Page 1 of Return To You

prologue

Rose – Age Thirteen

"Come on,my little Rose, or you'll be late…" Dad says from my doorway.

I glance at him and swallow hard at the sharpness in his eyes. Then I look back at the mirror and scrunch my nose at the plaid skirt and white shirt tucked into it. The little blue tie is too tight around my neck and does not help my nervousness.

Today is my first day of high school, and I'm so scared. Being the daughter of a multimillionaire hasn't saved me grief from my peers; instead, I have been made the outcast.

I became the loner where no one wanted to know me.

It doesn't matter that my father never spoils me, making sure I work hard for everything I have; the girls in my school, who are jealous of what I could have if I begged, think I'm a snobby, spoiled brat. They spread nasty rumors about me, bully me, and even hurt me.

Before school was out last year, four of them held me down while Piper Andrews tried to cut my hair. The teacher only just stopped them, and they didn't even get punished until my fatherwent in and threatened to sue, which only angered the girls more.

And the boys, well, they always stay far from me, intimidated by my family.

My school years have not been good so far, so why would I want to go to a bigger school with the same mean kids and others just like them who are bigger and older?

It's like throwing me into the lion's den while I'm covered in pig’s blood. Dark and gruesome thoughts, yes, but it's the truth.

I blink, my dark green eyes said, the freckles, just like my mom's, standing out because of the urge I have to cry, making my face go red. The girls always make fun of my freckles…and my blushes.

"Why can't I just be homeschooled, Dad?" I ask in a whisper, a hint of sadness I can't hide coming out.

I hear him sigh but don't look at him. Instead, I eye my hair, wondering why I let him convince me to leave it down.

It's dark red, like my mom's, and long and wavy.

My teacher, Ms. Oldens, says the girls were jealous of it, so they tried to cut it.

What if someone bigger gets jealous or hates the color, and tries to do worse?

I blink. Dad says I'm the spitting image of my mom, though my eyes are dark green like his. I wouldn't know, though, because she died giving birth to me. Sometimes, I think my dad hates me because I basically killed his wife.

That may be why I never got the ballet classes I wanted when I was six or the piano classes that all the kids in my class were taking two years ago, while my big brother got to play football.

I'm just a reminder….

"You've got to go to school because Dad won't allow us to be spoiled brats. Besides, I'll be with you," Alejandro, my big brother, says, and I turn and look at him.

My nose twitches, and I know I'm going to cry because he won't be there for much longer. He's just turned eighteen, and besides, he can't stop the bullying when the bullies are girls, and he wouldn’t hit a girl.

"Only for a year, though," I mumble, my eyes tearing up, making him and Dad sigh.

He walks my way, wearing slacks and a white shirt with a maroon tie, which showcases that he's a senior.

My big brother is a mixture of Mom and Dad, with reddish brown hair and green eyes.

He's also my favorite person in the world.

He takes me in his arms, and I place my head against his chest, which is basically where I come up to on him because he’s already over six feet.

"Listen, Little Bit, if anyone starts on you, tell me immediately. I won't have anyone hurt you," he states firmly.

I don't nod or confirm, I just I hold him tighter, knowing if I even think of going to him, the bullying will worsen.

He sighs, squeezes me tightly, and guides me toward my bedroom door. There, my father stands in a three-piece suit, smiling softly at us.

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