Rose Williams

I watched the cloudy sky from my apartment. It's not at all fun to watch the sky anymore. It's always grey and haunting. If I was locked up in my room in this town, I would have gone mad. It feels so hollow and it really is.

I walked out of my apartment towards Theo's bar. Thomas is out of town. He got a date. He is so happy and I was being supportive even though I didn't want him to. I will be left alone.

Mabel will be there now. I can reach there before she leaves. I hated when she read my mind. But it really saved a lot of explanation. She will know everything when she looks at you. I don't have to talk about it. Besides she has no one else. She considers both Theo and me as her sons. We don't want to ruin her small happiness.

I opened the door and saw both of them laughing. Mabel is getting really old. But she doesn't want to admit it. Then let it be.

"Glad to know you are alive." Theo remarked. I flashed a sarcastic smile at him. I didn't come to him after my last mission. I went and slept. What's the point? There is no need to go to him. He doesn't care.

"Come here." Mabel said, mentioning the seat next to her at the counter. I slowly walked to it and sat.

"You want to talk about it?" She asked. I love Mabel so much. She is also like a mother to me. The mother I never had. Wonder what her conversation would have been when Thomas came to her. Won't be much.

I am grateful that I ran away from there. Here I at least know where I should go whenever I feel down. She would be there for me, always. She is more than happy to help me. I am more than willing to go to her.

I wonder what she feels. What she thinks. Her mind will be a mess with the whole thinking in the town. Does she ever have her own thoughts? Does she ever think of something? Does she have someone at home, waiting for her return? Is she getting home safe? Does she talk about her mind to someone? Is she alone?

"What happened?" Theo asked.

"Nothing Theo. What I have to say to you is…" She said and turned to me, smiling, "...we can trust our Ace."

Theo groaned. "Why do I feel like being left out?"

"Because you are." Mabel said giggling. I smiled. Her giggle is contagious.

"I got something for you Ace." said Mabel.

"What?" I asked, not at all interested. I know what it is. She brought them a lot. I decline them everytime. But she won't listen.

"Her name is Rose_" She started and I groaned loudly. It is going to be my fifth date. I can't even decline. She won't ask my permission before setting up the date. I hear about it the day it is.

"Loosen up cold heart. You got a whole life ahead. Don't keep crying over that married girl." Mabel said to me. I just turned around to face away.

All the dates I went to, ended up as a failure. I am not at all interested. No one can fill the void Emma made. Those girls are all pathetic. They are desperate for someone. I am not. They will leave when they find someone more interesting. In front of them, I am just a poor bartender.

"You are meeting her. No excuses." She said sternly. "Theo, you know what to do."

He gave her thumbs up as she left. I sat there, thinking of an excuse that I could tell my date to avoid her. Theo smiled widely at me and I frowned. Theo just shrugged at me and went back to his business, whatever it is. I sat there thinking about how my date will turn out.

The bar began to fill up as I grew more nervous. She is going to be here any moment. I have to talk to her which I don't want to.

"There she is." Theo said, pointing to a dark haired girl at the door, hesitating to enter. Which girl is willing to enter a bar full of drunk men? Theo pushed me forward and I glared at him before going to her. She looked at me and I nodded. She gave me a very awkward smile.

"Mabel told you?"

"Yeah, I couldn't decline. Sorry."

"Oh." she said and looked at her feet. She looks awfully familiar. Who is this girl?

"What is your name?" I asked with a frown.

"My name is Rose." She looks confused. Who won't be? I am being ridiculous right now.

"As in Rose Williams?"

She paused for a moment and stared at me shocked. "Have we met before?"

"I knew it." I said and looked away. I knew it when I first saw her. There won't be a large number of dark haired Rose with brown eyes. "Why are you in Reasel town?"

"Oh! I um.. I ran away from there." She looks uncomfortable. Bad memories huh?

"Why?" I hated her. I still hate her.

"I don't want to talk about it." She said and began to walk at a slow pace. I followed her. The faster I make her uncomfortable, the faster I can get out of this date.

"Where have we met?" Oh. She doesn't even remember, do she? Last time she just understood who was I just the moment she saw me. Why would she remember that? I am just another person she was rude to.

"We met at a park…" I said bored, ".. in Riverlook…" I turned to face her, "...when we were like 14." I watched as her eyes went wide. "Then you said that I should be locked up." I smiled sarcastically. "How does it feel to be on a date with the curse, Williams? Any different from other ones?"

"Austin_" She gasped. "How_?"

"I ran away." I said, knowing what she was going to ask.

"How did you get past those security systems? Your parents said you can't get past those."

I sighed, thinking about the answer. The answer which I know very well. The answer which I don't want to think about.

"Emma." I said as she froze on her tracks.

"You used her, didn't you?" Her voice was harsh. "Then threw her to get slaughtered by your dad. At least show some gratitude, you sick bastard. She saved you from that cage."

"What are you talking about? She was the one who_"

"Stop this already. You don't have any right to talk." She snapped at me. "She is dying there and you are out for a date?! Looking for someone new when you find out that she can't be saved." She scoffed. "She loves you. She is hoping that you will come to save her. But you are not. I thought you would be out somewhere planning to save her. She didn't even tell me that she got you out of there. You got out of there, just what you wanted, and left without even helping her get out of her tangle. How selfish! Are you even a human?" Her face shows disgust.

"I have no idea what you are talking abo_"

"Of course you don't. I thought you would be different from other guys. 'Cause you were raised differently." She said, sarcastically. "But you turned out to be the same. Scared to stand up against parents, are we? You are pathetic. Why did she waste her time to save you? You don't even care."

I just stood there as confused as ever. She moved closer to me and her voice dropped dangerously low. "You should indeed be locked up, heartless joker."

Her voice cracked at the end. She is fighting a sob this whole time? "Save her… please."

She walked away without turning back. I stood there alone in the silence. What did she just say? Emma is in trouble? What happened when I was away? I didn't even understand a bit. I feel lost. She was talking rubbish. But her voice gave away at the end. She is sad for her friend. Emma is hoping for my return. But she herself said that she is getting married. It is causing me headache. What are all these? I should get updated about what on the earth is going on in Emma's life. I should talk to Theo.

I need a break to visit the girl I love.