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Although the rose ceremony is still depicted in the final version of GOOD GIRLS DON'T, it isn't quite the same as the original text. Since Rex Thornton's character was removed, I had to delete the portion of this scene where Rex, once again, showed his venomous side toward Lettie. Now for that scene...
Lettie took a deep breath and gathered her composure while Bill closed her door and walked around the car. She'd have to tell him the truth. About her lying. And about Erika.
If she lost him because of the truth, so be it. But she wouldn't-couldn't-live the rest of her life knowing she wasn't honest to Bill.
"I do love the roses," she said, as he climbed inside the car.
"It isn't the first time, you know." He leaned across the seat and fingered a blond tendril dangling in front of her ear.
She'd worn her hair up to match the formal appearance of the green cocktail dress she'd borrowed from Amy. At the time, she'd had no idea Bill would don a suit, but it didn't surprise her they were in sync on appearance. They'd certainly had quite a few in sync performances last night. Why wouldn't a couple so together in their sexuality be as in tune to each other in every other way as well?
"Isn't the first time?" she questioned, straightening the fabric of her skirt while he started toward the interstate.
"That I've given you roses."
Her hands stilled against the soft green fabric while she processed the implication of his words.
She'd received roses four times in her life, and all four times had been in the Sheldon High School gym during the Valentine's Day assembly.
As a fundraiser for the Student Government Association, the members of the SGA sold roses every February for the traditional program. On Valentine's Day, the entire student body gathered in the gym as the flowers were distributed.
Students could purchase roses in one of three colors, red, white or pink.
Red indicated love.
White equaled friendship.
And pink meant "I'd like to get to know you better."
Each Valentine's Day, the students of Sheldon High waited with bated breath as the names were called, beginning with the freshman class, to see who received the coveted roses.
The red flowers generally prompted an "ahhh" from the crowd, then whispers about who was going out with whom. The white flowers usually prompted a hug from the classmate or classmates who'd made the purchase for their friend.
But the pink roses gained the most response from the crowd. Those were the ones typically received from secret admirers. Consequently, those were the ones that generated the most stir in the noise level of the gym.
During her freshman, sophomore and junior years, Lettie had received a dozen red roses during each Valentine's Day assembly, with Rex boldly laying claim to the purchase. She'd known they were coming every time, of course, since Rex couldn't keep a secret, particularly if he thought he'd get sex as a thank you for his purchase. The first two years she hadn't given in. The junior year, however, she finally agreed. And the act hadn't been nearly as enjoyable as the hype.
However, regarding the roses, those first three years weren't the ones that caught her unaware. She'd known the flowers were coming. But it was the assembly of her senior year that caught her off guard.
She and Rex had been splitsville since football season, when she'd finally gained the courage to break up with the egotistical lug and he'd retaliated by informing the locker room of their more interesting bouts of sex. Some of which weren't even true, but Lettie hadn't gone there.
No one would've believed her anyway.
So of course, at that Valentine's assembly, she'd expected for the first time in her years at Sheldon High that her name would remain uncalled. However, after the last name appeared to have been announced, Mindi Kirkland, the SGA President, stopped the students from gathering their things with the announcement that she'd forgotten to distribute one student's flowers.
Lettie, like every other student, sat back down and waited to hear the last name called.
"Lettie Campbell. Twelve pink roses," Mindi proclaimed, her voice throwing an extra punch in the announcement. No doubt her father's shenanigans with Lettie's mother had something to do with the take-that in Miss SGA's tone.
A lower classman distributed the flowers, pale pink, wrapped in green tissue paper and tied with a red ribbon. The card wasn't signed, but it read, "I really do want to get to know you better."
Ignoring the busty majorette he was currently dating, Rex bounded across the gym and informed Lettie he'd sent the flowers.
"Just in case you want another chance to let me get to know you even better," he'd said. Then he smirked, leaned close to her ear and added, "As if I don't know every square, delicious inch of you already."
Lettie held her tongue and watched him strut away, where his newest sex squeeze waited.
Then Bill, looking as amazing as ever, made his way toward her and offered to renew his role as the tramp's protector. He'd blasted Rex before and came out on top. In the fight and in the school's impression. Nice Guy Bill saved the day. Then he'd driven to her house that night to check on her and make sure she was okay.
He'd tried to kiss her then, and she'd declined. Then he'd tried to tell her what she meant to him, and she'd laughed. She didn't want his pity kisses then. And she didn't want them after the humiliating assembly.
"Lettie," he'd started, while the assembly in the gym whispered and laughed and pointed.
"Don't. Don't offer to help. Don't say anything to him. Don't do anything to him. He isn't worth it. And I can't figure out why you bother anyway." Then she'd stormed off, clutching the damning roses so hard the thorns pierced her skin.
Tell the truth-you've known a Rex or two in your lifetime, right?
I won't ask whether a guy like Rex touched your heart. Most females are swept away by a cocky creep at one time or another. I know I was, once upon a time. Here's hoping that you eventually found a Bill Brannon to make your life complete-thank goodness I did-and here's hoping the Rex in your life got what he deserved.
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