Just Lunch

Jocelyn nodded. "Yes, I have. A few times actually."

Rose's eyes widened. "What did you talk about?"

"What do you think?" Jocelyn asked with a chuckle. "Rose… he's been looking for you."

Rose swallowed nervously. "He has?" She frowned. "Doesn't he know where I am?"

"He knows who you're with, but not where. For god's sake Rose, I don't even know where you live now!"

Rose nodded. "I don't know the address," she chuckled. She didn't even know how to get to Caleb's home. She only knew it was over the mountain and in the woods somewhere. Isolated from everything. She suddenly wondered if that was on purpose. Had Caleb taken her there in order to keep her away from everyone?

Jocelyn shook her head and sighed. "Do you want to see him?"

Her breath caught. "What?" Her hand holding the wine glass shook slightly.

"It's just a question Rose. I'm not planning to set up a meeting or anything.���

"Oh," she said disappointed. She felt her heart pounding in her chest with Jocelyn's question. Of course she wanted to see him. She had thought about him day and night since she had been torn from his side.

"He told me he wants to see you and talk to you, but he doesn't know how to contact you. Your father of course refused to tell him where you are. And you don't have the same number anymore."

"I don't even have a cellphone," she said with a chuckle. "I live in total isolation." Her smile faded as she realized how true her words were. She took another big gulp from her wine before looking back up at her friend. Her words were only confirming her suspicions that Caleb had taken her there on purpose. "Do you think I made the right choice? I mean, not that I really had a choice," she chuckled sadly.

Jocelyn smiled. "I think you're doing the best with what was given to you." She wasn't sure how to comfort her friend. She knew Jack was looking for her like a madman, but in order for Rose to move on, she had to forget about him. The more she saw him, the harder it would be for Rose to accept her new life, and they both knew there was no getting out of it. If she refused, her father would kill Jack, and she didn't want to think about what Caleb, being the king of all vampires would be capable of doing.

Rose swallowed the rest of her wine before putting her glass down and reaching out for the wine bottle.

Jocelyn stopped her. "It's barely one in the afternoon. You should slow down."

Rose chuckled. "I'll be fine." She grabbed the bottle and poured herself another cup. "I don't even know what I'm doing anymore," she confessed. "Caleb is nice, he treats me good, but I can't just forget about Jack. How long do you think it takes to get over someone you love?"

Jocelyn gulped, watching the pain and hope in her friend's eyes. How could she tell her she believed one could never forget about their true love? She couldn't bring herself to hurt Rose like that. "Honestly, I think once you fall in love with another person, it'll be easier to forget your first love."

Rose chuckled as she took another sip. "You really think so?"

Jocelyn nodded. "Have you thought about giving Caleb a chance?"

Rose swallowed hard and looked down at her wine glass which was suddenly half empty. Had she drank all of that or not poured herself a full glass? She looked back up at Jocelyn and sighed. "I can't think of anything. My brain is a mess."

Jocelyn nodded, understanding her friend. "Well, do you think you could give him a chance?"

"He's not a bad person. All the things he's done so far to keep humans safe from vampires is enough to make him a saint, no matter what sins he's committed in the past. Do you think that's possible? Doing something so good in your life that all of your sins from the past can be overlooked?"

Jocelyn shrugged. "Why not? I believe anything is possible. But what do you mean by his sins? What sins has he committed?" she asked, desperate for the juicy details. She leaned her elbows on the table and smiled at her friend excitedly. "Has he done bad things?"

Rose shook her head. "Are you ever going to change? You need to get yourself a different hobby instead of gossiping."

Jocelyn looked hurt. "You're my best friend! Of course I'm interested in finding out about your future husband!"

Rose chuckled. Her head was beginning to swirl. "I don't know anything about him," she lied. Maybe one day she would reveal what she knew about him to her best friend, but right now didn't seem like the right time. "I have to go pee," she said with a chuckle. She stood up and swayed back into the chair, causing her to chuckle harder.

"Jesus, you're a horrible drinker." Jocelyn stood up to try and help her friend, but Rose refused.

"I'm a grown woman! I can go pee by myself!" She chuckled again before walking out of the door, leaving and amused Jocelyn by herself. She walked back the way Sarah had led them earlier, or so she thought until she reached some stairs at the end of a hall. She didn't remember taking stairs, no wait she did! The private room they were in was on a top floor... somewhere. Shit. What was the floor number? Or the room number?

She chuckled at herself. She really was getting drunk. She decided not to drink anymore when she went back to the room. The last thing she needed was to go back to Caleb with low inhibitions. After searching for a few more minutes, she finally found the restroom and went inside.

She walked out a few minutes later, mind and body swaying as she looked around, realizing she didn't know how to get back to the room. "Whoops," she chuckled. She walked to her right, down a hallway before making a left turn, then another right turn before giving up. It was like a fucking maze in here! Ok she was a horrible drinker! Only a few cups of wine and she was lost in a restaurant!

She shook her head, trying to clear it and continued walking forward. She turned another corner and bumped into a strong chest. "Dammit!" she cried out, wincing and rubbing her forehead. She looked up to see who the idiot was that was standing in the hallway like a fucking wall!

Her eyes widened and her breath caught when she realized who she was looking at. She swallowed hard, and her legs turned to jelly. Her head suddenly cleared and she sobered up in an instant. "W-what are you doing here?" she asked, voice breaking. "Aaahhh!" She screamed in shock as she man suddenly lifted her up and swung her over his shoulder.

He carried her down the hallway and out of a glass door towards the back of the building, where no one would see them. Her heart dropped and she felt her face pale with fear at what was going to happen next. Was this really happening? Was she seeing things?

He finally lowered her on her feet when they reached some trees that stood behind the tall building. Hidden behind the greenery where they wouldn't be seen or heard by anyone.

"Jack?" Rose asked, nervously. "What are you doing here?" she asked again, feeling her head swaying.

Jack wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly against his chest, letting out the sigh of relief he had been holding for weeks. "Rose," he whispered and bent down to kiss the top of her head. "God Rose," he said, fighting back tears.

Rose stood frozen in his embrace, too stunned to do or say anything. Was she actually so drunk that she was hallucinating or was this real? She cautiously lifted her arms, afraid that the hallucination would disappear. "Are you real?" she asked as she touched his back with her hands.

Jack chuckled at her question. "Seems like a dream come true right?"

Rose wrapped her arms around him tightly as her emotions finally overflowed and tears rolled down her cheeks. "Jack," she whispered in his arms, tightening her hold around him, terrified that he would disappear if she didn't hold on tight enough.

Jack pulled away from her and lowered his head to press his lips against hers, unable to hold himself back any longer. He had been dreaming about holding her in his arms once again, about taking her lips and seeing the innocent blush that always crept up her cheeks.

Her breath caught and her body immediately melted against his as his lips began to devour hers, first slow and gentle before it turned into a more desperate passionate kiss. She gasped for air as she refused to break from the kiss, cheeks and body burning. She didn't want to release him. She didn't want to let him go. She wanted to stay like this, in his arms forever. She moaned against his lips as her mind began to swim in pure bliss.

"Oh baby," he whispered against her lips. "I've missed you so much. I've been looking everywhere for you." He pressed his lips against hers again, not wanting to waste any time. Her scent was invigorating, making him feel like he was back to life after being dead for weeks.

She smiled and looked up into his eyes as they pulled their lips apart. She frowned, watching the dark circles under his eyes and his slim face. Had he lost weight these past few weeks? It was all her fault. She was the cause of his pain. If only she was stronger, she would be able to fight her father to stay with the man she loved. "Jack, I'm sorry," she said, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry. I had no choice. I-"

He pressed his lips against hers once again, stopping her words. "I know sweetheart. I know everything." He wrapped his arms around her tighter. "I don't care about anything Rose. All I care about is you baby."

Rose smiled through her tears as his words made her heart swell with happiness and love. God she loved this man. How was she ever supposed to get over him and marry someone else? More tears rolled down her cheeks. "How did you find me?"

"I've been keeping an eye on Katherine for a few days now. I knew you would contact her eventually. I couldn't find you any other way. He has men everywhere." Jack thought about the many times he had tried to find her whereabouts, only to be thwarted by Caleb's men or Rose's father. He had been desperate to find her, knowing she had been taken against her will.

At the mention of Caleb, Rose suddenly tried to pull away from Jack. He was right, Caleb had men everywhere. They could be watching them right now. She didn't even want to think about what he would do if he caught them together.

"No one else is here but you and me," Jack said, refusing to let her go. "No one can see us baby. I promise, so don't pull away. Please. Just stay still and let me hold you for a little bit." He swallowed the lump in his throat, refusing to look weak in front of her.

She finally stopped struggling and let him hold her once again. "Why are you here Jack? You know we can't do this anymore. We can't be together." Her eyes watered as she realized how true her words were. They could never be together again, or else he would die.

Jack shook his head. "You forget who I am. I wasn't your bodyguard because I was useless sweetheart. I was your bodyguard because of my skills." He smiled down at her. "Your father knows how good I am. Even if he tried to kill me, he'd have a hell of a fight on his hands."

She shook her head. "No Jack. You have to leave. You don't know what he's capable of. You don't know what Caleb can do!"

"I'm not going anywhere without you Rose. I'm here to take you away and I'm never going to let you go again. Never!"

Her breath caught and her heart pounded in her chest as she watched the determination in his eyes. He was going to take her away? Could he really beat her father? But, what about Caleb? She didn't even know what kind of powers he possessed. What if he was too powerful? He would kill Jack in a second. She shook her head. "No Jack. I can't go with you," she whispered as more tears rolled down her cheeks. "Please forget me."