Rose

14

14.

A rose must remain with the sun and the rain or its lovely promise won't come true. - Ray Evans

I had earphones plugged in my ears while I listened to the trendy music that's been playing on the radio nowadays. Sweat drenched down my face, my neck, and my body while I steadied my breathing. I held my crunch position on the floor of Lily's living room that evening. I released my body to relax before it was repeated again. Losing two inches around my waist in a week should be doable right? I was so focused in my work out that I didn't notice Lily coming home until she was hovering over me. I pulled my earphones out of my ears as I sat up to wipe my sweat from my face with a towel.

"Hey," I smiled at her. "You're home early for a Friday night."

"What are you doing?" She folded her arms across her chest.

"Working out," I told her. "I went for a fitting for a dress with Rex today. They completed the dress they measured on you a couple of weeks ago and it was embarrassing how I couldn't fit in it today." I removed my towel away from my face and stared up at my sister.

Lily stared down at me and she looked exhausted. I haven't had a chance to really stare at my sister since my family started falling apart nor have we talked about it. We both knew that we have to talk about it, but every time we think about it we just brush it back and will be forgotten. Lily said that she was going to get through this on her own without the help from Rex, but now that I can clearly see my sister, I'm starting to worry about her.

"Hey Lily are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah I'm fine." She replied with a grunt before she turned her heels to walk away. I got up on my feet as quickly as I could and grabbed her by her wrist to stop her.

"Are you sure?" I asked, she stared at me over her shoulders. "I mean everything is okay with your business too right?" She yanked her wrist free from my grasp.

"Yes it's fine." She was getting agitated. "Don't worry about me and worry about yourself more Rose." She added before she stormed into her room and slammed her door.

I stared at the direction where she disappeared to and I heard a loud thump against the wall of something being thrown across Lily's room and a frustrated scream. I frowned at the thought of seeing Lily like this. My heart hurts seeing her break down when she's always been the strong and confident one. I may not know how to read other people's minds, but I knew that Lily is frustrated. She was most likely frustrated at herself because she became strongly against this marriage with Rex just a couple of weeks ago but when I mentioned that I was with Rex earlier, she didn't say anything. I could only assume that she still depends on this connection our family has with the Luckwaldt and there's probably nothing she could do to stop it.

Even now after two months since this whole thing started, I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. All I know I can do is continue to be Lily because it's the best option I have now. My relationship with Aiden...I don't want to drag him into my family affairs as much as I can. But mainly I want to have an honest relationship with him. The guilt of having to lie to Rex is already killing me a hundred times and Rex isn't as bad as I thought he was. This is a lie that should never see light and I'm determined to keep it that way. I might have been confused before and I questioned myself of what's right and what's wrong. But I feel that I shouldn't waver anymore, this really isn't just about me. If marrying Rex would bring a smile on my family's faces again, I am willing to do whatever I can. I might forever be Lily Starr, but there's also a chance that I'll fall in love with Rex. If it's possible to keep Aiden as a friend of Rose Starr, then I would but if not...I'm willing to let that go. But for now, I'm going to be a little selfish and hold our relationship as something special.