Blood, Sweat & Tears *Rose*

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Blood spurted from the larger man's nose as he hissed with rage.
Guillermo sneered. It was almost too easy. The bigger man had been provoked easily enough, then thought himself big and strong enough to take down the lean young adult.
Having had enough child's play, Guillermo threw out an arm and knocked the man's head back before kicking him in the stomach, leaving him sprawled on the ground.
"Hey man! Hold up a minute!"
The guy's buddies clustered around him, all glaring and looking menacing.
A few cracked their knuckles while one pulled him into the air by the front of his shirt.
Snarling, he wound up and kicked hard, hitting the man's shin. He was released and he punched the guy in the face, his anger making a perfect weapon.
Guillermo hit then next man so hard that he got a concussion. Another left with less teeth, while yet another was in need of stitches.
He had no outlet for his anger, so this was where he came. He was fairly well known there and only the new comers had the nerve to ask him about them.
He closed his eyes but the image of Seth's kiss was burned into his eyelids. How did she pick him? How did he get her to? More importantly, WHEN? Was it officially before the day between Rose and himself? Or was it just then as he had walked away from the apartments?
Sneering again, he threw another hard blow,

[ROSE MERCER]

OUTFIT

Rose had been to seven bars, two clubs, and nine parks that night, all without any make up. Which, as anyone could understand, knowing Rose, did not improve her mood. She was livid. She was fuming. Rose wanted someone to hurt as much as she was hurting.

Point A: She had been verbally bitch slapped by a complete stranger. Quite possibly the first stranger whose opinion Rose had actually cared about.

Point B: Seth freaking lost his mind, and confessed love or some shit. Which is absolutely ridiculous. He was locked up for the better half of puberty for God's sake!

Point C: Guillermo had witnessed a slice of Seth's momentary lapse in sanity, and instead of giving her a moment to explain, he took off like a bat out of hell. Practically vanishing off the face of the planet.

Point D: Some little shit keyed her car!!

Oh yes. Tonight was not going well at all.

So as a moment of desperation, Rose decided to try The Alleyway, inspired by Seth and Guillermo's stupid little wrestling match. It was a seedy place, where obviously a ruckus was happening inside. Rose stared at it warily, the cold sea air chapping her cheeks on contact. Next to her, Bruja appeared, her scowl deep, lining her face. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because," Rose muttered, trying not to let her lips move too much. "He knew about this stupidness and didn't bother to tell me!"

"And you want to confront him as an excuse to explain." Sneered Bruja, watching color flood onto Rose's face. "Pathetic."

Rose ignored her, opening the door, where she saw the centre of the noise. In the midst of it all, she saw Guillermo. And he looked pissed. It only increased her anger. Why should he be pissed? Rose had- Rose had- She couldn't even complete the thought. Deep down, she was angry at herself for Guillermo's hurt. But it was clouded by the self righteous rage that consumed her. She went up to the bar, her eyes gazing across the bar. "What?" Snapped an unruly bartender, earning a scowl.

"You got a microphone or something. That keeps up and someone's going to call the cops."

The man gave an understanding nod, but gave her a skeptical look. "What makes you think you can stop all that." Rose glanced over the seen, a look of disgust masking her concern. "That boys got a lot of rage."

Rose watched as Guillermo pummeled some poor suckers face. "Do you have one or what?" The bartender chuckled, grating Rose completely, but handed her a megaphone all the same. She took it, getting a little closer to the scene.

What did she say? Holding it up to her mouth, it made a cracking noise that made the room flinch, before she spoke in it clearly. "Guillermo?" Her voice had no trace of warmth in it, as she looked at his scuffed up face. "We need to talk. Meet me outside when you're done being a dumbass, okay?" She ignroed the oooh's, as she tossed the megaphone back to the bartender, heading out the door. The place smelled of putrid sweat and blood, she couldn't stand it anymore.

Sitting on the hood of her car, she smoked a cigarette, trying to ignore the butterfly's having a rave in her gut. Her face was a deep scowl, her hands shaking as she brought the cigarette to her lips. No, she was right here. She knew it.

No she didn't, but she was sure if she kept telling herself she was right, eventually she would believe it.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

A loud, crackling screech caught everyone's attention, the grown men flinching at the soundThe sound of her voice momentarily washed away his rage."Guillermo?"
He looked up at her, standing with a megaphone, looking horribly pissed off. He scowled.
"We need to talk. Meet me outside when you're done being a dumbass, okay?"
She tossed the device back to the bartender then sauntered out the door.
Oh, NOW she wanted to talk about it?
Some of the guys oooh'd in a way that suggested he had just gotten burned.
He smirked at the nearest one and landed a punch in his jaw, knocking him to the floor in surprise, then he walked out the door calmly.
Rose sat on Baby's hood, smoking.
The glower on her face did not seem to mar her beauty.
Guillermo sighed warily. What the hell did she want? Hadn't she taken enough from him?
"What do you want, Rose?"
It was meant to come out sharp and angry.
Instead it sounded tired and helpless.
He tugged at his hair, rolling his eyes behind closed eyelids.
Why was this happening to him?

[ROSE MERCER]

He seemed to be finishing some business in the bar, increasing her impatience. "Voya comer tu corazón para robar su poder." She sang softly to herself, flicking the cigarette, as he came out.

He looked exhausted. "What do you want, Rose?" His voice sounded twisted in multiple directions. Anger, but pain. Mad, but helpless. She looked at him, taking in everything. His face was scuffed to hell, but nothing that would keep. It must have been a skill he learned, fighting all the time, how not to get his face too damaged.

Rose kept her voice cool, though her lips stiffened in a severe purse. "Why so jaded, Scrappy Doo?" She slid off the hood of her car, stepping up to Guillermo, leaving a foot between them. "Because, my first thought would be that you are, at least, semi aware of the..." What did just go down between her and Seth? "Conversation Seth and I had awhile ago. But that couldn't be, because you weren't up there. You would have no idea what he said to me, unless you were aware of his intentions." Her voice was steadily rising, her jaw shaking in anger.

She didn't allow him to respond. "WELL?" She snapped, shoving him. "How long have you known that I was going to be blind sided by YET ANOTHER fucking love confession?" Rose laughed humorlessly, marching over to her car, before snapping her head at him. "And on that note, how many more of these fucking things should I be expecting, hrm? Is Mallory going to come out of the wood work and confess she's in love with me, because NOTHING would shock me right now!" Angrily, she kicked the door of her car, leaving a large foot shaped dent in it. "SHIT!" Rose yelped, falling to her knees to access the damage.

Her fingers traced the dent carefully, putting her focus on it entirely. That was the great thing about cars. They were sexy, and strong, and could protect you from unbelievable horrors. But they wouldn't keep secrets. They wouldn't hurt you.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Why so jaded, Scrappy Doo?"
She slid off the hood of her car, stepping towards him and he felt compelled to step back.
"Because, my first thought would be that you are, at least, semi aware of the...conversation Seth and I just had. But that couldn't be, because you weren't up there. You would have no idea what he said to me, unless you were aware of his intentions."
What he said to her? What he gave to her sounded more accurate.
Her voice was steadily rising, her jaw shaking in anger.
"WELL?" She snapped, shoving him. He felt irritated by having the chance to answer ripped from him.
"How long have you known that I was going to be blind sided by YET ANOTHER fucking love confession? And on that note, how many more of these fucking things should I be expecting, hrm? Is Mallory going to come out of the wood work and confess she's in love with me, because NOTHING would shock me right now!"
Angrily, she kicked the door of her car, leaving a large foot shaped dent in it.
"SHIT!"
She gasped falling to her knees by the dent and he started forward afraid she was hurt. She was merely checking it carefully.
He rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Since the day he came. I've known since the day he got here, Rose. And I can't believe you never figured it out yourself, to be honest. That kid is so possessive of you it's unbelievable. And I hope you won't be receiving anymore."

[ROSE MERCER]

He spoke tentatively. "Since the day he came. I've known since the day he got here, Rose. And I can't believe you never figured it out yourself, to be honest. That kid is so possessive of you it's unbelievable. And I hope you won't be receiving anymore." Her eyes burned, but Rose pushed the tears back forcefully, staring at the car fixedly.

"I should have known." She repeated, dryly. "Thank you Captain Hindsight." Rose said, her voice falling to near a whisper, before she putting her head against the dent. Should she have known? Letter after letter, almost every day for six years. The clinginess, the over indulgence no matter what she did. But that's how he was before they could know what love was. They were Chicken and Foxy, two peas in a pod. Brother and Sister, from another Mother and Mister. But no. That was gone. It was shattered.

And Guillermo... was angry. If he knew for so long, then why was he angry? He had to of been expecting it. He had to-

It dawned on her slowly, her face turning to look at him as a tear escaped her eyes. "Aren't you going to ask me Guillermo?" She asked, hollowly, as she stood back up, a tear trickling down her face. "I mean, that's what that hissy fit in there was about, right? Because you think you know the answer. That's why you had to go and strut your manhood or whatever the fuck." She shook her hand at the bar, her voice becoming less steady. "Ask me. Say: Rose, did you say it back? Go ahead. Do it. Please." There was nothing about her please.

She stood across from him, head up, despite the few more tears that fell. Nothing was how it was. Everything was gone. Rose had nothing. She couldn't retreat to Guillermo, because she would always worry about leading him on. She couldn't go to Seth, who had always been like a brother, because he didn't see her as a Sister. She couldn't go to Mallory, because Rose feared the I told you so's.

She had no one.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"I should have known. Thank you Captain Hindsight."
Rose whispered, leaning her head against the dent.
She looked so vulnerable that Guillermo wanted to comfort her, especially as he watched a tear drip from her eye.
But he didn't want to comfort her. He always comforted her. And he was sad. And angry as hell. Why wasn't there anyone to comfort him?
Poor Rose, everything happens to her.
He just lost his father, goddamnit. And his sister popped in for a random visit. Not to mention all the other shit gone wrong in his life.
When did he get his turn to complain?
And why the hell was she angry about people loving her?
He'd kill to have some love like that.
"Aren't you going to ask me Guillermo?"
She stood, a tear trickling down her face as she glared at him.
"I mean, that's what that hissy fit in there was about, right? Because you think you know the answer. That's why you had to go and strut your manhood or whatever the fuck." She gestured at the bar, her voice becoming less steady.
"Ask me. Say: Rose, did you say it back? Go ahead. Do it. Please."
He shook with anger.
Why did he need her to tell him?
"Fine! Rose, did you fucking say it back? Because you seemed pretty cozy with him."
He watched her tears slipping down her cheek, and felt a pang of remorse. He tried not to care.
"Rose," his voice had dropped back to the weary tone, "I can't compete with someone like Seth. He's your best friend, for godsakes. He's been through a lot with you. And Seth really loves you. Trust me, I live with the guy."
He watched her carefully, a little blood dripping onto his eyelashes. He didn't think he wanted to hear if she loved Seth. He hurt enough as it was. And he was attempting to feel happy for Seth.
But he couldn't.
Not yet.

[ROSE MERCER]

"Fine! Rose, did you fucking say it back? Because you seemed pretty cozy with him." Rose jumped as he shouted, not quite expecting it. It only served to rile her up further, even as his voice softened. "Rose, I can't compete with someone like Seth. He's your best friend, for godsakes. He's been through a lot with you. And Seth really loves you. Trust me, I live with the guy."

Rose scowled at him, her lip rising in a snarl. Was he really that blind, that stupid? "Well, you just got me figured out, don't you?" Rose snapped back, as passerbyers averted their eyes. She turned away, wrapping her arms around her gut. She felt sick. "I'm glad you've got me all figured out, I was afraid no one was understanding me there..." She spoke, softly, voice apparently sarcastic.

But the sarcasm was soon lost, and she spoke as if reciting a grave truth. "You're an idiot, you know that? I have NEVER loved Seth like that. He's like my fucking brother." She shouldn't have come. This was going no where. Even as she spoke, she feared that a new found hope was forming in Guillermo.

"And had someone bothered to fucking mention this shit too me, I could have handled it. But no. I get fucking sneaking and lying." Rose stared at Guillermo accusingly. "So, what? You and Seth just been hanging out, tossing back brewskies, discussing how best to fucking win you're little competition?" They were playing semantics again, and Rose was using a poor choice of words on Guillermo's part against him. It wasn't fair. Even she saw that. "I don't know where I've been vague on this fucking subject! I think I've made it perfectly clear I DON'T WANT ANYONE! And I certainly don't need anyone!"

Rose was all worked up now, she she approached Guillermo, and started to beat on his chest through her tears. "I don't n-need Seth, and I-I don't need you!" The tears marred her vision, and her strikes were weak and ineffective, especially after the beating he was just taking. "I don't need anyone, I just need to be left the FUCK alone!" She choked back a sob, her body shaking.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Well, you just got me figured out, don't you?" Rose snapped, as she turned away, wrapping her arms around her gut.
He groaned in frustration.
"I'm glad you've got me all figured out, I was afraid no one was understanding me there..."
She was being dreadfully sarcastic but she quickly dropped it to say something else.
"You're an idiot, you know that? I have NEVER loved Seth like that. He's like my fucking brother."
Well wasn't that peachy fucking keen. She didn't love him, she didn't love Seth, she didn't love anyone. But she loved the fucking dog at her uncle's house! The fucking dog was worthy of her love! But wait, the dog has a speck on it's nose! So now she can't love it anymore!
"And had someone bothered to fucking mention this shit too me, I could have handled it. But no. I get fucking sneaking and lying. So, what? You and Seth just been hanging out, tossing back brewskies, discussing how best to fucking win you're little competition?" Her glare was full of accusation.
Guillermo stared at her in furious disbelief.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
His voice was quiet and dangerous, but they became louder as he spoke.
"Don't even talk to me about games. Your mood changes more than Seth cleans! How can you even say that we're being idiots when everything YOU FUCKING DO is a game. You go around pretending you don't even care about anything! But inside, you have to care, because you're HUMAN, Rose! And you drag everyone into your fun little games to amuse yourself into the delusion that it's reality. Don't even MENTION games to me, puta."
And even so, I love you.
"I don't know where I've been vague on this fucking subject! I think I've made it perfectly clear I DON'T WANT ANYONE! And I certainly don't need anyone!"
She started to beat on his chest through her tears.
"I don't n-need Seth, and I-I don't need you!"
Her strikes didn't hurt but her words struck deep.
"I don't need anyone, I just need to be left the FUCK alone!"
She choked back a sob, her body shaking.
He turned away from her as it started to rain, tears beginning to make their way down his cheeks.
But I need you, Rose.
I love you.

[ROSE MERCER]

"Are you fucking kidding me? Don't even talk to me about games. Your mood changes more than Seth cleans! How can you even say that we're being idiots when everything YOU FUCKING DO is a game. You go around pretending you don't even care about anything! But inside, you have to care, because you're HUMAN, Rose! And you drag everyone into your fun little games to amuse yourself into the delusion that it's reality. Don't even MENTION games to me, puta." He turned away from her, as his words registered slowly.

Did he-

Did he just-

HE JUST CALLED HER A BITCH!

Oh he found the line, and he not only crossed it, he freaking leaped across it singing happy little show tunes!

She stared at the back of his head, stunned, her mouth fallen open. The rain sprinkled down on them, washing away her tears. How dare he! How dare he! HOW DARE HE- Rose grabbed his shoulder and spun him around, her hand crashing down on his cheek harshly. It made a deafening CRACK noise, wet and hard, as she faced him quivering. Unsorry.

"If I'm such a bitch, Guillermo, then stay the hell away from me." Her eyes were deadly, her hand lowering slowly. She wanted him to hurt. "If my GAMES are so fucking bad, then you don't have to be a part of them. I NEVER asked you to be. I've always made our position crystal clear." The rain started falling harder, which was an effective mask for her tears.

Why was this hurting so much to say?

She didn't-

She couldn't-

Did she?

NO!

NO NO NO NO NO!

SHE DIDN'T!

SHE COULDN'T!

Rose turned away from Guillermo, going to her car. She couldn't do this! "And Baby," She forced the coldness in her voice. "I ain't human. Bruja, remember?" With that, Rose entered her car, started it, and pulled away.

"Now that," Bruja spoke, sounding very pleased, appearing in the passenger seat. "Is more like it."