Chapter One

Chapter One:

I gaze at the soft leather sofa that's staring me in the face. Just one sit, it won't hurt, I think to myself. I'm in a furniture store. Add that to about every other shop you can think of, then add 5 hours of feet torture, and you can imagine how tired I am. So when I see the most perfect, bum hugging, feet relaxing sofa in the world right there infront of me, you wouldn't believe how tempting it was to just flop down on it and never get up again.

"Rose? What are you staring at? Get over here and help me, wont you?!" my mum calls to me as im still contemplating escapism via the sofa. So warm, so soft. so...

"Rose!!"

I turn my head to where mum is trying her best to fit a 3 layered book shelf in a trolley. Finally, we can go home now.

"Okay, o-kay!" I huff, walking over to help her. This is one of many shops we've been in just to find a bookshelf perfect enough for her. Her equalling my mother of course. Everything has to be perfect. Just right. So now we've found one, we can go home. Or so i'm hoping.

We fight our battles with the cashier as we try to get the bookcase in the trolley. The cashier/sales advisor is offering to carry it to the car, while mum insists that she can manage so long as it gets in that damned trolley. Her words, not mine.

Don't get me wrong, I love shopping. I inspire great taste. In fashion, not furniture.

When it comes to my dad, he is always miraculously busy when it comes to shopping.

"Peter? Rose and I are going shopping, You coming along to help your dear wife?" my mum asked before we left. Wearing a flaring white blouse with long black trousers. It's almost like she's going for a job interview.

My dad is a 'get away quick' kinda guy. Always there when you don't need him, never there or escapes when you do. Love him to bits though.

"Um, no dear, I have some things to do. You know, the usual."

The usual being internet betting and alcohol consuming. But he doesnt know I know that. And mum, well, lets just say she has an image of what his 'usual' is but doesnt want to cause an argument.

So here we are. And soon 'here' will be my bed if I have my way. It sucks being an only child and 14. It sucks not being allowed to stay home on a weekend. It majorly sucks when your mum decides to torture you into 5 hours of walking around endlessly.

We make the trolley over to our blacked out BMW Estate that's parked right outside the front entrance as theres practically no cars around this late in the day now.

I help mum put the shelf in the boot carefully and then go around to get in my side of the car. I sit there thinking to myself how warm it is for this time of year, especially when last year we had endless snow in February, when this really, really cute guy walks into the same shop we've just come out of. He looks at our car before the doors open, and for that split second, we make eye contact. Don't ask me how that was even possible since he was probably just wondering what all the racket was, what with my mum swearing blindly about why the boot wont shut.

Well, that was weird.

"Are you okay Rose?" Mum turns to me and asks. A slight worry line appearing on her face. I don't usually space out that much, but when I do she instantly thinks there's something wrong.

I pull on a semi-believable smile, trying to show that i'm not down, and say "Yeah sure mum, i'm fine. I'm just really tired, thats all."

She smiles back, puts the car into gear and reverses out of Freeport Shopping Centre.

We make it home in approximately 20 minutes.

In the time we had been in the furniture shop, i totally forgot that i left my mobile in the car. I found 6 unread messages on it when i finally checked my phone in my room. I dont like reading in the car.

Four of them were from my best friend Nicola and the other 2 were from Darren. My boyfriend. We only got together 2 months ago but it feels like a life time. A good life time. It still seems weird to call him 'my boyfriend'. I sigh heavily as I read the messages that he sent me confessing how much he misses me and cant wait for school on Monday until we meet again. With extra xxx's on the end. Love. Is a many wondered thing. And something that i'm sure I might never understand for as long as i live.

"Dinner's ready!" My mum shouts up. They dont know about Darren yet. I guess with me being their only child I dont want to get the big old lecture on being careful and them worrying about me. I mean, jeez, i've only been with him for 2 months. It's not like i'm gonna run off and marry him. Ha. Ha.

Sunday. Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Maan do I hate Sundays!

They never change do they?

Its like, one minute it's Saturday and you're having fun and the next �" BAM! It's Sunday and you're bored as hell.

Lucky for me I have back up.

"Nic! Hey, wanna come over?" I ask Nicola when I ring her up - my one and only best friend in the whole wide world �" well, until I get more friends that is. She lives with just her mum since her parents are divorced and her dad works abroad a lot. I feel for her sometimes since I still have my dad around a lot, even if he doesn't do much at least I still have him to speak to. So she gets on well with my parents.

"Ummmm, sure. Buuut.." She humms while thinking. A trait that does tend to irritate me a bit. Okay maybe a lot. "I have homework." she finally admits.

I roll my eyes. Little miss perfect my arse.

"Well, bring it over here then silly. Its not like I don't have homework eiiither..."

I like to drag out my words. It means I don't have to add more words. Sooooo many of my friends do it to their parents when asking for stuff. It's fun sometimes.

She humms some more.

"Okay." she finally gives in. I give a silent 'whoop!' with my fist.

"Great, okay, yay! Be around in, ummm, 20 minutes?"

"Yep. See you then!"

"Bye"

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