Hey guy! This is the end of this book; it's not the end of THE ARRIVAL(If you read "the author's note" you'd understand).

A YEAR LATER,

ROSE'S POV.

"You're not dressed yet? I can't believe we're finally done with secondary school." Alex said. He was on his graduation outfit looking so dashing as ever, his haircut was so nice and I couldn't help but stare at such marvelous creature standing right in front of me.

"Rose?" He yelled and cut me off the admirations, I was so engrossed in his looks that I forgot where I was.

"Oh! What were you saying?" I managed to ask.

"Really Rose?" He looked at me with such disbelief.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't listening to what you were saying." I looked at him.

"Well, too bad. I won't repeat my words." He looked away.

"Okay." I smiled mischievously, I know how to get on his nerves and I tend to piss him off when I give him the I don't care look.

"Okay? Well, that's your problem. I'm going to the dining room and after eating I'm leaving for the valedictory service, so it's best if you and your partner in crime dress up fast. I'll be waiting for you two." He looked pissed and left.

Living at the Ikechukwu's has been nothing but a relief to me, They've been so nice to me. Mr. Arnold is barely around; I don't get to see him often, He travels a lot.
Helen was nice enough to have me stay in her room, even though the house has enough rooms.
Ever since I moved here, Grandma has been kind to me, she treats me like her own grandchild and I can't help but love her so much.
Alex and I enrolled in the same school Helen attends, it was our final year so we had to focus more on our studies and make fewer friends.

"Is this dress okay? You picked it for me so you'll have to judge." Helen said almost immediately I stepped into the room.

"It looks gorgeous on you Helen." I grinned.

"Okay thanks, I really want Desmond to notice me. This is our graduation day and I really want to look good, this is an opportunity to make Desmond notice me." She hugged me.

"But, this might be the last time we'll all be seeing each other, except those that are lucky to meet again though; so why the stress?" I mumbled.

"Yeah, but I just want to make today a memorable one." She smirked.

"Whatever, I have to get prepared Alex might leave us behind." I rushed to have my bath.

"I'm done anyway." She exclaimed.

ALEX'S POV.

"Guys? Be fast, time is running." I yelled. I was in the living room waiting anxiously for Rose to come downstairs, Helen has been done since a while now.

"I'm coming guys." I heard her announce.

"Wow!" I heard Helen say as I buried my face in the pictures my friends posted on my phone.

"What's that? Wow." I managed to say as I saw the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my entire life.

"Le let's go" I stuttered.

"It's horrible I know, I'll just go change it," Rose said looking dishearten.

"No, no. It's perfect." I said hastily.

"If it is, why are you both looking at me that way?" She interrogated.

"Because you look more beautiful than ever, " Helen said the words I had in mind.

"So shall we?" I smiled.

"My lady," I said as I gestured Rose to the car to open the car door.

"Hmmm, be forming a gentleman." Rose smiled and Helen chuckled.

"Well, I am," I replied.

***********************************
ROSE'S POV.

It was indeed a memorable day at Saints Academy. We had the best graduation service and we ate till our bellies were big.
Alex kept glancing at me and I was feeling uncomfortable, this is not the first time he'd be doing that but this time the look was different and I couldn't explain it.
We finally got home and Grandma had ordered the maids to prepared all sorts of delicacies for us, I was too full that I declined.

I was so stressed out that I collapsed on the bed. A knock came up and I was too tired to go get it, it's Helen, but she doesn't knock before she enters her room. It's her room right? It cant be Helen.
I managed to open the door. It's Alex, I welcomed him in.
Looking indifferent I laid on the bed again, he sat on the stool.

"Where's Helen?" I asked.

"She's with her friends, they're having some sort of parlor party or something." He told me.

"Oh!" I said.

"You looked really beautiful today." He complimented.

"really? Thanks." I giggled.

"We're finally out of secondary school Rose" He smiled excitedly.

"Looks like it" I looked away.

"What's wrong? You've been acting strange since morning" He looked concerned.

"Nothing, I'm just very tired." I feigned a smile.

"Rose, I've known you for two years now, right? And trust me, I can differentiate between your tired face and your unhappy face, so tell me." He said to me, I rose up and sat on the bed.

"Alex, you and your family have done so much for me. You clothe me, feed me, you even secretly pay my fees. I know by next month you'd be preparing to apply for New bridge University in the United Kingdom." I paused.

"Yeah, the application form is out. I'll go get ours." He smiled but still looked confused.

"I don't want you to pay my fees to New bridge University, I don't want to be a burden on you. I'll gladly go to a federal university here in Nigeria." I looked directly at him.

"Why? You don't want us to be together?" He asked.

"I do, but it's very expensive. How do you expect me to make it, I can't allow you to pay that huge amount of money for my fees."

"Is that all?" He smiled.

"Yeah"

"First of all, I want you to know that your arrival into my life changed everything about me, made me discover who I was, made me realize a lot of things, if not for you I would have been killed by now or maybe I would still be with those people that held me captive for years, with you, I was able to discover the wealth my father bought for me, I even realized that I'm supposed to be a year older than my normal age. Crazy but, you changed my life, I owe you, Rose." He paused and continued.

"I didn't tell my family that I paid your final year fees because I don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I told them that your uncle has been the one taking care of it all. If you're okay with it I can go downstairs right now and tell them that I paid for it. I'm not hiding anything from anyone. Plus, I want us to be together, New bridge University is the best for you and me, I've read a lot about the school. So stop stressing yourself unnecessarily." He grinned.

"Okay." I smiled and moved closer to hug him. I hugged him so tightly.

"Rose?"

"Yes," I answered. Still hugging him though.

"I love you." He mumbled.

"What did you say?" I dissembled like I didn't hear him.

"I said, it's okay with the hug." He prevaricated. I ended the hug.

"So, I'll be heading to my room now." He smiled.

"I love you too, Alex," I uttered and I couldn't conceal the tears.

"So you heard me." He laughed.

"I did." We both laughed really hard and fell on the bed.

"Are you guys making out or something" we were startled by Helen's entrance.

"Alex kept me company while you abandoned me to be with your friends."

"I search everywhere for you." She yelled.

"Everywhere?" Alex and I giggled.

"Whatever." She left.

Hey guys! The epilogue will be out as soon as possible.
THE ARRIVAL 2 will be out but in another title.
Read and enjoy it.
Vote and comment!