Roses are Red 2

Roses are Red

2

    "Hey, I feel I should apologize again for the other day," you said.

    I tugged at my scarf, wishing it would hide me, "It's alright I should have been looking where I was going."

    You sighed and scratched the back of your head, "Normally I don't check the grounds right in the walk way so I feel responsible."

    "What do you use them for?" I asked looking at the bag in your arms.

    "I make a special fertilizer out of them, not that I can grow anything with winter right around the corner."

    "Why do you keep getting coffee grounds then?"

    "Most of my backyard is for flowers so I need a lot of grounds and it's easier to get them when not everyone wants them."

    "That must take a lot of work."

    You smiled again and I couldn't help but think you were an angel who had fallen out of heaven, "It is but I love doing it."

    The barista called out a butchered form of my name and you follow me over, "Do you garden?"

    I shrugged as I grabbed the warm drink, "I make sure the plants in my house and the bushes outside have plenty of water."

    "At least you take care of the plants you do have." You pushed up your glasses, a habit I would come to recognize you'd do when you remembered something, "I'm sorry I haven't even asked for your name yet."

    I smiled as we sat down at a table, "I'm Sarah."

    "Lucas, although my sister loves to call me Lucy."

    I laughed, "Why?"

    "It started as a joke when I was a teenager but it stuck. She loves to use it in public, she once called out to me on campus and my classmates haven't stopped calling me it since."

    "What are you studying?"

    "I'm right in the middle of a law degree at the U. What about you?"

    I looked down at the dark wooden table, "I'm helping my father with his work instead of finishing my bachelors in business."

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Roses are Red 1

Alright lets begin the short story. This was written for a group that never read my poems. So the twists will probably be less surprising for you.

          -Rose B.

Roses are Red

1

    I see you've found another girl. Is she like the others, the ones you just picked up off the street, the ones whose lives are extinguished a couple hours after meeting you. Or is she like me where you "hoped things will be different."

    I remember when I met you. I had just received my drink from the Starbucks barista and was in a rush. You were crouched down grabbing a bag of coffee grounds when I tripped over you. I don't remember what drink I ordered or why I was in a hurry but I can still see that moment clearly. Your chocolate colored eyes widening as I begin to fall. The looks of amusement and pity from customers and workers as my drink leaves my hand. You reached out to catch it but you only grazed the cup. I caught myself but the drink splashed all over the floor.

    "I'm sorry," You said as you stood up, "Are you okay?"

    I nodded, "I'm alright but my drink..."

    We both looked down at the mess. I sighed and turned to an employee who watched the whole thing from behind the counter, "Do you have paper towels?"

    He produced some and I mopped up the liquid as best I could. When I had thrown away the dented cup and soaked sheets, you handed me another drink. "It was partly my fault so take this as an apology."

    I smiled and accepted the drink. I almost forgot myself and stopped to chat but my reason for hurrying weighed on my mind and I left with a thank you. I didn't see you again until a couple weeks later in that same Starbucks. You were chatting with a barista, holding a bag of coffee grounds when I walked in. I didn't know if you would remember me or if I wanted you to remember. I moved into line and pretended to look at this year's Christmas cups so I could watch you.

    You looked like you belonged in this space. Clean shaven and well dressed in a button up shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbow and pressed jeans. Your hair was the color of the coffee beans and was well styled. As I was paying for my drink, you turned and caught me staring. You smiled and behind the black frames your eyes melted. I blushed and looked away. As I tried to walk past you to get to the pick up counter, you stopped me with a hand on my arm.

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Roses are Red, Tears are blue

This is a concept I've been working on for 5 years. It's been two poems and now a short story but I'm not completely happy with it. I'll share the poems in this post then start with the story in the next one. You don't have to read the poems to understand the story, and the poems spoil the twists in the story.

                -Rose B.

First Concept

 

Blood is red, Tears are blue

You said you loved me, So why'd you kill me.

Second Concept

 

Roses are Red

I met you long ago you're smile was a perfect match to your chocolate colored eyes.

You were a fallen angel in my eyes: beautiful and out of reach.

Violets are Blue

Taken in by your beauty I couldn't see the skeletons that follow you.

You hid them well when you brought me bouquets of Oleanders, Begonias and Chrysanthemums.

Daffodils are Yellow

Everyone said we were meant to be and that I was lucky to have you.

You smiled at me sweetly and I wondered why you picked me.

I should have known then that you never loved me.

Gluttony is Pink

I thought we would be everlasting when we sat in the warm sun.

My world was a little brighter with you but now it's dark and rotten.

Pride is Purple

Unable to look away I watch as you show someone else you're precious flower garden.

But she only sees the flowers not the hidden truth that lies beneath.

Wrath is Orange

You still smile at me but not like the charming smile you show her.

When you smile at me it tells of a shared secret with the danger laid bare.

Lilies are Pure

One day she'll know what is hidden away and you won't let her escape.

Then you'll have another to smile at as you show a different girl the flowers.

The End is Black

The Mermaid and the Ocean Driver

This prompt came from a friend. She told me to write about "a cursed mermaid and an ocean diver pilfering food stashes" but instead of diver she texted driver. So it became a post-apocalyptic tale of mermaid and an man who used to move ocean currents trying to survive. I like the ideas I used for this one so I hope I can come back to it.

             -Rose B.

Survival, Curses in the Unresponsive Sea

    "Would you hurry up?" She's trying to sound annoyed but there's some tension leaking through. Even if her voice was steady the look on her face and the twitching of her spiked ears would give her away.

    "Who knows when we'll find food next, it will pay to be thorough later." I keep my voice quiet, the packaging of snacks is loud enough. It's like there was a mandate declaring snack packaging had to be as loud as possible.

    Her eyes flash black and her lip curls in disdain. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath when she opens them again they've returned to the deep blue of the open ocean. "Your right, this area rubs my scales the wrong way. We should leave as soon as we can."

    I nod in agreement, "The water feels stagnant and heavy."

    I throw documents to the side as I riffle through drawers to find the snacks tucked away at the bottom. I throw everything I find in a bag, even the deep pressure sweet sardines, although why someone would think that was appropriate snack food is beyond me. I found less than I would have liked but that's how it had been since the coral farms died.

    "That's it, let's go."

    "Finally," She flicks her silver-blue tail and moved towards the door. I attach the bag to my back and swim after her. The black patches on her scales and the ragged parts of her fins would have caused a huge upset when society was functioning but it fits in, in this dead-end world.

    She pauses by the entrance to the open waters, "Anything we need to be aware of?"

    I stop next to her and feel the water, "It's the same as when we arrived: suffocating and wrong."

    "So there could be something out there."

    I nod, "Even though the Ocean has changed, water shouldn't be like this, especially in this open area."

    "Let's leave quickly then." She moves out the door and I can just barely hear her add, "And pray that we don't meet whatever is here."

Two for the Show Final

Yep this is the last one for this story. I'm not sure what to do next, the one for next month will be one post prompt so I have time to figure it out.

               Rose B.

Two for the Show

Final

    I hug Becky, "I'll see you at home."

    Becky agrees and waves goodbye. The outside air is crisp with the coming fall and is eerily silent in comparison to the chatty apartment. I take a deep breath and relax a bit. Becky wants me to make friends, but I see betrayal in everyone I meet. At least she respects my limits. I take another deep breath and walk back towards my own apartment. I'm almost to the door when s shadow next to it moves. I freeze and hold my key out in front of me. Alec seems to materialize from the shadow, hunched over and rubbing one arm, but I don't change my grip on the key.

    "Alec," I can feel my lip curl as I say his name.

    "Rachel," He says my name hesitantly and looks like he wants to say more but doesn't.

    I stare at him, "Spit it out; there's no one here to give you pity."

    He straightens to his full height and pushes his hair out of his face revealing dark, cold eyes, "Alright then, stop fooling around and come back to me."

    I scowl and push past him, "I already told you: I'm truly done this time."

    "You think you can survive this school without me. Do you want to become the campus slut again?"

    I flinch slightly and step inside before turning back around. He looks just as self-assured as he did in my lab partner's bedroom and all the other girls' bedrooms before her, "It's not going to work this time, Alec. You can try to turn the campus against me all you want; two can play at this game!" I slam the door in his face and lock it.

    "Rachel, open the door," He growls as the doorknob shakes and rattles.

    I drop to the floor, my back resting against the door, "Go away, Alec!"

    "Rachel..." The threat hovers unsaid.

    "Go ahead, do what you want! It can't hurt me anymore then you already have. You can't change what I've started! You can drag me through the mud, but I'll take you with me!"

    There is no reply, and I curl up, my head in my knees. The stage was set, and the show was about to begin.

 

 

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Two for the Show 8

Two for the Show

8

    Jack crosses his arms and looks at the ceiling after a pause; he speaks, "But this is all speculation, though."

    I put my fork down no longer wanting to eat, "That's true, but if there are this many rumors going around, they must have a grain of truth."

    Dave nods, "Even if only the smallest portion is true, no normal guy tries to get a girl to take him back like that."

    Jack looks at Dave, "That's true."

    The twitchy feeling has returned, and I glance at the exit, "I need to go find my roommate, it was nice talking to you."

    We wave goodbye, and I maneuver back into the kitchen. Dropping my plate into a trash can as I pass. I can hear the whispered rumors in the crowd, a black fog of half-truths and lies moving through the gossipers.

I saw him hit his girlfriend at a party.

Mary said he takes awful photos of his girlfriends for blackmail.

Sarah had bruises from a one night stand with him.

He pays his exes to keep quiet.

He gets turned on by pain. 

He beat a girl for not sleeping with him.

Blackmails his ex to keep how kinky he is a secret.

Put a girlfriend in the hospital for finding the secret photos on his phone.

    The rumors calm my heart, and I can't help but smile. They would create some doubt in Alec's most avid supporters. Becky is in the kitchen where the hushed, black comments have yet to spread. She's talking to the same girl I last saw her with.

    "Rachel, this is our neighbor Claire. She sits next to me in French."

    I shake Claire's hand, "Nice to meet you."

    Claire nods, "I'm glad I finally get to meet Backey's roommate."

    I glance again at the door, my anxiety rising, "Sorry, I can't stay and chat, but I've got homework to finish."

    Becky looks at me with sad eyes at the lie, but Claire waves her hand, "No worries I get it, we can always talk later."

 

 

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Two for the Show 7

This new Blogger layout is weird. (Why is it even harder to find the spell check?!) It's going to take me a while to get familiar with it. So please bear with me and let me know if I missed some mistakes. For whatever reason, I can't find Grammarly to edit even though it says it's running on Blogger.

                      -Rose B.

Two for the Show

7

    My body starts to relax; this is easier than I thought, "Did you guys see it?"

    Dave snorts, "I have a class in the business building, so I had a front-row seat."

    Jack hits Dave in the arm, "Don't be bitter, your professor forgot to collect homework because of it, right? Now you have extra time to do it."

    Dave smiles, "True, what about you, Rachel?"

    "The one class I had facing the Courtyard was in the English building, so I only saw his back."

    "Lucky you, he was crying for an hour."

    I laugh at the image of Alec crying. "If that's how he reacts to a breakup, no wonder she left him."

    Jack's eyes widen, "Do you know who she is?"

    I chew slower to give myself more time to think before answering, "No, but I heard classmates talking about why she left him."

    Dave sighs, "I shouldn't be surprised at how quickly things start."

    Jack rolls his eyes, "Stop; I know you're just as curious as me. What did you hear through the grapevine?"

    "The whole thing was an act. He put his girlfriend in the hospital for trying to leave him."

    Dave raises his eyebrows, "What a douche."

    Jack is more serious, "Does anyone know why she left him?"

    I shrug and use my fork to cut off another piece of cake, "No one knows for sure, I've heard that he's blackmailing his exes to keep them quiet."

    Dave leans in, "Seriously?"

    I nod, "I overheard a girl in my class talking about how one of his exes totally freaked out when someone asked her about it."

    A girl walking past us stops and chimes in, "Oh, I heard that too, my lab partner said he blackmails them with photos he took of them while they ere unconscious."

    The muscles in my shoulders tense and watch for the boys' reactions.

    Dave pales, "You don't mean he..."

    I carefully put another piece of cake in my mouth as she nods, "She thinks the girl broke up with him because she found all the risque photos on his laptop."

    The girl moves on, and I shift in my seat.

 

 

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Two for the Show 6

Two for the Show

6

    It was my first party at this small college, and I was surprised at how comfortable the atmosphere was. Becky introduced me to her friends, and they were all amazed that I got in with an academic scholarship. My nerves settled, and it wasn't long before Alec started flirting with me. I found him charming and easy to talk to. Becky was so excited she squealed as we were walking home. She told me he had been popular since high school and was the soccer team's ace player. A couple of days later, I started dating Alec, but no one in that group talks to me anymore, and parties became nothing more than a means of torture.

    Neighbors I don't recognize greeting us snaps me out of my memories. Becky talks to a girl with strawberry-blonde hair as she sets her cake on a table filled with other food. I fill a plate and fight the urge to go home, reminding myself Alec isn't here. I walk towards the living room, where paper lanterns are strung from the ceiling, and look for a place to sit. I try to find one out of the way, but there aren't any.

    I find an empty seat between two boys, "Excuse me, is it alright if I sit down?"

    Both nod at me, the one on the left turns back to his conversation, but the willowy one on the right talks to me as soon as I sit down. "What apartment are you in?"

    I put my fork in a piece of cake, "19."

    I'm Jack, I live in 12," He motions to a thicker boy sitting on the other side of him, "and this is Dave, he's my roommate."

    "I'm Rachel. My roommate is somewhere in the kitchen."

    "Getting food or socializing?"

    I swallow a piece of cake before answering, "Last I saw she was socializing, she tends to know more people when we go to these things then I do."

    Dave chuckles, "That sounds like Jack and me. He's the social one, and I prefer the quiet corners."

    I smile and look around, gauging expressions, before looking back at the boys, "There's more people than I was expecting."

    Jack nods, "Normally, not many come to these get-togethers."

    "They're all talking about that drama scene on campus," Dave adds, "It might be that they all saw this as an opportunity to talk about today's gossip."

 

 

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Two for the Show 5

Hope everyone is staying safe and doing what they can. If you find yourself needing alone time, closets and bathrooms are some of the best places to go.

Rose B.

Two for the Show

5

    The smell of baked goods greets me as I walk through the door to my apartment. Becky, with her curly hair tied back, hovers around me as I drop my bag on the kitchen table, "Are you sure you're okay?"

    I smile at her, "Thanks for worrying about me, but I'm fine, Becky, honestly."

    "If you say so," she pauses, thinking about her next words, "I saw Alec in the middle of campus, people will start talking again."

    "It's alright, the people who were talking about it in my classes don't remember who he was dating. I guess that's one good thing about having a boyfriend who sleeps around."

    Becky looks at the ground and shifts her weight from foot to foot, "Do you...do you think he might mean the apology this time, Rachel?"

    "No," I pull notebooks out of my backpack, "if he was truly sorry, he had plenty of time to change his ways when we were together. I'm done being manipulated. This time I won't give in."

    I sit down at the table and start on homework while Becky finishes baking. Neither one of us talking until Becky breaks the silence, "Claire is arranging a get together for those of us that live in the apartment complex. Do you want to come with me?"

    I think for a moment. I wasn't attached to Alec anymore; I could go out by myself, "Is that why you're baking?"

    "Yes, I know you don't like group events, but you seemed to enjoy the party last night, and no one recognized you. Maybe you'll like this too."

    I set down my pencil and look ar her. She's watching me with her hands clasped in front of her. "Sure," I sigh, "It's not like our neighbors will connect me to Alec anymore than my classmates did."

    She beams at me, "Great!"

    I can't help but smile at her too, "I can't promise I'll stay the whole time thought."

    Becky nods, and we walk down to apartment 3. The basic apartment is a mirror of our own, but the details are different, giving me a strange disoriented feeling. The place is just as full as the party last night, but it has a completely different atmosphere. There is no loud music, only the buzz of multiple conversations. It reminds me of the house party where I met Alec.

 

 

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Two for the Show 4

Two for the Show

4

    The next morning I'm sitting in my literature class listening to a boring lecture when the girl next to me elbows me. I look at her, confused as we've never talked before, and she points out the window. I look out to see Alec in the courtyard in the middle of campus, putting on another show. Flowers make up huge letters on the grass, spelling out "Sorry I Love U". Alec is kneeling in the middle of the flowers, and he's facing the business building across from me. I glare at the back of his head. If he wants to continue this charade, he should at least know what building I'm in.

    "Do you know who he's apologizing to?" I whisper.

    The girl shakes her head and matches my volume, "he's been out there almost 20 minutes, and no one has shown up."

    Perfect, she had no idea who I was, "If that's who I think it is, I don't think she'll show."

    I lean in, "My roommate told me that his girlfriend broke up with him because he started asking for really kinky stuff in the bedroom."

    She gasps, but she's grinning as she leans closer, "How kinky are we talking?"

    I shrug, "She didn't tell me but, last time I saw him with his girlfriend, she had bruises on her wrist and neck."

    The professor turns off the lights halting our conversation, but I can still see Alec out of the corner of my eye. My mind drifts back to when I discovered who Alec really was. About a week into dating, he wanted me to move in with him. I disagreed as I was just starting to like Becky as a roommate and suggested off-hand that maybe I wasn't the girl for him. The next day my hell started. I was still new to the small campus, and Alec was one of their star athletes. All he had to do was lie about me and send around pictures. Every time I tried to refute the rumors, it only made it worse. Only a handful of people believed me, and he only gained more sympathy with his public I-forgive-you speech. It wasn't until then that I understood he had planned it all, but it was too late; I was already under his thumb.

    Alec could try to trap me again with his theatrics, but no one knows the dark shades of this campus like me. Unlike Alec, I don't need to step on the stage, the rich snobs whose greatest entertainment is gossip will do the work for me. All of his theatrics would make them talk, and the more they talk, the faster he will fall.

 

 

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Two for the Show 3

Two for the Show

3

    I find myself outside the front door where a group is smoking, and one guy is throwing up on the lawn. I recognize Cassandra, in almost all black as one of the ones getting her nicotine fix and she waves me over with a henna tattooed hand, "Hey Rachel, I didn't think you'd be here."

    I shrug, "Becky insisted."

    She chuckles, "Of course she did. Listen, I'm sorry about Alec."

    "Thanks, but I'm glad I escaped that sinking ship."

    "What do you mean?"

    "Despite what he says, our relationship was a mess. I met a girl who used to date him, and apparently, she broke it off because of the crap she found on his cellphone."

    Cassandra exhales smoke, "Did she say what it was?"

    "She didn't give many details but said it was the photos of him with unconscious girls that really got to her."

    She whistles, "And I thought he couldn't get any lower than what he did to you last year."

    After standing there for another moment breathing in the night air, I tell her I'll see her later and go back into the house. I squeeze through the crowd back towards the kitchen. I am glad I don't see Alec again, it would be bad if he caught on just as I am getting started. I find Becky with erica and Jill in the kitchen next to the punch bowl. Becky smiles as soon as she sees me, curly hair framing her face. "There you are."

    I hug her around the solo cups we're holding. Erica and Jill, in their typical queen-bee fashion, watch with distaste.

    "Great party, Erica," I raise the solo cup in a toast.

    She purses her lips but manages to get out a thank you.

    I roll my eyes, "Don't worry, I just came to tell Becky that I'm leaving."

    Becky looks at me with sad blue eyes, "Are you sure?"

    "Yes," I say, "I'll see you at home."

    Becky nods and turns back to Erica and Jill. They continue to talk of rumors and lies as I walk away with a smile on my face. Soon it will be Alec that they'll talk about.

 

 

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Two for the Show 2

Two for the Show

2

    Alec was a prick; I should know since I was dating him until yesterday. I went over to the house of my lab partner so we could finish our project and discovered both of them. She apologized and told me how it happened, but I wasn't paying attention. It was a story I heard several times before, and I was focused on Alec. He just sat there as she explained, pushing his dark auburn hair out of his eyes looking smug and content. He was daring me to call him out, and I finally had enough. At the end of the tale, without looking away from Alec, I said, "I don't hold it against you, Jess. I doubt he mentioned he had a girlfriend, and as of this moment, he's single, so you can continue to sleep with the bastard if you like."

    I walked out of the house with a smile on my face and felt lighter than air. Our relationship had been going downhill for a while now, and I was ready to have Alec out of my life, Alec was not. This morning Alec showed up at my apartment, putting on one of his shows for those around me. From the doorstep, he begged me to come back and promised to be better. Becky heard the whole thing from inside the apartment, and I saw glimpses of heads as our neighbors peeked at the spectacle.

    Now here he is not even 12 hours later sizing up another notch in his bedpost. I'm tempted to walk over and slap him, but I don't doubt that he's trying to get more ammo to use against me, knowing I'm here. But I am done doing things the way he wants. He isn't the only one who could play dirty, if he wants attention I'll give it to him, I have plenty of ammo too. I move back the way I came and into the living room, which has become a makeshift dance floor. I find a blonde girl I think lives in my apartment complex looking quite tipsy, and I dance next to her. She yells about what a good party it is, and I force a wide grin and agree.

    "Oh, but did you hear that Alec showed up?"

    She gasps, "Isn't that the guy who did that huge apology this morning?"

    I nod, "I heard that it was just a ploy, and his real girlfriend is in the hospital."

    "No! Really?"

    "Josh said Alec smacked her at his party, and she fell and hit her head."

    "Oh my god, I thought he was a nice guy."

    I agree again and slowly move away.

 

 

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