42 - The chapter in which they decide to take a break

Rose Campbell

" What do you mean by that? " I asked without looking away from the pad of paper where I was sketching a landscape in graphite.

Christian and I were sitting in the common area of the house during our lunch hour on Friday waiting for the others to arrive, I had taken off the pair of sneakers I was wearing and was standing with my feet on the sofa, using my knees to support the pad of paper while Christian sat on the floor beside me taking notes on the subjects he had missed during the last week of his illness.

" I'm just saying that maybe we should take a break from all this. It's been almost a month since I've been with another girl, and that's certainly not what we agreed on.” He explained without looking away from a pink notebook from which he was copying things that I certainly wouldn't understand.

" And since when is this my fault? Am I sucking your sexual energy? " I returned, looking at the feminine handwriting in the notebook.

" Very funny, Rose. But tell me, when was the last time you even kissed another guy? " he insisted without looking away from the pages decorated with pink flowers and hearts.

" Whose notebook is this? " I put my drawing aside for a second.

" A classmate's, and don't run away from the subject," he murmured, before looking at me for the first time since the beginning of this conversation.

I turned my attention back to my drawing, continuing to trace some waves on the beach I was drawing while thinking about what he had just said. When was the last time I even kissed a different guy? I certainly kissed someone after him, I just couldn't remember a name, it's not possible that the last guy I kissed was that asshole Anderson. On Halloween night I didn't have time to get anything together with Derek, since Christian was sick before anything else.

" So what? " he insisted and I could feel his blue eyes on me.

" Okay, we're going away in two weeks, until then nothing will happen between us," I returned, putting the pencil aside before pointing to my open pencil case on the floor beside him. “I need the smudge and the eraser.”

Christian turned his attention back to his notebook, reaching for the case with his free hand. I took it, rummaging through its contents for what I had asked for.

" I only wanted the smudge and eraser," I complained.

" Rose, do I seem to know what the hell a smudge is? " he asked, closing one of the notebooks, reaching for another.

Before I could say anything, Liam came over and looked over my shoulder at the drawing I was doing.

" Wow, Rosemarie Miller-Campbel, I'm going to want you to sign this for my personal collection," he assured me, turning around on the couch and sitting down in front of me.

" Davis, Harry asked me to give you this," Skyller approached with a thick notebook, drawing the boy's icy gaze.

" Thanks, but I got it from a girl in class," he shrugged.

Sky left the notebook on the table, sitting down in the free armchair while Theo assessed our situation, standing next to the sofa.

" Just one question, why are we here and not in the cafeteria as usual? " he crossed his arms.

" I have a paper on art techniques and materials due today, and Davis is catching up on the papers he missed," I explained, pointing to a stack of papers I had printed out earlier on the coffee table.

Liam grabbed my ankle and pulled it onto his lap, beginning to massage my foot as we talked.

" And your guy, shouldn't he be here? For someone who's part of the group, he's not much help," he teased Skyller.

" Harry has his friends, he doesn't have to spend all his time with me." She returned in a calm manner while Liam continued to work on my foot.

Leaving the drawing aside, I leaned my head on the arm of the couch, closing my eyes and enjoying my free massage.

" I just thought things were more serious between you two. Rose and Christian's relationship seems more solid, at least she got to meet his parents.” Liam continued teasing.

I opened my eyes, raising my head for a second at this sentence. Can't they just forget about this whole dating thing? At least for the next few weeks?

" Hey, there's no dating between Chris and me," I returned.

" Not really, at least not until we get to my parents' house, where you better act like the perfect, passionate girlfriend.” Christian warned, without looking away from his notes.

" Christian, I'll show you the girl…” Before I could finish that sentence, Liam increased the pressure on my foot, making me let out a little groan before I leaned my head back, closing my eyes. “Geez, Liam. You have magic hands!”

" I can show you other situations where you would claim the same thing, Rose.” He mocked.

" Hey, don't forget she's your sister," Sky reminded in a harsh tone, making me open my eyes.

" When she's Davis's girlfriend, she'll be my sister, and until then I won't give up hope, Baker.” He returned petulantly.

I put my foot back, feeling Christian watching me while Theo seemed to find the whole interaction amusing. I decided to change the subject.

" I'm nobody's girlfriend and nobody's sister. And I want to know what we're doing tonight.”

" I have some suggestions," Liam winked at me.

" Your suggestions suck, Liam.” I pushed him with my foot.

" You hurt my feelings, Rose," he complained. Since Davis' kidney is still recovering, we'll take a break from the parties, but Brittany Hawks has invited us to an old movie screening, and you know that no one is really interested in watching the movie at these screenings.

Christian and I exchanged a brief glance, this would be a great opportunity to get away for a while, if there is someone interesting at this screening, we can keep our distance.

I stood up, putting on my sneakers anyway before grabbing the research on the table preparing to return for another torture session with Phillip Black.

" Thanks for the massage, Liam. You have the best foot massage in the universe," I winked at him before saying goodbye to the others. “Now I have to face Phillip Black.”