The Tower

Seven: Rose

Seven: RoseHow is it possible for her to be this stupid? Although, if I were being completely honest, it wasn't that Rowyn was being stupid, it was that she was being careless. She knew Reed would keep coming back no matter how many times she pushed him away. As soon as the door closed to the house, I was on him.

“Reed Hansen, you are a glutton for punishment. You have got to stop sleeping over like this is Dawson's freaking Creek. Especially when you're drunk. Just let me drive you home.”

“Yeah… this is awkward, so I'll be in the car,” Jared declared before making his way down the outside steps.

“Aw, Rose, are you worried about me?” Reed grinned obnoxiously. It amazed me how he was so cocky and self-assured around everyone except for Rowyn. He really was striking; there was a reason all of the purity-pledge choirgirls went into heat as soon as he walked by.

“Yes. I love Rowyn, but she's going to stomp all over you.”

“I'm fine, Rose. A little drunk and a lot tired, but fine.”

“Whatever. I'm coming back to sleep here too. You can drive me home in the morning, I'll just go drop off Jared.”

“You're going to babysit us?”

“No. I'm going to babysit you.” He chuckled and ruffled my hair before turning to go inside.

“Hey, Rose?” he called back.

“Yeah?”

“You really think she's going to stomp all over me?”

I sighed. I wished I didn't think that. “She loves you. I don't think she wants to do the stomping. Just…”

He looked like he might continue into the house, but instead walked over to me and dropped a kiss on my head. “Thanks for caring. I'll wait up for you to get back. Don't let this Todd guy sweet-talk you into any heavy petting now.” He used his stern voice and found himself very amusing.

“You're welcome. You're also welcome for not punching you after using the words 'heavy petting.' Disgusting. And what the hell is up with calling him Todd?!”

“I have no idea.” Reed laughed. “See you in a few.” I watched his tall frame disappear into the house and couldn't help but wonder where my awkward friend had gone with the unruly hair and the braces from days of yore. It was weird to grow up with someone and now see him as a man, but still very much see myself as a girl. Not woman. There should really be a word in between. Other than 'gal.' What a ridiculous term.

“Oh, crap.” I'd almost forgotten about the very cute quarterback of the football team sitting in the car. Jared looked on the verge of sleep in the passenger seat of the Jetta when I approached, trying to quiet the gravel beneath my gold sandals. He just looked kind of sweet, and I could fully appreciate his clean-cut good looks without seeming creepy. Him asking me out was all very random anyway, but I couldn't help but believe that there was a guide or two that led me to the frozen foods section of the supermarket where I'd run into him a few weeks ago. I didn't even eat frozen food. I just really wanted some coconut milk ice cream right at the moment I happened to drive past the market.

I climbed into the driver's side, causing Jared's eyes to flicker open.

“Oh, hey. Here are the keys.”

“Thanks.” There were all sorts of things I thought of to say to him involving his impressive skill of not pissing off Rowyn, well, in the grand scheme of things anyway, and how I wished he'd told me about his mom. The car started, and I argued with myself about what to say. I got that we weren't really there after three or four dates, depending on if the grocery store counted as a date, but tonight was the first time I thought maybe I wanted to get there. Instead, I leaned over the clutch and pressed my lips just below his ear. His cheeks were just a little bit scruffy come the end of the day, and I liked that too.

The boyish grin I'd first noticed about him came out, and he turned to kiss me in earnest, sweeping the long blond strands aside that had escaped from my braid. New boy kisses had to be one of the greatest wonders of the world. How they could make me feel excited and nervous and certain and unsure and really freaking excited. Did I say excited? Because his kisses were deep and slow and delicious. Really good chocolate cake delicious. Then I wanted to bake a cake.

“Do you like cake?” I asked as I pulled away.

“Yes, I like cake. Do you like cake?” he asked with dimples.

“Love it,” I responded, turning my attention back to the vehicle at hand and exiting onto the main road. It was an easy silence on the short drive, and I pulled up next to the curb in front of his picturesque ranch-style home, just a block from my own, picket fence included. “Why'd you ask me out?” I was not sure why I needed to know right now, but over the years I'd learned to trust my instincts- they were usually right.

“Why'd you say yes?” He grabbed my hand and wove his fingers through mine. More new-boy-is-touching-me feelings abounded.

“I just liked your letterman's jacket, honestly.” Flirting with new boy was another favorite.

“And I just liked that I could see your tan lines with whatever type of clothing you were wearing.” I tried to think back.

“The white romper?”

“It's seriously called a romper? That seems inappropriate.” He laughed.

“Shut up, that's what it's called. So that's the only reason you asked? You saw my tan lines and had to invite me to go to the lake?”

“Yeah, I wanted to see the bathing suit that left the tan lines.”

“You're lying, but that's fine, I'll get it out of you sooner or later,” I promised, letting it go for the moment.

“You really wanna know?”

“Of course. I asked, didn't I?” His thumb was now making circles in my palm, and it made my thoughts all fuzzy.

“Because you looked like the happiest person I'd ever seen. I had gotten out of a terrible practice, my mom had just been to a crappy doctor's appointment, but you didn't know that and you smiled at me anyway. I knew who you were… well, everyone knows who you guys are. I don't mean that offensively, I just-”

“I get it. It's the truth, no worries.”

He looked relieved at that. “I just knew that I wanted to be around you. That's all. I didn't care what I'd heard, you were just… happy.”

“You're kind of surprising.”

“Yeah, I get that sometimes,” he admitted wryly.

“Well, I'm glad you asked. And I still like the jacket.”

“This jacket?” he asked, referencing the blue and gold motif he had going on.

“Yeah, that one.”

“You're so shallow.” He sat forward, slipping the jacket off and putting it over my shoulders. “But I forgive you. Keep it until I see you next.” His lips met mine, and I might have melted a little bit at the teen movie moment.

“Oh, I'm going back to Rowyn's. I can't leave them to their own devices. Reed will end up writing dark poetry in a corner or something.”

“You're gonna sleep over with both of them?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You and Reed never, like… dated?”

“Reed?! No. He's like my brother. Well, in reality he's a lot nicer than my brother, but still sibling-esque. Are you jealous?”

“That he gets to sleep in the same room as you? Yeah, a little. But we're good. Keep the dark poetry at bay; that sounds terrible. I'll call you tomorrow?”

“Yes, please.” One more melting kiss later, and I was stopping by my house to stealthily pick up Mr. Freeze, my must-have-to-sleep penguin, before continuing on my way back to Rowyn's. The smile that was plastered on my face showed no signs of fading.

* * *

“Finally!” I heard once I made it up the steps to Rowyn's room. This room absolutely belonged to my friend. It could have been a movie set for a teenage witch. Mine was yellow with daisies stamped on the wall. My talents lay in the kitchen; decorating was not my thing.

“Finally what?” I asked quietly, trying not to wake a softly snoring Rowyn spread out in the bed.

“I told you I'd wait for you to get back. I didn't think you'd be making out with Joe Football for an hour.”

“I do what I want,” I shot back snarkily, making Reed laugh.

“Now you sound like Rowyn. Try not to channel her too much, I can only take a single copy. You're supposed to be the nice one.”

“Yeah, yeah, so I hear daily from my parents. It would be awesome if Hunter weren't such a screw up. Anyway, thank you for waiting up. I'm going to sleep. And so are you. On the floor,” I clarified as he looked longingly at her. I kicked off my sandals and grabbed an oversized t-shirt from the dresser. My body was tired, but my brain was wired as I replayed Jared's words in my mind. I tried to remember how Reed had described his fling when we were in the kitchen. Easy and normal, I recalled. Those were two things I could definitely handle.