Rose ran to the bleachers and looked for Demetri. She searched the top of the bleachers, but he was nowhere in sight. Rose searched both sides, but still couldn’t find him. Demetri wasn’t in the back either. Where did he go? They agreed to meet each other at the bleachers, right?

For fifteen minutes, Rose sat at the top of the bleachers, waiting for Demetri. About to leave, she spotted him sitting in the opening of a nearby forest.

With the sun out, Rose wondered why he was cowering in the shadows. Not even clouds were there to ruin the day.

“What are you doing over here? I thought we agreed to meet at the bleachers, and this isn’t them,” Rose questioned, irritated.

“I’m sorry. I thought this would be more comfortable than the hard bleachers,” Demetri justified. “I truly am sorry.”

“I’d much rather prefer the bleachers than the dirt.” Demetri took off his jacket and placed it on the ground.

“Is that better?” he asked.

“That’s not what I meant, but thank you. Although, I would’ve sat on the ground. Dirt doesn’t bother me like most girls, so you didn’t need to do that,” Rose said, sitting down.

Demetri smiled, “It was no problem. For you, I’d do anything.”

“You barely know me.”

“Then, tell me. Who is Ambrosia Lillis?” Demetri asked. Rose stared at his hand that lay atop hers. He was colder, but that was to be expected. Rose pulled her hand back.

“Why would you want to know me? I’m just a weird girl.”

“Weird? I highly doubt that,” Demetri said, leaning back onto his palms. Rose averted her gaze.

“Let’s just say it was a nickname that I embraced. One that helped me to not care what others thought of me.

“Nobody?” Demetri asked, baffled.

“Well, if my mom or brother were to say something, I’d be pretty upset. Even with my friend Josephine, I’d be hurt. They’re the people closest to me. They know everything. I wouldn’t expect them to say something bad about me,” Rose admitted, her self-sufficiency faltering.

Rose couldn’t imagine someone close to her doing something like that again. Depending on others caused her to be hurt in the past, so Rose built herself to be self-reliant. Needing others would only bring her own demise.

As Rose looked down, ashamed at her weakness, the gentle touch of a finger lifted her chin.

“I would never say anything bad about you, I promise. You can trust me,” Demetri reassu­­­red, his caramel eyes gleaming. A faint smile graced Rose’s lips, one Demetri returned.

~

 On the drive home in Demetri’s bright, orange sports car, Rose thought back on how Demetri’s jerk act had only been a cover for his kinder side. He wasn’t such a bad guy like she thought.

“I had a great time talking to you,” Rose stated as Demetri walked her to her door.

“Does this mean you don’t hate me anymore?” Demetri asked, hopeful.

“I wonder,” Rose muttered, walking inside. She hated to leave him, but she knew Callum would be waiting.

As Rose stepped through the door, the sounds of screaming could be heard.