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3

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Point of View: Rosemarie

I had been sucked up into some sort of twilight zone. I just had to have been. There is no possible way that I could do that to my best friend. I've never been so mean, never been so downright cold hearted and cruel.

This isn't me. I can't just cut someone off like that, especially someone as close to my heart as my best friend. He is the only person that truly knows and understands me. He's the only person that has really been there for me. Sure he's not perfect, but no one can be perfect. So what if his lifestyle scares me? So what if alcohol was his best friend? I can settle for being second best... Right?

I looked up at the sky. A new day was dawning as the morning fog slowly dissipated into the radiating rays. The clouds were taking their place in the sky, and the only sounds came from the rustling of the leaves from the nearby trees.

I closed my eyes.

I had to go back. I had to apologize.

It was an unsettling feeling to know that I am too weak to stand up for myself. No matter what a person does to me, no matter how much someone hurts me, I will always take him or her back. I just can't walk away. I am not my father.

No, I am not or will ever resemble him...

"Rose!"

Just by the sound of my name, I knew who it was.

Garrett Thomas.

Of all the people in the world, he is the only one that calls me that. Ever since I've known him, he's always called me 'Rose'. I've never corrected him, partly because I know that I could never reform him, and partly because I liked the sound of my name on his lips. It was such a delicate of a word to come from a badass like Garrett.

He was a mere five feet away from me when his footsteps came to a halt. Our eyes connected and I smiled. He wasn't out of breath, all those years in track had given him high endurance, but his hair was a mess. It stuck out in all directions and was all mussed up. Truthfully, it was just a big ball of fluffy chaos. He worked the right-out-of-bed angle perfectly without ever really trying. Yet, he still looked like he was about to fight me. Only Garrett could pull it off and still look like a badass.

It's those piercing dark blue eyes, I mused with a bitten-back grin. He could be wearing a pink shirt with 'I am gay' written in glitter and he could still look like a badass. He wasn't one of those types to wear all black though; he never really understood the concept of it. I asked him about it once and his exact words were: "All nonconformists wear black.... fuck that shit. I'll wear whatever the fuck I want to wear."

"What?" he nearly growled at me, after we stood there staring back at each other for what seemed like an eternity.

"Nothing, " I answered in the sweetest tone possible. His nose twitched, it was his trademark expression when he was annoyed. It could go unnoticed because it was gone before the blink of an eye, but I've known him long enough to notice it. He didn't have that many facial expressions, so I always made a point to figure out all those little secrets that he knew how to hide well. He is just a big puzzle that I want to solve. But as the saying goes: curiosity killed the cat. In my case, however, curiosity snarls back.

He swiftly looked away, shoved his hands into his pockets, and walked away. I smirked. I loved getting under his skin.

I watched as he walked away. His footsteps were heavy and he walked in a perfect straight line. I had been staring at him for a long time, when he finally turned around to look at me.

Our eyes once again connected.

Suddenly a car zipped by and brought me back to reality. A strong gust of wind picked up my dress and I had to hold it down to keep from flying.

I swear I heard him chuckle once I caught up to him... That would have been incredibly awesome. Any show of emotion, aside from anger or annoyance, resonating from Garrett would be awesome, but he didn't say anything.

Because I was walking behind him, I didn't really get to say much more. After awhile the silence became a tad bit annoying so I jogged to keep up with his walking level.

Seeing my dismay, he took a deep breath and slowed down to meet my pace.

"You shouldn't have run away," he said once our footsteps were in sync. At hearing his comment, this overwhelming feeling came over me. I looked back at him with an eyebrow raised, but he quickly diverted his gaze away from my body.

I looked down to see what he meant. I was wearing my favorite sunflower dress. It was a bright yellow color and reached down to my knees. I looked like I just came out of a tea party. Truly not the type of clothing one would wear when running, but it wasn't like I meant to go off on my best friend and run away like a coward.

I breathed a heavy sigh at the thought. The fact that I had run away irked me.

"You dirtied your shoes," he added, as we crossed the street.

I looked down at the tips of my sandals. They were scuffed up and had random bits of grass blades sticking out against the pearly white color. It surprised me that he actually noticed it. I started staring at him again.

He was just a ball of mystery that I found myself wanting to unwind to figure out what was hidden on the inside.

It was nearly five minutes before Chris' house was in sight. With the wind in my face and my hair all over the place, I didn't really notice where I was going the first time around. The only direction I wanted to go was away from Chris. And away was where I went.

I took a deep breath.

I didn't want to go there, yet at the same I needed to there. I was almost into the front yard when I felt a hand grab my wrist tightly.

I turned my head around and found Garrett looking at me as if I were some kind of idiot. "You aren't going over there to apologize, Rose."

"But--"

He just shook his head and tugged me toward the direction of his truck. "He needs to be taught a lesson. If you go back, he'll never change."

"I just can't leave like this." I tried to make Garrett understand, but he wouldn't listen to me. He rarely does. "Garrett--"

"No," he answered curtly.

He tightened his grip onto my wrist and wouldn't give me a chance to bolt away.

He pulled me into his truck, ignored my pouting, and he waited until I put on my seat belt before he closed the door.

Jerk.

So in response, I gave him the silent treatment.

I swear to God that he turned on evil, headache inducing heavy metal just to get back at me for not talking to him. Here I was sitting in Garrett's 'devil mobile' practically bleeding through my ears so badly, that I couldn't even think about Christian.

All I could do was glare at Garrett, waiting for him to break to silence.

We didn't exchange words for a long time, and he didn't seem like he was going to break. I was chanting "don't talk to him" in my head to stop myself from talking, but once he passed my street, I had to say something.

"Um, Garrett, my house is back there," I said softly.

I swear his lips curled into a smirk. He knew that I had surrendered and he relished in the thought.

"Do you need anything there?" he asked, without looking at me.

"Well... no..." Wow. I sounded like an idiot.

He didn't say anything else. His eyes stayed on the road and his fingers began to tap to the tune of whatever rock song was playing.

I groaned and was about to tell him exactly what I thought about his evil music, but he suddenly parked the car.

Before I could say anything he ordered me not to touch anything and locked me inside.

He left me in his car.

The jerk!

I started banging on the window, but after a few minutes my hands went numb.

So I sat there in silence and let his so-called music kill the rest of my brain cells.

When he came back, I ignored him again.

He turned down the noise, and handed me a white paper bag.

Taking the bag would've meant thatI had forgiven him, so instead I crossed my arms and look away.

"Suit yourself," was all he said. He was drinking his beverage for a while before turning the car on.

After awhile, I finally gave up on the whole silent treatment business. It wasn't working and the sounds he was making as he ate made me hungry.

"So what did you get me?" I asked, turning my body towards his direction. He placed a donut in his mouth and used both hands to turn into the freeway.

"You looked like you didn't want it," he said, taking the donut into one hand and steering with the other.

"... I want it now..." I replied softly.

He snickered. "You're such a child Rose." Tossing me the bag, I opened it to find my favorite: raspberry filled jelly donut. I took a big bite and reveled in its goodness. Yummm.

The breakfast he cooked me was awesome. Although I said it tasted like crap, I lied. I loved it. His pancakes were soft, tasty, perfectly shaped, and melted in my mouth.They the best pancakes ever, his cooking were always the best. Despite the fact that his family can afford a personal cook; Garrett always cooked for himself. Personally, I think he should be a cook when he grows up. His food always tastes good and looks great. But I would never admit that to him; he'd probably think I was lying anyway.

I smirked at him, which left him confused. "May I please change the station?" I asked.

He shrugged and pulled into the fast lane.

Taking that as a "yes", I changed the radio station. I flipped through the oldies, flipped through the rap, flipped through the rock, and landed on the pop station. I giggled as Drop It Like It's Hot played over the radio. I didn't have to look at Garrett to know that he was rolling his eyes.

Even though I didn't sing much and this song wasn't exactly in my genre, I started singing in tune with the song. Evil? Yes, I know.

Suddenly he started speeding. It wasn't just fast; it was scary fast, the type that scares you out of your wits.

"Fine, I stop!" I yelled as he swiftly left all other cars in the dust.

He slowed down and went back to a steady speed. He was smirking.

I stuck my tongue at him. "Isn't it a bit early for soda?" I asked, when he brought the cup of what I think was Coke, to his lips.

"I'm speeding through the freeway," he stated.

I raised an eyebrow. What kind of answer was that? "Um, what's your point?"

"This is Los Angeles. It is so fucking early that I can go faster than 100 miles per hour. Two hours from now we would be even hit five miles per hour. Traffic is a bitch."

I bit my lip to keep my cool. "Oh really? How does traffic resemble a female dog?" I spat with annoyance, just when I thought I could have a semi-good conversation with Garrett, he goes and cuss... I hated it when he cursed.

He groaned loudly. "How long have we known each other, Rose?" he said after a period of silence.

I raised an eyebrow. I don't even know how long I've known him. All I know is that I met him before I met Christ and I've known Chris all my life. If it weren't for Garrett making fun of me, I wouldn't have ever met Christian.

"I don't know. It's been a long time," I responded.

"Either way, you know that I cuss. Why can't you just let me?"

I shrugged. "You always get into fights for cursing at people..."

"What does it matter to you?" he said simply with his head titled to my direction.

What does it matter to me? Garrett isn't a friend; he is a mere acquaintance. We barely get along. For the most part, we are exact opposites.

So what if every time he comes home from a fight I can't help but feel sorry for him? That's just a feeling of sorry right? I don't really care about him... Do I?

"Nothing," I lied. Okay, I need a change of subject, right about... now. "So which college did you apply to?"

Garrett scoffed. "I didn't apply to any colleges," he answered, with full knowledge that I just wanted to change the subject.

"What? Why? You are graduating this year you know! I'ma juniorand I already know what college I am going to!" This caught me off guard Garrett is smart why would he not go to college? He is smarter than most people I know. He's even smarter than myself and that's saying a lot...

"Joining the marines," he responded simply.

"Really? To pay for college?" I asked still holding to the hope that he would go to college.

Garrett shook his head. "I don't plan on going to college, Rose. End of story."

"What? Why?" I began prodding.

Garrett sighed. "What does it really matter to you Rose? We all know that you are going to become a doctor. Doctor Rosemarie Carter: raises four children during the day and saves lives at night," he said with a smirk.

I was surprised that he knew that. Wait. "How did you--"

Garrett smirked. "You forget that I was your teacher's aid for your ninth grade English class."

"Are you serious!" I yelled in surprise. "That journal is supposed to be private!"

My English teacher, Mrs. Hart, during my freshman year gave us an assignment of keeping a journal that had to be at least a page long of random topics that she chose. She would collect them every Friday and give them back with comments written in red. She loved to comment on mine because I was one of the few that didn't have "I don't know what to write" or mindless scribbles throughout the whole journal.

He chuckled. "Yours was the only one I really read. Most of your classmates live pretty boring lives, save for Jen Asher; she plans on becoming a stripper... If I can remember: your most embarrassing moment was in fifth grade when you laughed so hard that the gum in your mouth went flying out. Rose that was truly a most amusing read. God, you are so childish."

"Garrett!" I exclaimed.

He continued to laugh at me. "Or how about who you thought was the hottest man in existence?"

I shrieked. "Oh my God!"

It surprised me that he knew this and it surprised me even more because never really heard him laugh. It was a nice sound. Even though he was currently making fun of me, I felt like I was winning something.

"Seriously though, Colin Farrell? That guy curses worse than me, yet you don't seem to mind," Garrett commented.

"But he is so hot!" I reasoned loudly. I blushed brightly at my outburst. Oh my gosh, never in my life would I have ever pictured myself talking to Garrett about Colin Farrell or any other guy in general.

Garrett snickered. "So all this time you act like a prude, it turns out that you have the hots for an Irish man."

"Well, I'm not a lesbian," I retorted.

Garrett chuckled. "Sure about that?"

I stuck my tongue at him. That's weird...I am I not angry with him. Usually at about this time, I would be throwing stuff at his head. What's wrong with me? Has my circadian rhythm been thrown off? Maybe I do need my coffee...

Still on the thought, I took a sip of the hot coffee he bought for me. In the heat of the moment, I burnt my tongue. "Ow!" I yelped. It was so hot that I let it go, which was a bad idea because it spilled onto the top of my dress. My beautiful dress!

"Jesus Christ!" Garrett exclaimed before pulling over. "Did you really not notice it was hot? What were you thinking?"

I flustered. "Well, I wasn't thinking..."

"You know only blondes can use that line," he retorted with a sarcastic smile.

I looked down at my dress to assess the damage. Suddenly I shrieked and blushed beet red.

"What's wrong with you?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't look!" I exclaimed blocking his eyesight from my chest.

Garrett started laughing, and pulled my hand away.

"It's not funny, Garrett!" I exclaimed.

He only continued laughing. Even if he was being a jerk, it was a nice, hearty laugh and I found myself smiling because of it.

"Garrett!"

"Well. What do you want me to do about it? Give you the shirt off my back? Hah. That's a bit too romantic for me, thanks. But there should be jacket of mine under the seat."

I reached under and found his wrestling jacket. I told him to keep his eyes on the road before I put it on. I thought I would feel better with it on, but I suddenly realized the percussions to wearing his jacket. It had his name written on it in big bold, golden letters and I couldn't exactly meet up with my mom and stepfather with a guy's jacket on. They barely even started accepting Christian as my best friend.

Suddenly I was engrossed by this intoxicating scent and I forgot all else. His cologne was exactly the same as Christian's, but there was a hindering effect that was all Garrett. And that made me want to simply immerse myself in it.

"Yeah, your parents will probably go psycho on you for it, but it's your own fault," he said, breaking me from my trance.

"Uh yeah, thanks anyway."

Garrett nodded with a smirk upon his lips. "Hey, we've still got an hour to kill. You want to wait at the bus stop or shall I keep driving?"

Was he actually asking for my opinion? Has the world finally gone awry? Have I gone crazy? Never in our whole relationship has he ever offered to stay with me, even if it was indirectly. And never in our whole relationship had I ever wanted to be around him.

"Keep driving," I answered with a smile.

Garrett nodded and speeded past our exit. Maybe Garrett isn't as bad as I think...

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TO BE CONTINUED

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3000 and more words....................... YAY!I'm really in a hurry, so there aren't any personal responses except for one that I havedeemedextremely important. I will respond to the others on the next chapter. Thanks for the reviews!!!

Eclipsed Mind - I am rewriting/continuing it due to the absence of my cousin.

Lurkers must review, I'll give you an extra long chapter if you do :D