But still.
She looked at the row of houses on what had been her favourite road. It had been where her gran and grandad lived some of the time and the house where her dad had been born. She’d often come here on her way home from school if her grandparents were staying there, having hot chocolate and playing chess with her grandad. He liked playing chess butrefused to with Grandma Marie, because Gran always won and that annoyed Grandad. It made Gran very happy though and she liked to remind Grandad about it for quite a while afterwards, which annoyed him even more and Rose found it funny.
She could still go and see them, but they were in the apartment now, which was closer to the office where her parents worked and wasn’t the same as a big old house that sprawled around spiral staircases and had secret rooms. Rose had dreamed about the house sometimes, one of those dreams that wasn’t quiet real and felt like Narnia. There was also the pretty rose bush she’d bought Gran for her birthday a few years ago and helped plant. It’d thrived in the courtyard, so they’d left it there when they’d moved out and Rose hoped no one would throw it away.
There was a boy on the step, a tall boy who looked like he was a few years older than her. His hair was messy, but he was wearing smart pants and a shirt and he looked too hot.
She stopped, no longer smiling because instead of the bubbles of happiness fizzing inside her after her afternoon with the poet and her friends, she was watching someone outside her house.
Only it wasn’t her house anymore.
Rose walked a little closer. She had a right to know who was living there now. She needed to tell them about the lose floorboard which was useful for hiding teeth underneath for the tooth fairy, if any little children were going to live there, and to be careful about the sink on the top floor’s main bathroom because there was a doll’s head stuck down there, courtesy of her brother, Luke.
“Why are you staring?” The boy asked. He looked about fifteen maybe. He also looked familiar.
Not much fazed Rose, including unfriendly teenaged boys who were really cute. This one was very cute, so much so she was worried about whether she was staring.
“My grandparents used to live here. There’s an orange rose bush in the garden that I bought my gran for her birthday and I helped her plant.” She held her books closer to her chest, aware that she’d given too much information there. “Have you just moved in?”
He stared at her as if she was weird for talking to a stranger. Rose didn’t care.
“We’re moving in next week.” He squinted at her. “Have I seen you before?”
“I think so. I think I saw you at the hospital on Monday.” Which was when her pre-op had been.
The boy’s expression changed. He didn’t look as tough now as he’d been trying to make out. “Why were you at the hospital?”
“Can I sit down?” Rose pointed to the wall at the front of the house. She’d sat there so many times before, so it felt strange to ask, but she suddenly felt tired. It’d been happening a lot, which was partly how they’d found out about her heart.
He nodded. “Sure.” He came and sat down next to her. “Are you a patient?”
“For now. I’m having an procedure next week. To fix my heart.” That was how she’d explained it to her brother and sisters. They didn’t understand, especially not the twins. Luke got it and he’d been extra nice to her which had felt strange.
“What sort of operation?” The boy asked, being nosy.
She shrugged. “It’s called a cardiac catheterisation. It’s when they - ”
“Put a tube into a blood vessel that goes into your heart.” He didn’t look so aloof now. “My dad’s a heart surgeon.”
“Really? Is that why you were at the hospital? To see your dad?” Rose smiled, loving the coincidence. She was a great believer in fate which her mum said was silly, but her dad liked.
“Yeah, kind of. My dad’s Jimmy Collins. Have you heard of him?”
She was excited now, which was making it a bit harder to catch her breath. “Yes! He’s the doctor who’s doing my surgery.”
The boy’s smile showed off a dimple. Rose couldn’t help but stare at it.
“My dad’s really good. He’ll make sure you’re okay.” He frowned at her. “Are you okay? You look pale.”
She nodded, knowing exactly what was happening. “I should’ve walked straight home instead of coming down here. I’m not meant to tire myself out.”
“How far away do you live?” He slipped off the wall on to his feet. “I’ll walk you home.”
“It’s okay, I’ll be fine.” But she kind of wanted him to walk her home. He was really cute, especially when he smiled.
He shook his head. “My dad would kill me if I let you walk home by yourself, and something happened. Is anyone at home?”
“My mum will be back by now. It’s only two roads away.” It really wasn’t far. And Aunt Claire’s house was even closer. Her cousin Eliza was definitely home because she’d messaged Rose a few minutes ago.
