A Rose from the Fire~Chapter 4

by Steven in Illinois

Things tried to get back to normal, but quite easily, they failed at that. In fact, they couldn't have gotten worse. Each day I'd vistit Rose after school, and she'd give me that smile that could only fill me with guilt. I didn't feel better when her blue eyes twinkled brightly, showing me a strange feeling. I talked to her, but sooner or later I'd leave, too overwhelmed with shame to talk anymore. At school, all her friends and the people who had a crush on her tried to destroy me. I'd either get stuffed into a locker or hit in the eye by a comb, whatever. I would stare at Rose's empty seat throughout most of the subject I was usuallly with her in, wondering when she'd return. Jacob would just shrug, and Mom thought that I shouldn't be concerned about my "social life" yet, but that just made me want to throw something at her. And that was obviously another reason why I broke down into tears more often. Any criticism about Rose would make me get into a violent act, even with Mom, and I could only endure the pain as the days passed.

Finally, I was more than just relieved when Rose came back. She was okay, but she couldnt' participate in P.E, unless it wasn't decent leg training. Life tried its best to return to normal, but it just couldn't seem to for so long. And that was all that I could do. I'd help her if she dropped some books, or something, blinking back tears, and wondering if anything would be the same. I was relieved that Rose had stopped the over 150 people who pulverized me, so that I could ACTUALLY not get a black eye twice a day. One time during Chemistry, we made the same thing as last time, and it turned out mine and Rose's was the best. Yeah, that was probably one of the few shine moments for me.

A while later, I was sitting in Algebra, trying to get into all the crazy stuff, when a buzzer sounded. "Rose Valentine and Jason le Croute, please report to the principal's." the principal's voice boomed. Sighing, I walked through the door, aware of the many eyes glaring at Rose and I as we descended into the huge hall. When I did arrive at the principal's my parents, and probably Rose's, were there. I wanted to scream in terror. Here comes the lecture about "social life" and "you're both too young" and all that blah blah blah junk I wanted to throw out the window. My parents opened their mouths. "Jason, you realize that you're too young..." "Ms. Valentine shouldn't be part of your life yet..." "I hope you too aren't going too crazy..." blah blah blah, as usual. I felt like throwing the lamp next to me, but that would probably get me expelled. Rose was also getting told off for me being in her life. Blah, blah, blah....

and the last straw hit. I yelled, "SHUT UP!" so loud, people OUTSIDE the room looked through the window. "What is wrong with you these days? Rose is a friend, not a date or anything? Even if she is..." oops, wrong idea. "it doesn't make a difference! It's my life to live Mom, I'm not some stupid %$#%@! up idiot! GET A LIFE!" I yelled, and I was even suprised by what I said. My parents looked at each other, as if deciding who should get the honor of whacking me with a desk. I breathed hard. "Let's go." I said pointedly to Rose, and grabbed her hand. She followed me out of the room.

You can say whatever you want, but trust me, I sort of regretted running out of there. 10 seconds later, the principal boomed for all these crazy security guards, and even said for them to call 911. Big problem. Before I knew it, Rose and I were running off, jumping over slugged nerds, ducking under a bully's arm, and emerging outside. That was when all of it happened. A huge amount of guards and other blah blah idiots came out of nowhere, attacking. "OH NO!" I said sarcastically. I had something ready. I pulled out a gun. Wait wait wait, not an evil AK-47, a dart gun with some needles. Poof, I knocked out 5 people. "The dart makes them pass out, not die luckily!" I explained to Rose, who I noticed seriously knows how to slug people. After a while, I dashed off, holding Rose's hand, running off anywhere.

And that was the beginning of it all. Rose Valentine and Jason le Croute were on the run.