Rosalina's Hope by D.D. Dass (free novel 24 .txt) 📕

reverse. Nothing big. Then, I’ll take you back home.” She nodded once. “Now hurry up, you only have an hour or so before your parents return.” She glared, shushing me before taking three more deep breaths.

 

And finally, after what seemed like forever, Rosa switched gears and pressed lightly on the gas. A car designed for speed, we instantly jerked forward, and she instantly slammed on the brakes.

 

“Careful,” I murmured softly. “Give it another try.” She nodded.

 

The next time, we went forward smoother, stopping just before the curb. She looked to me for approval and I nodded. Switching gears…she took us backwards, flawlessly too.

 

In park, she jumped out and I followed, bemused and bothered by the tears in her eyes. Speechless, I watched her struggle against them.

 

“Sorry,” she muttered. “I’m just really…surprised. I’m not supposed to be able to do that…I freeze up.” Moving forward, I cupped her face so that our gazes met. She really was surprised.

 

“You didn’t freeze, Roza,” I murmured with pride. She smiled a little.

 

“You made it alright…” My heart soared–fucking spread its wings and took off –at those small, sincere words.

 

I attached my lips to hers fervently, my hands running through the silk of her hair, holding her there. Mine. She responded with the same force, arms coming around my shoulders, arching her back, flush against me. I groaned low in the back of my throat, moving my hands from her hair to just above her ass so her breasts were flush against my chest. Mine. Not close enough. My arms slithered around her waist, lifting her easily against my erection and leaning her into the car.

 

She gave a small, beautiful sound as I flexed forward. Oh Christ. Her breathing came in pants, eyes shutting me out. “Open your eyes,” I commanded into her lips. Mine. Instantly, she obeyed and –stop.

 

I stilled, squeezing my own eyes shut, not breaking the kiss. Fuck, I wanted her. To just tear those clothes from her body and take her, mark her up and make her smell like me from the inside out.  Mon Dieu.

 

“What are you doing to me?” Her voice was lower as her lips found my jaw. I growled.

 

“I should be asking you that.” My hips flexed, the pleasure spiking through my body.

 

“You know,” she breathed shakily. “I think I’ll learn French sometime.” I laughed huskily.

 

Times up, lover boy, the Wolf was grudging. Poor bastard.

 

“Time to get you home,” I muttered. She hummed, face at my throat, breathing heavy–needy. She was letting her guard down…trusting me.

 

Finally! I smirked, in awe of the realization. Reluctantly, I eased her from me, setting her down on her feet. She didn’t meet my eyes, embarrassed I figured as I opened the passenger side and shut it without pressing.  

 

Minutes later, thanks very much to my speed, we made it too her house. I walked her to the door, disappointed to be leaving without her. It felt wrong –fucked up. Mine, mine, mine I made up a tune in my head, but even so, I still had to leave her behind now.

 

Life was a big, fat bowl of blessing and curses. At the door, she looked up from her lashes, a secretive smile on her lips as she unlocked the door. “Thank you,” she stretched up on her tiptoes, boldly kissing me in a sweet, chaste way.

 

I rolled my eyes, grabbing her hand and kissing the tips of her fingers. More! My wolf loved the attention, but I just smiled, releasing her slowly and turning away.

 

“Goodnight, babe,” I called over my shoulder, hearing her stumbling footsteps as she rushed inside the house. Once I made sure the surroundings were safe, I began to hum that tune, min-e, min-e, oh mineee.

 

If you love her so much, claim her. I deserve it, the wolf grumbled, close to the surface.

 

I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.” Then promptly raised the volume. Nothing could possibly ruin the mood Rosa had given me. The complete bliss.

 

Min-e, min-e, oh minee.

 

 

Falling...Falling... (Rosa):

Once I stepped foot through my front door, the shock rolled over me in a tsunami. Every piece of my being urged me to run back outside, to run until strong arms enveloped me in a warm, peppermint scented embrace. But I couldn’t –the fear of rejection, of the unknown holding me immobile, even as I watched, through the shades, as his car sped away.

 

Should’ve run…I wish I had.

 

God, he was…mind-boggling. Anything a girl could’ve asked for and more…but I wasn’t so oblivious to the haunted, cold depths in his eyes whenever he spoke of his family. It was a look I was far too familiar with…But he’s perfect! What could possibly be wrong in his life?

 

You, that locked away self-hatred sprung forward.

 

Gritting my teeth, I shook my head, forcing another direction of thoughts.

 

I wasn’t so naïve to believe that this –whatever we had –would last. My chest ached, heart stalling at the thought, because Sebastien Lacriox was the only person I’d ever felt like myself around…I felt like Rosalina –not some cold, detached fragment of her. His smile let me breathe easier and his sweetly controlling attitude made me really smile. He was odd that way. I’d never seen a guy so livid before, especially not because I’d spoken to another…guy.

 

It was a primal sort of protective. At the realization, I smiled, wondering how he’d respond if I told him he was like my own personal watch dog. Something told me not so badly at all.

 

“He’s it then?” Startled, I whipped around to face my sister, whose eyes were wide with realization.

 

“What?”

 

“The one.” With all the grace of a ballerina, she sat at the bottom step, arching an eyebrow as I glanced away, my hands wringing.

 

“I don’t think so,” I choked. Why does that have to be so true?

 

Iris placed her face in her hands. “The boy is head over heels for you Rosa,” she told, smiling softly. Not even a little.  I smiled watery in return.

 

“It would never work…He’s too good to be true.” So, so good.

 

“Never say never.”

 

Suddenly, car doors slammed out front. I waved, taking two steps at a time upstairs until I was in my bedroom. In the darkness, I pulled on flannel pajamas, snatching his jacket and hugging it closer to me. It still smelt like him. In bed, I shivered and the low, muffled sobs began to rock my body.

 

Why am I crying? Oh right, Sebastien isn’t for me.

 

~~

The next morning, I pulled my messy hair back in a sloppy bun, my eyes puffed and bloodshot. I’m a mess.

 

Frustrated with my appearance, I pulled a baggy sweater over my tank-tops, shimmying into jeans and noting that I felt…detached. Again.

 

At school, I met up with Isaac, dressed in a black shirt and jeans –girls still watched him curiously.

 

“Hi.” I plopped on a cafeteria set. He followed, sitting beside me with a wide smile. I forced myself to smile in return. “So, Ash wants to take me out tomorrow.” Happiness for my best friend warmed me.

 

“He must be cute,” I mumbled half-heartedly. Nobody looked as good as…my friend? I didn’t even know what to call him anymore. Friendship was too vague. “Very. Brown, unruly hair and pretty brown eyes. Tall, slight.” A soccer player.

 

Peripherally, I sighted Zach sauntering into the cafeteria, heading straight our way. Inwardly, I groaned. Why me?

 

“Sup Rosy,” he leaned in, much to close for comfort. Shifting away, I waved lamely. “Isaac! My man.”

 

“Zach,” Isaac greeted coolly. “Rosa’s feeling a bit faint right now, so…” Hmm…Isaac, an unexpected savior.

 

I nodded a little, eyes low to exaggerate my sickness, hoping to drive him away. Such a wasted hope.

 

Instead of leaving, Zach sat on my other side, hands over my shoulders, rubbing too roughly. Wrong, this is so wrong. I fidgeted away. With a taunting smile, he took his hands back and a boy I hadn’t noticed sat beside him. Zach seemed to notice my strayed attention.

 

“Oh yeah, Rosy, Isaac, this is Jeremy.” Jeremy was grin as he nodded to us. The expression made him unattractive, despite the nice brown hair and forest green eyes. Smile.

 

“Hi,” I mumbled, which was more than I could say for Isaac who smiled in a painful looking way. Once the usually annoying bell rang, relief swelled over me, even as Zach walked me to my class, making futile conversation –blah, blah, blah. I didn’t pay attention, just nodded here and there.

 

At the door, he grinned. “See you when the bell rings, Rosy.”

 

Ugh. I smiled –almost certainly much like Isaac had– dismayed by the nick name. I am not Rosy, dang it.

 

In class, I couldn’t keep track of the lesson, gazing unseeingly at the desk as Isaac scribbled down the notes. Having a best friend that was a know-it-all wasn’t all that bad, but also, it didn’t really matter, that was just a bonus, Isaac was generally caring and funny like a ball of fuzzy energy –impossible to dislike.

'

Just before dismissal, he passed me a note.

 

How does Bastien feel bout Zach stalking your every move? ^.^ My heart leaped at his name. I was…saddened to abruptly end to our friendship. But it has to be this way…

 

There just wasn’t anything for us.

 

It doesn’t matter…I wrote angrily. He read it, shaking his head.

 

No offense Rosa, but are you guys a package or what?

 

It’s not like that. We’re not…anything. I shoved it back at him. It didn’t feel like nothing though.

 

Again, when you guys were all over each other, didn’t look like nothin’…

 

I grimaced. It was a few kisses Isaac, nothing more.

 

His eyebrows shot up, towards his hairline. A few?! I thought it was ONE!

 

Busted.

 

Sheepishly, I crumpled the note as the teacher passed our row, shoving it into my backpack before he could comment. Seconds later, the bell rang and I sighed. Zach would be waiting.

 

Perhaps Bastien was right. Zach isn’t best to associate with.

 

Unmoving, I didn’t glance at Isaac, who stayed in place as well…but, I really couldn’t be tardy.

 

“We’re gonna be late if we don’t start walking now,” I muttered, breaking the silence. With a knowing smile, he held up his hand, between two fingers were two green tardy passes.

 

“How did you get those?” His eyes clouded. A very good sign, I think.

 

“Ash wanted me to skip with him,” he blushed. “But I don’t really wanna get in trouble or something. I mean, I like him well enough, but I don’t…yeah, well I figure you need some time away from Zach the Stalker.” I smiled warmly, patting his hand –touching him was becoming almost comfortable…As everything with Isaac was.

 

“I do,” I told him sincerely. “Thank you.” So much.

 

He grinned then, “so…a few kisses!” My cheeks lit. A few, deliciously hot kisses, yep.

 

“Erm…Yes. He let me uh, drive his care,” I hedged, aiming for a topic-change. It worked.

 

“Drive? What was he thinking! You could’ve been hurt.” I winced away from that. He sounded so much like…Mom. The lack of confidence, especially from him, hurt.

 

I’m not incompetent…I…am…NOT. “I’m still alive, aren’t I?” I snapped and he gave me an apologetic smile.

 

The tardy bell rang, and after another five minutes, I figured Zach was gone. Isaac gathered my books for me, guiding me towards French.

 

“Have fun,” he sang in farewell, laughing.