WHAT IF?
Chapter Twelve
The next morning, Rose woke up without Jack
beside her. She got up, went to the bathroom, and took a shower. Then she went
downstairs to eat breakfast. The table was silent. Josh, Jack's cousin, spoke
up. "So, Rose. How long have you guys been together?"
"About five months."
"How long have you been singing?"
"Well, I’ve been singing since I was
ten, so about nine or ten years."
"You started singing when you were ten?"
She nodded.
"So, what type of music do you
sing?" Jack’s uncle asked, interested.
"Rock, pop, and rhythm and blues."
"Wow," he said. "So, how did
you meet Jack?"
"Actually, my brother introduced us. He
and Jack had known each other since college, which I never knew until that
day."
"How old are you, Rose?" his uncle
asked.
"I’m nineteen."
"Age difference doesn’t matter, you
understand, John." Jack's aunt smiled, then got up.
"Rose, would you mind helping me with
the dishes?"
Rose looked at Jack, then at his aunt.
"Yeah, sure."
She got up and went to the kitchen. As she
was about to put the dishes in the sink, a fork fell, and she picked it up.
Beth noticed the tattoo on her lower back.
"So, when did you get that?"
"Get what?"
"That tattoo."
"I got after I turned fifteen."
"Has Jack seen it?" Rose shook her
head. "No."
"Oh, okay. So, how’s your mother?"
"She’s fine."
"Why didn’t she come?"
"I don’t know. She just didn’t feel like
it, even though we asked her."
"Rose, Jack is very good man, and I just
don’t want him to get hurt."
"I understand." Then the phone
rang--actually, her cell phone. She picked it up and realized it was Taryn.
"I’ve got to take this." She answered the phone. "Hello."
"Hey, Rose. It’s me, Taryn."
"Hey. How are you doing?"
"Fine. Spending time with my family,
hanging out, and chilling. Girl, you know it."
"Man, I wish I was there."
"Why? You not enjoying Wisconsin with
Jack’s family?"
"Oh, man, Taryn, you have no idea what
it’s like being here."
"All right. Tell me from the
beginning."
"Okay. When we arrived here, everything
was hell. His aunt didn’t like me because Jack’s ex-girlfriend cheated on him
with his own cousin. I’m really glad that we didn’t meet, because if we did, it
would get ugly. Anyway, Jack has this childhood friend who looks like she has a
thing for Jack, but he doesn’t notice."
"What’s her name?"
"Kasey."
"Oh. Girls with those types of names
mean trouble. They’re big sluts."
"Hmm…I could tell by her face. And do
you know what type of smile she gave me when we met?"
"A mean one."
"No. She gave me a fake one. Hey, that
little ho gets her hands on my Jack? It would get ugly."
"Rose. Just think about it. You beating
the hell out of Jack's childhood friend? Oh, that’s harsh."
"You’re telling me. Anyway, what’s going
on in Los Angeles?"
"Rose, you should have stayed here. The
parties are fun here."
"Really?"
"Hell, yeah. Paris had this wild party,
which was fun. She’s having it again on New Year's Day. Oh, also, your mom
needs to tell you something about Garret."
"What? What happened?"
"Well, that’s why she wants you to come
back around New Year’s."
"Oh, okay. By that time I’ll be back
home. And tell her to call me here, but on my cell phone. Okay? Hey, gotta
go."
"All right. I’ll call you sometime next
week. Okay? Bye."
"Bye."
Rose got up and went back to the living room.
Kasey was there with Jack, beside him and his aunt.
"Who was on the phone?"
"Taryn. She just wanted to know how
everything was, and also she wanted to know when we’re coming back."
"Why? What happened?" Jack’s aunt
asked.
"Because of something that my brother
did."
"What did Garret do?"
"I don’t know. She didn’t tell me. All
she said was that we needed to get back by New Year’s Eve."
"All because of what Garret did."
Rose nodded and shrugged at the same time.
"Yeah."
"Why don’t you call and ask?"
Jack’s aunt asked, looking at her.
"I’ve already tried, but my mother’s
phone wasn’t working. Maybe I’ll talk to her tomorrow."