THREE

ROSALEIGH ISABELLE'S POV

It was the first day of the last semester. Yesterday I'd my first sleepover at Grace's place. Although we didn't booze we were high on sugar. The muffins and tarts Lucy got with her were much more addictive than cocaine.

Walking to my class, I met my bestfriends Gracelyn and Lucille. They both were my only friends since we shifted here in Nashville after my accident. We were a group of five but Adam and Luke were more like Gracelyn's friends.

According to what I was told we previously lived at New York but due to my poor health the doctors prescribed us to move to a less populated city. And my parents being the most protective that they are, I ended here in Nashville. I am currently months afar to get my degree.

During the lunch time, Grace kept on nudging me for some shitty masquerade ball that is to be held in month's time. Gracelyn is always ready for parties and balls. Whether Lucy is much like me.

Choosing to ignore Grace and her brags, I escaped to the only place Gracelyn wouldn't step in her entire lifespan i.e The Library. She hates library so much that once she quoted. "I feel the shelves loaded with books are closing onto me and suffocating me to death" Her words not mine.

I loved the way how these books smelled. I was engrossed in my book when...

"Hello Rosaleigh"- a deep masculine voice trailed into my ears as I snapped my head towards the source to find a tall heighted man with a most handsome face that could have belonged to a Prince or a King. Standing with all glory and mighty pride his mysterious yet peaceful grey eyes stared back at me boring holes into my soul.

"Rosaleigh" - he called out again breaking my chain of thoughts. I looked at him and passed my basic smile. Yess the one I give to strangers.

"I am Alexander. I prefer Alex!" - he smiled forwarding his hand towards me. His smile was contagious.

ALEX.. his name suits his personality.. ALEXANDER the great. But how does he know my name.

"How do you know my name?" - I blurted out while our hands met. A chill running down my spine, fireworks making their way into my stomach. I pulled my hand back and looked up at him for an answer.

"Must say you're quite famous here!" - he said pointing to our Library Faculty.

"They said to find you for help. You're the brightest student here."

"Ohh!" - I nodded and continued reading my book as he sat beside me on the bench.

"Rosaleigh" - he disturbed my reading again.

"Rose... Can I call you that?" - he questioned as I nodded assertively and listened to him so that atleast I can continue to my work once he is done.

"Actually I am new at Spanzerdrilt. I'll be joining from tomorrow and I need to cope up with the previous semester as well study for the current and I waa told that you are ridiculously very good at studies will you please help me in my academics? Will you tuitor me please? " he asked making a puppy face. I could have just said yes without that.

"Hmm okay." - I agreed to witness his puppy face turning into a wide grin. He got up and went to the shelves searching for some books.

I took a moment to analyse his features. His dirty blonde hair was wiry and gingerish. They brushed backward from his temple and wafted around, its tendrils curling and moving on their own violation. His steel grey eyes had specks of blue in them. They were as a clear evening, and in them was a light like the light of stars.

Alex reminds me of someone. Someone I knew. I clenched my eyes shut before I could see a blurry vision.

A young boy got up from the staircase.

"Belle you ruined my suit!" - the same boy screeched childishly. I could hear a girl's laughter from the background in response. Somehow I tried focusing on his face but alas it was all in vain.

I opened my eyes to feel them moistened. May be that was a blurry memory of my friends... that boy and the girl named Belle probably were one of my friends. Hope I could reminisce who actually are they.

I wish I could get hold of the memories I'd lost years before. So that I may fix the jigsaw puzzle of my life. Currently I only had some pieces of memories which I made after that incident. I wish that never happened to me. My eyes travelled to my uncompleted reading assignment I had and thus shrugging all those thoughts away I focused at the work in hand.

***

"Mama, I am hungry..where are you" - I barged into my home striding towards the kitchen searching for my mother. Entering the kitchen, my nostrils were clauded with a delicious whiff of brunswick stew!! Its my favourite particularly because my mother is a pro at it.

Mama stood there with her heart flattering grin. How much I love her. She'd been doing a bit more cooking as I glanced over the kitchen to find pots and pans everywhere with different foods inside. Wasting no more time I focused on my favourite stew and took a spoon to taste.

"Rosaleigh bad habits." Mama slapped my hand away picking the bowl and placing it in the microwave.

"Mama I am starving right now" - I chided, following her to the dining area.

"Its that so?" Mama raised an eyebrow before she went back to the kitchen fetching the crockeries.

Our dining table which was so big for our family... which consist of my mom dad and me. I am the only daughter to my parents. I wonder why my parents didn't plan another child.. may be cause they're content with me. I wish I had a sibling so that she could've remind me all those memories I was lacking.

"Rosaleigh get changed" Mama broke my chain of thoughts.

"What's wrong with this outfit?" - I questioned whirling a little so that she can have a better view of my blue sundress which reached just below my knees.

"Everything's wrong!!" - Mama scowled at my face. "We are having guests tonight Rosaleigh and I want you in the best of your behaviour." Mama walked upstairs to her room as I watched her waning figure. I wonder who are these guest for whom Mama is so eager.

As long as I remember for last three years no one visited us on Christmas too. I dont remember any thing before that. I doubt we had any relatives cause apparently my parents were single child as well. Shrugging all the thoughts aside I turned towards the dining table which was no less than a feast meal. The guests are possibly VVIP's whom mama wants to flatter.

"Rosaleigh" - I snapped my head to my mom as she stood with an expensive looking paper bag.

"Yes mama!" - I grinned perplexed. What was in that bag? I eyed the bag and then set my gaze to the most elegant face in the world. My mother.

"Take this and get dressed at your best!" - she spoke handling me the paper bag. I peeked inside to find a boatline neck, knee length dress. I brought it out from the bag before caressing the cascading ruffles and bow that was present on the side of the dress. It was such a beautiful dress just as I liked. Simple yet elegant. An unique peice as if it was made especially for me keeping my likes in mind.

"You like it?" - Mama asked as I beamed to her.

"As usual I love it mama"

But why do I need to wear such a beautiful dress for my guest. I hope the guests are not any of the suitors.

"No they're not your suitors my love! "- mama chuckled. Did I say that aloud? Grinning sheepishly I walked near the dining table. Arranging it.

"Rachel Betson and David Betson are our old family friends. They're in town for their son's admission so your dad invited them on dinner. Hope you'll enjoy tonight darling!" Mama added patting my shoulder.

I went back to my room as all my hunger had now vanished into thin air. Sitting on my bed thoughts came rushing to me about these new 'old-family-friends' of ours. How did I not know about them?

Oh c'mon dont be a fool! My mind taunted.

I didn't remember about myself how come I would be able to recall them. Do they know about my lethal accident? How are we going to reconnect? Oh god how will they react to me? Dusting every thought away I marched to my bathroom for a much needed shower to relax myself.

***