112 Chapter 4: Winter, Nine Months Before (Part Two)
"Rose!" Cas waved excitedly while Rose silently walked to her with a smile. "Come on, let's go," she said grabbing Rose's hand.
"Hi" Cas burst through the room with a high yet excited voice while Rose silently follows still smiling. The room had about five people, and they greeted Cas with the same expression of joy as she walked towards them.
"Hey, Cassy. finally made it" said a girl
"Hey, Val," Cas said as she sat down next to her.
"What took you so long?" Said Val
"I wanted to bring Rose to celebrate."
"Hey, Rose" Val greeted Rose while she nodded in response as she sat on a lone couch and continued toward her bag for a book.
"Alright let's get into introductions," said Cas "I'm Cassandra, friends call me Cassy, and my good friend over there is the only one allowed to call me Cas." as everyone turns their heads to Rose, she says "Please, just call me Rose."
"Well, I'm Steven," said a guy and pointed to his friends" These are Patrick, Roddy, Jeff, Jen and Stacey" he introduced them. "Ah! There's going to be one more but, he's not here yet."
"Alright, let's get this party started," said Roddy, the voice get going, and music starts to play and time flies by as everyone is having a good time while sits on the lone couch reading.
"You aren't much of a partier are you Rose?" said Jeff to Rose who lifted her head to answer
"Afraid not."
"Not a people person?" she responded nodding her head to his question.
"She may not be. But, believe it or not, if she tries, she's beautiful" said Cas budding in
"Really," he said turning his head "I'd love to see that"
"Why, have an interest in Rose."
"Maybe." The door opened just them
"Hey, Anthony you made it," said, Patrick
'Yeah" said he said solemnly, Casey gave him the googly eye look. While Rose didn't bother to pay attention and went back to reading the book she took out. The guys went back to partying, and Anthony sits next to Rose on the seat. Cas moves over and sits between Rose and Anthony.
"What are you doing? There's a dreamboat right next to you." Cas whispers in Rose's ear and her giggles and closes her book in response
"I'm going to the bathroom," she whispered back to Cas as she got up to leave
"Hey, don't avoid the subject," Cas said, but Rose only responded with a smile. As Rose looked in the
Mirror she closes her eyes and takes deep breaths. And walks out of the bathroom.
She comes to the door of the room but, before opening it. It opens instead, and Anthony makes his way-out giving Rose quite a shock. He stops for a moment and then takes Rose hand and pulls her forcefully giving Rose to time to react. In the background, you could hear Cas calling "Rose," but it's too late they're already gone. When Anthony finally stopped Rose had collapsed on the ground from exhaustion and let go of her hand, she doesn't notice she was inside a hotel lobby. Rose tried to stand but her legs where still sore and wobbly then Anthony came back and picked her up as if she was a feather. Rose looked as if she wanted to protest but didn't say anything as she watched tears roll from his eyes and let him take her down the hall.
It was morning, Rose finds herself alone in the bed. Holding on to the blanket she looks down her face becomes a little red and she smiles before getting up. After getting dressed, she notices a note on the dresser that says, "For Your troubles" and a check that is just enough to pay for her family's debt. Rose Sighs as she looks at the check and leaves the hotel room.
