ch25

Somewhere near the beginning of the party, the guests migrated to the backyard. Someone started a barbeque, and a few people dove into the pool. Brian sat a little apart from most of his friends with Rose on his lap, letting her get aquianted with the members of his band. He didn't talk much, mostly he just watched the way her eyes lit up when she laughed at Nick's jokes, and how she shied away a little from AJ's joking advances, and how her hair fell loosly in front of her eyes when she leaned forward to listen more closely, and how her tiny little hand reached up to push it away.

Evening fell, and then night, and soon people were bidding Brian good bye, and shaking Rose's hand, and telling her how much they loved meeting her. The backyard cleared, and then, one by one, the other Boys stood, and hugged their host and hostess, and finally, Brian and Rose were left alone.

She swiveled around on his lap, so she was facing him. "Brian," she said, her face covered in worry, "I don't know if I'll be able to keep all your friends straight."

Brian laughed, and wrapped his arms around her. "It doesn't matter, Rose. You won't see most of them again, anyway. They're mostly buisness people, I can't say I particularly like any one of them." Rose smiled. "Hey, you haven't had a chance to see the house yet." Brian said suddenly, standing up. Rose slipped off his legs, but his firm grip around her kept her from falling. He extended his elbow, just like he had at the hospital ball. "Ready for the Grand Tour, M'lady?" He asked.

Rose giggled. "Very much, sir." She said, immitating his accent.

Brian whisked her inside, into the kitchen. "You sound cute Brittish." She laughed, too, but fell silent, awestruck, as he began showing her the house.

"I can't believe I live here." She whispered, as they stood at the foot of the staircase that spiraled up to the second floor. There was a crystal chandelier hanging above it, and the railings were made of what looked like real gold. "Brian, I- I don't think I deserve all of this. I mean-"

He softly placed his hand over her mouth. "Rose." He spoke with a voice that said that this subject would never be discussed again, and that his opinion was completely correct. "You deserve everything." And with that, he led her up the stairs.

"This is where I sleep." He said, opening the door to the first door on the right. Rose's eyes widened. There was a huge, fourposter bed with a white comforter that reminded her of a cloud, and a TV mounted above it, so one could lay there at night and watch. The door to the adjoining bathroom was open, and she saw a jacuzzi and a huge, marble bath. "It's not usually this clean. But I haven't been home in a while, so. . ."

"Your house is amazing." Rose breathed.

Brian looked at her. "I haven't shown you the best part yet."

"You haven't?"

He shook his head, and took her across the hall, to the first door on the left. "This is your room. I mean, if you like it. If not, there's six or seven guest rooms you can choose from, but I think this one might be the best. When I knew for sure that you'd come stay, I called a decorator, so everything matches. I really hope you like it. I haven't seen it yet, but Nick checked in on it for me, and he said that it looked great."

That said, he pushed open the door. Rose's mouth dropped to the ground. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out. Finally, she just reached out for Brian's hand, and squeezed it with all her strength.

Rose's room was about the size of Brian's, but it was painted a soft, sunny yellow, and near the top the color faded into a sky blue. Her gaze floated to the ceiling, where white clouds drifted across the surface. It was carpeted in a thick carpet that matched the walls, and that seemed to engulf a person when they stepped inside. There was a TV mounted in the same place as in Brian's room, and a huge, very expensive looking mahogony chest of drawers against one wall. There was a plush yellow couch and a love seat in one corner, flanking a polished table laden with wrapped boxes.

But the bed was enough to draw Rose's attention even from the presents. It was the biggest bed she'd ever seen- bigger, even, than Brian's. There was a canopy across the top, strung up on four bars, so that Rose could have pulled in entirely around the bed and shut herself off from the rest of the world. But now, the curtains were held back, and the yellow bedspread- one shade lighter than walls- was visable. But the part of the bed that drew attention was the millions of pillows decorating the head of the bed. They seemed to come in every color of the rainbow, and they were made of some kind of silk that shimmered under the lights.

Tears filled Rose's eyes, and she turned and burried her face in Brian's chest. He stroked her hair, her beautiful, synthetic hair, and smiled down at the top of her head. "So, you like it then?" He ventured.

She looked up at him, her cheeks streaked with happy tears. "Brian. No one has ever done anything so. . . so. . . perfect, before." She whispered. "I love it, Brian."

He wrapped his arms around her, lightly stroking the small of her back. "Rose," he said softly, locking his eyes with hers, "you make me so happy."