I got home and Garrett was home. I wasn't allowed to call him Garrett to his face. He had supported us for as long as I could remember. And I love Garrett, I just wish I knew who my real dad was. Was he dead? Did he divorce my mom? Or was he the bad guy? I sat in the driveway, hesitant to go in. If Garrett saw my face, he'd flip. But I bet Mom already told him, so I finally walked in.

I couldn't bring myself to forget the encounter with Aden at work. He had seemed really concerned about why I was hurt. And I hated lying to him, but I was also tired of Valery messing with me. I was ready for school to be over. Aden shouldn't worry about me, anyway. I'm not the stars, sun, and moon, like in the movies. I'm just Rosemary.

"Hey, Mom, hey, Dad," I called.

"Hey, Rose," Mom called back. "How was work?"

I gave her a look. "Mom. It's work. But I did run into Aden."

"Who's Aden?" Garrett asked coming into view with arms open and a smile plastered on his face.

I hugged him close to me. I hated it whenever he left.

"Aden's a friend at school," I answered his question.

"He better not hurt you," Garrett said.

"Dad," I smiled. "He would never hurt me."

Mom and Garrett looked at each other and back at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Come sit," Mom said. "I think it's time we told you about your real dad."

We all sat on the couch and I waited. Garrett was holding Mom's hand. Mom took a deep breath and looked at me.

"Rosemary, when I was exactly your age, your father raped me. And that's how you came along. Now, I'm not saying that you were a mistake or anything, because you mean the world to me. But I thought he loved me. I thought I could trust him. I thought he would never hurt me. But he did. Twice."

"He raped you twice?!" Garrett stood.

"No, no. He cheated on me while we were dating--so I broke up with him. That's how he hurt me the first time."

Garrett sat back down.

"I'm lost," I shrugged.

"What I'm trying to say is that, I don't want you to get hurt. Be sure you really know Aden."

"Mom, I'm not dating him or anything."

"And I wasn't dating your father when he hurt me the way he did."

I sighed. "Mom, please just trust me."

"I do trust you. But I want to meet Aden."

"Mom, you're making a big deal of nothing! He's not into me like that. He's only gone to my school for three and a half months. He's protective of me. He makes sure I'm okay. That I'm safe. He. Won't. Hurt. Me."

"I still want to meet him."

"Okay, Mom."

I called Aden and he answered before the first ring even finished.

"Rose," he said my name so softly and sweetly.

"Hey, Aden. Mind swinging by? My parents want to meet you," I said.

"Absolutely. My parents and I will be there before you know it. I just need your address."

I gave him my address and he hung up. I told Mom and Garrett that they were on their way and they nodded. The doorbell soon rang and I answered it.

"Come in," I smiled.

They came in and all sat down on the couches. I felt like it was my family versus Aden's family.

"I'm Maddison, and this is my husband, Garrett," my mom said.

"I'm Stephanie, and this is my husband, Harold, and my son, Aden," Stephanie smiled.

"You already met Rosemary, right?" Mom said.

"Yes."

"Aden," Garrett said. "Tell us about yourself."

"Well, I was born in Sacremento, California seventeen years ago. My birthday is May seventh. I don't play any sports. I play piano and guitar. I make really good grades. I'm not an outdoors kind of guy unless I'm just sitting in a clearing somewhere or sitting by a nearby lake with a novel. I love mysteries. And I'll listen to any music. And after high school, I want to go to college to major in medicine. Then I'll try to become a surgeon."

"Nice, very nice. What are your intentions with Rosemary," Garrett said.

"Dad!" I hissed.

Aden looked at me and back at Garrett. "I don't understand what you're meaning is, sir." He tried so hard not to laugh while saying that sentence. I guess he liked seeing me embarrassed, or something. Or he liked the fatherly protectiveness Garrett was showing.

Mom told Aden what she told me before I called him. I put my hand on my forehead and closed my eyes.

Someone kill me now.

"...and that's why we wanted to meet you. To make sure you won't hurt our little girl--dating or not," Mom finished.

"Don't worry, I would never hit a female. Young, old, bad. It's not how I am. And Rosemary is a sweet girl. I would protect her with my life."

"I'm sorry to all of you about this whole thing--" I said, but Aden cut me off.

"It's okay, Rosemary. Mr. and Mrs. Barns, do you mind me talking to Rosemary alone for a moment?" he stood.

"Um sure," Mom said and I followed Aden outside.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"Rose, I know you lied to me when you said you fell. Did someone hit you?" he demanded.

I looked down and stuffed my hands in my pockets.

"Rose, please. I need to know."

"You can't do anything." I looked in his eyes. "A girl did this to me and you said you would never harm a female."

"I won't hurt her. I'm gonna talk to her. Was it Valery?" he asked.

Again, I looked down. "I'm fine, Aden."

"Ugh, I knew it!" he yelled.

"Aden... Don't do anything. This wouldn't be the first time. I'm the girl everyone hurts--physically and mentally."

"That's all about to change."

"No, I don't want people thinking that I'm a wimp. If I show them I can take a couple hits, then they'll leave me alone."

"Rose," he looked dead in my eyes. "You may be okay with people abusing you like this, but I'm not. I'm here to protect you. To make sure that no one hurts you. I understand jealousy, but I don't understand why they portrey it this way," he said barely touching my bruised cheek.

"Because people can be mean," I said.

"Well, they won't be mean to you--not anymore," Aden vowed.

I smiled and let my eyes drop.

Aden hugged me and I fought my tears back. Finally! Finally someone who cared! Finally someone who wants to be there for me! Finally, I had a friend.

Aden and his family left after a while. It was 8:30 and I was exhausted.

"Night," I called over my shoulder and hit the shower.

I let the water burn my skin. I washed my hair and soaped down. I shaved my legs and when I got out, I lotioned and put my clothes on--my bra, v-neck red shirt, underwear, and shorts. I walked in my room and stopped when I saw myself in the full-length mirror. My arms and legs were lanky and my hair was long. The bruise was fading. I wasn't hideous.

I laid in my bed and covered up. I fell asleep and had a dreamless night.

My alarm went off and I hit it. I rolled onto the floor and forced myself up. I decided to wear a frilly skirt and a short sleeved v-neck shirt. I grabbed my bag and left.

When I walked in the school, Valery walked up to me.

"Cover your bruise with makeup?" she asked.

"No, it faded," I said.

"What's with the outfit?" she gestured.

I shrugged. "I felt like it."

"Or felt like trying me. You want Aden so bad, you'll go to slut extremes to do it," she snapped.

"I'm not that kind of girl, Valery," I said.

"Oh really? Then don't talk to Aden today," she folded her arms.

"He's my friend, Valery. I can't not talk to him."

"Then no flirting."

"I don't flirt."

"I'll be watching you."

"Oooh, I'm so scared."

She rolled her eyes and walked off. I laughed to myself. Jealous girl. Aden walked up to me.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," I smiled.

"You look really pretty today," he said.

"Thanks. Don't say that in front of Valery. She'll think I'm trying to win you or whatever."

He hugged me. Either he was doing a repeat of yesterday, or something. I was so confused. I let go, but he held on. So I wrapped my arms around him again. Was he feeling okay? He finally let me go.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, I just... I don't know," he laughed.

I rolled my eyes and smiled at him. We walked to class. I dreaded sixth period. Valery was bound to do something. When fifth period ended, Aden walked me to class.

"You don't have to do this," I told him.

"Oh, I know. I want to," he said.

"'Kay, well, see ya later," I hugged him and went inside.

I took out my sketchbook and shivered. I heared footsteps coming towards me.

Valery.

"Here," Aden's voice said as his jacket appeared around me.

I looked up at him. "Aden, I'm okay."

"I saw you shiver, Rose. It's okay," he smiled down at me and my vocal cords ran away.

He hugged me again and left. His jacket was warm. And it smelt good too.

It was his smell.

I sketched Aden again, but in a meadow with a novel. (Like he'd said last night). I added a pond in there and smiled.

"What do we have here?" Valery's voice laughed evily.

I shut my sketchbook, but she took it.

"Give it back!" I yelled.

"No," she smirked. "I bet Aden's dying to see this."

"Stop, just give me my book!"

"Oh, I will," Valery nodded and ran off.

I went after her, but my teacher stopped me.

"Sit, Miss Barns," he said.

"Valery just took my book!" I said.

"You can get it after class. Now sit," he said.

I sat down and put my face in my hands. When class was over, Valery was standing outside my class with my book.

"Here," she handed it back to me. "And don't worry, Aden didn't see them. Yet."

"What are you planning, you caniving witch?" I spat.

"You'll see. Tomorrow at lunch."

And with that, she left.

Aden was walking to me, but saw Valery and stopped. I couldn't understand what they were saying, but Aden didn't look too happy. I finally heard a sentence that sent chills up my spine.

"Just make sure you're at lunch tomorrow, Aden, because there's a secret Rosemary's been keeping from you."

I ran off so fast, it was like magic.

~

I paced back and forth in my room. What was Valery planning? What was she going to do? I called The Shack and told them I was sick. Truth be told, I truly felt sick to my stomach. I couldn't go to school. I couldn't handle public humiliation. I just couldn't do it.

I sat on my bed and cried. All of my emotions crashed down on me. I wasn't sure what to do. I showered, got into my sleep clothes, and laid in bed. I stared at my celing. I was so scared. I hadn't been this afraid since Halloween five years ago--long story.

I didn't want Aden to find out my feelings for him. Why did Valery hate me so much? Was she this jealous of me, or did I do something to her indirectly?

The next day, the morning carried on its routine. But when I walked into the cafeteria for lunch, I froze. How did she...? Why...? I prayed to God that Aden wasn't in here yet.

Valery had taken pictures of the drawings in my sketchbook and projected them for everyone to see.