He returned the smile, the same wicked playful smile he had on when he told her she was just his "Toy".
"Rosa!. You came this year,I thought you wouldn't come" Nara dragged her into her embrace.
Nara Campbell was her childhood friend but they grew apart, or rather Nara shut her out,maybe she was going through puberty at the time ...but it went on and on for years.
When Rosaline broke up with Nolan and stopped coming for Summer holidays... whatever chance their friendship had of surviving ,died.
So...it was awkward to see her act all nice . Rosaline didn't know how to react to her words or hug.
"Oh ,how you've grown....you were still pretty much a teenager when I last saw you" Gina held her hand and smiled.
"Let them come in first,darling" Jonathan Campbell told his wife with a light pat on Rosaline's shoulder.
He called some maids to help with their bags...
Rosaline could see that things had changed in the Campbell's home but it wasn't a suprise. Luxury and lavish living was Gina's middle name.
While they were exchanging pleasantries and her mother and Gina had began their usual verbal and emotional tussel, Rosaline slipped away to head to the room they prepared for her.
She needed a break as she was already tired ,she felt sticky and sweaty all over.
*. *. *. *. *. *.
Seeing her again, struck a chord in him. She was prettier ,curvy...maybe that was just his mind showing him things he wanted to see .
But,he'd been given another chance by the heavens to see her again.
He'd been to LA a couple of times and hoped he'd coincidentally meet her, even though,he knew where she worked....he didn't want to seem desperate. She had to come to him by herself,she was his.
Nolan gave a small smile to Jessie....the lady was a parrot, no wonder she was able to pique Kenneth's interest....
The corner of his eye caught Rosaline going upstairs.
Where was she going.... maybe she's tired.
Eitherways...it was his chance to get her alone and catch up on a few things.
He was elated when he heard that she got divorced to the guy she married.
Tobias...was it?
He'd met the guy once... he wasn't much of a competition for him so he was confident that their marriage wasn't going to last long....and he was right.
Though it took them 5 years to end it.... but they still ended it.
He waited a while after she left before excusing himself.
"Rosa"
She turned to face him....Nolan took a minute to savor in her beauty.
Her cheeks were rosy ,her eyes looked a bit tired but that didn't diminish the bold sea blue color of her eyes,it looked almost green under the light. It was mesmerizing.
Noticing her discomfort,as she rubbed the tip of her nose.
He smiled.
"How've you been?"
She cleared her throat before replying
"I've been surviving...you?"
"Been okay. Work has been a lot but I try to make it work"
"Cool" She turned to leave
Was he just going to let her leave??
"Um...if you need a tour,I can show you around?" Stupid!
"I'm sure I can find my way around...I won't be going out much anyways so it's fine"She gave a small smile.
"A lot has changed since you've last been here....the house was renovated ,the streets. Everywhere and everyone. I've changed "
"As have I". With that she disappeared into her room.
*. *. *. *. *. *.
He's changed?!
Heck! Nobody gave a damn!
Neither did she.....he was still the same.....arrogant and overly confident jerk .
Treating her like she was stupid, like he knew her.
Maybe he did, maybe that's why he pissed her off so much but that didn't matter , because she didn't have time to revisit old wounds or venture into love. Whatever happened in the past stayed in the past.
And she was going to be a mother.
"Jesus Christ,Rosaline...it's just a baby,not the end of the world" But my world is crumbling fast!.
Rosaline chuckled....the inner dialogue she had with herself was wild!
She showered...slipped into her night gown. She went to the mirror ,to size herself up and check if she was showing or fat.
Maybe she was going to experience the rare cryptic pregnancy.
She sighed....as she laid down on the bed.
"Soft-" she sniffed the duvet "-and clean". She snuggled in and smiled . So comfy...rich people stuff was on a different level.
She picked up her phone....to connect with the world of the internet. She'd been off socials since the divorce to avoid questions from people that knew her and Toby. No good came out of being constantly reminded that the marriage you were once proud of , failed.
Thinking about it,made her feel pathetic and useless. She remembered the constant arguments she had with him,maybe if she wasn't so accepting of everything he said,maybe if she'd talked back or expressed herself more. They'd still be together.
She scanned through her chats on all her accounts... nothing was out of the ordinary. Rosaline sighed,she rested her head on the pillow.
Die with a smile by Bruno Mars,came to her mind. She stood up to get her earpods and played music.
She might as well dance a bit to elate her mood.
*. *. *. *. *. *.
Renee scanned the living room for Rosaline, as expected of her baby sister. Never missing the chance to find solitude.
Confirming that Rosaline was not in the living room,she poured herself a cup of juice and went outside and climbed up to the patio.
" I would never understand rich people and their taste in building things in weird places...Thank God for strength" She breathed heavily.
She sat down to calm herself ,then she looked at the sky as she sipped the juice.
She remembered the look Rosaline had on her the entire trip. She looked like she was ready to give it all up,she didn't look like she had will to live.
She was worried for Rosaline....she hoped it was just her mind playing tricks on her and that Rosaline was doing fine...not too fine but fine.
Renee wasn't sure if Rosaline had accepted her divorce with Toby or if she was just waiting for the family to let the guard down and then jump into a lake and drown.
Renee blinked away the thought....
"Why are you sitting here all alone?" She smiled knowing that playful tone could only belong to Rudy.
"I'm wishing upon a star"She sighed.
Rudy sat beside her in silence for a little while before he took the cup of juice from her.
"No fair, that's my cup of juice. Go get your own"
Ignoring her,he downed the juice to the last drop.
"Ugh...I needed that" He smiled and handed her the empty cup.
"You're a bully" she punched his arm
"So why are you really here all alone??"
"No reason,just needed fresh air"
"Hmm" He raised one of his eyebrows.
"I'm just worried about Rosaline, she's really fragile unlike the rest of us. I don't know how she's holding up on the whole divorce thing and I don't know how to approach her about it cause I'm afraid I might hurt her feelings. Why did all of this have to happen to her.... Am I the only one that's noticing how weak she looks?"
"She looks fine to me....but we can only trust that she'll figure out this time of her life and pick herself back up"
"How did you end up being born first before me??"
"Don't ask me. God knows best"
Renee didn't say anything ,waiting for the punch line or for him to continue talking.
Seeing he wasn't planning on talking,maybe he needed a response to quickstart the wisdom he was going share.
"Yeah?" She said
"What?" He said ,confusion written clearly in the expression on his face.
"What?" Renee said in disbelief
"What is it??"
Renee eyes dulled. This dude is not actually my elder brother right???
"It's nothing,thanks" she smiled
"Glad I was able to help-" He smiled back "- I better get back,it's getting chilly. Don't stay out too long"
When he left, Renee couldn't help but laugh. Funny how he thought he actually helped out.
Her phone rang, she smiled when she saw the caller ID.
"I've been at your place for 4hours and I don't see no man of mine" She chuckled.
Noah Campbell was the first son of the Campbell's. She'd met him again at a resort, she and her galpals went to for fun. She was reluctant to go,but she was glad she did.
That trip brought her the sweetest man she'd ever met. At first it was a hot one night stand she was going to try very hard to forget, but somehow they started making plans to meet again to recreate or improve the sex they had at the resort and now he wanted to marry her. That was one of the reasons she was at the Campbell's.
Even though she didn't really fancy his family, especially Nolan. She was in love with him.
"I don't know ,Noah...I don't know how to tell her,it'll be like I'm mocking her failed marriage by getting married at this time.....And I want to stay true to you too. I don't want to let you down again. It's fine ,baby ,I'll figure it out. I just need you here with me.....yeah, I love you. Goodnight "
She needed to tell Rosaline before they announced their intentions to the family.....
It was 11:20.
Rosaline was probably asleep,but she could make a quick stop to check. She picked up the cup and made her way to Rosaline's room
The light of Rosaline's room was still on so she was probably awake....
*. *. *. *. *. *.
Rosaline was so into the music and her dance that she didn't notice when Renee came in and sat on the bed.
When she had her fill of music and dance,she turned off the music.
"Nice twerk"
"Oh sweet Jesus...what the fudge. Renee!. What're you doing in my room?" She said ,holding her belly
Renee laughed..."You look like you've just seen a ghost"
"You think?"
"Is there something in your night trash bag that might fall out??" Renee was referring to her big night gown.
"Haha...very funny....what'd you want?"
"I wanted to check in on my favorite sister and see if I can crash here tonight"
"Why,a monster's in your room?"
"Yes, a big one"
"Waitt....did you find a dead body??" Rosaline whispered
"Rosy!"
"What?!...they might be involved in shady business, uncle Nate doesn't look trustworthy"
"Nothing of the sort has happened,I just want to sleep over and we can swap secrets" Renee chuckled.
"Do you pity me?"
"What?"
"Is that what this is...a pity party?"
"It's not like that...I'm jus-"
" Save it ,Renee. It's not your fault Toby left. I don't need pity, I don't need to be treated like a charity case...I don't want pity from you of all people...heck...I'm fine with any type of sympathy anyone has to offer but I don't want that from you...I-"
"I'm getting married.." Renee said cutting her off.