Wanting You (Book 1)

Roses Are Red

Astrid's POV

"You've found chocolates, a rose, and a note in your locker?" Keri asked in disbelief when we got into her car, and I showed her the items. "Oh my goodness. I can't believe this. This is amazing. Who is your secret admirer?"

"I have zero clue as to who would even do this. Maybe they had the wrong locker. There has to be some kind of mistake," I said as butterflies fluttered around my stomach. I looked at the single red rose I was holding with both hands and wondered some more, but I couldn't stop the smile showing up on my face.

~

I had an evening shift at the ice-cream parlor. Keri dropped me off and then left. She was still in boiling water with her parents and didn't want to do anything that would land her in more trouble with them.

~

Sunshine eyed me as I walked in.

"There's some bounce in your steps. I trust that V-Day went nicely for you," she observed and spoke.

"Wait, I was doing that?" I asked.

"Girl, you look like you are on cloud nine right now, but I didn't know you had a boyfriend."

"That's because I don't have a boyfriend."

"Then a secret admirer, huh?"

"Yeah. Apparently, and I have no idea who that is. The suspense is killing me."

"Yeah, and this shift is going to kill you even more," she said. The parlor was swarming with people of all ages celebrating Valentine's evening with the different flavors of ice cream we served. Although it was extremely busy, the constant thought of someone having a crush on me was enough to keep me energetic and smiling.

~

After the evening shift, I headed home and found my mother standing by a large bouquet of red roses.

"Wow. Those are beautiful," I spoke. Finally realizing how exhausted I was, I sat down on the couch like a pile of rocks.

"Thank you," mom responded.

"Who's it from?" I inquired further.

"No idea. It was on my desk with my name attached to it when I came back from lunch today," she answered again, this time, with a wide smile on her face like one of my fellow highschool peers.

"We have that in common today."

"How so?"

I retrieved the single red rose, the box of chocolates, and the note from my bag and showed it to her. She smiled a gladful smile at me, and then her phone rang. She took the call into the kitchen, and I relaxed more into the couch.

After some minutes, mom came back into the living room.

"Oh my goodness! I've just been invited out for dinner," mom said, "My colleagues are having a small social dinner with the boss himself, and I've been invited," she announced.

"That's great, mom. Go get ready then," I told her. She turned on her heel quickly and ran upstairs to her bedroom.

Within half an hour, she had showered and dressed and smelled amazing.

"You look great," I complimented as I took in her red dress, curly hairstyle, flawless makeup, and accessories that highlighted her attire and bought the look together. Mom was beautiful and had always been beautiful.

What the hell was my father thinking leaving us?

"Help zip me up," she said. I zipped her dress and ensured everything else was in their perfect order. She finally grabbed her purse and keys to her car and drove to her dinner at the restaurant she got invited to.

~

The house was quiet. I locked the windows and doors and set the security alarm before going upstairs to my bedroom. I opened the door and almost jumped out of my skin when I saw Keri sitting on my bed.

"KERI? WHAT THE HELL! You almost gave me a heart attack," I expressed, holding my chest.

"I'm sorry," she faintly apologized.

"What are you doing here.. not that you're not welcomed, but I wasn't expecting you to be here at all. Why aren't you home?" I asked her.

She gave a sad smile and a deep sigh. "I can not stay at that house tonight. Ever since the cheerleading party, it's been chaotic and hell for me. I get it, I messed up, especially where the alcohol was concerned, but mom and dad took everything to a whole other level. They even confiscated my cellphone today!"

"That's crazy."

"And they wouldn't stop bickering and nagging in my head. I don't know what else to do, Astrid. I just had to come to you," she said, her eyes welled up with tears, and I pulled her into an embrace.

"Have you apologized?" I asked her next.

"Until I lost count," she answered.

"You need to earn their trust back."

"I'm trying, but they wouldn't let me."

"Write notes to them if you have to."

Keri laughed. "Thank you, no matter how dreadful I'm feeling, you know how to make me laugh. I love you, bestie," she said, "Soeaking of "Love", she went on, "Just who put those items into your locker?"

"I haven't a clue, Keri."

"Well, I have some names, and I've been doing some thinking. What do you think of Josh Bryan?"

"Josh Bryan and I have never been close, but he is rather intelligent and interesting. He usually defends me, has my back against teasing, and is put down. He assisted me with several assignments and projects for class. There is a possibility it could have been him," I answered her.

"Good. What about Daniel Osborne?"

"Daniel Osborne had always let it been known he had a crush on me since the beginning of freshman year. He is a book nerd like myself, wears glasses, and needs a fashion sense, but being as he's recovering from an injury, I don't see how it would be him. He is a darling, though, and I'm lowkey missing him," I answered.

"I'm not. He wanted my spot," Keri scoffed with playful jealousy.

"Come on.. no, he didn't. He wanted it to be a trio."

"Nooo," she dragged. We burst into laughter, "And last but not least," Keri said, then paused, "Drum roll please," she mimicked the sounds of a drumroll, "Trent Ambrose."

I chocked on just the mentioned of his name.

"Trent Ambrose? Keri, why would he even be a possibility? You and I were standing right there when he technically rolled out the red carpet for his girlfriend. You saw him getting on a knee and gave her a freaking promise ring! Why would Trent put a rose and chocolates in my locker?"

"He spoke to you at the party and he took us home which Trent Ambrose has never ever done. Doesn't that tell you something?"

"No, Keri. It doesn't tell me anything. Maybe he was high too. I don't know why he offered to take us home."

"You don't know?"

"No. Of course not. I wanted you and I to leave and he was leaving at the same time so he took us home."

"You didn't speak about anything else whilst in the car and I was unconscious?"

"Directions to your house, that was all."

"But what if, Astrid?"

"What if what?" I asked her.

"What if it was him? What if he does like you too?"

I gulped.