Chapter 5 Alone

"Yeah, I'm alright," Rose mumbled. She didn't want to create any drama, so she was going to let it pass like she always does. Her eyes were fixed outside the car's window, a world away from the conversation flowing around her. Fred would glance at her from time to time, he wanted her to say something but she was surprisingly quiet

They both remained quiet in the car, as though they haven't met each other before, more of being married on one hand is a wife trying to save her marriage with everything she could, and a husband who acts like everything is going well, that was painful part for Rose he wasn't even trying to make any efforts, Fred doesn't seem to care and whenever she tries to resolve issues he calls her nagging, what happened to the love they shared? What happened to the efforts he put in just to get her attention?

Eight years ago after that incident with him and Rita's brother at the cafeteria, Fred did everything he could to get her attention, unbeknownst to him that he already had it but Rose was not going to give in so easily, he would leave notes in her bags, following her on all social media handles, Fred did everything he could to hint his intention to her but she acts like she was not seeing them whereas he loved them. On Rita's birthday, she organized a small party for herself and a few friends. Mark attended the party with a few of his friends, including Fred.

"Rose Louis right?" Fred said as soon as he approached Rose, where she was seated, and he sat beside her, " It's been a while since I've seen you, where have you been?" He asked, Rose was surprised by that he slipped in notes in her bag almost everyday, he does see her, she could always feel his eyes on her whenever she was near him "Well I'm pretty sure you don't miss seeing me, isn't that how you dump your notes in my bag" Rose's deadpan delivery that made her words sound like mockery, though they might've been humorous if she'd cracked a smile.

Fred was surprised or maybe embarrassed he doesn't know her too well to feel surprised by her attitude "Dump? Seriously, are those the words you are going to use? God I feel so embarrassed" he chuckled trying to dilute the tension, Rose was feeling bad it wasn't her intention to make him feel like that, she was just trying to get him to maybe say something related to his notes.

"I'm sorry Miss Louis, I just wanted to get to know you, I will not do anything again to make you feel stalked or anything I'm not a weird dude and I feel like I gave you that impression, I'm sorry my bad" he said and quickly got up and walked away, Rose felt like shit, she has she done? Why did she have to say it like that? She had hopes of finally connecting with him at the party, and then she went and ruined everything.

Rita noticed Rose's upset look. She walked up to her, not wanting anything to ruin her night, especially when it involved her favorite person. "Did you have a fight with Fred? What did you say to him?" Rita asked placing a concerned hand on her shoulder, She was surprised as to how Rita knew something was wrong and it was her fault, Rita caught Rose's surprised expression, figured she would be wondering how she got to know she then added "Don't give me that look Rose" she said with a knowing glint. " He seemed really upset when he was talking to Mark and I heard him say he never expected you to say something like that, even if you didn't like him, and I was surprised because I know very well how much you like him, so what did you say to him?" Rose sighed she understood she was wrong to have rubbed off her words in the wrong way but she didn't know it was going to upset him to such extent, after carefully explaining things to Rita, she couldn't help but smile her she was thinking Rose might have said something so worse but it was not something worth a big deal that was just her opinion she did understand why Fred felt bad, he hasn't connected well with Rose to understand her much better.

Rita's grip on Rose was gentle but firm, pulling her up from the spot where she was seated "Alright get up, Mark said they would leaving any moment from now and you need to talk to Fred just explain things to him" Rose was not sure if that was a good idea what if he humiliates her just to get back at her she was not going to take the chances "I don't think it's a good idea, I don't know the level of his anger I don't want anybody humiliating me" Rose said sounding unsure

Rita's expression softened, and she pulled Rose into a gentle hug. "Hey, I'm not saying go and provoke him. Just talk to him, okay? You're strong, Rose. He can't hurt you if you don't let him."Rose looked up at Rita, her eyes searching for reassurance. "What if he just wants to get back at me? What if he humiliates me in front of everyone?"

Rita's grip on Rose's arms tightened. "Then we'll deal with it together. But at least you'll know you tried, right?