So she started talking.
- Good evening. As my dear grandmother said, I do have a few things I would love to say tonight…
Uhm…. I do have people I want to thank.
Hunter looked at her, she was trembling but she looked like she knew what she was doing.
- as mentioned before I did really go through some bad days. I was in an almost fatal car crash, thankfully Grandma took good care of me so most of you might have not heard of that before.
She's good at keeping secrets. Especially anything and everything that may make her look bad.
She turned to Irene, she was red in the face. But Rose continued. She was trembling but more than panic she felt anger. Anger she couldn't control
- she might just look like the perfect grandmother but she doesn't like to be called that so I refer to her as Irene, it doesn't make much of a difference for me either since I only met her 4 years ago when she bought me from my mother.
A shock wave went through the crowd. Everyone kept silent. The music had stopped playing.
Noah and Hunter stood there watching her, Hunter was smiling. Aliyah reached for his arm. He grabbed her hand and smiled. They both watched her holding hands.
- having spent money on a kid you would want it to behave so I don't blame Irene for what she classifies as troubled behavior. But there is a few people I do blame. My dear friends, Edward Carlson, Dylan Artile,, Francis Gallo ,Charlotte Lloyd and Evelyn Branson who are right there. Don't be shy guys , you were the high school superstars. I guess its only them four tonight, Irene probably thought she'd better invite those that did the most. And these five guys…oh well, they did a lot.
Shout out to their families for the implacable kindness they instilled in these five. They made high school quite a challenge for a lot of others including me. Lots of fun memories of passing out locked in a basement and funny haircuts, Dylan as you know I paint now but I still consider the scar I left on your cheek as my masterpiece.
Hunter started laughing and Aliyah held his hand tighter in excitement.
- That's my girl !!!
He said cheering and whistling.
- And last but not least Mrs.Parker, for fighting for her students, I mean the others never me, but still. She managed to let me know with just one look that I was the odd one out, that I was to blame. So sorry my troubled behavior reminded you of your job, which now I think maybe you didn't like that much since you silenced me and pufffffff just like that made the problem disappear. Sorry Mrs. Parker. Truly.
Irene had never expected Rose would burst out like she did, she approached Rose.
- That's enough !
She said in a low voice.
- Oh sorry, I thought you wanted me to speak
- Enough I said, we will talk later.
- Works for me.
I wish all of you a very pleasant evening where you continue living in your happy bubble where you are the mayors, humanists and literal angels. I have only given it a crack, but I am sure there will be many after me who will pop that bubble open. And the fall will be hard.
Irene gestured the orchestra to continue playing and she grabbed Rose by the arm.
- We need to talk missy
Noah got up and stood in their way.
- You okay?
He asked Rose.
- Yes, just give us a minute and wait for me outside. I will be out in a minute.
He nodded and turned to Hunter
- Get the car, we're leaving
Hunter and Aliyah got up. They walked outside together with Noah.
- You two know something I don't. What the hell just happened?
- Look, Noah, maybe Rose will want to explain.
- What is it? What did she mean by "passed out in the basement"?
- Look. Let me just say at the time, my cousin went to the same school as her, and she said people , the students were …uhm they were mean to her
- So she was bullied?
Hunter couldn't help himself.
- Yeah pretty badly apparently, they locked her in the basement for hours that's why…
- That's why she said that. And the scar.
- Yeah that too
- What ?
- Well lets just say helmet head still has good aim
- Its not funny Hunter
- Did we just watch the same thing?
Because I saw the old bad ass Rose defending herself, and I'm proud.
- How long have you two known this?
- Well, my cousin had told me at the time it happened but I only told Connor and Hunter the night Rose came back
- At the time it happened? What the fuck? Why didn't you just say something then? Maybe ..
- What Noah?
Hunter didn't like his tone, and he sure as hell didn't like it was Aliyah he was talking to.
- You wouldn't be able to do a damn thing, we both know her. She wouldn't just step to the corner and let you handle her business, she never has, never will.
- Yes but still, we could have been there
- We are here now!
Aliyah said, worried about Rose.
- You're right.. we are here now.
Noah said and ran inside. They followed him.
He saw Jack.
- Where are they?
- I don't know, I don't know. I'll check around.
They walked the long hall looking around but couldn't find them.
Irene pushed Rose up the stairs.
- Let go of my arm !
She said to Irene who looked around and then pushed her into a small room.
- I have had enough of you!
- Can actually say the same.
- Listen to me you ungrateful little brat! Do you have any idea what you have just done?
- Said some much needed thank you-s , now if your majesty approves , my friends are waiting.
- Oh no young lady, you aren't going anywhere.
- Yes, yes I am. and I do not plan on ever coming back
- Not before you apologize
- To who?
- Everybody outside.
- I am not fucking doing that.
- Hah, her mother's daughter.
- I am nothing like her. I won't just obey you. I am not scared of you and I do not fucking need you. But you know, I'm not surprised of the train wreck of a mother she was, she had only you to learn from.
- Oh really, you think you're better than her? You think you're less of a train wreck?
Irene smiled. She looked at Rose. She knew what she talked about in therapy , she had paid for those sessions and she was aware of her trauma..
She walked to the door. Turned the key, locked it. Opened the window and threw the key outside.
- You're no better. You're worse, you just know how to hide it well. Got that from me I suppose huh?
- Open that door! Now !
- Wish I could.
- Call whoever the fuck works here. Open the damn door.
- We are locked in I'm afraid.
Rose felt her throat swelling up, the heartbeat raising.
She went to the door. Banged on it.
- It must be all the music downstairs, doubt anyone will hear.
Irene said smiling as she sat down on her chair and fixed her gaze on Rose.
- I'll check the other hall, you check upstairs
He said to Aliyah. She wasn't even half up the stairs and she heard a banging on one of the doors. Then Rose's voice.
She sounded like she was running out of breath.
- ..please, just open the damn door… just ….the door
She said and she banged on the door.
- Guys, its Rose. upstairs!!
She shouted and ran towards the door on the left .
- Rose ? Are you okay?
She had never even seen Rose cry, never heard a crack in her voice
.
- Not until you apologize for the show you just held outside
- Just…. The door… I can't breathe.
- Well , you should have thought about that earlier
Rose sat down on the floor and brought her knees to her chest. She thought of the therapists note, but she didn't have her phone. She tried to repeat the writing to herself but couldn't .
Her hands were trembling again and she felt the room getting smaller each second that passed. She had been through a lot but right now, there sitting on the floor she felt the most scared she had ever felt.
She could hear her own heartbeat, she was rocking back and forth and crying .
- You should have listened to me. This could have been a lovely evening for the both of us.
- Just ….the door.
- Well, not before you learn your lesson. I won't go through the same things I went through with your mother
- I… am not …my mother.
- Yeah, she's weaker, I have to admit. You don't look like you have issues, at least I don't get called to some filthy hospital because you slit your wrists.
Rose couldn't really hear anything, she was trying to calm the storm of panic she was in.
She started breathing even more heavily.
- Let me …..out.