Chapter Thirteen. Rossie

     I don't know how long it was until Al came. I was shivering, my clothes stuck to my body, the dampness seeping through to my bones. You were cold too, Jack. I wanted to warm you up.

     "Rossie! Rossie! Rossie! My little angel... You're alive..."

     It was Al's voice. But I was fierce sure it was Himself calling me into the light. I would have gladly followed Him.

     I was suddenly in his arms - Al, I mean, not God. He was holding me for dear life. He was shaking. I was shaking. I'd thought I was out of tears, but now that Al was here, they came flooding back with a vengeance. I couldn't even get the words out to tell Al what had happened.

     "K-K-Killed him..." I stammered.

    "Awh, pet! I thought he got you too!" said Al, and I realized he was crying too.

     "What h-h-h-happened when Mink w-w-w-went back -?"

     "I thought you were dead, Rossie, girl!" he sobbed. "I gave him everything we own. Even tried to give him Nibbles, but the plucky little fellow took off. I covered half the debt, but he'll no doubt be back to claim the balance. It's best if we move on."

     I looked at Jack's cold body. I didn't even know who his parents were, so I couldn't tell them what had become of their son.

     "We'll go to the Gardai, Rossie," said Al, as though reading my mind.

     I nodded, breaking into tears again. Now that I'd started, I doubt I'd ever stop.

*

     It was a blur, the last couple of weeks; I'd had to give an official statement to the Gardai about what had happened with Jack and Mink. I finished up with it yesterday. I never found out how Jack's parents reacted to the news. I think that's one of the worst parts.

     Now we're packing up, ready to move on.

     Move on. It's a weird couple of words. All I've ever had to do in life was move on; live through things, cope with them, and then move on.

     I finger the bracelet on my wrist as I glance around the interior of the old courthouse one last time. There's been no sign of Nibbles since he took fright of Mink. Good for him, I suppose.

     As for Mink, Al hasn't heard from him. Hopefully by the next time he pops around for a visit, we'll have something to give him to cancel out the debt.

     Come to think of it, I still have to get the full story on why Al owes him money.

     Oh well. Story for the road, I suppose.

     "Rossie," Al calls, sticking his head through the gap in the wall. "We have to get moving, girl."

     I nod. I glance down at the bracelet. It has three charms now, instead of just the original two. I don't know when Jack managed to slip the new one on. I hold it on my forefinger; a small heart-shape, with cursive letters that spell out;

     "I love you."

     Love you too, Jack.

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Author guidance for This story

First completed story here; Guy-meets-girl in unusual circumstances. Hardship, romance, bad guys. Hope you like it ^_^

The inspirations for this came from a lot of different places! LoriKelly will get one of them :)

POV switches between Jack and Rossie throughout the story, and the characters communicate with each other through the italics.

Characters.

Name: Jack Parker.
Physical Appearance: Jack is short for his age. He's got curly dirty-blonde hair with a cowslick to the front left. He has freckles on his pale face. His eyes are big and brownish green.
Background (upbringing / adulthood): His early childhood was fine, when his parents (both doctors) made more time for him. However as he progressed into adolescence they've begun to let him fend for himself, often leaving him feeling neglected and unwanted.
Personality attributes: Mainly Jack is shy and quiet, generous and thoughtful. He always means to do the right thing. He isn't usually afraid of much, but has a bad nerves problem. He used music as an escape from the world.
Conflicts : Nothing seems to be going right for Jack until he meets Rossie; the girl he likes isn't interested in him, he's harrassed at school, and his home life is cold, to say the least. The one that tops them all though is when he thinks Rossie could be in danger.

Name: Rosaline (Rossie) Evans
Physical Appearance: Rossie is tall with broad shoulders and hips. She has dark skin and almost black hair, which falls to her shoulders. Her eyes are deep brown.
Background (upbringing / adulthood): Rossie's parents are unknown. She was brought up in an orphanage until she was six. She lived with Allister and his long-time fiance, Helene, until she was killed in a skiing accident when Rossie was eight. Allister was unable to keep himself and Rossie supported, and the family was forced to the streets when Rossie was 9. They have been living in the old courthouse for six months when Rossie meets Jack.
Personality attributes: Rossie is strong and independant, but also compassionate and emotionally vulnerable. She is either completely cold to a person or cares deeply for them; she dislikes doing things by halves, even if it is just deciding how feels about someone. She refuses to have mixed emotions.
Conflicts : When she first meets Jack, Rossie is struck by the constant worry that her and Al's hiding place has been discovered. She is also concerned about her foster father's unusual mood swings.
Habits and Mannerisms: Rossie is of course wary, but not scared; she knows she is capable of handling anything as long as she is prepared. If she is the slightest but annoyed or suspicious, she turns vicious; again, not wanting to succumb to emotion by half.

updated Aug 25 '11 by TheGirlInTheCupboard