Meeting Jocelyn

Rose, who was completely oblivious to the situation in the dinning room waited happily for Katherine to come out. She leaned against the car and sighed. She was going to see her friend again. It had been days since she had last seen her. And back then, they had said goodbye, neither one knowing when they would see the other again.

She pushed herself away from the car and looked down at her phone. It was already ten passed eight and Katherine still wasn't coming out! This woman really wanted to get on her nerves. But Rose wasn't one to be easily taken advantage of.

She smiled, as a thought hit her. She got in the car and looked at the driver. "I'm ready to go."

The driver frowned and turned to look back at Rose through the divider. "Don't we have to wait for lady Katherine ma'am?"

Rose frowned. Ma'am? "Can you please not call me ma'am. Call me Rose and no we're not waiting for Katherine. She can catch up with us later. We're already running late."

The driver frowned. "Could I call you something else? I'm not comfortable using your first name ma'am."

Rose smiled. "Alright, you can call me whatever you want as long as it's not ma'am."

"Thank you madam."

She frowned. "That's the same thing."

The driver shook his head. "Not madam it's not the same."

Rose sighed. "Choose something else," she demanded. Everyone was so formal here, it made her feel like she was at some sort of government building. It was not only frustrating, but intimidating.

"Miss?"

"Perfect!" Rose said with a smile. "What's your name?"

"My name is Mark miss."

"Alright Mark, let's go," Rose said impatiently as she looked over at the entrance. They had to leave before Katherine walked out and caught her in the act. She felt a little rush of adrenaline running through her body at the thought that she was doing something she wasn't supposed to.

If she was being completely honest though, it was more exciting knowing she was leaving Katherine behind who was more than likely going to be fuming when she realized she had been left behind.

"Are you sure we're not waiting miss?" Last time he messed up the boss had punished him and he did not want to go through that again.

"I'm sure! If Caleb says anything I'll take the blame. But I promise, nothing is going to happen."

Mark sighed. She was his future queen and the boss had made it clear they were to follow all orders from her. "Alright miss as you wish."

Rose smiled triumphantly as the car started and they made their way out of the drive way. She wished she could see the look on Katherine's face when she realized she had been left behind!

<*><*><*><*><*>

A couple hours later, Rose smiled brightly as they made their way into Jocelyn's drive way. When the car stopped, Rose hurried out and rushed towards the front door, ringing the bell and waiting impatiently. The door opened and she looked into the eyes of Jocelyn's mother, Cynthia.

"Rose!" Cynthia smiled brightly and immediately pulled Rose into a tight hug.

"Mrs. Barnes I'm so happy to see you," Rose said as she returned the woman's hug. Mrs. Barnes had been like a mother to her since she was a young girl who needed a maternal figure in her life. After her mother had passed away, this woman had treated her like her own daughter and Rose would always be grateful and have a special place in her heart for this wonderful woman.

"Come in child, come in," Cynthia ushered Rose into the house. "How are you? How have you been this whole time?" she asked as she dragged Rose into the house towards the living room.

Rose smile. "I'm good. I've been good. Trying to adjust to everything I suppose," she answered absentmindedly while she looked around the house. This place had been one of her only havens while she was a little girl. She had a lot of fond memories of this place and the people who lived here whom she considered as her family. Better than her own family, she thought with a frown.

Cynthia frowned. "Rose, is there anything we can do to help you? Perhaps we could talk to your father, or that man you're being forced to marry." Cynthia had been working with her daughter these past few days on ways to help Rose, but no matter how hard they tried, all of their ideas seemed hopeless.

Rose's eyes widened at her words. "No! No there's no need," she said with a smile. The last thing she wanted was to put Cynthia and her family in danger. She would never allow that to happen. "I'm okay, really."

Cynthia frowned, not believing Rose, but before she could keep talking her daughter Jocelyn walked into the living room.

"Rose!" Jocelyn screamed happily and ran to give her friend a tight hug. Her smile wide from ear to ear.

Rose chuckled as she embraced her friend warmly. God she had missed her. The past few days ran through her mind and she immediately wanted to tell Jocelyn everything that had happened in Caleb's mansion.

"God I missed you!" Jocelyn whined as she looked pitifully up at her best friend.

"It's only been a few days," Rose said with a chuckle, though she knew exactly what Jocelyn was talking about. It felt like she had been torn apart from her twin sister.

"Don't pretend like you didn't miss me too," Jocelyn said, releasing her friend. She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for the words she knew were coming.

Rose nodded. "I did miss you."

Jocelyn smiled brightly at her friend's words. "I knew it!" she chuckled.

"Where's Mr. Barnes?" Rose asked, wanting to see Jocelyn's father, who frankly treated her more like a daughter than her own father did. She couldn't picture Mr. Barnes selling off Jocelyn like her father had done to her. And the thought brought relief to her, knowing her friend was truly loved by her parents. She was safe.

"He's working," Cynthia said with a frown. "He did tell me to say hello to you and to ask when the hell you're coming to visit again," she said with a chuckle.

Rose chuckled at the woman's words. That was Mr. Barnes all right. "I can't believe I missed him. Please tell him I said hello, and I miss him."

"Of course dear," Cynthia said with a kind smile. "He misses you too. We all do."

"Alright, alright enough with the sentimental talk." Jocelyn turned to look at her mom excitedly. "We'll be gone for a few hours mom so don't call me." She couldn't wait to go shopping with her friend. She was so exited to see how vampires shopped and where.

Cynthia frowned. "What do you mean don't call you? Why can't I call you?"

Rose chuckled. "You can call her. We're just going dress shopping."

"Wedding dress shopping," said Jocelyn as she looked at her mother. "It's vey important that we focus on the task so don't interrupt mom."

Cynthia turned to look at Rose and her eyes fell to the ground sadly. "Rose…"

Rose gulped, seeing the look on her face. "We should go," she said walking passed Cynthia to walk towards the entrance.

Jocelyn threw her mom a glare and quickly followed her friend out the door.

They said their goodbyes to Cynthia outside the house and quickly took off to go shopping.

Twenty minutes later they pulled up into the parking lot of one of the most expensive wedding dress stores in the city.

Jocelyn couldn't stop her excitement as they climbed out of the car. Sure her family had money, and Rose's father was filthy rich, but this store was beyond expensive. "I heard that famous people shop here," Jocelyn whispered as she hooked her arm around Rose's. "What if we run into someone famous? Oh my god what if I find my future husband here?" Jocelyn exclaimed happily with a squeak.

Rose couldn't help but laugh at her friend's antics. This was Jocelyn, always cheering her up, always making her laugh. It didn't matter what mood she was in, Jocelyn always found a way to make her happy. She was like a ray of sunshine to Rose. "You're too childish. I don't think you'll fine your husband here Joce."

Jocelyn frowned and looked at her friend. "Why not?" she pouted.

"Men aren't stupid. They can see your intentions from a mile away."

"What are you saying?"

"Do you really want me to say it out loud?" Rose asked chuckling.

"Don't you dare!" She released Rose's arm and crossed her arms on her chest. "How can you be my friend and talk about me like that? I'm not a gold digger."

Rose smiled. "You're right. I shouldn't have said that," Rose said with a straight face. She wrapped her arm around Jocelyn's once again. "You're amazing! If I was a guy I would definitely hit on you," she said jokingly.

"Still," Jocelyn said with a smile. "If the prostitutes and scheming women in the movies can do it, why can't I?" she asked innocently as she smiled at Rose.

Rose shook her head with a sigh. "You're hopeless."

Both girls chuckled as they walked up to the entrance, only to be stopped by someone who stood in front of the doors, blocking their entrance.

Jocelyn frowned as she looked up at the person who stood there arrogantly glowering at them with a murdering aura. She gulped nervously. "Who is that?" she asked Rose, voice low.

Rose sighed. "Katherine," she answered unhappily as she looked up at the angry glare on the woman's face.