"What the heck?" Rose said staring at the noticeboard.

"A search for an artist..." She whispered to herself.

"Hey!" Christensen said jumping from behind.

But Rose didn't notice, she was too busy looking at the poster hung there.

Chris followed her stare and looked at the poster. "Search for an artist. A drawing competition?"

Rose left without saying anything. Chris chased after her.

"Hey! Where are you going?" He shouted from behind

"Somewhere you shouldn't go," Rose said walking away.

Christensen finally caught her and took a hold of her wrist.

"What??" Rose shouted turning back.

Her eyes were teary. Christensen lost his grip on her wrist and she freed it and ran to the girl's washroom.

Christensen stood there. He couldn't believe what just happened. Did I just hurt her?

Rose closed the door behind her. She stood there. The door supported her back. A tear streamed down her face. She looked at her hands. They were sweaty and were shaking. She cried as she got a flashback. How they used to be covered in paint.

"Rose?" She heard a knock on the door.

"Are you okay?" It was Jackie but how did she come to know?

Rose wiped her face and came out.

"Are you okay?" Jackie asked worriedly.

"Yes, why?" Rose asked acting fake.

"Christensen told me you were not," Jackie explained.

"Oh, he must be joking with you." Rose faked a laugh

"I'm going to kill that bastard," Jackie said storming out of the washroom.

Rose watched her leave. She sighed. She lied. One thing she did which she didn't like. It was a habit of hers to lie often.

Rose fixed herself before walking towards her class.

Rose entered the class not many people were around since it was a free period. She looked around to find Christensen. But he was not there. She walked to Chase who was reading a book.

"Where's Jay and Jackie?" She asked sitting beside him.

"Look there," he said pointing out of the window in the basketball court where Christensen was getting scolded by Jay and Jackie.

"I see.." Rose said looking at them.

"What are you reading?" Rose asked.

"Milk and honey by Rupi Kaur." He said getting back to his work.

"Rose.." Chase whispered

"Yeah...?" Rose said looking at him.

"Are you..." Chase hesitated to continue.

Rose knew what he wanted to ask but she didn't want to answer it since she herself didn't know the answer.

"Not now Chase," Rose said getting up.

"I'm sorry," Chase said standing up.

Rose started to walk away.

"I'm so sorry..please Rose," Chase said from behind.

"I need time." with that she left.

Rose ran out of the class her face was red and her eyes started to tear up. She was panicking. Her vision became blurry and her body felt heavy, but somehow she made it to the nurse's office. She could barely see anything and she finally gave up. All her body went numb and darkness surrounded her. And she was ready to feel the hit of the hard cold floor. But before that, she felt a hand holding her tight so that she won't fall. And with that, she went completely numb. 

Jackie entered the room with some ice in her hands but as soon as she saw the scene, the ice dropped on the floor. And Jay ran to call the nurse.

"Rose!" Jackie ran to Christensen.

"What happened?" Jackie asked worriedly. 

Christensen laid her on the bed when the nurse came. He told her what happened earlier that day as they waited.

"I guess she had a panic attack." Jackie said looking down

"Where is she?" Chase asked panting.

"Inside. " Jackie replied looking up.

"Chase, can I talk to you for a sec?" Jay said from behind.

Chase nodded and they went to a corner to continue.

After a while, the nurse finally came out and Christensen started to sweat

"How is she?" Jackie asked.

"Lack of proper care. She doesn't eat enough and doesn't sleep too." The nurse said.

Jackie looked at Christensen who was sweating,

"If she continues this way then she might end up in a worse condition." the nurse continued.

"Can we see her?" Christensen asked in a hurry.

"Ye-" before she could finish he disappeared in the speed of light.

"She is still unconscious btw," the nurse said looking at the door.

"Thank you so much," Jackie said before leaving too.

Jackie entered the room, Christensen sat beside Rose staring at her.

Jackie came and sat beside him. She looked at Rose who laid there.

"She hides It well" Jackie said.

"And hows your head BTW?" she asked out of the blues.

"Fine." Chris answered without paying much attention.

"No it's not." she said the truth. His head had a potato growing on it. He got hit by the basketball when they were talking outside.

"I'll bring you some ice." Jackie said getting up.

Chris nodded. And she left.

Chris stared at her in silence. But her phone broke the silence. It was kept on the table. It was not pleasant to check someone's phone without permission but for Rose, Christensen didn't mind it at all. He looked at the caller ID it was her father. Christensen knew she would get in trouble if he picked up. But at the very moment, Chase entered the room with Jay.

"Give me her phone, " Jay said.

Christensen handed it to him. Jay took it from there.

Chase sat beside Chris.

"You like her don't you? " Chase asked looking at her.

"No." Chris answered.

"Really?" chase asked in amazement.

"I love her." Christensen continued.

After about a quarter all of them were asked to leave to continue their classes. But no one could focus on any of them. All of their minds were on one person. After a while, Rose's father came and took her home 

Rose ran into a store with a woman following her from behind as she smiled looking at her.

Rose entered the music shop. She was amazed to see all those instruments.

"Dear Rose do you like it here?" the woman asked looking down at the little child.

"No I love it here."  little rose jumped in excitement. 

The woman smiled looking at her.

Rose ran to a guitar.

"What is this, Mommy?" Rose asked her mother who had a flute in her hands.

"That's a guitar sweetie." Rose looked at it. "I want this," Rose said pointing at the beautiful big guitar.

"Dear rose why don't you try a flute instead?" her mother convinced.

"No I want it, I love guitar." Rose said hugging the guitar which was of her size.

Her mother smiled. "Okay we'll take one for your little size." her mother went to the cashier to ask him for a small guitar.

Rose stood there hugging the big guitar. She loves it. She loved it and will always.

Her mother came with a smaller guitar in her hands.

"yey!!!" Rose jumped with happiness but that happiness didn't lay long.

Roseline Roberts.

-to be continued