Ours

Rose was back at the Alden mansion. She hated everything about it and the past four years she had lived there.

- Morning little miss

- Its Rose, please Mary we've been over this

- Yes but your grandmother prefers..

- Irene you mean. Where is she? Why am I here so early?

- She's upstairs

- Thanks Mary

Mary worked at the mansion. She was there when Rose moved in and she was always very nice to Rose and she liked her.

She went up the narrow stairs, into the huge living room where Irene was sipping her tea

- You are here on time, how nice!

- Why did I have to be here so early?

- To get ready, you don't plan on coming to the ball in your boots I hope

- Well, actually yeah

- In a mood to be funny I guess

- Not so much

- Then all you need is in your dressing room. Mary can help you out. Hair and make up will be here in a little

- Can we not?

- What?

- Do the whole shebang, make up and such?

- No. We could not. I do not like this any more than you so I would appreciate a little collaboration.

- All right. Nothing over the top or I'm out

Rose then walked to her room. Big and painted in dusty pink, she hated it. There were all kinds of things she never used. Irene had furnished the room before she moved in and as if getting a pet she had filled it with things she found useful and Rose found useless.

She jumped on the bed and stayed there for a while. Sometimes she felt like her head was too heavy from all the thoughts swirling around. She felt the pain in her right arm again. Then she thought of the accident.

That day she hadn't told the therapist everything. She remembered more. She was conscious only for a few minutes at a time but she did remember feeling the kiss Noah had given her after the first surgery.

Then there were parts she didn't know if she dreamed or not. She was sure she had felt his tear fall on her cheek as he kissed her head in the auto ambulance. She remembered Aliyah scream and cry and Hunter asking " are they alive?"

She could still hear their voices sometimes. She dreamed about it often and still loud sounds would send her into a panic frenzy.

Then she thought of Alison, her being back and especially her being mad.

That look hurt her more than anything else.

The look in which she couldn't find a trace of their friendship.

That cold look that went through her heart like a dagger.

" me and you were friends" she just couldn't get that sentence out of her head. Did she really mean it?

If she did, how could she just end their friendship like that when she was trying everything to mend it?

What was she couldn't forgive? All she wanted was all of them being able to sit around a table again and be the same happy group they used to be.

Was she aiming for the impossible ? She hoped not.

And with everything weighting on her shoulders she had ahead a night of God knows what , with God knows who. And she didn't have many nights to waste, she reminded herself.

She had only a few more, just like the dragonflies, she thought.

Feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders and a terrible headache she got up to look for her gown in her closet. She was so afraid of what waited behind that door nevertheless she opened it.

Connor ran behind Allison. He sat in the huge red couch as she walked in rounds ranting about what had occurred.

- ..but of course all they want to do is protect her, that's what they wanted since the day we had the accident

- That's not fair. It all happened in front of us, we were worried for the both of you

- I know you were

- We all were, but at least you were still conscious and she wasn't responding and had a weak pulse, we thought she died Al. We really thought that was it..

- Its not even about that, its about them having her back about everything

- Haven't they had yours too? haven't we?

- Yes, you have. But not the others.

- Not Noah more specifically you mean..

- It all rounds back to him doesn't it?

- I guess but look you will be in this endless loop of fighting if you don't sit down and talk

- I'm not talking to her

- Than talk to me. What happened the day of the accident?. Did you two fight in that car?

- Everybody is so damn concerned about the damn accident..

- As we should, it tore us apart and we don't understand why

- Rose is why.

- Look tonight we are all going to gather at Mr.P's .

If you care about us the tiniest bit, you'll be there and all this will be over

- All of this is not something that could be over

- We won't know unless we try, so please just be there this once.

Allison feared that confrontation but she knew that now being back, she couldn't avoid it any longer.

- Okay

She said.

- I'll give them this last chance, even though after this morning I'm not sure they deserve it.

- Yesss, that's all I wanted to hear.

She felt uneasy, but she knew he wouldn't let it go and maybe it was time they finally talked.

Zoe had left the hospital. It was little to 17:00 and she felt tired. She looked at her wrists, she was so mad at herself for not having succeeded. That dumb motel manager had called the paramedics just at the right time.

She felt tired and angry.

This time she knew where to end it all.

The one place nobody would check.

She got in a cab and gave the address.

She rested her head on the window, taking in the sight of the city one last time.

She felt at peace.

The taxi driver stopped right at the gate. And she was glad nobody at Pine Hills seemed to notice.

She pushed the door quickly and went in.

She put down her bag, the house hadn't changed a bit.

- I haven't changed either

She gave a faint smile.

She walked to the front door. Removed the tiny carpet and then the tile under it. There, a bit rusty was a key. She smiled.

- Knew you'd still be here

She said to herself. She picked up the key and after a few minutes of trying she opened the door.

There it lay in front of her. Her past, present and end.

She left her bag and went into the bedroom.

Her wardrobe door was open, "Rose" she thought to herself.

But she didn't worry about Rose finding her , she knew she wouldn't come back to this place, she had always found a way to escape. But Zoe couldn't . She felt trapped. That house was her cage. Somehow there she wasn't her old self, her true self, but she couldn't help but go back.

Here. This house was her fate, it had begun and it would end here.

She lay down on her bed.

Ripped off the bandages on her wrists. Took the razor out of her back pocket.

A little sun peered through the window. She looked at it for a while before she closed her eyes.

Hunter had worn one of his father's tuxedos. He was waiting for Aliyah.

He hated having to wait and was getting annoyed. It already was 17:25 . He got the car keys and went outside just as he was about to get into the car to go pick her up , he saw her. She was running up the street towards him.

She was wearing a yellow dress with a narrow waist, but a loose fit. She wrapped a cloth ribbon around her and tied it on one side.

Below the waist the dress widens and has several asymmetric layers towards the bottom. The dress reaches to just below her knees and is the same length all around.

She's wearing peep toes, which goes hand in hand with her dress, she's wearing an ornate necklace and small jeweled earrings.

And her curly hair bounces around as she runs.

And for a minute all he could see was her. Everything else just became blurry. He didn't know what a human version of sunshine would look like, but if he had to guess, he'd say her. Right there, right then as she smile and ran towards him.

- Sorry, sorry. I know you hate waiting but my hair took forever and…

- No its fine, I'm not mad. You are right on time

- Re..really? oh that's a relief. Hey you look handsome.

She liked him better in his hoodies and sweats, but he still looked good in a tuxedo too.

- Thanks, you're not so bad yourself

He said but he really was mesmerized.

He opened the car door for her.

They got in the car.

- Can I pick the song this time?

- Yeah sure

He said and she smiled at him.

Then she connected her phone to the car and she played Perry Como " Killing me softly with her song".

He smiled.

- Nice pick !

- Well, its kinda like our song now .

She said and she felt like her heart could just burst out of the happiness she felt that moment.