"Did you seriously think I wouldn't notice you were gone?" Jo questioned furiously.

I breathed. "I'm sorry!"

"I was this close–" she pinched her fingers real close, "to calling the police!"

I gave Jo a miserable look as she continued her rant.

"I mean, Rose. You can't just stay out all day without at least telling me. We've only been living in this town for a few days. You barely know your way around. Something could've happened!"

I didn't bother arguing with her because I understood her protectiveness. After all, we were all each other had. "Alright, I'm sorry," I apologized again. "I can explain."

There was a long silence.

"Well, go ahead," she crossed her arms.

"Oh, right!" I said sheepishly. "So, basically... I–uh–"

"Rose Adams you better not be trying to come up with a lie," she firmly stated, getting up from the chair. "I know good and well you were with a boy. I saw you through the window."

"Alright, fine, I was!" I reluctantly gave in.

The angry look on Jo's face was wiped away. "Girl, spill!"

I laughed and jumped onto my bed, beckoning her over.

"Okay, so it all started when I bumped into this guy on the street. I was on my bike, he was on his skateboard, and..."

I ended up telling Jo pretty much everything, only omitting minor details. For example, I didn't mention the secret spot Antonio had shown me earlier today. Rather, I told her he took me to the park. It was wrong to lie, but it also felt wrong to tell anyone about the spot. Antonio told me he hadn't shown it to anyone else before, so it felt like our own little secret.

"I'm so happy you're liking it here, Rose," Jo happily smiled. "What'd I say? This town is different, I told you!"

"Yeah, maybe," I thoughtfully admitted.

"I trust you, just be careful. You know how teenage boys are," she caringly warned, as any guardian would. "Speaking of boys, I started talking to this guy at my new job."

My interest was piqued. "Really?"

Something to know about Jo–she didn't do dating. She was more of the cool, independent aunt. To hear that she'd taken interest in someone had surprised me.

"Who is he?" I rolled over on my stomach, swinging my feet in the air.

"He's actually the boss. His name's Bob."

"Bob," I repeated with a nod.

"Oh, I don't even know how to describe him. So tall, so dark, so handsome," she clapped excitedly. I laughed at her antics while she continued. "He has a son about your age, who I've already met. It'd be nice for you to meet him too."

"Meet Bob? Or his son?"

"Why not both!" Jo got up with a gasp. "I'll organize something for Saturday night. We can do a dinner at our house. Cook some food, clean up a bit..."

"Yeah, that sounds nice. I can't wait to meet him," I smiled at Jo.

It was nice to see her excited. A part of me always felt guilty, because when Jo took me in, she'd been forced to grow up faster than she should've. She never even had time to go to college, let alone dating. Jo deserved a shot at love. Everyone did.

"Alright, missy, enough gossip. It's bedtime," she lightly scolded. "Make sure to wake up on time for school tomorrow."

I nodded, though if being late to school meant having "detention" with Antonio, I'd be late every day.

• • •

On Saturday night, Jo was in a frenzy to make sure everything was perfect.

"Where are the oven mitts? How do we not have oven mitts!" She screeched.

"They're in the bottom drawer," I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, right." She came to an exasperated stop.

Jo pulled out the oven baked chicken and fanned it out.

"They should be here," she worriedly stated. "What if the food is cold by the time they get here?"

"They'll be here in a few seconds," I droned, sitting at the dining table.

Jo retorted, "Rose, unless you're a psychic, I don't think–"

The doorbell suddenly rang. I cast her an amused look.

"You were saying?"

Jo squealed and ushered me to the front door. I followed after her, my floral skirt whooshing. She placed her hand on the doorknob but then abruptly stopped and began to shake off her jitters.

"You look crazy," I laughed at the way she jumped. "Now c'mon. They're waiting."

And so she opened the door.

My eyes were instantly drawn to the man at the front, presumably Bob. Jo's description of him was pretty accurate. The dark man, who looked well into his thirties, was tall, burly, and pretty good looking. However casual his clothes were, the golf shirt and dress pants simply screamed rich. A kind smile was plastered onto his face as Jo welcomed him in.

After sharing cheerful greetings, his dark brown eyes landed on me. For some reason, his warm eyes looked familiar.

"Ah, this must be your niece, Rose!" he said.

I grinned, "hi, Bob, nice to meet you."

Bob seemed fine so far, but I realized I spoke too soon once my eyes landed on his son behind him. To my utter surprise, it was Benny.

Jo introduced us with a smile. "Benny, I'd like you to meet my niece, Rose. Rose, this is–"

"I know," I interrupted, then sheepishly smiled. "We go to the same school."

"Perfect, you guys must be friends already!" Jo beamed.

I coughed. "Uh... yeah."

I barely knew the guy, but I couldn't be bothered to correct Jo. Meanwhile, she began to lead Bob away and into our dining room.

"Mm, the food smells amazing," I heard Bob revel. Their voices carried away and faded.

I awkwardly hovered about, watching Benny's tall figure. He gave me a blank stare and shrugged off his coat. Suddenly, a scowl adorned his face.

"We are not friends," he clarified before brushing past my shoulder.

I had no chance to reply and miserably followed after him, wondering why it was that Benny seemed to dislike me so much...

• • •

After a bountiful dinner, our bellies were full and the night was rounding to an end. It wasn't as bad as I'd feared. Jo was crazy and energetic, Bob was kind and calm. They somewhat balanced each other out. It was a relationship I could definitely get behind, if they ever decided to start one.

Benny had been more-or-less silent the entire night, only speaking when spoken to. I didn't quite mind, though it did call for some slight tension.

I was shaken from my thoughts when Jo and Bob suddenly got up from the dinner table. I wondered what I'd missed while tuning out, and quickly assumed that she was escorting the guests out the front door. Though, my presumption was proved wrong.

"Alright, Bob and I are going to the backyard. You kids can head over to the living room–watch a movie or something." Jo said.

She whisked Bob along in the direction of the back door, carrying a bottle of wine. Giggles emitted from the smitten pair, and I offhandedly smiled at their disappearing figures. However, the smile slipped off my face once I faced forward. Benny was staring at me with a horribly bitter look.

"What is your problem?" I finally erupted in annoyance. "Why are you staring at me like that? I haven't done anything to you."

"Sure you haven't," he sneered. "You've been messing up my life since the first day you moved here."

I stared at him in confusion. "How?"

"I don't have to explain myself to you," he snapped in his deep voice.

"You're just saying that because you don't have a valid reason," I scoffed, feeling myself heat up in anger. "I mean, why can't we just be friends?"

Benny laughed, as if the idea was preposterous.

"What, you think we're friends just because my dad likes your aunt?" He chuckled bitterly. "Or, better yet–is it because you think Antonio likes you?"

I was quiet and felt my heart thump a little faster. Antonio had nothing to do with this, so why did Benny bring him up?

"He'll realize you're nothing special eventually," Benny droned, downing the last of his coke.

I looked away in hurt, but recovered pretty quickly. "I'm just saying, we should be friends because... because..."

"What? Is it because we're both black?" he mocked. "Does that automatically make us brother and sister?"

I cast him a glare. "Acting like a dick won't make your's any bigger."

His dark eyes flashed angrily and he stormed out of the dining room. I angrily tucked my curls behind my ears before running upstairs to my room, shutting the door and jumping onto my bed.

• • •

"You did not say that to him," Lily choked in shock. Meanwhile, Romano practically trembled with laughter.

"I had to," I defended. "It's like he has something against me, and I can't figure out why."

My phone was propped up on my desk as I paced up and down my bedroom. Bob and Benny had left a while ago. I had gone downstairs to mutter a quick goodbye, refusing to even glance Benny's way. Hours later, here I was, ranting to Lily and Romano about the horrid fight through a video call.

"Don't take it personal, Ro. I told you he's a grouch," Romano advised.

"No, but you didn't see the way he looked at me," I miserably groaned, coming to a stop in front of my phone. "Like this."

I furrowed my eyebrows and mustered up the meanest look I could. Though, apparently not mean enough. Lily and Romano burst out in laughter.

"Stop laughing, this is serious," I said in exasperation.

If anything, they only laughed harder.

"I'm gonna hang up," I deadpanned.

"Alright, fine," Lily was the first to sober up. "You're completely right, Benny sounds horrible."

"He is," I agreed. "You think he'll do something to me at school?"

"What? You guys are overreacting," Romano shook his head. "Trust me, Benny may act mean, but he's laid back once you get to know him. He's just... protective."

Protective? Of what? Antonio? It didn't make any sense. My stomach was still tied in a knot, and Romano could clearly tell.

"Look, you just need to relax," Romano stated. "How about you come to the bonfire tomorrow night?"

"Bonfire?" I asked in confusion.

"Yeah, at the beach."

"Beach?"

"Are you going to repeat everything I say?" he rolled his eyes in a dull tone.

My lips upturned in a grin. "No. Continue."

"Right, well, some kids from your school are hosting a bonfire at the beach tomorrow night. We could all go together and let loose."

"I don't know," I began wearily. "Remember what happened at the last party I went to?"

Of course, Romano and Lily were both well informed of the incident.

"Yeah, with Buzz," Romano's eyes protectively flashed in anger. "But, don't worry. This isn't much of a party. The bonfire's more of a small get-together. It's exclusive to only Burnsley High kids."

"Then why are you going?" Lily asked him in confusion.

Romano scoffed as if the question offended him. "I'm friends with everybody in this town."

"But still, you go to Downsview Academy," Lily teasingly poked. "Private school kids aren't allowed."

"I was invited," he dramatically emphasized. "That's more than you could say."

"How dare you? You know I'm a loner," Lily frowned.

I had to stifle my giggle.

"Alright, alright, I'll come," I gave in.

"Perfect," Romano flashed us a sparkly smile. "I'll pick you girls up tomorrow at eight."

I nodded. The idea of a bonfire didn't seem all too bad. Who knew? Maybe I'd even have fun.

And so we continued chattering over our phones well into the night, until my eyelids became droopy and I eventually fell asleep.

• • •