The Beginning to an end

Chapter Nine:

Rose POV

After we got to Ang’s door, I knocked and walked in.

“Hey, Ang.”

“What happened now?”

“Nothing. I just have a headache and wanted to see if you would write me a slip to let me go home early?”

“Of course I will. I told you to take at least a week off. Let me write one for each of your teachers because you know how forgetful they can be. I’ll write one for you, the Principal and one for each of your parents; you can decide whether to give them to them or not, in past experience I’m sure they wouldn’t believe you if you didn’t have them anyway and I’ll be stopping by your house today after you get off work to tell them in person since they will think you forged the note anyway. Should I make one for Phoebe as well so she can frame it? Since this is the first time you’ve asked to go home early for as long as I’ve known you.”

“Don’t even think about making one for Phoebe or I swear; you damn well know she would never let me live it down if she knew.” the nurse shrugged and went to writing a bunch of the notes before turning to us and looking at the guys and I.

“And what about you boys? Are you also leaving for the week? Or just the day?”

“Just the day, Mrs. A.”

“Ok, I’ll write you boys one for each of your teachers as well. Make sure to go get your homework from them for today, alright? What class do you boys have right now? The same one as Rose, since you four all walked in together? Rose, do you have all the homework you will need for this week? And how are you getting home?”

“We all have Newmans class this period. I have Krissy grabbing my assignments for me now. I still have to go to the library and grab ‘The Great Gatsby” for Newmans class. I drove myself here so I’m driving myself home before that, I need to go to my locker and grab my stuff.”

“I would like for someone to be with you in the car just in case you get dizzy and shouldn’t be driving.”

“I’ll be with her Mrs. A don’t worry. I will have either Alex or Justin drive my car to Rose’s house.”

“That makes me feel a lot better Drake. Thank you.”

“Of course.” I took my phone out of my pocket and texted Phoebe, telling her get her stuff together and that a note saying she could leave school for the rest of the day would be showing up soon.

“Actually, write one for Phoebe as well, Ang. You know how worried she will be when she finds out I left and she wasn’t able to. In fact, just write one for each of the boys so they can get their assignments, three for me; one for my teachers, one for the principle and one for me, and lastly one for Phoebe. That way you won’t have to write… how many? About 20 or so?”

“Good point. I just had the door replaced the last time Phoebe threw a temper tantrum. I don’t want to replace it again anytime soon.” Mrs. A and Rose were all laughing when someone knocked on the door and the secretary walked in.

“Here you go, Rose. All of your assignments for this week. I even have printed out instructions from your teachers on what to do and I labeled which ones are for which classes.”

“Thanks so much Krissy. Wait; why do you have another pile with you?”

“Oh before I left to get yours, I looked up the boys schedules and got their homework for today as well as since I figured they would be leaving with you. Was I wrong?”

“No, you were right.”

“Good because I also grabbed the assignments for Phoebe but not the ones that are for this period. I also delivered my own note that I wrote before I left so you don’t have to write one, Ang.”

“As usual Krissy, you’re psychic ability is spot on.” the girls were all laughing when the door burst open and we all saw Phoebe breathing very hard. “Damn Fee… When I texted you, I didn’t mean for you to run here. Jeez.”

“Is. It. True? Are we really leaving this hell hole early?!”

“Yes we are. Well, I’m going home. I need some sleep before my shift today or else I’ll be falling asleep during my shift. You guys can do whatever you want.”

“Well I’m going to your house with you Rose. Or you can come over to mine? You know my parents wouldn’t mind. You’re basically their second daughter.”

“We’ll go with you guys.” Fee and I looked over at Alex and the guys. They all had huge smiles on their faces before I looked at Fee. To say she was happy would be an understatement.

“Well then I guess the guys are coming with us but I still have to go to my house anyway. And since no one will let me drive m-...”

“Damn right we won’t!”

“Not in your current condition.”

“No way.”

“Anyway! Drake already said he would drive me and my car to my house while Justin drives his. Phoebe you can follow behind us and the guys after that. Any questions? No? Good. I need to go to the library and get ‘The Great Gatsby’ so I can do the assignments.” I walked over and grabbed all my passes before walking out the door and to the Principle’s office. I knocked and waited before I heard a quick come in.

“What’s up Adam?”

“Ah Rose. I was just going to call you down. How did you beat me to it?”

“I’m guessing you didn’t just want to see my pretty face right? Is this about what happened at lunch with Kelsey?”

“Afraid so sweetheart. Have a seat.” you see, Adam here isn’t just the principle at my school, he’s also my uncle. Him, Phoebe and her family are the only ones who treat me like I’m an actual human being. Adam also likes to spoil me since he knows my parents don’t; he doesn’t change my grades or give me any special attention or whatever. I mean he tries to but then I tell him that it’s not right and to put everything back to how it was before. Adam kinda looks like my dad since he has the same green eyes as him but he has a warm skin tone and auburn hair, while my dad has olive skin and black hair. “I have to say I like you with copper brown hair and chocolate-brown eyes but why did you change them? You’re beautiful with either style but I prefer the auburn with green eyes.”

“You know my dad hates how much we look alike right?” he sighed and nods.

“Sadly, I do.”

“Then you know why I had to change it. But in all honesty, I think I might go back to my original self soon. I miss it too and my roots are starting to show now. Anyway, what happened with Kelsey was a misunderstanding.”

“How so?”

“You know how high she thinks of herself?” of course he knows, there have been more than enough complaints made against her since I’ve been standing up to her more and more; plus the fight that went down at lunch most likely brought in more complaints too. “Well, she got a little ahead of herself today and get pissed when her on-again-off-again boyfriend was sitting with me instead of her.”

“Did you start it?”

“No.”

“Did you win?”

“Of course”

“That’s my girl. Continue.” I told him about how Phoebe, Drake and were sitting at the table when his friends came over and sat with us, Kelsey following behind them and how she started a scene and intentionally picked a fight with me that Phoebe took the bait for and how I stopped Fee from hitting fish face first. I told him how she attacked me because she was angry Drake wouldn’t sit with her. I told him how the fight went and how it ended. “So let me get this straight. Not only did she pick a fight with you, give you injuries and basically humiliate you in front of the whole school; you didn’t flatten her out immediately? I have to say you’re becoming soft, sweetheart.” I laughed and winced afterwards. I saw Adam eyes grow darker with anger as he got up and sat next to me, pulling the chair closer so our knees were touching. “How bad is it?”

“How bad is what?”

“Rose. You know exactly what I mean. How bad is it?” I sighed and leaned back in my chair slowly.

“Bruised ribs and a gash ‘the size of Europe’ as Tia put it. Could be worse in all honesty.”

“Show me the gash”

“Adam..”

“Now” I groaned and leaned forward for him to take the bandage off but before he could, the door flew open and in walked Phoebe and the boys, followed by Krissy.

“What the hell is going on? Get away from her!”

“I knew you would still be in here.”

“Watch how you speak, Mr. Stokes.”

“Or what? Get away from Rose.”

“Drake calm down. He’s…“

“A perv trying to come onto his student.” the silence was deafening before Phoebe and I broke it by laughing. Mine didn’t last long before I was doubled over in pain and coughing. Adam was in front of me trying to get me to breath, Drake was trying to push him away with Justin helping, Phoebe was laughing her ass off with Alex trying to calm her down as Krissy ran out and brought me a glass of water.

“Rose? I need you to listen to me and try to take deep breaths ok? It will hurt but it will also help.”

“What is wrong with you!? Get away from her!?” Krissy was next to me in a second and helping me drink when she got up and used Adam’s phone to call Ang who came running a second later. But sadly that didn’t stop Drake and Justin from pulling and holding Adam away from me. The more Drake and Justin fought with Adam, the worse I got and soon I was having a panic/coughing attack. Ang was trying to get me to take breaths and my head was starting to hurt from all the coughing and wheezing that I was doing. Phoebe finally composed herself and walked over to Drake, Adam and Justin before pushing them away from Adam.

“What the hell, Phoebe!?”

“Shut up! What matters right now is getting Rose to calm down. Can’t you see that you are making it worse!? She’s having a panic attack right now and one of the people who can help calm her down is being held back by you idiots! Why are you just standing there Adam!? Go!!” Adam came running over to me and gently moved my head so it was between my legs, telling me to take deep breaths as he rubbed my back softly. After a few minutes, I calmed down a little and sat up slowly before leaning back against the chair. Adam held my hand and rubbed small circles on it as Phoebe knelt down next to me.

“You’re ok, Rose. Keep taking deep breaths, that’s it keep going. Good.” I closed my eyes before taking a deep breath and opening them again and looking directly at Drake and the Twins.

“I’ll deal with you three in a bit. For now, sit down on the couch and stay quiet. Adam. you said you wanted to check the gash so come on.”

“I can check it later Rose. You just…”

“I want to go home and sleep. The only way I can do that is if we get this over and done with. I still have to go to the stupid library so let’s just do this.” I leaned forward as Phoebe leaned behind me with Krissy and Ang on either side of me, giving me the support I didn’t have to hold myself up. I felt Phoebe pull my hair away from my face and put it in a loose pony tied at the nape. I nodded to Ang who let me go to carefully remove the bandage so Adam could see everything.

When the bandage was fully off, he leaned forward and inspected the gash.

“Still refuse to go to the hospital I see?”

“What’s the point when I can do mostly everything myself? Today being an exception.” Adam shook his head and moved away.

“You may have to go anyway. That gash is really deep and even though Angela disinfected it and everything, something could still go wrong. I would feel better if you went.”

“No”

“Rose, sweetheart”

“No”

“Don’t call her that! She’s your student!”

“I already warned you once; watch how you speak to me if you know what’s good for you boy.”

“Or what!?

“ENOUGH!” everyone attention snapped to me as I held my head and leaned back. “This is the second time I’ve had to yell and now I’ve got an even bigger headache then I came in here with! Adam and Drake: I get that you are both guys and are both worried about me or whatever but I’m not in the mood to babysit you two! Stop trying to measure your guys d***s and shut up! Drake, you need to calm the f**k down and fast. Adam isn’t a pervert or anything like that and if you would’ve let me speak before you cut me off, I could’ve told you that Adam here is my uncle and that’s why he was trying to check my head.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah, so what do you have to say to Adam?” he looked between me and Adam before stopping on me.

“... Do I have to?”

“Well, considering you jumped to conclusions and that lead you to nearly attacking him; yes you have to.” he sighed before mumbling sorry to him with Adam mumbling it’s ok. “Good now shake hands so I can go home.” they did a quick 2-second shake before moving away from each other. “Thank you, was that so hard? Anyway, here Adam; my slip to leave early today and be gone til next week. The boys and Phoebe also have one, but their’s is just for today. Yes, we already have all of our assignments for today. Yes, I have mine for the whole week and I know that if there are any new assignments handed out in any of my classes while I’m gone, you’ll get them for me and bring them over. No, I’m not driving. Yes, I have a ride. It’s not Phoebe; it’s Drake. Yes, I have to work and yes, I’ll be picking up extra shifts. No, I won’t stay home no matter how much you beg or give me puppy dog eyes. Anymore questions?” I crossed my arms as I watched him open and close his mouth as I answered all the questions he was going to ask and smirked.

“When are your parents coming home?” my smile slipped and a frown replaced it as I looked towards the windows and outside.

“Who knows…” I mumbled as I watched the sprinklers turn on and was thankful that I parked away from the front of the school. “They never cared about me so why should I care about them?”

“Rose.. They’re your parents”

“So what Phoebe? Ever since I could remember, they have never been there for me when I needed them so why should I care?” I snapped; looking back at everyone as they all stared at me with looks of sympathy. I didn’t say anything as I walked out of the office and to the library, grabbing a copy of ‘The Great Gatsby’, checking out and walking outside as I waited for everyone.