Pain Is Love
Chapter One
"I can't believe that!" Victoria said, listening to her best friend's story. "Why wasn't he in the ghetto where he belonged?" She took her long brown hair out of a ponytail. "I can't stand people like that!"
Rose nodded. "Me either. He really scared me for a second there, but I knew he wouldn't hurt me. I'm a DeWitt Bukater." She let out one of her little giggles, and her friend joined in the laughter.
"I can't believe you let him use your phone."
"I was just trying to get rid of him!"
Rose and her friend found the whole situation quite funny. They were sitting at their table in the lunchroom at school. They were seniors at Brownstone Academy, one of the richest private schools in Chicago.
"But...you know what's strange?" Rose said, with a little smile on her lips. "I thought he was cute."
Her friend made a gagging sound.
"No, really, if he wasn't such trash, maybe he would have potential."
"Ewww!" Victoria said. "Rose, let's not talk about things like that."
Rose laughed. "Okay, fine."
"Let's talk about prom!" Victoria's eyes lit up. "Okay! Hey...are me, Craig, you, and Cal still going in the same limo?" Craig was Victoria's boyfriend and had been for three months. Cal and Rose had been the school couple for the whole year...ever since summer.
Rose sighed. "Yeah. Sounds great..."
"What's wrong?" Victoria asked. "Did Cal go psycho again?"
Rose then remembered what happened when she had been having a pleasant conversation with a junior guy last week. All she was doing was talking to him...but Cal wouldn't hear of it. He punched the other guy and then yelled at Rose in front of everyone.
"No, it's not that..." Rose rubbed her forehead. "I've just been thinking about breaking up with Cal."
"What?!"
"Well...you know...nothing official...I just..."
"Rose!" Victoria yelled. "You can't break up with Cal before prom. You know you guys are gonna get kind and queen!"
Rose knew that better than everyone else. Of course she and Caledon would win! They were the perfect couple. That's when Rose dismissed any thoughts in her mind that Cal wasn't right for her. They were meant to be.
Rose didn't know what had came over her. She was so distant from her boyfriend lately. Worse, her mind kept wondering back to that man she saw when she was buying that dress...what was his name? Jack? JD? She sighed and decided that it didn't matter. What were the chances that they'd see each other again?
"Sweetpea, is there something wrong?"
Rose yawned. "No, nothing at all." She looked up at her clock. "But, you better get going."
"But, the movie isn't over ye..."
"I'm tired."
"Very well," Cal said, getting up from Rose's living room couch. She walked with him to the front door of her mansion.
"Caledon, you're leaving already?" Ruth said, coming in from the kitchen.
"Yes, Mrs. DeWitt Bukater. "It seems Rose is a bit tired, and I want her to get some rest. It seems to me that she hasn't been feeling well lately.
When had she said that? Rose gave Cal one of her classic annoyed looks. She knew he ment she hadn't looked good lately. Why? Because she was sick of her life. Especially sick of Cal. There was nothing she could do, though.
After Ruth left the room, Cal pulled Rose tight into his arms. "I love you, Rose. I'll always love you."
Rose smiled. "I love you, too."
He kissed her one last time. "I'll call you."
Rose nodded and watched as he climbed into his brand new red sports car and drove away. Rose's face looked down when she saw her cat trying to get out. She kicked him, softly back inside. "You can't go outside now, Q-Tip."
The next day Rose went back to that store to look for shoes. What were the chances he'd be there, anyway? This was her favorite place to buy clothes. Prom would be there in just a matter of weeks.
After Rose found out the shoes she wanted weren't going to be in for another week, she walked out of the store.
Just as she was about to get into her car, a familiar face was getting out of the city bus across the street.
"Rose!" He yelled.
"Hello," she said, as if she had no interest in him. Like she didn't even remember who he was. Like she was disgusted by him. Him and his filth.
"Let me borrow 20 dollars."
"What?"
"We're friends, right?" He looked down at his shaking hands. "Listen...I need it. I really do. You don't understand."
"You expect me to give you money for drugs?" Rose started to get into her car.
"No," he said, pulling her back. "I need to go to the hospital. I need help, Rose. I need money. I know you got money. Can't you help me out, girl?"
She sighed. "No! If you need to go to the hospital, get one of your friends or something to..."
"All I need is the money."
Rose looked at him closely. "I'm sorry, I can't give it to you," she said firmly.
"Alright, fine, you take me to a fucking hospital, then. Shit."
He climbed into the passenger side of her car before she even got in. "Are we goin', or what?" He asked.
"Get out of my car!"
"What? Why!"
"Because I don't want to be seen with someone like you!" Rose screamed.
He jumped right back out of the car. "Oh! I see. Someone like me. That is so wrong, Rose. You are a little slut, aren't you? You fucking cunt...I can't stand people like you..."
"And I can't stand people like you!" She punched him. "Don't you dare talk to me that way...ever again!"
He held his nose for a moment, not saying anything. Rose's heart stopped when she saw he was bleeding and that she had probably broke his nose. "Oh my gosh..." she muttered, studying it closely. "I am so sorry..."
He got back into her car. "Now you can take me to a damn hospital."
Rose felt horrible. Even if this man was the scum of the earth, she didn't mean to break his nose!
Once they reached the hospital they went right to the emergency room. Rose waited in the waiting room when they took in Jack. He came back with his nose bandaged up...looking completely stupid.
Rose and him didn't say a word until they were back in Rose's car. He immediately ripped off the bandage they had put on to heal is nose.
"Why are you taking that off?" Rose asked.
"Like I'm gonna wear this mother fucker around town, I'll tell you that right now." He threw it out the window.
"Hey!" Rose hit him in the arm. "Don't go throwing things out my window!"
"Damn, you're a violent, girl." He rubbed his arm slightly. "Can I get that money by the way?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Why?"
Rose groaned. "Tell ya what...here's a ten. Since I did have to pay for your hospital bill." Rose figured that wouldn't even be enough to buy drugs or anything bad. It was just enough to shut him up.
"Thanks."
"Where am I taking you?"
"Home."
He gave Rose directions to where he lived. Rose was surprised. She had never been to this side of Chicago. It was so scary...so sad. Jack laughed when she locked her doors. She blushed and didn't look at him.
They stopped outside of one of the ghetto houses. "Thanks," he said, shutting the door. "You can call me Jack by the way."
Rose nodded. "Goodbye Jack. Have a nice life."
"Wait!" Jack said, right before she pulled off. "Here." He handed her a small piece of paper. "It has my cell on it. I owe you. You need anything...anything at all. I'll be there. I don't break promises."
Rose drove off without saying goodbye.