I didn’t know what else to do. Rose was nowhere in sight. I decided to go back to where Rose had parked his Barbie car. I found it shortly and stood next to it. Of course, the doors were locked, so I had nothing better to do than stand next to it.

It’s so girly. How can he stand to drive this around? Even I, a girl, can’t be seen in this Barbie car!

The cold was finally getting to me. I must’ve been standing there for about five minutes, but my whole body was numb. I decided to call Rose’s cell and see where he was. I picked up my cell and was about to dial when I realized I didn’t even know Rose’s cell number! Nonetheless, I didn’t even know if he had a cell!

Crap! Am I going to stand here all day looking like this?

Digging through my purse, I found an old hairpin. This better work! It always works on TV and the movies! I slit the hairpin in the keyhole and jiggled with it. Open, you dumb thing!

The car door unlocked. Yes! I got in and closed the door. The car was a bit warmer, but not by much. Just as I was getting comfortable, the car alarm went off!

"No! No!" I shouted, panicking. "Stop! Stop!"

People walking by stared at me oddly and some even laughed at me. Dumb thing! Shut up! Stop!

I saw a bunch of buttons on the dashboard and some by my armrest. There was a picture of a lock, so I decided to click it. Suddenly, the car alarm turned off. Thank God!

I sat there for a second, scared to move. I didn’t want it to go off again. But life was never fair to me because the alarm went off again! I covered my ears and stared at the ground. What is going on?! I thought I turned it off!

It must’ve been only a minute, but it felt like hours. The alarm was getting to my ears. What the heck was going on? This is so embarassing!

Just then, the alarm turned off. By itself? I looked up and saw Rose standing in front of the car with the controller in his hands. After the alarm died, he unlocked the door and got in. He didn’t say anything to me and started up the car.

I gazed at him—I don’t know why I was staring at him! But his eyes seemed puffy like he had been crying. I suddenly remembered something.

"Are you all right?" I said in a concerned tone. That was the kindest thing I had said to him the whole time that he had been in Evergreen. He didn’t answer me. He turned on his CD player and drove out the parking lot.

The song went: "So this is love in the end of December. Quiet nights, quiet stars. And I’m here Monday to Sunday ‘cuz you’re fragile, and I’m weak…"

I loved the beat and whispery voice of the singer. He sure has a nice mixed CD.

"Don’t you worry~I’ll be there for you. Don’t worry about me~I’ll be better than that."

After a couple minutes of silence, Rose spoke.

"You know," he said, his eyes focused on the street, "this isn’t the first time my father’s done this."

I looked at him while he spoke. He didn’t have on lipstick. His lips were the natural red color. And his eye makeup was all gone. You look better like that.

"When we were dating…." He stopped speaking when the word ‘dating’ popped up. As soon as he said dating, my heart began racing—in a scared way. What was I so afraid of? It’s just the word ‘dating’!

"When we were on good terms," he rephrased, "my father did it all the time. I just ignored it and didn’t tell you."

I bit my bottom lip. So this is how refer to our past now—‘good terms’.

Then, Rose let out a scary laugh. "My mom doesn’t even talk about it. It’s like it’s not harming her at all."

I can only imagine how hurt you are inside, Rose. Why don’t you just let it all out...Maybe I can comfort you…

But I didn’t say anything and let him speak.

"Now you know why I hate Black Stone so much," he said with a smile on his face. But it wasn’t a normal smile. It was more of a sad smile. "I hate my own parents and I hate med school."

I didn’t say anything and stared out the window like I had done earlier. Rose looked at me for a second then continued driving in silence.

"I love being here in Evergreen," he said. "I can be who I am. And I don’t have to deal with my parents. But best of all…I’m reunited with y—"

He didn’t continue his sentence. I almost wished he did, but then I knew I would regret it if I knew what he was going to say.

The rest of the ride was in silence.

A couple of days later, Max healed from his sickness and Rose went back to annoying me. Max was sitting across the table from me. We were having turkey sandwiches for lunch at The Flower.

"It really sucks that Rose’s father is so unlike him," Max commented, taking a bite out his sandwich.

"What do you mean?" I asked, picking up some chips. Max wiped his mouth before he spoke.

"I mean, Rose and I have been talking, you know?" he said. They’ve been talking? Since when?

Max answered the questioned look on my face.

"After our whole ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Monsters Inc.’ talk, we’ve been hanging out during class change. Well, he doesn’t even go to class because he’s not really a student at Evergreen. Half of the time, he’s in the music building, playing around with all the music and stuff," Max replied. Now this I didn’t know!

"Cool," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

"He plays so many instruments, did you know that?" Max commented. Of course I knew that.

"I knew that," I replied, still trying to sound uncaring.

"The piano, guitar, drums…Wow, he’s awesome," Max said, delightedly. Now Max just sounded like a fangirl.

"You’re weird," I said, taking a bite out my sandwich.

"Hey! He does play good music! You should hear him. I’m sure he’s way better now than he was when you dated him."

I flashed him a look. Yes, I didn’t like hearing the word ‘date’ when it came to Rose and me.

"Sorry! Sorry!" Max quickly apologized. "Geez, you are so…picky."

"You’re trying to provoke me, aren’t you?"

Max let out a quiet laugh. "Maybe."

Just then, someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around and was greeted by the beautiful face of Hero.

"Hero!" I said with food still in my mouth. Luckily, nothing got on him. I blushed and turned around, trying to swallow my food quickly enough to talk to him.

"I think we should have dinner," Hero said when I turned back around. "Just the two of us, no Min Woo."

Yes! No Min Woo! That’s fine with me!

"Cool," I replied, sounding so boyish. I smiled at him.

"Great! I’ll pick you up at 9?"

I gulped. Pick me up as in pick me up at my apartment? And risk seeing Rose too?

"Uh…Where are we going? I’ll just meet you there."

"No, no! I insist on picking you up. I’ll be driving."

Yes, since Hero was so rich, he never drove himself. He always had a chauffeur. But he was driving himself now? How amazing is that?

"All right," I replied. "Nine it is."

"Great. I’ll see you then, Shye." He waved goodbye and disappeared into the crowd of people having lunch.

"Wow, Hero knows how to drive?" Max commented, taking another bite of his sandwich. I shot him a look.

I touched my flowery white skirt. I didn’t know how to dress—I didn’t even know where I was going! All Hero told me was that we were going to dinner!

I looked at my watch. It was five passed 9 now. Where was Hero? I was standing outside my apartment door—I didn’t want Hero to come inside and find Rose. No, never. He’ll question everything.

Just then, Rose opened the door. I heard Max’s laughter in the background. Ugh. Those boys were becoming too close of friends.

"Are you staying for dinner?" Rose asked. He had on a chef’s hat and a white apron. His blonde hair was tied back.

"I’m meeting Hero," I replied, not coldly, but not in a friendly way either.
Rose’s eyes fell for a moment, but he quickly faked a smile. "Okay. See you when you come back."

He didn’t let me say anything, not that I would, and closed the door. Jerk.

About two minutes later, Hero ran up the stairs. He was carrying a single white rose and was dressed in a gray shirt that had the words "I wanna…" running down the sides. He also wore faded jeans and a jean jacket.

"Sorry I’m late!" he said when he reached me. I smiled at him. It’s all right if it’s you, Hero. "Wow, you look very pretty!" He handed me the white rose.

"What’s this for?" I asked. He smiled at me and hooked arms with me.

"For our friendship, dummy," he joked.

"Aish, must you always treat me like a queen?"

He smiled even more. "Always! For my dear Shye!"

Hero opened the door for me. I got into his expensive black sports car and we sped off into the distance. His eyes were focused on the road the whole time.

"You’re probably wondering where we’re going," Hero said. I looked at him. Wow. He was absolutely gorgeous in that outfit. His baby face melted me. I knew why I was in love with him even when we were little. He was so kind to me and had a very attractive face, not to mention his smile. Okay Shye, quit day dreaming!

"Yeah," I replied. I didn’t know what else to say to him!

"I took a photo shoot here the other night. It was just so beautiful. I had to show you," he replied and gazed at me. "I know you’ll like it."

Want me! Want me! Please want me, Hero!

"It better be!" I teased. He let out a quiet laugh.

"Trust me. Have I ever disappointed you?"

Yes, you just don’t know. But I immediately erased that thought when we reached our destination. Hero wouldn’t let me open my own door—he got out first and opened mine. Such a gentleman!

He put me in a blindfold and hooked arms with me again. His reasoning behind it all was that I had to be at the perfect spot to actually see it.

After a couple of minutes walking with the blindfold on, we finally stopped. He stepped behind me and took off my blindfold. When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by a school of stars in the sky. They all seemed to be smiling at me. I was standing on a hill overlooking the city, just like in the movies.

"…Wow…" was all I could let out. I turned around and hugged Hero. "I love it!" He laughed when I hugged him.

"What did I tell you?" he said when we parted. "I know you best!"

I smiled and turned to look at the stars again. Each one seemed to smile at me and bless me with happiness. This is how I want the rest of my life to be! With Hero and all these stars! It amazed me how the stars could shine so brightly over the city.

"Come over here," Hero said, waving for me to follow him. He had gone several feet ahead of me. I walked up to him and was surprised to see an expensive RV sitting not too far away.

"It’s so cold outside," he said, "so we’re going to eat in the RV. Hope you don’t mind." I didn’t complain—the RV looked really expensive! I didn’t even know if I could enter it. I didn’t want to break anything!

When we entered, there was a table with candles already lit and a chef standing there waiting for our arrival.

"Thank you, John," Hero said, bowing to the chef. What a gentleman! Geez, how many times am I going to think that? "You can leave now."

The chef bowed at us and left. Just the two of us now. Yes!

Hero pulled my seat out for me and I sat down. I’m going to wake up, aren’t I? It’s going to be a dream! I know it is!

After we started our dinner, Hero spoke.

"Remember how my family always came to your house for dinner when we were younger?" Hero asked. I looked into his eyes. He’s so captivating!

Mr. and Mrs. Kim entered our house with 7-year-old Jae Joong. He was in a grumpy mood because he couldn’t have a toy he wanted.

"You were always so grumpy," I laughed. Hero started blushing.

"It wasn’t my fault!" he said. "I was stubborn, wasn’t I?"

I nodded. "Very."

We both shared a laugh.

Hero picked up his glass of wine (I asked for water).

"To our friendship!" he said with a big smile on his face. "For everything we’ve overcome!"

I smiled—although I sort of wanted something more than a friendship—and picked up my glass. "To our friendship," I said. "And to you for overcoming your stubbornness."

He laughed at my comment and his eyes lit up. I think I’m melting!

"And to you," he said, "for always being there for me, even when I’m super busy with other people."

"Cheers," I said, my smile fading a bit. I didn’t agree to everything Hero was talking about, but I pretended I was okay with it.

He didn’t seem to notice my faded smile and drank his wine.

After finishing dinner, Hero took out a very beautiful cake. I was marveled at the beauty of the cake. I’ve never wanted to preserve delicious food before, but this cake was just too beautiful to eat!

"I had my chef make this one," Hero said, taking out a knife. "Isn’t it beautiful?"

I couldn’t even say anything and just nodded.

"Here," he said, handing me a slice of cake on an expensive China plate. "First bite."

I smiled and accepted the slice of cake. I love having dinner with you, Hero. You make me feel special! Why can’t we always have dinner? Better yet…Why can’t I be yours so I could always feel this way?

"Thank you," I said and placed a small piece in my mouth. "It’s delicious!"

Hero took a bite out of his too. "Isn’t it?"

"What’s in it?" I asked.

He swallowed his food and wiped his mouth with a silky napkin before speaking. "It’s a white chocolate cream cake."

It was so dreamy! "Mmmh! I’ll like another piece."

Hero sliced another piece and placed it on my plate.

I looked up at him to thank him, but ended up laughing.

"There’s cream on your face," I said, pointing to the edge of his kissable lips.

"Where?" he asked and wiped his cheeks with his napkin.

"On your lips," I said and wiped it off for him. The touch of his skin immediately made my heart race.

"Thanks," he laughed, wiping his mouth with his napkin. "There’s actually a reason why I wanted you to come to dinner with me."

I gazed up at him. "Oh? I just thought you felt bad about leaving me all the time. It’s all right!"

"That too," he said, looking away guiltily. "Actually, I’m going to model professionally full time now. I’ll go to school now and then, but modeling will be one of my top priorities, next to my father’s health."

I nodded. "How is he?"

"Dr. No is doing a great job. My father said his chest pains are slowly decreasing, but he still has a long way to go," Hero said. "You know he has lung cancer, right?"

"Yes, I know." Rose told me---that’s how I know!

"I told the agencies that I would like to model around Evergreen," Hero continued. "That way, I can keep an eye on my father and hang with my friends."

I smiled. "You’re thinking of everyone. That’s wonderful."

"But that’s not the major part," he said. "The agency is holding a welcome ceremony for me. They’ve invited my parents and I could have one guest."

Pick me! Pick me!

"I’ve chosen you," he said. I could’ve sworn that my heart stopped beating. I almost dropped my fork.

"I’ll look forward to it," was all I could say.

"It’s not going to be for awhile, though," Hero said. "But look forward to it, okay?"

I cheerfully smiled. His captivating eyes smiled at me. We continued our cake in silence.

"What did you say was in this again?" I asked, curious about the delicious taste.

"Hmmm…John said there was some kind of cream in it. No…Not whip cream. Oh yeah, he said he put his famous coconut cream between the cake layers. You love coconut, right?"

I almost choked on my cake. "Coconut? I’m allergic to coconut!"

Hero’s eyes grew big. "ALLERGIC?"

I nodded and spat the cake into the silky napkin. There goes the expensive napkin.

"What happens when you eat coconut?" Hero asked, his face very worried.

"My whole body blisters," I said, drinking down some water.

"I’m so sorry, Shye! I thought you liked coconut…That’s why I asked John to…"

"It’s okay," I said, getting up. "I think we’d better get going. I need to take some medicine I have at home right away."

Hero nodded and covered up the food. "I’m extremely sorry!"

I shook my head. "It’s okay. You didn’t know."

I told Hero I was in a rush to get my medicine so that he wouldn’t enter the apartment with me. He apologized again, and then we said good night.

When I entered the apartment, I had my attention focused on taking the medicine. I rummaged the cabinets for the medicine. After throwing practically every medicine aside, I found it and took two pills.

After I finished, I turned around and finally noticed the mess Rose and Max had made. Flour was everywhere—I mean everywhere. It was all over the counter and on the floors. What have they been doing? Playfighting with flour?

I got a broom and swept it up. Then, the smell of chocolate chip cookies caught my attention. I opened the oven and was greeted with five pans of chocolate chip cookies. Were they that bored? They made so many cookies! I smiled to myself. You mischievous boys!

When I walked into the living room, I saw the two boys sleeping. Rose was on the sofa while Max was on the floor. They both looked knocked out as if they had been doing excruciating work all night. I turned off the light in the living room and turned on a small light in the kitchen. I didn’t want to wake up the little princesses.

I crept over to them and noticed they were sharing one blanket. What? Rose had a small portion of the blanket while Max took most of it. How was it that they were sharing one blanket when Rose was on the sofa and Max was on the floor?

Crouching down, I saw flour on Rose and Max’s nose. Their foreheads also had flour on it. You boys amaze me so much, I thought. Who knew you could get so tired from playing with flour all night?

I dusted the flour off Max’s nose and forehead. He stirred a bit, but didn’t wake up. I got up, but then I heard Rose sleep talk. He was mumbling something to no one in particular.

I turned around and gazed at his skinny body. He even looked like a girl while sleeping. The flour on his pale forehead and nose was annoying me.

I’ll just brush it off. He won’t know I did it.

I crouched down next to Rose and made sure I didn’t step on Max. I used my fingertips and slightly brushed off the flour on Rose’s nose. His nose was so straight! Then, I brushed the flour off his forehead. Some flour was in his blonde hair, and I gently brushed them off.

Your face and hair are so soft, I thought to myself. Just like how it used to be…

Thinking of Min Woo’s soft and pale face brought a suddent rush of sorrow. Sometimes, Min Woo would fall asleep during class. Instead of provoking him like all the other students, I would walk over and watch him sleep. He looked so calm when he slept. It seemed like all of his worries were washed away. To wake him up, I would touch his forehead and slightly touch his hair. He would wake up and ask me what I was doing, and then he gave me a cute smile.

I bit my bottom lip really hard and tried really hard not to think of Min Woo. But it’s too hard. Here you are, sleeping like an angel in front of me. I could try to touch you, but I know I’ll never reach you.

I choked back the tears. Shye! Be strong! Why are you crying over a sleeping ‘Princess’? He’s not who you think he is anymore.

He stirred at my touch and suddenly, his eyes opened.

Crap! I’m caught!

I stared deeply into his brown eyes for a moment. He looked at me oddly. I knew he saw the tears in my eyes. On impulse, I lowered my eyes.

"What are you doing?" he asked calmly, his eyes still tiny from sleeping.

I tried to get up, but I accidentally sat on Max. Max instantly woke up.

"OWWW!" he screamed, which startled us all. "What are you doing, Shye?!" He pushed me off and rubbed his chest where I had accidentally sat on him.

"SORRY!" I said and got up. Rose got up too but didn’t say anything. He just looked at me. I couldn’t help but look at him too.

No! Don’t fall into his trap, Shye! Get away now! He’s making you weak again!

I turned around and walked into my room without saying another word. I sat next to the door and brought my knees to my chest.

Why am I all of sudden feeling like this? Why am I choking back the tears? I’m not like this. No, the new Shye is a strong person.

"I was having a nice dream too!" I heard Max complain. Slowly, I got up and crept into bed. I stuffed my face in my pillows.

There is no way that I can keep doing this. Shye Lee, you’re falling in, aren’t you? You’re becoming weaker.

* * *

I think it's all these sad love songs that made me write this ^___^;;;