She couldn't believe he was doing this now. He'd never been this type of guy. Vincent had obviously pissed him off good, but to want to cause her problems? How could he? He had to know she had no control over Vincent's reaction, and he saw her try to calm Vincent. It wasn't like she'd enjoyed it the way some stupid girls did who actually tried making their boyfriends jealous and fight for them. She'd never enjoy seeing Vincent as upset as he'd been today.

The coach finished, and for the life of her she could not figure out how to delete the post from her wall. At home it was easy enough, but there were so many things on her phone she couldn't do like she could on her laptop.

Vincent had a Facebook page, and though he didn't use it nearly as often as she used hers, Lorenzo did. They were friends on Facebook, too, and he often liked and even commented on her posts. Thankfully, neither of them had phones with Internet. She just prayed she'd get home in time to delete it before anyone who might get the word back to Vincent would see it.

After Rose won her second game, Sal invited everyone back to their place for a celebratory dinner. Grace had already prepared something ahead of time. All they had to do when they got home was heat it in the oven.

Vincent was still acting kind of weird on the drive back. There were too many quiet moments. She had a feeling she knew why, too. This was the first time he'd attended one of her high school games. Unlike her club games which were always on weekends, her high school games were mostly during the week. That's why he'd never been to any of them. This was one of only two high school tournaments she had scheduled on the weekend the whole season.

Her club games were different. Aside from Alison, who was also on her club team, there was no one else from school there. Rose wasn't sure if it was because of the way things had started off today and she was just being paranoid, but it seemed in every direction she turned there was a guy she knew smiling at her, just being friendly or even saying something silly. As harmless as it was since they were just school friends, Rose got the distinct feeling Vincent was bothered by it.

Because Rose and Vincent made it a point to not make their affection too obvious in front of Grace and Sal, they didn't even hold hands in front of them yet even though it was obvious something was going on between them. Why else would Vincent drive down so often to see her? They still made a very conscious decision to not let any of the adults know just how serious things had gotten for them. Rose hadn't even told Grace she was in love. They were both afraid they'd be watched even closer, or worse their time together would be cut down. So during the games while she'd continued to get attention from guys yelling out to her, she knew Vincent had been watching closely.

Today hadn't been as pleasant as most of the times she'd spent with him. She was sure it was because of the way the day had started and because she still had that damn Facebook picture on her mind.

As soon as she got home, she excused herself to go change out of her uniform in her room and told Vincent she'd take a very quick shower. He and Lorenzo went out back where everyone was already setting up to eat in the back patio.

The second she was behind her locked bedroom door, she jumped on her bed and powered up her laptop. Of course it felt like it took an eternity to start up. Her heart was beating faster, and the hurt set in even more now. She really thought Ben was her friend. She would've never thought he'd purposely put her in a position like this. It made her sad that she would probably have to not only unfriend him but block him as well. She just hoped doing so wouldn't make things get ugly.

When her computer finally powered up, her fingers typed away frantically, and she signed on to Facebook. To her surprise and enormous relief the picture and post were gone. But she had a private message from Ben. She opened it and read:

Rosie, I'm not sure if you saw it or not, but in case you did I want to apologize. It was stupid and immature of me to do that. I was worked up, and after mentioning to my friends that I should do it, they egged me on. Like an idiot I gave into peer pressure and did but felt like a dick almost as soon as I did. It was only up for a few minutes (a picture of me and you at prom last year, in case you don't know what I'm talking about) I hope your boyfriend didn't see it. If he did and he's mad, I'm truly very, VERY sorry. I promise I won't do anything like that again. Am I forgiven?

Ben

Rose smiled, so relieved that she wouldn't have to block or even unfriend him. This was the Ben she remembered.

Her response was quick, short and to the point:

Yes, I saw it, and thank you for removing it. As long as you're promising it won't happen again, you're forgiven. I wasn't just angry, Ben. I was hurt because we both knew what your intentions were. Please never do something like that again. I'd hate to have to block you.

With the weight off her chest she showered in a much better mood and walked out to meet Vincent. He met her just outside in the hallway. Glancing back once, he pulled her to him then took a few steps forward, pinning her against the wall and kissing her deeply. Stunned, Rose pushed her hands against his chest. "Vincent, did you forget where we're at?"

"They're all outside eating," he said quickly. "You love me, right, Rosie?"

"Of course." She stared at his eyes. They had that hint of worry she'd seen in them earlier.

"Why? Why do you love me?"

He searched her eyes. Rose could see it his; he wasn't just asking, he really wanted to—needed to know.

She caressed his face with her hand as he waited intently, still staring deep into hers. "You make me happier than I've ever been in my life. Do you know that feeling in your stomach? That craziness you felt the day you first held my hand?" Vince nodded, his eyes brightening. "Then again when you first kissed me?"

"And every kiss after that," he whispered.

She smiled, nodding glad that he got it, too. "Exactly, I love that I feel that way all the time now especially when I'm with you but even when you're not around. Even when I'm just thinking of you or my phone beeps or rings and I know it's you. And it's such a good feeling. It's like that feeling of being in heaven never goes away," she said, leaning into him and kissing him softly. "And not just because you turn me on either, okay?" She smirked. "But because since day one you've always made me feel like a princess. I never even knew that I'd love that, but I do. You always treat me as if I'm something so special. I almost believe it sometimes."

"Believe it, Rosie. You are special," he kissed her lips softly, "very special."

She tilted her head with that intense feeling inside that only he could make her feel even stronger now. "Oh yeah? So tell me why am I so special?"

"I think you were born that way, and anyone that doesn't see it is insane and not worth your time." He moved her wet hair away from her face. He hadn't said it, but she knew what he meant—her mother. "I want you to know something, Rose. I've never tried so hard in my life to change, to prove to myself or to anyone that I'm better than this, not until I met you. It's not just because I don't wanna chance getting in trouble and not be able to see you. That would be reason enough, but there's an even bigger reason. The most important reason is I want to...for you. I wanna be worthy of you."

Rose shook her head ready to protest. He was worthy of her—completely. But before she could he went on with conviction. "You deserve better, Rose, not some lowlife thug, selling drugs and tagging up walls."

"But you're not that guy anymore."

"Only because of you. Yeah, I'd started to make an effort before I met you, but obviously not a big enough one." He pulled her closer as if her body already pressing against his wasn't close enough. Raising his eyebrows and looking very serious again, he asked, "Wanna know why I love you?"

She nodded, already feeling the lump in her throat.

"Before you my future didn't matter to me. I'd never given it much thought at all." He shrugged. "I'd get a job somewhere or continue to work at the factory with my dad. I'd play it by ear. Who cared? Ever since I met you, all that's changed. All I ever think about is my future now—our future, and I'm excited about it. You inspire me, Rosie. Inspire me to shoot for more—so much more, to be that man you deserve." The conviction in his eyes suddenly fell, and he looked troubled again. "I just worry, you know?"

"About what?" She thought she'd seen the worry and felt it in the car on their drive home. Now he was confirming it. "You have nothing to worry about, Vincent. I promise you."

"I trust you, Rose. I do. But I don't trust myself."

She pulled back, not understanding exactly what he was saying, but hoping she was missing something here. "What do you mean you trust me but not yourself?"

Vince pulled her back. "No, not like that. God, not like that." He hugged her with so much emotion it made her nervous. Then he pulled back and stared straight in her eyes. "What I felt today, Rose, just seeing you with your friend Ben...the disgusting way he looked at you, groaning like an animal, and the disrespectful way he spoke to you..." He squeezed his eyes shut. "And then he wanted to touch you? I wanted to rip him apart."

Exhaling in relief, Rose nodded, "I know."

"No." He shook his head. "You don't know. You have no idea. If it weren't for the fact that I don't wanna screw everything up, I would've beaten his fucking head into the ground. I was so close to blowing it—too close."

That should've scared her. Instead it made her feel for him. She'd known he'd been upset, but she hadn't realized how bad. She ran her hand up and down his arm. It seemed each time she saw him, his arms got even bigger and harder. "But you didn't because you're not that guy anymore, remember? You don't do stuff like that anymore. Nothing's worth it."

"You're worth it."

Shaking her head again, she stopped her hand on his forearm and squeezed. "I'm worth going to jail for? What good would that do if we couldn't be together anymore?" He didn't respond, and now she was eternally grateful to Ben for realizing the picture thing on her wall was a shitty thing to do. "I believe in you, Vincent. If you believe in me and trust that I would never let anything happen that would make you crazy, then you have nothing to worry about."

Staring at her for a moment, his body finally eased up, and he pressed it against hers, kissing her until they heard the backdoor open.

More to come!