A Rose's Thorn.

Rosalie Bannister. An 18 year old who has everything she could possibly ask for. Two successful parents, an older brother in the military, another older brother as a policeman, two older sisters as surgeons, and a younger brother and sister who just turned 4. Her family was her weakness. She loved them unlike any others. Her parents, Lila and Devon Bannister were state senators of Rhode Island. Everyone loved them. They were seen as the people's senator due to their constant outreach to the community. Lieutenant James Bannister, her 27 year old brother who she absolutely adored was a cocky and arrogant guy, who joined the navy seals because he thought he would be their greatest asset as an 18 year old boy, but to his family he was a goofy idiot who loved his momma. Police sgt. Lance Bannister, her 25 year old brother who was very quiet at home but a complete extrovert away from his family was Rosalie least favorite brother. He always made her feel stupid, because he was a genius. Her older sisters, Violet and Lily, the twins. Now they were the pride of the family. They finished highschool at 16 and went on to get their doctorates in cardiac surgery. They both work at the downtown medical hospital as the dynamic duo of surgeons. They were stuck like glue since birth. Violet is a snobby brat who hates anyone who gets in her way while Lily was clueless and still is to everything, She was the flowerchild of the family. Damien and Delilah, the twin wonders. Her parents had them while on a mandatory work trip in london, so they both have london qccents which made them even cuter to Rosalie. Damien is very shy and quiet but loves Rosalie more then the others. While Delilah is very loud and extravagant. She is the princess of the family and loves Lance the most.

Rosalie's family is everything anyone could ask for, but she never felt as though she belonged. Her life may be perfect in public, but behind closed doors she really just wants to dissapear. The constant loneliness she feels consumes her most days. Her parents always traveling and taking the twins with them leaves her at home alone. Her older siblings only come home once a month and even then they don't hang with her. She's all alone. She spends most of her days reading, and playing her piano. Out of all of her siblings, she was the greatest performer. She played the Piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, and could sing like an angel. But because of her low confidence she never went out for anything. At school she was nothing compared to when her older siblings went there. She was only popular because of the money. Her friends didn't actually like her. Her boyfriend only is dating her to stay popular. The worst part is that she knows all of this. Her grades struggled all the time and her siblings made sure to make fun of her for it. She was the black sheep of the family. Her family was picture perfect looking, while she looked disgusting. Her skins had scars and burns. Her eyes were an ugly grey unlike the crystal blue her whole family has. Her hair was dirty blonde and curly, while her familys was blonde and straight. She had freckeles on her lightly tanned face, while her familys was perfectly clean and white. Her brother Lance always commented on her wieght, while her older sisters made fun of the way she dressed. In the years of living in her house she had gone from the non stop talking little girl who loved everything to the quiet, insecure woman who wished she could just dissapear. Rosalie's life made her think she would never be enough for her family. But no one truly ever noticed just how beautiful, smart, and talented she was. So why would she ever believe some stranger?

August 19th, 2020

Rosalie had just finished showering after gym when she heard her two best friends, Diana and Katie talking.

"I am seriously getting tired of being the little bitches friend. Shes such a fucking bore Katie!" Diana whispers. Katie scoffs.

"I know D! She literally needs to just drop off the face of the planet. I feel bad for her family. I mean look at them. They dont deserve to be stuck with such a disappointment. I'd be the perfect duaghter for them." Katie says and Diana laughs with her. Rosalie clutches her chest as tears fill her eyes. The pain filling her body is normal. She knows that everything their saying is true and it kills her. She wipes her tears and gets dressed. She walks out and Diana anand Katie fake smile at her.

"You ready to go to class Rosalie?" Katie asks with fake enthusiasm. Rosalie shakes her head and grabs her bag.

"Im not feeling well so im going to go home. Ill see you guys tommorrow." Rosalie softly says hiding her pain. They smile and nod.

"Feel better Rosalie!" They yell and walk out. Tears fill in Rosalie's eyes as she walks out of the locker room and towards her car. She gets in soaking wet from the heavy downpour of rain outside. She throws her books in the back and turns her car on. She turns on her favorite playlist of piano music and lets her tears fall. She starts to drive home when her car breaks down on the back roads to her mansion. She cries out in frusteration when there is no service. She slams her hands on the steering wheel. screaming. The pain in her hands is nothing compared to the pain in her heart. She puts her jacket on and gets out of her car and starts walking in the pouring rain. She can see a dark figure walking her way. She begins to feel afraid when the figure starts running at her. She turns around and tries to run back to her car. The figure tackles her to the ground. She tries to fight the person off. When she turns around to see its an old homless man. He starts laughing like a maniac and tries to take her jacket off. She kicks him hard in the balls and drags herself from underneath him. He growls and pulls out a knife. She starts to cry hysterically and backs away while still on the ground. He dives forward and the knife pierces her left thigh. She screams in pain and yells for help. She closes her eyes knowing shes going to die, when she feels the wieght of the homeless man being thrown off of her. She opens her eyes and watches as a large figure is pummeling the homeless mans face in. The figure throws the man into the ditch and turns back to her. She begins to freak out as the figure approaches her.

"Hey, hey it's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you. I just want to help you, okay?" The stranger says softly. He pulls his hood off and kneels infront of her. She looks into the greenest eyes she has ever seen and her heart flutters. The mans voice is so soft yet deep. His face is not as sharp and very soft. His hand is rough yet smooth. His lips are plump and smooth while his teeth are pearlt white and straight. Rosalie feels the pain in her leg again anand stops admiring the gorgeous man in front of her. The mans face contorts in worry and kneels beside her.

"I can help you, but its going to hurt. Just grip my arm if you need to," he says as he wipes the rain from his face. Rosalie becomes so focused on his soft, black curly hair and how the rain drips off of it. She has the urge to run her fingers along the smooth design on the side of his head, when the pain hits her hard andshe loses focus. She screams and grabs the mans bicep. He has pulledthe knife out and is outting pressure on the wound.

"Deep breathes. Focus on my voice." He says. She cries softly into his arm. The pain is just too much.

"I c-can't it hurts so much," she cries out in pain. He tenses and takes his belt off. He outs it under legs and ties it roughly. She bites his arms and screams as he ties it hard to stop the bleeding.

"Tell me your name love," he says softly. As he makes sure the bleeding has stopped. Rosalie slowly releases her bite and whispers her name.

"Rosalie..." she says and tries to calm her breathing. She feels the mans soft hands cupping her face and lifting her head to look the man in the eyes.

"Beautiful name for a beautiful woman. My names Aries. I need to get you to the hospital Rosalie. Will you let me help you?" He says staring into her eyes. She nods softly and tries to calm down.

"Wrap your arms around my neck love. Now take a deep breathe." He says gently. She does as told. He picks her up gently cradling her. She cries out at the movemnt in her leg the pain becoming worse. She buries her head into his neck and begs for the oain to stop. He carries her to his car and gently tries to put her in the passmger seat, but she wont let go. She can barely breathe as the pain is too much. He shuts the door and gets in on the drivers side still holding her. He starts his car and speeds off. She cries into his neck and wishes for it to end. He whispers soothing words to her in hopes to calm her down.

"Deep breathes Rose... Focus on my voice. Deep breathes love" he says gently. Rosalie begins to calm down as the pain calms a bit. She takes a deep breathe in the theough her nose and smells his cologne and becomes calmer as the scent of violet and mint fill her nose. She starts to feel like shes gonna pass out.

"Dont you dare fall asleep rosalie! Stay awkae rose! Cmon love! Talk to me" he cries out. She can hear the pain and worry in hos voice. He slams the break and gets out with her and runs towards the emergency room.

"Somebody help us!! Shes been stabbed and lost a lot of blood!!" He yells. Rosalie begins losingconciousness. Doctorsand nurses rush over with a stretcher and he lays her on there. She reaches out for him in a panic. He takes her hand and kisses it.

"You will be okay Rose. I promise love"hos voice cracks. They inject her with a sedative and she blacks out just as their hands seperate.

"Aries..."she whimpers. Then it goes black.