"Can you help me or not .. Samantha?"
Samantha looked away trying to avoid Andriana's begging face.
She didn't want to go behind Mira, but mostly she hated what Andriana would become if she were to find out exactly what she wanted.
"Why don't you just ask Mira, David ...or even Mr Lockhart himself .Won't that be safer and more reliable...I mean it's him you want to find out about " she stated.
"Will you help me or not ?" She asked again.
Samantha sighed and then slowly nodded.
"Good ...." Andriana leaned back.
Mira and Samantha had dropped by the safe house to see them.
It had been a week since the attack and the two sisters had been living secluded since then. With her school vacation going on, Rosie was free from school and did nothing but sleep and watch movies. While Andriana tried to coordinate work from home and also take care of herself.
Karlye had disappeared for three days, and when he returned he looked exhausted.
He had slept for two days beside her after that.
He spent the rest of the week with them until David came and dragged him off to work.
The door to her room opened and Mira walked in.
"What are you two talking about without us ?" she smiled.
Samantha stood up helping her with the food she had bought in. Rosie had suggested a movie night which they all had agreed to.
"Nothing much, she was asking if I was really okay " lied Andriana.
"You know how Sam is ...always worrying about you even when you say you're okay " Mira giggled.
Rosie entered with the drinks and sat next to her sister.
"Should we watch a horror or romance ?" She asked.
"Horror " said Mira
"Romance " said Andriana and Sam
Mira turned to Rosie who smiled, "Horror it is "
"Huh?" her sister and Samantha exclaimed.
...
"Cañ you please stop calling me. And how did you even get my new number ?" Rosie muttered.
She was on her phone with Arthur.
"The girls gave it to me .....Rosie are you really okay ?" He asked.
"Why do you care ... it's not like we are still friends " she muttered.
"I just want to know if you are ....I know Mr Lockhart can't let anything happen to you but I still want to check if you are " he let out.
She sighed.
"I'm okay ..... you're right his bodyguards made sure we were safe " she said.
He sighed, "That's good ...I was worried when my brother told me what happened. And your phone was off, I got scared thinking something had happened to you "
She glanced back at the dark sky and breathed closing her eyes.
"Rosie, can I come see you ?" he asked.
Her eyes flung open, "Are you dumb or deaf? I said it already we are not friends anymore and I don't really want to see you "
"Please ..it would be just for a minute. I just want to make sure you're okay " he said.
"And I said I was ... How many times do I have to say it, I am okay and I don't want to see you "She hung up.
Arthur called again but she didn't pick up ... After calling three times without an answer he sent a text.
"I am glad you're okay, I am sorry if I made you mad. Have a good night " he texted.
She read it but didn't reply.
"I guess he must have told you he liked you " Andriana let out.
Rosie turned to see her sister.
"Ria...how long have you been standing there ?" She asked.
Her sister stared back at her then walked to where she was.
"Not sure but I heard enough to tell me what is going on " she said.
"Huh...nothing is going on. He just called to check on me ...his brother told him what happened so he was worried " she stammered.
"Are you telling him to stay away because I don't like him or because he confessed to you ?" She asked.
"Huh... It's nothing like that " Rosie replied.
"Come on Rosie ....don't lie to me too. You're the only person I can trust and if you too are hiding something from me the....".
"I beat up some girls at school and it was all because of him " she yelled interrupting her sister.
Andriana blinked registering what she had heard then gaped.
"What ?" she yelled.
Rosie gulped glaring back at her sister.
Andriana breathed.
"Tell me everything right now " she stated.
Rosie came clean to Andriana about why she wanted Arthur to stay away from her.
"But if he broke up with her and you did beat her up. Then I don't think she is a problem anymore" stated Andriana.
"Huh?!".
"I don't know why he would date her if he had feelings for you in the first place but if he apologised and made things right ...why don't you forgive him ? " she asked.
"But you don't like him " said Rosie.
"So ?....what I feel has nothing to do with how you both feel for each other. And yes I don't like him and that was because I knew he liked you but that doesn't mean he's not a good person".
"I know but ...". muttered Rosie.
"But what Rosie?....if you don't like him then tell him so he can move on, rather than keeping him guessing like this. Although I still feel it's quite early for a relationship....".
Rosie sighed.
"So do you like him or not ?" Andriana asked.
Rosie fell silent.
"So you do like him " said Andriana.
"I didn't say that .." Rosie yelled.
"Yes you did ..your silence was the answer. Why would you think so much about an answer if you didn't have any feelings for him ...a simple No would have done "said her sister.
Rosie breathed.
"I do like him, I didn't at first but after spending time with him at school and on our weekends I realised he was a nice warm person ....but I am scared " she said.
"Scared of what ?" her sister asked.
"Of failing you ...I don't want to disappoint you or do anything to upset you. That's why I hid and begged your boyfriend to hide the issue about the fight and also not encourage Arthur because you don't seem to like him ".
Andriana pulled her in for a hug.
" You will never disappoint me or fail me ...or anything in between. Never think that way of yourself again " she said to her.
Rosie muttered holding to her sister, " But I already did, I left you alone for all those years and did nothing but be a burden to you . I don't want to ....".
Andriana held her her heart tightening, "Please stop talking Rosie .. you're hurting me with your words " she murmured.
Rosie looked up to see her sister's tears fall.
"I am sorry I didn't mean to ...it's just that "
"Just nothing ..my sweet sister. Even as you lay there for all those years, every time you kept holding on to stay alive was enough for me to keep going. How can you say you failed me when you're awake now and standing here with me " she cried.
Rosie hugged her back.
"I love you so much Sister " she said.
Andriana laughed through her tears, "I know ...I love you more my sweet sunshine " She kissed her forehead.
"I am sorry I didn't tell you about this earlier but I promise to tell you everything from now on " she promised.
Andriana nodded with a smile.