Hi again!!!

This story was posted about a month or two back but I realised it had a very weak plot and it didn’t make all the much sense. So, back to the drawing board as they say.

So, I took the story back to the roots. Taking out elements that seemed to be useless. So, here it is.

Thoughts are in italics.

BLOOD’S ROSE

CHAPTER ONE

LIFE (EDITED)

Rose stepped into her dismal apartment. She noticed with distaste that the place smelt of cabbage, again.

Bloody neighbours, she thought to herself as she dumped her school bag on the old sofa.

The brunette sighed as she entered her tiny kitchen. Grabbing a can of Cola from the fridge, she headed back to the cream living room and threw open all the windows in an attempt to lure the smell out of the apartment.

Who feeds cabbage to their dog? Strange people!

The 19 year old lounged on the sofa, watching the black and white television. Money was tight for her, so she didn’t waste a great amount on something as luxurious as a colour TV.

Rose was taking an English Literature course at the local University. She had to work two jobs to pay off her student loan, but she was content with doing the one subject she loved. She worked at the local bookshop every week day and in the Library at the weekends.

The young woman cursed as she realised she had to get ready for work.

Story of my life, she thought as a pigeon crash into the wall mere inches from the open window.

“I know exactly how you feel.” She told the barely conscious bird that she placed on the ledge that ran along the side of the red brick building.

………………………….

“What’s going on?” Rose asked her best friend, Lucy, as she reached the University campus.

A day has passed since the pigeon incident, which recovered steadily on the ledge, eating the bird seed Rose threw out for it.

“Professor Dee was found dead in his office this morning, suicide from what I have heard.”

Rose whirled around to face her friend, peeling her eyes away from the police van that was parked about 20 feet from them. They were prevented from coming any closer by the clichéd yellow police tape.

Rose widened her emerald eyes in surprise as she glanced over Lucy’s shoulder to a police officer who was staring at her.

“What’s wrong girl? I know Dee was your teacher but he weren’t exactly a nice person, had it coming if you ask me.”

Rose peeled her gaze away from the officer and stared at her dark skinned friend.

“Lucy what an awful thing to say! Dee may have been the devil incarnate but it doesn’t mean we should celebrate his death!”

Lucy gave her look that clearly showed she though otherwise before grabbing her arm and guiding them to the main entrance.

“No classes for the rest of the week!” Lucy said, linking arms with Rose.

They were both the small height of 5’2”, both with curly hair that hung halfway down their backs. The twosome had stuck through everything together for 15 years, and somehow their taste got mixed together.

Lucy fiddled with the long braid her raven coloured hair was in as they walked.

“I might see if I can squeeze in a few hours of work for the rest of the week.” Rose thought aloud to her companion.

Lucy gasped and stopped in the middle of the littered pavement. They were subconsciously heading to her apartment.

“Are you mad girl? You work all the time! Come out with me, let’s go shopping!”

Rose sighed at the enthusiasm in her voice and carried on walking.

“Some of us don’t have Daddy’s to give us new Bentley’s every month Lucy. I have to pay for everything, and I could do with some extra cash.” Rose said, trying to keep the annoyance out of her voice, they had had this conversation many times before.

“Hey, that was because he got divorced from Mom remember, just a sympathy thing. You told me you were getting long fine!”

Rose carried on walking, not bothering to look at her friend.

“I am doing fine; I just want to buy some stuff for Mother’s Day.”

Lucy’s brown eyes showed understanding as they reached the Victorian brick house that Rose’s apartment was in.

The two climbed the two flights of stairs to the top floor easily, reaching the apartment.

Rose had managed to save up a year ago to buy a new headstone for her mother’s grave. It took a lot of extra hours and paper cuts from new books but she managed. This year she was planning to buy and plant her mother’s favourite rose on the grave, though it did not sound as much of a task, when you had little money for yourself it seemed a large job.

“Girl, I will pitch in on the Rose, don’t wear yourself to thin, come shopping with me, let’s go now! I’m sure you could buy groceries or some of my Grandmother’s old things again.”

Rose smiled at the memory of their last shopping trip. Rose had bought a cooker Lucy’s grandmother was selling at her café.

“Best thing I ever nought.” She said proudly, looking into her canary yellow kitchen, gazing fondly at the white gas cooker.

The apartment was her Mother’s and hers. Lily left it to Rose in her will, leaving the place in need of decoration, but thankfully fully paid for.

Her mother had developed Breast Cancer that was unidentified too late.

So, two years ago, when she was 17, her dying grandfather came into the apartment with her and decorated it for when she was 18 and able to move in. It was tough having her mother and grandfather both die within a year each other, but she got through it.

Lucy coughed loudly, breaking Rose from her reverie.

“Okay, I need some groceries; I will go shopping, as long as we can stop off in the book shop and extend my hours for the rest of the week.”

Lucy came over and hugged her.

“Great, but first you are making me dinner.”

Rose laughed and grabbed Lucy’s soft hands, dragging her towards the kitchen.

………………….

Rose cursed as she leapt out of the white bath tub and slipped on a robe, not bothering to dry properly.

She had just poured herself a lovely, scented bath with candles littered around the tin edges.

How typical that someone decides to knock the door, she thought as she stepped out of the blue bathroom.

After coming back from the shopping trip with Lucy, laden with carrier bags, Rose has quickly done all the necessary tidying up chores and poured herself a deep bath.

This person better have a good reason for coming by, she thought as she threw open the door.

A man stood in front of her, in a pose that suggested he was about to knock again.

Rose blushed, folding her arms around her chest in an attempt to recover some of her modesty.

“May I help you?” She asked softly, looking into the man’s eyes.

“Miss Rose Carlisle?” The man questioned, talking in a rich American accent.

“I am she.”

“I am here to ask some questions about your teacher, Professor Dee?”

Rose’s eyes grew wide as recognition coursed through her.

He was the officer that was staring at her this morning.

“Where is your badge and uniform Mr..?” Rose questioned, eyeing his plain white shirt and blue jeans warily.

“At the Station, I thought it would be better to not come in uniform.” The man said, ignoring her hidden question for his name.

Rose gave him a sceptical glance, eyeing his hopeful eyes.

“Well I am sorry, by law I am not required to answer questions to an officer off-duty, which I can guess you are. I do not know why you are here tonight but I most certainly am not going to stand here and be scrutinised. Good night.”

Rose moved to slam the door, anger flowing thick in her veins.

“You don’t recognise me do you?” The man said, putting his foot in the way of the door.

“Should I?”

The man smiled, showing perfectly straight teeth. Typical, she thought darkly, I am supposed to know this guy, maybe my memory is fading.

“April 14th, 2000”

She flew a hand to he mouth, remembering the face and accent exactly.

15 year old Rose looked out of her bedroom window sadly, watching as her father was placed into an ambulance.

She felt her Mum slip her arms around her in a form of comfort, but nothing could comfort her from the fact that was burned into her brain.

Her Father was going to a mental home.

………………………………

There we go, I hope you like this version of the story a lot better than the old one, and I think it is a lot better personally, so, please review!!!!!

Huge thanks to my beta Sally.

Chapter 2 will be out tomorrow or Saturday.

Dan.