Chapter 2

two

Noah – Age Eighteen – One Month Later

I suck on my bottom lip, playing with my new lip ring as I look in the small, dingy bathroom mirror.

I fucking hate this trailer; from how small it is, the lack of privacy, to the constant moans coming from my mother's room. I swear to fucking God, her boyfriend isn’t even here each time I hear her.

Bringing Rose here the first time physically made me fucking sick, and honestly, I can't wait to move out after I graduate, renting an apartment with my boys. At least then, my girl can stay for hours, and hopefully move in with us.

I tilt my head, assessing my shirt as my mind goes ‘round in circles.

The boys do want to start touring after we graduate so we can get signed, and I know that's what Rose believes will happen, but I can't leave without her. She still has a year left in school, and I fucking refuse to do long distance, and thankfully, my boys agree.

They're willing to wait and do gigs in the surrounding areas, which are no further than an hour from Kingstonville.

Grabbing some gel, I style the top of my hair messy, just the way Rose likes it, before taking in my black button-down shirt again. I frown and undo the top four buttons, showing the tribal tat on my collar bone, bringing the silver chain Rose bought me last year on our anniversary in view. She worked her ass off to afford it, which makes it that much more special to me.

I play with the cuffs on the shirt next. I fucking hate her spending money on me, especially when I know her father only pays for her school uniform and supplies, making her pay for anything else she wants that's not school related.

The guy is a jackass. He hates me, my bad boy image, and the fact I live in a trailer with my mom, and he fucking hates that his daughter wants me.

But tough fucking luck. She was mine the moment she sassed me for being mean to Van. I'd just had a blowout with my mother over my sister not having any new shoes, and her wanting me to buy them because she'd already spent the money Nick gave her before he went out on the rig.

She wasn't happy when I told her to fuck off, and she threatened to kick me out.

I told her to do it and let's see how Nick feels about having no food in the house because the stupid cunt keeps spending his money on booze.

Rose pulled me out of my mood and entranced me instantly, and I haven't fucking looked back since.

"Noah!" My sister snaps, banging on the dingy door, and I roll my eyes, looking at my appearance again before turning to the door.

I open it as she goes to knock again, causing her to stumble, and I smirk at the glare she gives me before she takes in my appearance and nods once in approval, mumbling, "Piper will be pissed she's missing out on you playing tonight."

I roll my eyes again and look down at my arms.

Fuck, nope, I can't do it.

I lift my right arm, grabbing the sleeve, unbuttoning the cuff, and carefully rolling it just past my elbow, knowing my girl would love it any way I wear it. Still feeling my sister's presence, I sigh and ask, "What can I do for you, little sister, and if it's to do with Piper, then you can turn around and fuck off."

I roll the other sleeve up but look up when she doesn't answer. Her eyes are trained on the tattoo on my forearm.

Rose is the one . I know it, which is why I got a music symbol in the shape of an R. The little roses just add a nice touch.

I also have her name on my ring finger which my girl has yet to notice, and I can’t wait until she does.

"Gina," I snap, making her blink, her brown eyes meeting my blue ones.

I sigh. Her face is full of make-up—too fucking much for a sixteen-year-old if you ask me—her dark blonde hair is straight down her back, her fucking crop top and shorts barely covering her.

She's like a fucking Piper clone, and it doesn't matter how much I or my bandmates try and explain that Piper’s just using her, she doesn't believe us.

The bitch has wanted me for years, before she even came to Kings Prep, and as soon as my little sister started school with us, the bitch latched onto her just to get to me, and now my sister's head is full of crap about my girl, a person she used to love.

I'm not blind. I know that with her status as cheer captain, Gina's managed to attract a few students to add to my girl's misery in school. That's why she doesn't get a cent from me when she wants to go out.

Pure disgust and viciousness etch her features, and I shake my head at her and snap, "Get that look off your face right now, or you can kiss cheer camp goodbye. Nick’s already said he can't afford all the payments, and like fuck will I use my hard-earned money if you're being a bitch."

Her face reddens as I move past her toward the front door.

Ignoring my threats, not giving a shit that I mean every word, believing I'd give in when I won't, she follows me, her feet stomping on the hollow flooring.

"Noah, you seriously did not get a tattoo, a permanent fucking thing, on your skin for her!" Gina shouts, and I snort as I grab my phone and keys.

"I got it last year, Gina, so keep up, will yah?" I look her way and smirk. “I also have her name on my ring finger, not that she knows."

Her face turns purple, and I grin as the door opens, and her dad, Nick, walks in.

He looks around the bottle-riddled mess Mom left, and shakes his head with a sigh. He doesn't live here, refusing to, and Gina refuses to stay at his one-bedroom apartment, frightened to miss out with Piper.

I don't think it'll be long before he says fuck it and leaves Mom. Nick only stayed with Mom because she got pregnant with Gina—on purpose, I might add.

Shaking his head, he looks my way and states, "Noah, the limo's outside," before a grin overtakes his face, his caramel eyes lighting up. "Well, don't you scrub up nice when you're not wearing holey jeans and black t-shirts."

I chuckle. "I also wear a uniform, Dad."

He grins wider, and I shake my head. Even though he and Mom haven't married, and he'll most likely leave her soon, he's the only dad I've ever known, so he deserves the title, and if my band makes it big, I will be buying him the biggest fucking house he’s ever seen.

"Hang on, you hired a limo, seriously, I thought you were just playing tonight, that whole show in the school hall was a joke," Gina snaps, ruining the moment.

Nick sighs, knowing she'll pitch a fit when she realizes he hired the limo, and snaps back, "Gina, not now."

She screeches but I ignore her and go to Nick, patting him on the back.

"Thank you," I rasp, and he smiles, handing me the small box I asked him to pick up for me. "Anytime, son." I smile, and he gives me a pointed brow, reminding me, "Don't forget to ask her dad, yeah?"

I grin and nod, then walk out the door just as Gina rages, "The spoiled bitch is going to ruin him, Daddy; he even got her name tattooed on him. It's fucking wrong!"

I grit my teeth, hoping I don't go off on my sister, and walk over to the limo. The chauffeur gives me a nod, and I take a deep breath before climbing in, refusing the urge to have a smoke, knowing Rose will kill me.

I never thought I'd go to prom unless it was to play, but for Rose, I'd do anything, and I know this is something she wanted, especially because Piper and her fucking clique won't be there.

I'd burn the world for Rose if she asked me to, so this is nothing.

It takes over half an hour to get to her gated community, the large houses rising up from over the hill. I ignore them all, my eyes zoning in on the last one.

It's not as big as the others, despite Rafael Lopez being a fucking millionaire.

When I started working part-time at the garage where Alejandro worked before he was deployed, he mentioned once that their mother didn't want her kids to be born with silver spoons in their mouths. She wasn't, and she wanted her kids to respect life. Well, their father stuck to his wife's last wishes, though, in my eyes, Rose has gotten the short straw.

He refused to even pay for a dress for her tonight, so my girl used her waitressing tips to rent one.

I offered to pay so she could keep it and have something to remember tonight; my part-time job and band gigs have given me enough money to save and to spoil her a little, but she refused.

My girl is stubborn, that's for sure.

The limo pulls up outside her front door, and I take a deep breath before climbing out. I notice her father at the top of the steps in a three-piece suit.

He takes me in, noticing my forearm tattoo, and he sighs, "She'll be right out."

I give him a nod and quickly turn, grabbing the small box. I take the rose bracelet out, chuck the box on the back seat, and stand straight again, facing Rose's father.

Rafael looks at my hands, noticing the bracelet. Something softens in his eyes before he clears his throat and says, "I put the money for her dress into her account. Make sure she keeps it; she deserves to have something else to remember this day."

I smirk. "I can try, but that girl is more stubborn than a bull. She wouldn't even let me pay for it."

He smiles slightly. "Yeah, just like her momma…." I tilt my head, and he sighs and admits, "I don't hate you, son. I know you think I do, but?—"

I cut him off, "I wouldn't blame you if you did. I'm full of tattoos and piercings, and I was born on the wrong side of the tracks."

He grins, his tanned skin showcasing his white teeth as he states, "So was my wife." My eyes widen at his admission, and he chuckles. "She lived four trailers down from your mom's, and had this massive rose tattoo on her back, hence my daughter's name. Rose just doesn’t know. Every time I try to bring her mother up, she shuts down. She thinks I dislike her because of how my wife died, but the truth, I'm just hoping, if I'm hard on her, then she'll be as strong as her mother, and strength is something she needs to have in this world."

I nod in understanding, then murmur, "There's ensuring she's strong like her mother, but there's also pushing her away, which is what you've done. You can still be there for her while keeping her grounded." He tilts his head in understanding, and I clear my throat and look down, suddenly feeling really fucking nervous. I give myself a mental shake before looking up and making eye contact with him. I state, "After she graduates…I want to marry your daughter, sir."

His eyes widen a little at my admittance, his mouth parting, but before he can say anything, the double doors behind him open, and fuck me….

I swallow my tongue; my girl, fuck, she's a vision.

Rafael steps to the side a little, looking at his daughter in awe. I'm trying not to fucking fall at her feet.

Her dark blue dress, the same fucking color as my eyes, hugs her upper body perfectly, and flows gently from her waist downward, a short train trailing behind her.

It's only held up by her breasts; her slender shoulders that I love to run my lips along, are bare, the silver music pendant I gave her last year is hanging from her neck, and her red hair is curled down her back.

My eyes take her in before they lock with hers, a beautiful blush on her makeup-free cheeks.

She's fucking beautiful, and honestly, I have no clue how I managed to land her.

I watch, entranced, as her father whispers something in her ear, causing her eyes to tear up, before she kisses his cheek. I smile at his reaction as he places his hands behind his back like he's trying his hardest not to grab hold of her and hug her as she makes her way down the steps.

Instead of staying next to the car, I move my legs in long strides, meeting her at the bottom step. She giggles, causing me to grin as I hold my left hand out to her. She takes it willingly, but instead of helping her off the last step, I kneel and place the rose bracelet on her wrist, making her gasp.

Most girls tonight will wear real flowers, while mine, she'll wear a silver bangle with a dark blue rose, and as soon as the clasp is secure, she won't be able to take it off.

I smile as I stand, and rasp, "You look mesmerizing, Petal."

She blushes. "You look handsome. I didn't even know you owned slacks…."

I laugh and gently kiss her forehead, aware of her father watching us. Carefully, I help her down the steps, and look his way.

His smile is wide as he says, "You have my blessing."

I sigh in relief, not that I needed his blessing or anything, but I know it's the right way to go about things. I give him a grateful nod while Rose furrows her brows, but smiles when I kiss her wrist.

"You know this will won’t come off unless you cut it," I rasp as I help her into the limo, gently stroking her bracelet.

She looks my way and grins. "It's a good thing I never want to lose you then, huh?"

I chuckle and climb in after her, shutting the door before pressing my lips against hers, instantly tangling our tongues.

Rose sighs in contentment, falling into my body as I deepen the kiss.

Yeah, I'll never let her leave me. It's just a shame I didn’t think of this moment and the way she melts into me, because then I could have saved us so much fucking hurt….