Foxfire and Rose Briars: A Rose's Thorns

Chapter 5, Unfortunate Circumstances

Rosaleen's PoV

I stepped into the dusty garage, coughing slightly, waving my hand in front of my face to clear the dust away. The sun leaked through the skylights painting the large base as well as the graffiti along the cement.

“Well hello hot stuff, what's Frostheim doing here~?” A smooth voice asked behind me, making my brows screw together as I spun on the person. My eyes narrowed as I stared but it was directed at the chest of the person. My eyes raised to stare the stranger in the eyes as I glared at him angrily.

“Step. Back.” I said slowly, my black eyes narrowed in defiance as I stared at him, it was just a general studies student who tried to use every well known tactic on me, my eyes were not impressed.

“Kurt, don’t that’s the female Frostheim ghoul, don’t f**k with her.” The guys behind him said, the Kurt guy not backing down and my eyes narrowed further as I didn’t react.

“Listen to your friends, Kurt. Leave. Me. Alone. I do not take kindly to creeps.” I said slowly, making Kurt's eyes narrow as he slumped and walked away, not saying anything further.

Slow clapping could be heard behind me and I turned on my heel, running straight into the chest of the last person I wanted to see in this godforsaken garage. Leo Kurosagi.

“Watch it!” He snapped, I jumped back and let out an exasperated huff as I crossed my arms.

“Where’s your Captain, I need to report to him about the mission I have to join you and Sho on.” I explained and Leo’s attention immediately snapped to me, like he just heard the most shocking news.

“I beg your f*****g pardon?” He snapped, his hazel eyes narrowing in annoyance and frustration.

“Why is that meathead sending Frostheim to work with us? Thats f*****g stupid!” Leo seethed as he shoved past me annoyed as he spoke over his shoulder, in a bored and annoyed tone.

“Tell him I’m not going, I am not working with a Frostheim.” He said as he left and I turned again to see Sho staring at me and I froze, unsure what to do, his chilling gaze looking me up and down.

“I am not going either, just claim it as a Frostheim mission, because you will have to drag me out by my feet.” He said following Leo, but brushing aggressively past me. I stumbled slightly and fell back landing on my butt, my brows scrunched together in frustration, ‘f*****g jerks’ I thought as a hand reached down bigger than mine more rough and welcoming.

“Sorry about them, you’re not hurt are you…?” I looked up at the deep voice, my eyes meeting his, hazel green like when pine needles are at their prime and they turn the green grey that is just. Mysterious. with depths of thought and a mid-summer storm in the early mornings deep in the woods. That’s the color that stared back. My brain short circuited as I tried to think of the next words to say.

“Ms..?” I was snapped back to reality by his deep soothing voice, my heart froze for a second as my eyes started to register his whole face. Body starting to have a mind of its own as I accepted his hand, which was warm and gentle even though it felt like it had done a fair share of work.

“I… Uh sorry. Yeah I am okay, I thought Sho and I were on good terms. But guess not.” I hummed, shrugging and dusting myself off now, frowning gently as I sighed softly. Looking back at the man who just helped me up. His features were sharp but he had a mysterious but aloof aura about him that drew me in, I didn’t know why.

“I uh… Hi… Uh… Is the Captain around?” I asked, tripping over my words as the man moved his head to the side, his dark eyes twinkling softly in the sunny ambience of the garage.

“He’s right here.” The man motioned to himself, there was a guarded look on his features as he looked me up and down. Confused.

“Why are you here?” He asked, eyes watching me almost suspiciously, unease settled on the back of my neck as the hair on my arms stood on edge feeling anxious I stepped back. Giving more space between us, my hands wringing together as I spoke.

“Tohma sent me a message… Saying I was supposed to come to… Chaperone the mission…?” I squeaked nervously watching as the Captain hummed in thought, his eyes softening slightly as he nodded slightly.

“Well. Since they seem to be screwing around, and not interested in doing the mission with you, I can take this mission. I didn’t properly introduce myself, I am Alan Mido. What is yours?” He asked, watching me now head to the side again.

“Rosaleen Dervila…” I said softly in response, the blush that was climbing my neck was hard to control as I fought to keep control of my features, my heart was racing a mile a minute and I couldn’t understand why.

“Uh… So… Mr. Mido what’s the mission?” I asked softly and he hummed in response, pulling a file from the mobile work station next to him. His eyes flicked over the paper.

“Also. Just call me Alan, no need for formalities.” He said, not looking up from the file as his dark eyes narrowed.

“Okay. It’s a search and rescue mission, I don’t understand why those two wanted to go on this one… But it’s up to us now.” He thought out loud looking at me now, making me fidget slightly, ‘why am I acting like this?! Where’s my calm and collected breath Rosaleen!’ I chastised myself aggressively.

I calmed myself down enough to compose myself, Alan Mido was by far the best looking man I had yet to meet in this Academy. In my opinion at least, I tried to shake the butterflies that fluttered inside my stomach and chest whenever he looked my way.

“Uh. Yeah when did you wanna go?” I asked my dark eyes watching him, as I used all my energy to regain composure waiting for his response.

“I say we go tomorrow, I have things I need to do. Also… make sure to get rest.” He said as he walked away, my eyes trailing after him and I released the breath I didn’t know I was holding. My feet began walking me out of the garage and towards the courtyard of the academy, my brain trying to understand what just happened.

I sat down, my eyes staring at my hands as I processed the whole scenario. I had never ever reacted that way to anyone guy before, he was so good looking that lighting was perfect, he just swooped in and helped me even though it appears Frostheim and Vagastrom have a quarrel going on.

“Rose?” I heard my nickname and my head lifted to see Luca and my eyes widened slightly, as I moved over to leave him room on the bench.

“Where’d you go, the professors said, you were dismissed from the after lunch classes per Tohma’s request. Is everything alright?” Luca asked worriedly as he bumped my shoulder gently, making me jump in response as I stuttered on my words.

“I… Uh I went to meet the Captain and Vice-Captain of Jabberwock because I heard about their animal park, but when I was coming back to go to classes I had received a text from Tohma. Directing me to Vagastrom House to take a mission with the new first years, so they don’t mess anything up… But they both walked out and said no, so Alan stepped in and said he and I were gonna go.” I explained everything that happened even to the last detail. Luca sat and listened quietly, humming softly to let me know he was still listening.

“I see…” He hummed softly, processing everything I just said and looked at me quizzically.

“Be careful around the Vagastrom students, Rose, the general studies students are bad luck as it is, the ghouls are no better.” Luca warned worriedly and I nodded softly as more footsteps approached.

“Hey! Rose! There you are!” Kaito’s loud voice said, I could hear the sadness in his voice.

“I was missing youuu” He whined and I shook my head in amusement as I allowed him to sit next to me and drape himself over me, I knew he meant nothing by it with me. I could tell.

“Guys, I am going to head back to my dorm, and get some rest… Alan told me to…” I said above a whisper then I froze unsure how to act as I stopped.

“How do I even chat with Alan?” I said confused, the trio in front of me watched me worried about my whole personality change from my calm collected personality was an anxious, ball of nerves.

“Rose…?” My pacing stopped and I looked over, Cara was now standing trying to reach for my wrist. I didn't flinch or step away. Allowing her to grip it gently as she held both wrists getting me to listen now.

“Easy, just. Relax. It is okay. Breath.” She instructed as she helped me calm down fully and recompose myself, back to me acting like an actual person again.

“My apologies guys, it’s just my first mission. So I am a little anxious.” I admitted and two two guys smiled at me, as they nodded in understanding.

“Don’t sweat it Rose.” They both said in unison and looked at eachother unamused, I chuckled slightly at their antics as I looked at Cara again.

“Thank you Cara.” I said as I hugged her gently, turned on my heel and walked back towards Frostheim, my hands were clenched softly at my sides as I walked feeling the trio's eyes on me. As I walked my phone vibrated in my pocket again.

Ishibashi- I forgot to give you Alan's number, he isn't tech savvy but call him he will answer, good luck tomorrow Dervila.

I glared at the message, my dark eyes angry as I tapped the Alan's number and huffed nervously. Tapping at the screen as I walked, my thumbs typing in a message deleting then retyping it. I let out an exasperated yell scaring some general admission students as I got to the Frostheim dorm.

I wasn't paying attention and as I turned a corner I ran straight into someone, I yelped and as I was falling back a slender hand grabbed my upper arm and saved me from the floor. I looked up to meet ruby eyes, my dark eyes widened as my eyes looked over the whole woman who just saved me from falling.

"Damn, I know I'm hot but I don't need the whole house thinking you've fallen for me~" Her voice like honey as she spoke, I hadn't realized what was happening my brain trying to process what was going on. 'Is she hitting on me?' My brain asked confused as I stuttered.

"I am so sorry ma'am-" I started but she cut me off, helping me stand up straight again as she laughed a deep seductive laugh as she brushed off my words.

"Do not worry your pretty little head about it sweet heart, it happens. What's got you in such a hurry?" She asked looking at my phone in my hand that still had the empty chat window open and back at me again, her lavender hair glowed in the shadows of the hallway.

"Alan Mido..? Oh! You're the new 2nd year ghoul!" She said putting the pieces together, her eyes twinkling softly. I nodded mutely not sure what to say, she was taller than me and prettier than me.

"Speechless I see, well I am Suzuran Fujiai. What is your name?" She asked head moving to the side, prompting me to speak and I flushed with embarassment as I started speaking.

"Rosaleen Dervila, call me Rose though." I squeaked out softly and Suzuran smiled amused as she hummed glancing around, her seductive eyes looking at the phone in my hand again.

"Just text him, he may struggle with technology but he can read." She offered as she walked around me and I listened to her steps walk away, my eyes were wide in shock as I tried to recover from her flirty personality.

"What the-" I muttered as I shook my head clear, I didn't swing that way, how is it a woman made my knees like jello like that. As my leg started working again I made my way down the empty hall to my room, opening the door and entering sitting on my bed and looking at the empty chat window biting my lip as I sighed.

Me- Hey Alan, Tohma gave me your number, since I completely forgot to ask where I should meet you. I will meet you at the garage tomorrow. Have a good night.

I swallowed the lump that was stuck in my throat as I sent the message, I set my phone down getting out of the suit. Taking my hair out of the braid running my fingers through getting all the flowers out of my hair, placing them on my bedside table before reaching past the pile of flowers to the hair brush and running it through my now wavy hair. My phone buzzed softly on the side table and I picked it up.

Alan- Sounds good, see you then.

I hummed and put my phone on the side table, heart beating faster then it should upon seeing him text back, my heart nearly stopped when I heard it buzz again.

Alan- You have a good night as well.

My eyes widened as a soft blush crawled up my neck as I read the message, I frowned as I bit my cheek.

"What is wrong with me? He's just a guy, nothing special its not like there isn't loads of hot ghouls walking around. Hell even the staff here are hot as hell... Why him?" I asked myself softly, confused not understanding my sudden stumbling and blubbering reaction. I sighed gently leaning back on my bed looking up.

"Maybe..." I mumbled as I laid down, resting my head on the soft pillow hair fanning out behind me like a soft curtain of liquid fiery orange. Allowing sleep to invade my mind and eased the uneasy feeling deep down, not wanting to lull myself into a nightmare.