Falling Roses Chapter 2

My life flashed before my eyes. I felt my body falling, slipping, never to be seen again once it hit the rocky waters. I tried to find a handhold. Anything. My fingers just slid across the earth. I was going to die.

I closed my eyes. This was it.  No one would mourn, no one would cry. My life was over.

But, it wasn’t.

I felt something grab my hand. I held on with all my might, placing my other hand on top of the one saving me. Whoever it was began to jerk me up fast, as if I was weightless. I looked up, and saw a pair of emerald green eyes.

The person lifted me up onto the earth, and whisked me off into the forest. That way I couldn’t slip again. I looked at my hero, but it was to dark to see in the shadows of the trees.

“You saved me.” I whispered. I had thought I came here alone. “Thank you.”

“Your welcome.” A voice said, a male one. “What is your name?”

“Rose. And yours is?” I asked, wishing I could see his face. He sounded about my age.

“Zane. What were you doing out here?” He stepped closer, to where the moon was shining through the trees. I could see his face now. Emerald green eyes, with black hair and red highlights. It seemed so familiar.

“I needed to get away. Why were you here?” I stepped closer as well, hoping to get a better look at him. He looked so familiar, but from where?

He then gasped. But, why?

“I’m sorry. I…just thought I saw something. Anyways, I was out here taking a walk.” He shrugged his shoulders, as if it were nothing.

“Whoa.” I stumbled back, slamming against a tree. The pain was coming back, and this time, it was more painful than ever imaginable.

“Are you alright?” Zane asked placing his hands on my forearms to steady me. But, it didn’t work and I tumbled to the ground.

“Rose!” Zane called. “Are you okay?”

“No. I’m…in pain.” I attempted to say, but my voice became ragged and was barely audible.

“Here let me take you home. Where do you live?” He gently put his arms underneath me, and lifted me up. And walked out of the forest, heading towards the neighborhood district.

“In…the state house.” I gasped for air, it making its way down my longs just barely.

He carried me in silence. But, the pain was increasing, making my heart beat faster and faster. It almost felt like it would burst through my chest.

I turned my head in Zane’s direction. His eyes were locked upon the road ahead. I glanced at his attire, and saw he was wearing a black t-shirt underneath a black leather jacket, which he had over a pair of black skinny jeans. He saw me glancing and looked down at me. He smiled.

“I guess we have the same kind of style.” He attempted to make me laugh, and I almost did, but the pain was unbearable.

“Were almost there.” He reassured me. I could see the neighborhood lights in the distance.

I almost never left the door locked, luckily, since I had forgotten my key. Again. He walked up the steps and pushed open the door with his back, carrying me over to the black velvet couch. He laid me down, but I just sat back up.

“Thank you. You can leave, its okay. I’ll be fine.” I grabbed a conviently placed Dr. Pepper from the coffee table at my feet, then took a long sip.

“Your welcome. And I can’t really leave. I live here now.” I almost spewed my drink all over the floor after what he said. He lived here now? Since when? Then I remembered. Thats why Phil and Ralph were here this morning! And that blur of black and red, it had been him!

“Well, make yourself at home. I’m going to finish my cereal from earlier.” I staggered into the kitchen, clutching the wall as I went. Why wouldn’t this pain go away?

“Oh my gawd. Look.” He handed me a handheld mirror from the table and I looked to where he pointed on my back. From the open space where my dress didn’t cover, you could see two long vertical scratches along my back. Blood smeared across it. I practically gasped, when did this happen?

“I’ll go take a shower. Really I’m fine. It’s been happening a lot lately, you get used to it.” I told him, but he shook his head.

“No. I have a feeling if you do, then your going to fall and get a concussion. Here I’ll help you.” He said grabbing a rag from the kitchen sink. He wet it and motioned for me to sit down.

“You know you dont have to do this, right?” I ask, pulling my hair out of his way, from where my ribbons had fallen out.

“I know, but I want to.” He gently places the cool,wet rag against my skin. It feels good to have him with me. Ever since the pain in my back started, I had felt vulnerable. Now, with him here, I felt protected.

“There, all better. Your back still hurt?” He throws the rag into the trash can. I then realize, the pain had subsided. For now.

“Yeah, I think so. So,what are you doing here?”

“Well, its a long story. And a boring one at that, you probably don’t want to hear it.” He says, looking at me with those big green eyes.

“I’ll tell you mine, if you tell me yours.” I smile, and he smiles back.

“Okay, well when I was 9 my family’s house burned down. Both my parents died, and I had no where to go.  I used to camp out in any place I could find. I even spent the night at a McDonald’s one time. About 4 months ago, they found me and told me they would supply me with a home. And an education. So I came here.” He tells me, and I can only feel sorry for him.

“Your turn.” He looks at me waiting for my history.

“Well, I’ve been living here since I was 10 and I can’t remember anything before I was 10. It’s like my memory has been erased.” I look down, hoping he wasn’t expecting an elaborate history. Since truthfully, that’s all I know. I look back up and he’s smiling.

“I’m sure you’ll remember soon.” He takes my hands, and I feel myself blush. Oh gawd, don’t let him see my cheeks go pink. Please!

“Well it almost 3 in the morning, lets head to bed.” He takes my hand and helps me up, leading me to my room as if he’s still scared the pain will come again.

“Thank you again, for everything.” I tell him, as he opens his door.

“Really, its no problem. But, you had me really scared back there. A Falling Rose. Well, good night.” He waves then shuts the door completely.

~Jes