herself and turn around. My face is pounding with heat. I wish I could just crawl into a hole and die. She chuckles.

"Dove, if you wanted to see me naked, you could have said so instead of just barging in here." She crosses her arms over her chest and I panic. I scramble out of the room, shutting the door behind me.

"Th-That's not what I meant to do!" I stutter out, leaning against the door. I hear Rose laugh through the door with some rustling. I feel the door give from behind me and I fall back into what I presume is Rose. I look up to see her in her uniform. She puts me back on my feet and I turn towards her.

"Well, what did you need Dove?" She asks, cocking an eyebrow.

"I just wanted to say thank you for getting rid of Drake.." I fight to keep from covering my face, which I'm sure is probably tomato red by now. She waves her hand dismissively.

"Oh, that? That was no problem Dove, no thanks necessary. I love telling that little asswad to fuck off."

"But.. But-" I start but she cuts me off by putting her hands on my shoulders.

"Really, there's no need for thanks, but since you're so insistent how about you buy me dinner as thanks? I'm going to be starving after work. Come by the cafe, I get off at 7," Rose smiles at me, which is odd. She doesn't smile often. I like it. I nod my head and she laughs.

"Alright! Now, I'm going to be late. Remember, 7 o'clock at the Diner, okay?" She places her hand on my shoulder in a caring way before moving past me to leave.

"O-okay!" I finally sputter out as I watch her back disappear out the front door.

What the hell just happened?

I'm not entirely sure if I'm honest. I shake my head and check the time, it's almost two... That's not bad, I have time for a shower and to crack down on the homework I've been avoiding. I head to my room and change my mind from a shower and run a bath instead. While the bath fills, I search around for some bubbles and instead find colorful bath bombs below the sink. That'll work.

I then grab my chemistry textbook and flip to the chapter we're currently on, dropping in the bath bomb and stripping before slipping into the bath, book in hand. I start to wash my hair as I learn about different chemical reactions, and my body as I learn about what chemical reactions to AVOID. By the time I'm done, it's 2:45 and I've finished the chapter.

I stride into my closet assuredly until I realize that I have no idea what to wear, my confidence visibly leaving my body, like a wisp lost to the wind of a cool autumn day. Only Rose is the autumn day, and how could I ever look like I belong by her if I don't even own a jacket? Tossing clothes out of my closet, I find myself wondering why I insist on looking so good on a casual dinner with a friend? This same friend who has seen me in gross sweatpants and a sports bra. I suppose I fear looking out of place, as if others will see us together and wonder why a princess has decided to sit with a mere jester.

I pull out a nice yellow sundress with a pair of strappy heeled sandals and place them on my bed. I brush out my hair before getting dressed, wondering to myself if a necklace may distract from my scar, or only draw the eye to it. I decided the latter, and chose to curl my hair to frame my neck instead. I do some light make-up, get dressed, and check the time again. I huff, annoyed. It's only 3:15.

I forced myself to sit back down at my desk, writing all the mental notes I had taken down for my chemistry chapter and going back over to refresh on what I forgot. I then, with a heavy sigh, decide that I shouldn't let my math homework glare at me in the corner anymore, slowly opening my Trigonometry book, I compel myself to focus.

I hear my alarm to leave go off and I close my math book, thankful for the sweet relief from Trig. I grab a purse, throw my phone, keys, and wallet into there and I head out the door. One of the women I pass compliments my dress on my way out and I beam, shouting a 'thank you' from over my shoulder, a happy blush coloring my cheeks. I hope Rose likes it.

I set up a Taxi and wait a few minutes for it to arrive. The driver was a young human man, who looked at me kind of strangely but I paid him no mind. If it comes down to it I'm sure I can handle myself. I give him the address on a sheet of paper and we're off, him checking on me through the rear-view mirror every thirty seconds or so. At first I would smile politely, but after a few minutes I just ignored him.

"What happened to yer neck?" He had a slight accent that I couldn't place, but his words almost sounded slurred together into one long word. I look out the window, completely disinterested in having this conversation. "I assed, what happened to yer neck miss?" Obviously unable to answer, I remain silent. He grumbles something to himself.

"Yanno, iss rude not to answer." He says and I look at him, obviously annoyed. I gesture to my neck, showing through hand movements that I'm mute. He reflects on this for a moment, but by the time he goes to speak again, we're pulling into the Cafes parking lot. I get out of the car before its fully stopped, leaving the cash I owe him through the window on the passenger seat. I stride up to the restaurant, a sudden wave of nerves crashing over me as soon as I reach the door.

What if I'm over-dressed? What if she changed her mind? What if-

I open the door and get overwhelmed by the smells of a diner.

"Dove! Hey!" I hear Rose call me, and turn to see her walking away from a table, serving platter in hand, topped with a delicious looking burger. She rushes past me, going to another table and drops off the food with a smile. Man, I'm seeing Rose smile a lot today, it's refreshing compared to the stoic face she seems to always have, save for when she's talking to Sym but I don't think I've ever seen someone be able to keep a straight face when dealing with Sym. "My shift will be over in a few minutes, pick whatever table you want and I'll be there soon, 'kay?" I nod. I head over to a table next to a window.

I haven't been here before, but it's quite lovely. It's not loud and bright like diners today are, there's some quiet jazz playing and all of the tables have a vase with real flowers in them. I'm not sure what kind of flowers are in all the vases, but they're pink and have a lot of petals. I keep bouncing back and forth, the place is called a cafe but it feels and serves food like a diner? Truly unlike anywhere else I've ever eaten before. I look out the window, realizing we're right across from a lake. I spot an old man a few hundred yards down fishing, seeming relaxed as he takes a sip from his drink, and I see some kids ride past him on their bikes, I can almost hear their blissful laughter. I smile, watching as the sunset so beautifully reflects across the water. I hear a huff and a thud as Rose plops down in the booth across from me. I watch as she takes her hair down from it's bun, running her fingers through it, scratching her scalp. Watching her makes my own hair feel the wave of relief I'm sure she's feeling right now. She meets my eyes and smiles.

"I like your dress Dove, it fits you." She compliments and I can feel my ears burn.

"Thank you! Um, these flowers are really pretty." I smile and she nods.

"Yeah, they're Chrysanthemums, my favorite." I watch as she plays with the petals, wondering to myself what other flowers she likes. A lady approaches our table, and she turns to Rose.

"So is this the fancy date ya had to run off to Rose? Couldn't have taken the lovely lady somewhere nicer? Perhaps somewhere that ISN'T your work?" The lady says and Rose laughs, my face turning bright red. Date? What? Is that what this is? Did I misunderstand? Do I even like Rose that way? Do I like girls? Am I Bi? Is Rose Bi? Does Rose like me? Is that why I was so nervous? I sit there, my face burning and my mind racing when Rose cuts through the endless stream of my thoughts.

"I told you Kylie, it's not a date. She wanted to repay me so I'm letting her buy me dinner." Rose explains and I nod, but Kylie jerks her head towards me, her eyes sparkling. I think her and Rose are friends.

"I highly doubt that considering she turned a shade our tomatoes would be envious of, also considering employees eat free here, so she can't possibly buy." I shrink as I hear this. I thought I was genuinely paying Rose back but now I find myself even further endebted to her.

"That was supposed to be a secret Ky! Way to blow it!" Rose laughs, smacking Kylies waist and Kylie shrugs. "Anyway, are you gonna take our order or what? How unprofessional." Kylie sticks her tongue out at Roses' playful chiding.

"Uh-huh. Yeah. What're ya'll drinking?" She asks, pulling out a tablet. Rose orders a lemonade and I freeze, I hadn't thought this far. How am I supposed to order? Oh God, are people going to notice that Rose is having a one-sided conversation? "Well?" Kylies voice cuts through the fog, encouragingly bringing me back to reality. I fumble and point to a pepsi on the menu and she marks it down. She smiles and nods, saying something about being right back.

"Let's communicate like this, Dove. It'll look weird that neither of us is speaking, but less weird than me answering questions that no one asked, which I'm sure you have some questions, I can see it in your face." I hear Roses' voice ring through my head, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Is this actually a date?" I blurt out. "Oh my God, sorry, I meant to say okay and you know, be an actual human, but that just blurted out. How does one even blurt out a thought? Completely illogical, if you ask m-" My rambling is caught off by Roses' laughter, her laughter resounding so loud it shakes the table, a few heads turning in our direction.

"BREATHE Dove!" I can hear the laughter still in her voice as it rings through my head. "If this was a date, I should fear all my previous partners should laugh, for this is a sad excuse of what the 'Rose' experience is. Plus, I thought you were straight? Did I read you wrong?" I found her questions caused butterflies to erupt and for my body to squirm in its seat. I tried pressing my hands together in my lap but it wasn't doing much.

"I.. I think I am? Thought? I-I don't know. I thought you were straight! Are YOU not?" I find myself leaning forward in anticipation of her answer, but all I receive in turn is a small smile and the shaking of her head. If I wasn't already blushing, I'm sure I would've been by now.

"So do you know what you want?" Rose asks as she peers at the menu, the ghost of her smile still playing at her lips. It takes me a moment to understand she's talking about food. With all of this confusion, food had been the farthest thing from my mind. I see Kylie coming back over and look down. Time to decide, quickly. I flip through the pages frantically, trying to land on something, anything. By the time I look back up, Kylies already walking away and Roses' menu is gone.

"You were seriously spaced so I just ordered you a pesto grilled cheese with no tomato. I hope that was okay." Rose admits sheepishly and I sit in wonder as I realize that she had ordered exactly what I had decided on just moments ago. I quickly shut my mouth, which had been sitting agape and take a sip of my soda. Rose studies the chrysanthemums, that natural stoic look falling so comfortably onto her face. I relax as I look into the face I'm used to. I don't know how to communicate with normal, stoic Rose as it is and happy lively Rose is a whole different beast. I must have relaxed more than I thought because I see the corners of her mouth pull upwards ever so slightly, her eyes never leaving the flower. Realizing that I'd been staring, I fight to come up with something to say.

"What's your favorite season?" I ask, finally.

'Wow. That was a lame question.' Lisa sneers and I fight the urge to smack myself on the forehead.

'I know, okay? But you're not exactly coming up with some stellar conversation topics either, so shut up unless you're gonna save a girl from drowning here.' I snap back and I can feel her roll her eyes.

'Sorry bitch, all out of life rafts. Gave my last one to a rando last week. You're SOL.'

"I'd have to say that's my favorite season." It wasn't until Lisa piped down that I realized Rose had answered me. Shit.

"Ah, sorry. I missed that. Which one?" I look down, embarrassed as I feel the blush creep back onto my face.

"No worries. I said Summer."

"Really? I took you for more of the autumn type.." I say thoughtfully, wondering why I thought that.

"Most people assume so- Ah, thank you Kylie! You startled me, I didn't even hear you." Rose cuts out of mind-link mid-sentence as our food is placed down in front of us. Kylie chuckles.

"Well I'd assume you didn't, you two were making eyes pretty intently there. Get a room, but leave a tip first~." Kylie teases over her shoulder as she's walking away. Rose rolls her eyes as we dig in.

"So you were saying?" I push inquisitively, biting into the best grilled cheese I've ever had. Who ever thought of putting pesto in a grilled cheese deserves an award. Rose stops for a second as if she's trying to regain her train of thought before I watch it visibly dawn on her what she was about to say.

"Ah yeah, so most people assume I like Autumn because it's cool and because of the colors, and Autumn is pretty and all, don't get me wrong, but Summer brings too much good to ignore. The fruits are all ripe, the feeling of the cool water against my skin as I take a dip at the beach, not to mention the lack of clothing everyone has on. Plus, I look pretty good in a bikini." Rose seems to smile at the thought as she takes a few spoonfuls of the soup she's eating. I take a moment to reflect on all these things, nodding. Those are all pretty great. "What about you, Dove? What's your favorite. I peg you as a Spring type but I might be wrong."

"Well, I've never really thought of that before. I like the colors of Autumn, the bitter cold of Winter, the peace of Summer, or the flowers and liveliness of Spring... If I had to choose it'd probably be Winter." I chew my food as I mull over my decision. Yeah, Winter is right. Rose looks at me, a slightly intrigued look passing over her face as she cocks an eyebrow. She doesn't have to say anything, her expression says enough. She wants my reasoning. "Well, back at my old pack, the only moments of peace I would get was either in the early mornings before the sun starts to raise when everyone was asleep, or during the summer when they'd go on their pack trips to the beach house, which I never attended for both the reasons of one, I didn't want me to go, and two, they wanted me to go even less than I did, so. But Summers too warm. There's nothing like the bite against my face as I go for a run in those cold winter mornings."

Rose nods approvingly, seeming like she's truly taking in my words. Then I see something dawn on her as she looks at me, her eyes sparking.

"Have you never been to the beach?!" Even though she's speaking through her mind, her astonishment can't be hidden. I shake my head, smiling.

"I have, but not since I was a kid." I thought Rose was going to drop her spoon with the way she looked at me.

"We're going to the beach together next month when school gets out." The resolve is so firm in her voice I was almost afraid to argue, so I nod my head in quiet agreement. I can see the cogs turning in her head, no doubt planning out where to go and such, so we finish eating out food in comfortable quiet.

"So. I heard Kylie say you don't have to pay for your food, soooo how is this me paying you back?" I ask, more casual now after having a normal conversation and she rubs the back of her head, grinning.

"Ah, yeah, I kind of lied. Sorry."

"Roooooseeee." I groan and she laughs.

"Here, lemme see your purse." She demands and I hand it over curiously. She digs in and grabs a $5 from it before smacking it down on the table triumphantly. "There!" She chuckles "Now you've saved me from the 'Wrath of Kylie' with a tip. You have repaid me by saving me from the next week of her chiding me." Rose smiles at me, a big beaming smile and I feel my heart skip a beat. I smile, too.

"I guesssss." I tease and she sticks her tongue out at me.

"You ready to get out of here?" She asks me aloud, which catches me a bit off guard, but I nod nonetheless. She grabs my hand, much to the thrill of my heartbeat, and leads me out of the cafe. She opens the door to her car, leading me by the hand into the passenger seat. I watch her flip her hair over her shoulder as she walks around to her side and get in. "Alright, let's blow this popsicle stand." She grabs a pair of sunglasses from her passenger dash as she says this, and I can smell the floral scent of her shampoo once I get past the food scent she picked up during her shift.

She smells good.

I blush at the thought and hope that she can't see. She shifts her car into first gear as she pulls out of the lot, quickly shifting to second and then third shortly after as we get onto the main road. After we come to a long stretch I feel her hand fall against my thigh and I tense a bit, the feeling both being nice but also alien. I've never really gotten affectionate with ANY of my relationships, much less with Rose, who fills my head with confusion beyond belief but I suppose it's a happy confusion.

"Oh, shit, sorry. Habit." Rose says, jerking her hand away. I stare quizzically as I try to figure out if Rose is blushing or if I'm starting to lose my mind. I'm seeing a lot of firsts with her today. She seems tense while she waits for me to respond, I want to soothe her but I'm not sure how.

"It's.. It's okay, caught me off guard. I'm not used to really being touched except for from your brother. This was fun today, we should do this again." I watch Rose relax at my words.

"Yeah but Mason isn't a person, he's a ray of sunshine so it's different for him. I don't think I've ever met someone who has disliked Mason after getting to know him." I see the affection for her twin wash over her face as she talks about Mason. "But yes, we should definitely do this again." Rose smiles at me and I find myself smiling back before I know it. We listen to the radio on the short drive back, swaying to the music as we pull into the drive.