Once her mother had come home drunk as usual. They had fought over God knows what once more and her mother, being drunk. had dragged Rose out once more. Throwing her outside the front door all covered in bloody scars from all the dragging in the concrete path.
She didn't want Mr.P to see her like that, she knew that would break his heart, so she had sat on the grass field in the entrance of the neighborhood and Hunter had ran into her on his way home. He hadn't made a comment about the scars.
He had just brought out a first aid kit and sat beside her.
- It might hurt a little but I'll try my best to be quick.
She knew he wouldn't tell anyone, although this wasn't anything new to anyone who knew her. But she felt better with him being the only one who saw her.
- Hey Hunter..Thanks, for not walking on eggshells around me. Or treating me like a sad puppy in need of help and protection. And for this.
She had said.
- Hey, you don't want anyone's nose up in your business and I get it. I wish you would let me kick some ass for once, but I get it. And if you ask me , you're a tough motherfucker to go through all this on your own. No need to treat you like anything less. But its okay to need help. Or to let someone help you. I won't do something you're not okay with. But just know that if one day you change your mind, if there is ever a time when its too much for you to take it, I will be there in a heartbeat I promise."
He had said. As he blew on her scars to ease the pain while he cleaned them. And it had been the first time someone thought about her without trying to be a hero and save her.
He had given her his sweater and his pants and brought her back to the house not mentioning anything about her being hurt. His dad was on his usual work trips so the three of them sat down and watched Rose's favorite movie once more. "The Grinch" . Noah had known something had happened and he assumed what. But he said nothing. She was there with them, safe .
And although Allison was often mad nobody did anything, they knew Rose would deny everything if it ever came to it. He knew too, so he didn't want her ending up in some orphanage where he couldn't be there if she needed help.
That was how their friendship worked. They kept each other's secrets, had their long talks no one knew about and kept bickering all the time around others.
They didn't show it, but there weren't many things they wouldn't do for each other. Knowing this Allison had often wondered what he thought about the accident. Taking into account he hadn't reached out once, she assumed he was mad at her. She had expected him too, he was too fond of Rose to ever consider she might be in the wrong.
- Hey guys, what do you say we skip this crowd and go to our spot ?
Connor's uncle has a summer house on Pine Hill. It has this huge rooftop they would gather at at night and watch the stars, fireworks or have their first beers.
- The best idea I've heard all day.
Hunter said and picked Rose up.
She was sitting in her huge living room all by herself. Waiting for her maid to bring the coffee she remembered sitting in the same spot 19 years ago when her daughter had announced she was pregnant.
Her husband had been on one of his trips. She remembered the panic on her daughters face and the disgust she'd felt looking at her.
- Listen to me very carefully, I will have your bags packed and you will leave this house this instant. This is no longer your home and you are no longer our daughter!
She had said. Calmly in between her daughter's sobbing and pleas for help.
Rose's mother had hoped she didn't mean it but known she did.
Zoe, Rose's mother, had left. Hoping her father would fix everything once he was back. Underestimating her mother's influence on him.
The baby's father had moved away the day after she had told him
- I don't want a baby!
Was all he'd said and they had fought for a solid hour before he'd dragged her out of his house only to have his family get him a plane ticket to God knows where the next day.
She had been all alone and scared.
After a few days her parents had called her. The three of them had sat down.
- We will pay for the hospital bills until the baby is born and we will leave you the house on Pine Hills. But that is all. You and the baby will be left out of our will.
Her father had said while her mother refused to even look her in the eyes.
She had sworn she would never allow them to see her baby and left.
And she had kept her promise. Rose only heard of her grandmother from when her mother got too drunk and kept blaming her for everything. And her grandfather had tried seeing her a few times secretly but her grandmother had always found out and he was forced to give up. She knew they sent her money now and then. Her mother wasn't employed, had no income of any sort but she always had enough money to get drunk. Rose knew it came from her grandparents she just didn't understand why. Why they would send her money but never want to see them.
Than Irene Alden sitting there in the dim light of the living room lamp, sipping on her coffee remembered taking Rose into her custody 4 years ago after her husband's death and the accident.
Her daughter had decided to run away with one of her alcoholic boyfriends. And she had given her the money in exchange for the custody. And Rose hadn't protested, strangely. She had packed a bag and gone with her.
She often regretted it but it was her husband's last wish that she reconnect with her granddaughter and by letting her live in her house , finding the best doctors after the accident and sending her to the best private school she felt like she had fulfilled his dying wish.
She had let him see her on his death bed little before he passed.
He had asked for her forgiveness.
And she still didn't understand why he had apologized. She had done what was right. Her daughter had always been a troubled kid, always embarrassing them. Zoe had been nothing but a disappointment, always causing trouble, always up to no good. She would always pick the wrong friends, she never dressed properly, never was successful at anything, never listened to any of her mother's advice. She was spoiled and bitter. She had even given her daughter their last name just to spite them.
Rose Bryn Alden.
She hoped Rose wouldn't just show up with a baby too.
She thought of that a lot.
She kept Rose away from all her friends and acquaintances, she never took her anywhere and they were rarely seen together. She didn't talk about Rose. They knew she had a granddaughter but never mentioned her, never asked her about Rose. They were intimidated by Irene, they were her friends but she was in charge and they knew. Irene had covered up all trace of her daughter and she wouldn't hesitate doing the same to Rose if she ever misbehaved like her mother.
The past few days she had left to stay with her friends in Pine Hills and having a few meetings at the house that week she felt better with her gone.
She didn't like having Rose around. She wasn't like her mother. She couldn't control her. It felt like she was a time bomb that she was afraid would explode and blow up everything she had worked so hard for all her life. Everything that she had once saved from her daughters doings.
She had managed to keep her daughter's doings under wraps but she felt like Rose wouldn't be as easy. She was a quiet kid, yes, but she knew if she would ever confront her Rose would fight back.
But she had a plan.
She picked up the phone and called her assistant.
- I want to organize a Ball next weekend for Rose. I want everyone from our circle there.
Handle all the planning, I want everything to be perfect. Have a gown picked for her too. I want to introduce her to everybody before she has a chance to introduce herself.
The only thing left would be to convince Rose but she knew she would find a way. She had to.