Rose Blossom - By Renee Travis Page 0,2

wearing contacts.

I looked down at my book as soon as I could break from his stare, I could have sworn he chuckled.

"Rose, why don’t you look at me?" he asked.

I looked back up and smoothed my curls back so my hair didn’t obstruct my own view of his striking face.

"I was looking, but it's impolite to stare," I heard myself say.

"I'm staring at you, am I impolite?" he questioned, the smile widening on his lips.

"No, though I don’t know why you're staring at me." I told him.

"Because lavender is a very unusual color," he answered.

The blush on my cheeks deepened and my breathing became shallow, which just irritated me. Couldn't I at least flirt with someone like a normal person! I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, and jumped when a cool hand touched my own. I looked down to see Julian's pale, long fingers wrapping themselves around my hand.

"Are you alright?" Julian asked, a worried look crossing his face.

"Yes, just a second," I said, evening my breathing. I opened my eyes. "Sorry, but my eyes aren't purple, they're dark blue." The lie was easy enough.

My eyes, in certain light looked purple, but I had been born with them a dark blue, it was my medication that added the purple.

"They look lavender to me, so I shall keep that opinion," Julian said, laughing a little.

"Oh," I couldn't think of what else to say.

"Come to the dance with me tonight."

I almost choked on my own salvia, not a pretty thought, but a true one. Had Julian Daramonth seriously just asked ME out to the first dance of the school year? Sadness filled me before the excitement and happiness could take root. He must have sensed it because the hand that was lightly holding mine took a firmer grip.

"What's wrong? Am I too late? Did someone else already ask you?" he fired the questions at me fast and in a whispered tone. I looked at him and knew I had to be imagining the hint of jealousy that seemed to light his eyes.

"No it's just... I'm not...I'm not allowed to go on dates." I shrugged, defeated.

"Ah," the playfulness was back in his tone, "well then I'll see you tonight, at 7:30." As he finished his sentence the last bell of the day rang.

Before I could find out what he meant by that, he was gone. Goosebumps rose on my arms as I stared at my hand where his had been only a few seconds before. I could still feel the coolness of his touch on my skin.

I stood up, a little shaky and knew that I'd be a tad paler than I normally was. As I was gathering my things I heard Mel's laugh outside in the hallway. She was my ride home two days a week, when my mom had her aerobics lessons, something else I wasn't allowed to do.

I walked as quickly as I could out of the classroom and saw Mel leaning against a locker while Killian Thompson was kissing her neck. Killian was her current boyfriend and when she wasn't with me she was attached to him. He was good-looking, with dark brown hair and brown eyes, his skin was forever tanned and he played shortstop on the varsity baseball team. While he wasn't the best guy for my best friend, I was OK with it... for now.

Rolling my eyes, she gave another high giggle and slapped his hand away shrieking, "Killian, bad!" I walked over to them, slightly annoyed but used to it.

"And how are the lovebirds today?" I asked, a sarcastic smile on my face.

Mel looked down at me, have I mentioned she's almost six foot to my five foot six? Just like she's the slim perky sports star to my curvy round goddess.

"Oh hey Rho," I could see her taking in my pale coloring as she frowned, pushing Killian away from her, he muttered a short, "hey Rho, later Mel," and walked away.

"What's wrong? Why is your skin gray around the edges?" Mel asked, putting an arm around my shoulder quickly and leading me toward the senior parking lot.

"Julian Daramonth just asked me to the dance tonight," I pretty much whispered it, not feeling so good.

"What!" Mel practically screamed it in my ear, as we stopped just outside the school doors, she turned and gripped my arms, "Oh my God, Rho! That's awesome!" She jumped up and down a couple of times and then stopped dead, "ah crap." Her tone drastically changed