If Only You Could See Me Now

[Rose Eden]

"How very..." Rose stopped mid-sentence as she looked up at the shack, not sure how to describe it to herself. Her gloved hands were wrapped loosely around the fence post and were starting to go numb with cold as she looked up at the shack. She'd been here for a while now, looking up at the shack, occasionally shifting with cold but not moving very much or very far.
This place made her skin prickle with fear, made her shudder with unease, made her heart beat fast. It gave her a rush just to be here. Taken over by a sudden fit of rare unbridled lust for rebellion, she let go of the fence, moving through the gap, wanting to get closer.
She crept, trying to be as silent and unalarming as possible on her way to the building, as if it could see her and would attack if she made any sudden movements. Not one breath seemed to escape her lips and into the cold air and then she was suddenly standing right next to it, putting a hand that was trembling slightly on the rough wood of the building. She smiled a little to herself, remembering how terrified of the shack she used to be.
Well, teenage Rose, if only you could see me now, She thought to herself.

[Kaleb Parker]

Kaleb walked around close by the Shrieking Shack.
Most haunted place in Britain, pfft. He shakes his head sadly,"More like the biggest dump in Britain." He mutters under his breath.
He blows slightly on his hands rubbing them together in an attempt to keep warm before finally slipping them into his jacket pockets.
Like his mother, Kaleb often got very cold easily, something he dealt with as a child.
He tugged down on his black hat, pulling it over the top of his head, eyes peering out beneath the rim.
He spots a redhead walking towards the shack,"Really shouldn't be out here on your own, you know." He calls after her.

[Rose Eden]

Rose turned around, slight smile playing on her lips, and shook her head in slight amusmant, turning back to the shack before answering.
She smiled wryly, then said loud enough for him to hear, "I appreciate your concern, but I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself."

[Kaleb Parker]

He shakes his head slightly,"Completely sure about that?" He calls back,"You realize your walking into the most 'haunted' place in Britain aren't you?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.

[Rose Eden]

"I am completely sure, thank you," She called back, "And I have no intention of walking into it, just standing here. And even if I was, why would it matter to you?"

[Kaleb Parker]

He walks over, jumping over the face, small smile playing on his lips as he realizes who it is.
"Well, if anything were to happen to you, I'm not so sure my cousin qould forgive me," He slips his hands into his jacket pockets, standing straighter looking up at the shack,"Jack would be heartbroken if anything was to happen to you, Miss Rose."

[Rose Eden]

"Well Mr Kaleb," She replied, mirroring his posture by slipping her own gloved hands into her pockets, "It's a good job I know how to take care of myself without yours or Jack's help."

[Kaleb Parker]

"Is that so?" He asks, raising an eyebrow,"So, a little bird told me you were getting married," He says,"This your father's doing or all your own?"

[Rose Eden]

"That is so," She nodded, then had to stop the small groan of frustration that threatened to escape her lips.
She took her time before answering, removing her hands from her pockets and pulling her coat closer around her, folding her arms across her chest, "Who's doing do you think it is, Kaleb?"

[Kaleb Parker]

Kaleb watches the gesture, realizing she wasn't too happy about the marriage, then again Jack hadn't been either when he had told the family.
He recalled Destiny mentioning that Jack was in love with Rose so it was no surprise to see him moping around the house.
"Your fathers," He says, knowing how Rose and her family still followed pure blood traditions.

[Rose Eden]

She laughed, her voice having adopted a thick almost teary quality, "Clever, always a bright one, Kaleb."
She'd spent so much time now, sheltering, putting up with the disdain in tones directed at her, being treated like she was so fragile she might break in two if he lost his temper directly, it was starting to take it's toll on her.

[Kaleb Parker]

"What can I say, I'm the only Speare besides my beloved sister who actually uses their head," He replies, trying to lighten the mood.
"So, guessing dear ole daddy's against you being with a Gryffindor blood traitor, eh Rose?"

[Rose Eden]

A faint tint rose in her cheeks and she coughed lightly, blowing into cupped hands and rubbing them together to warm them to cover for it, "I wouldn't be with a Gryffindor blood traitor anyway, Kaleb. But yes, I'm sure my father would be against it. Hence the respectable pure blood brute I'm engaged to right now."

[Kaleb Parker]

"That's not what I hear," He replies, notcing the faint color arise in her cheeks."You and I both know the truth Rose, don't you think it's time you told him?"

[Rose Eden]

"How forward of you, honestly," She replied, feeling the warmth in her face growing even more, then she just sighed lightly and decided to stop bothering pretending she had no idea, "What would telling him accomplish? Nothing. There's really no point."

[Kaleb Parker]

"Don't like wasting time on stupid little games Rose, you should know that." He nods, pulling out a lighter, flicking the cap on and off."You'd be pretty surprised Rose,"

[Rose Eden]

"I do know that," She mumbled, watching his lighter instead of him, "No, I doubt it. Kaleb, it's Jack, we've been friends for years...friends."

[Kaleb Parker]

"Friends, alright," He nods,"Ever wished you could be more though?"

[Rose Eden]

"Kaleb!" She said, slightly surprised by the directness of the question then reminding herself she shouldn't be surprised.

[Kaleb Parker]

"Rose," He replies calmly."You can deny it all you want, I've got time to kill." He says, flicking his lighter on and off.

[Rose Eden]

She shot a glare at him that she knew would be completely waste, "Fine, you win, you're right, I'm wrong, relish in it," She murmurs.

[Kaleb Parker]

"So do you finally admit it Rose?" He asks, pulling out a cigarette and lighting up.

[Rose Eden]

"Go away," She mumbled, not wanting to say it out loud.

[Kaleb Parker]

"All the time in the world," He reminds her, taking a drag of his cigarette, blowing smoke away from her.

[Rose Eden]

"You are a bastard!" She exclaimed, "Fine, I admit it! Happy?"

[Kaleb Parker]

"Admit what?" He says, grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

[Rose Eden]

"I hate you so much right now...you can't even begin to imagine," She murmured, then sighed and rolled her eyes skyward, "I love Jack, does this make you happy?"

[Kaleb Parker]

Kaleb stops the grin that was tugging at the corner of his lips, instead flicking ash out onto the ground before taking another drag."So why are you wasting your breath telling me that Rose?" He asks, raising an eyebrow, blowing smoke in the opposite direction,"It should be him your telling that too," He turns around, making his way back up the beaten path,"Now if you'll kindly excuse me, I must be going. Got a daughter to look after," He nods,"Pleasure as always Miss Rose."

[Rose Eden]

"Maybe you've forgotten that a) I'm engaged, and b) I'm not an idiot," She said after him, not sure if it was loud enough for him to hear or not, then sighed and called after him, "Pleasure's all mine, Mr Kaleb."