81 - The chapter where Rose is an honorary member of the Wandering Falcons

CHRISTIAN

I awoke the next day with the feeling that I was being watched, I opened my eyes and Rose was settled beside me, watching me with a tired expression. We had placed the mattresses of the two beds on the floor and slept there.

Or at least I did.

The expression on her face and the dark circles under her eyes showed that Rose had not had a night like mine.

" Good morning," she forced a smile.

I sat up in our makeshift bed, watching her with a frown. It was rare that Rose woke up before me the times we slept together. She usually slipped into a coma when she fell asleep.

" What happened? " I sat up.

" Nothing," she denied, getting up from the mattress, "Why do you think something happened?”

She turned away from me and walked over to her desk, beginning to fiddle disinterestedly with the materials on the desk.

" Rose please…”

" I couldn't sleep, okay? " She turned to me suddenly "I've spent the whole night trying to just close my eyes and shut out everything that's happened, but I can't, especially when I think about having to go out again and face what's out there today!”

I stared for a moment not knowing what to say to make her feel better, I knew that this day would be hard for her. Rose would be the center of attention on campus after what happened, everyone would just be waiting for a weakened girl about to break down and I wouldn't for a second allow them to have that satisfaction.

" I know that everyone is just waiting for me to fall apart, and this realization is suffocating because I know deep down that it could happen.”

I approached her and stroked her face, wondering what I could do to make her feel better.

" Go take a shower, fix your hair, put on some good makeup, and all that stuff girls do to make themselves feel better. Put on that leather outfit that makes you look hotter than usual," I instructed, "I'll go change in my room, come back here, and we'll face this together. What do you say?”

Her answer was a weak smile, and I leaned over, kissing her cheek before picking up my pants from the floor, noticing for the first time that Rose had put on my T-shirt.

" I'll need it to get back to the bedroom," I warned as I put on my pants.

Rose unceremoniously took off her shirt, wearing only her panties, causing my eyes to linger on her exposed breasts, making my resolution to go get dressed in my room waver a bit.

" Davis, my face is up here," Rose sneered.

I gave her a small smile in response, kissing her cheek once more before putting on my shirt.

" Here, use my cell phone to call your father. He's waiting," I handed the phone to her before leaving.

The hallway was beginning to get busy with students coming out of their rooms to start another academic day, and a few eyes fell directly on me, a few whispers following as I walked away, but I didn't mind. It had been a long time since I cared whether or not they saw me leaving her room in the morning.

I took some time to shower and get ready in my room. Harry's messy bed showed that my roommate had returned from his last minute trip on Monday. I finished getting dressed, reminding myself to grab the Wandering Hawks winter jacket from the closet before I left.

I hurried down the hallways almost bumping into Theo as I returned to Rose's room.

" Hey, man. I thought you were staying with Rose yesterday," he greeted me.

" I did, I just went to change for class," I followed him down the flight of stairs.

" How is she? " he probed me.

" She didn't sleep through the night, but she won't want to admit it," I warned.

" Liam is going crazy trying to find out who did this, you have no idea... " he muttered " I mean, it's obvious who came up with the idea, but he wants to know who got their hands dirty. In the meantime, I hope Rose doesn't let herself be shaken.”

" She will walk out of that room with her head held high and pretend that nothing happened, and we will help her with that.”I assured her as I reached Rose's floor.

" We'll wait for you in the common area. Liam has assured us that he will not leave her side today, so don't delay," Theo said goodbye.

That information relieved me for a second, I knew I couldn't help much during class, after all I didn't have any subjects in common with her, but Liam could manage. And no one better to be by her side at that moment.

I still hadn't returned her room key, and that's what I used to get back in. Rose had put the mattresses on the beds anyway, and was wearing leather pants and a transparent turtleneck and trying to cover up the dark circles under her eyes from the sleepless night with a bit of makeup, using the bathroom mirror to fix herself.

" Are you going to wear that same boot? " I watched her feet covered only by socks.

Rose watched me for a few seconds before shrugging, pointing to the closet.

" It's on the bottom shelf," she said.

I opened the closet door, surprised to see the amount of clothes and shoes Rose had, not that it was surprising, she always seems to have the right clothes for any occasion!

I took the pair of boots and closed the door, watching Rose come out of the bathroom, going to the bed, putting on a tank top over her second skin, sitting up to put on her boots while I took my cell phone from her desk. Rose stood up again as soon as she finished putting on her boots, turning to me.

" So, do I look as hot as you imagined? " Rose raised both eyebrows, seeming to await my approval before moving on.

" Almost," I stepped closer, helping her into her Wandering Falcon jacket before taking two steps back to get a better look at the result, "now you look perfect.”

Rose shrugged into the jacket, running her hands up her own arms, feeling the leather under her fingers.

" I have a leather jacket..." A restrained smile appeared on her lips, highlighted by a burgundy lipstick.

" That may be, but today you are an honorary member of the Wandering Falcons.” I moved closer to her, holding her jaw as I looked into her eyes "and we don't bow our heads to anyone, understand?"

Rose's gaze stayed locked on mine for a few seconds, seeming to control herself as much as possible so as not to let the tears come to her eyes once more. I leaned in, tasting her mouth in a restrained kiss, giving her a chance to recover.

" What are you doing? " she stammered in a shaky voice as I pulled away.

" Helping you get your giant ego back," I winked at her.

That answer seemed to amuse her a little, helping to break the heavy mood that had dominated the room since I had met her the previous afternoon.

" I thought you found my giant ego annoying," she crossed her arms, staring at me.

" I do, as do 85.7% of the things about you," I returned.

" Wow, that was a very specific number," a small laugh escaped her lips, satisfying me. “If you find it so annoying, you should thank God that I no longer have my ego, then I would become less annoying, don't you think?”

" Maybe so, but if you weren't so annoying, you wouldn't be you anymore. And I kind of like you just the way you are, even though you feel like banging my head against the wall whenever we're not having sex," I winked at her, having the pleasure of hearing her laugh in response.

I walked to the door, unlocking it before turning to her.

" Are you ready to go, Campbell?”