"I'm going out with Shareen, mum." Rose looked into the kitchen.

"Fine, fine." Jackie waved her on. "Be back for dinner."

"Gotcha." Rose blew her a kiss. "Can I have a few pounds?"

Jackie rolled her eyes. "In my purse."

"Thanks mum."

…

"Rose." Shareen said bluntly. "You're totally infatuated with him."

"We love eachother." Rose smiled. "He's asked me to move in with him."

"You're 16." Shareen said. "You can't move in with him!"

"Watch me." Rose grinned. "We might even get married."

Shareen shook her head. "Think about this Rose. What'll your mother say?"

Rose frowned. "I'm doing it anyway. No matter what."

Shareen grimaced. "How did you meet him, again?"

"He works in the grocery store." Rose said. "He was restocking the sugar. Mum sent me for some sugar, cuz we were out, and I grabbed some, but I tripped, right? I fell onto the box he was unloading, and he laughed. I got up, and I saw him and he was really cute. So of course I went all stupid, but he just laughed and asked for my number."

"Right." Shareen said. "He didn't even help you up?"

"I could manage perfectly on my own, thanks."

Shareen nodded. "Yeah, but did he even ask if you were okay?"

"I dunno." Rose said. "That was months ago. And I was a little preoccupied."

"That was only a month ago." Shareen told her. "And the other problem is- he's 20!"

"It feels like so much longer!" Rose protested. "And age is just a number."

Shareen sighed. "I can't talk you out of this, can I?"

Rose shook her head. "No."

"Well, what about school?"

"I'm still going to school!" Rose said. "I'm gonna graduate high school."

"And college?"

Rose waved her hand. "Overrated. I can get a perfectly good job without an expensive piece of paper."

Shareen nodded. "Okay, I can agree with that. But still, you're 16!"

"I don't care!" Rose cried. "We love eachother!"

"What happens when you find out you don't though?"

Rose laughed. "That won't happen!"

Shareen sighed. "This is a bad idea Rose."

Rose frowned. "You can think that, but I'm not changing my mind. I'm telling mum tonight."

"Okay then." Shareen nodded. "Still, keep in mind that my flat's open for ya. You know, just in case."

Rose nodded. "Thanks, Shareen." She got up to go. "See you later."

"Bye."

As she left the restaurant, Rose pulled out her cell phone. She dialed quickly. "Hey! It's me! I'm telling mum tonight, so I'll be out of there tonight or tomorrow. Come by with your truck, I'll have a few bags. Bye! I love you."

That done, Rose set off for home, heart pounding. She'd never done anything so against the rules before.

…

Rose decided to broach the subject over dinner.

"Mum?" She began.

"What is it, sweetie?" Her mum didn't look up from the gossip mag she was reading.

"I've decided to move in with Jimmy."

Jackie looked up. "Haha. Very funny. Let me read in peace, why don't you?"

Rose groaned inwardly. "I'm serious, mum."

Jackie looked up again. "You're 16, Rose. You're not moving in with anyone."

"Well, it's my choice, isn't it?"

"Ha!" Jackie laughed. "You're still my UNDERAGE daughter. It's MY choice."

"Well, can't you say yes?"

"No." Jackie shut the magazine. "Listen, Rose, Jimmy is not the kind of man I want you to be around."

"Why not?" Rose asked. "He's wonderful."

"No," Jackie said. "He's not. If you move in with him, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

"I don't want anyone but him." Rose argued. "And I know he feels the same."

"The answer's no, Rose. And until you're 18, it'll stay that way. I don't even know why you asked me. You should know better."

"Fine." Rose frowned. It was time to play dirty. "What about when you were 16? I happen to know that was when you moved in with Dad."

Jackie looked stricken. "That's different."

"Not so much." Rose smiled inwardly. "And Grandmum told me that she told you that Dad wasn't a good man to be around. Exactly what you just said."

Jackie's eyes shone. "Rose..."

"Dad was great!" Rose said. "And I know Jimmy will be too!"

Jackie shook her head. "Rose, I can't..."

"Mum, all I'm asking is your permission. I'm all grown up, I can take care of myself."

"Rose..." Jackie reached out for her hand. "This is not a good idea."

"It'll be fine." Rose insisted. "And if things don't work out, I'll be back here."

As if. Rose knew what she and Jimmy had was real.

Jackie sighed. "Do what you like Rose. Just be careful. And come see me once in awhile."

Rose could almost dance. "Thank you mum!"

She jumped up and ran to her room to pack her bags.

Jackie put her head in her hands.

A/N

I just made a couple little edits on this chapter. Paragraph breaks and crap. Seeing as they didn't show up when I posted it. Sorry for the confusion.