at the theater

Roman brought a dozen white roses for Vada before the show. He didn't know what else to do. He felt so lost. He'd never met a girl who didn't like him. Of course, she did, but now he knew she didn't.

She wasn't like anyone else he'd ever met. She was so delicate and yet so strong. He'd never been around that kind of strength. He couldn't explain it, but he wanted her. If he were going to win her back, Roman knew he'd have to be on his best behavior.

"Look, I know..you're mad at me..but..but.." He found himself stuttering, which was such a bad sign. They had a play to get too. "You..are..my leading lady..and...please..please..just don't hate me." He was desperate. He supposed as he handed the flowers to her.

She never smiled. She didn't even say thank you.

"Its called acting." She said ever so rigid, so solemn and calm. Roman stared at her wondering if maybe she were a monster. Just what did she have planned tonight?

Vada tossed the roses in the nearest trash. She never once thought that she might want them. Instead she took a peek at the crowd taking their seats. She made the startling discovery that Dean brought a guest, and it wasn't Josie.

Vada winced hard as if this weren't possible. Gage was sitting next to Dean. She went to her bag right away and texted Dean.

"I couldn't help it." He texted back. "Gage just got out of Juvie and Ren took him in. He had no other place to go."

Vada gritted hard when she read the message. She took another look at him. Vada wanted to cringe, but she couldn't. He looked better now than before. And she hated to think it. How could that be?

A part of her thought of him as a lost puppy that had no control. After all, he liked the wild and she liked that energy inside him. Stay away from him. It went off like an alarm. But in all truth, she missed him. And when she looked back at Roman now, she knew what she had to do. Roman had to be her Gage tonight.