Work Text:
Rose stepped off the bus groveling in her own feelings. Negativity was always following her. She tried to drown out the emotions with music but once she stepped off of the bus toward the small one story house she lived in and saw the empty parking lot her eyes began to water. Almost like clockwork a text appeared on her phone and made tears stream down her eyes.
“Sorry Rose. Going to be late tonight because of work.”
She gave a blank answer of “Okay” but she wished Chris was here today. Yeah, she’s had bad days at school before, but she felt like all her emotions were boiling past their breaking point. She wore an overall dress with a black shirt today. She thought it was cute and she didn’t want people to boss her around but she got to school and… she let out a sob. She just wanted to try and be normal. Even if it wasn’t the truth. She didn’t notice the white lines that formed on her- her veins turned a light color. She heard people gasping as she walked by, whispers beginning to spread.
“You should’ve covered up those nasty legs, Moldy.” One of the girls snapped, she scrunched up her face and held her nose. Rose just shot a glare at her and tried to quickly walk away.
Rose wanted to cry right here but she couldn’t- she wouldn’t let herself. For once in her life she thought she could be confident, brave. But when it came to it she just couldn't do it. She didn’t want anyone else to see- she wanted to get to her locker to get her extra pair of leggings and a coat to cover up but the school wouldn’t let her get to it until the bell rang. So she plopped herself down by the door, covered her legs with her bag and waited for it to ring, holding back tears. Her classes felt quiet but in the halls she could hear their words. Monster, Freak, Weirdo, Moldy, Nasty. She had no friends to confide in. No one to talk to. She was normally utterly alone but this day she was more alone than most.
She wished Chris was here to give her some comfort. To give her someone to talk to. Chris was a good guy, after everything that happened to her as a baby- which she didn’t have much details on- he still tried to raise and take care of her. He tried to make her feel better about herself, even if she was a monster. She wished that he was here but when she entered the house she was just met with cold, dead air. She tried to hobble to her room but she only got to the couch before she collapsed, a crying, wet mess. She pulled some homework out from her bag and placed it on the coffee table, littering it with tears but she couldn’t even pick a pencil up before she laid back on the couch and cried herself to unconsciousness.
Chris opened the door with a small creeek and stepped inside slowly. He closed the door with minimal noise and walked to the living room, where Rose was laying. He snuck over to her and looked at the paper placed on the coffee table, clearly some tears imprinted on it. He sighed and carefully placed a blanket over her. He wished he was there- not at work, for once in his life. He stepped over to the kitchen to make some dinner. Something simple today- just spaghetti. He took the spaghetti out and a pot out. Got some water, put it on the stove to boil, salted and waited. Put the pasta in and waited. He grabbed the tomato sauce while waiting. After it was all ready he plated two bowls and placed some simple spices on top.
He walked over to the living room and put Rose’s work away before placing the dish and a fork on the coffee table. He sat slowly on the couch, but after getting fully adjusted- someone stirred beside him. She got up cautiously, slowly looking around. She lifted the blanket off and turned to the spaghetti on the table. She looked at Chris- who was already indulging in his.
“Thank you.” She peeped out, grabbing her bowl of food.
“You’re welcome.” Chris replied, “Did something happen today?”
Rose looked away from Chris and paused her movements. “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t home earlier.” Chris paused, “We can talk about it if you want.”
“I just had a bad day… as usual.” The ending was added as a whisper but Chris heard it. He tensed up, putting a hand on her shoulder. Rose shook at the touch, “ ‘s fine.”
“It’s not…” Chris trailed off and paused, “but if you don’t want to, I won’t push you.”
“Thanks.” Rose looked up at him, “This spaghetti is really good.”
“Someone I used to know gave me the recipe.” Chris recalled.