Rose had returned home to Nick holding a worried expression. When questioned about it, he informed her of how Gatsby’s car ran over Tom’s mistress, Myrtle. And the worst part was, Daisy was driving.

The day after the ordeal, she carried a small basket of cookies to the mansion next door. She found him in his office. He seemed distraught.

Her pale knuckles made contact with the wood of the door as she knocked. Gatsby lifted his head to her eyes. A smile replaced the frown that had sat on his lips. “Where did you disappear to?” He stood.

“I had a funeral to attend.” She answered. She walked further into the room, placing the basket down on his desk. “And before you say how sorry you are for my loss, it’s fine. Her memory carries on.”

Gatsby didn’t speak. He pulled Rose towards him, smashing his lips to hers. After getting over the initial shock, she kissed back. He pulled away and searched her eyes, his hand placed to her cheek. “Is it too soon to confess my love for you?”

Rose smiled. “Is it too soon to say it back?”

Gatsby’s smile intensified. “I knew there was something special about you. I knew it since the first day I laid my eyes on you.”

Rose took Gatsby’s hands in hers. “Let’s go for a swim?” She reached into the basket, pulling her swimsuit from inside. She handed a cookie to Gatsby.

The two changed before heading to the pool. Rose sat on the edge as Gatsby dived beneath the water. She couldn’t help but to feel a dreadful feeling as she watched him. The phone beside the pool lit up with a shrill, practically blaring in her ear as she sat beside it. Gatsby’s head poked out from the water. He walked towards the phone, but before his reached it, Rose caught something from the corner of her eye.

She gasped as she noticed a man pointing a gun in Gatsby’s direction.

It only took 5 seconds.

1

Rose was quick to react when the gunshot rang out.

2

She pushed Gatsby aside, her body lifting up from her seat to a standing position. Gatsby stumbled forward, spinning around to face her.

3

The bullet struck flesh and pain shot through Rose’s arm as the bullet entered her.

4

She looked down as the blood pooled. Her head became light and her eyes were heavy. She wasn’t dying.

5

Rose’s body limped to the side, splashing into the pool. Rose gasped for air as she resurfaced. Is this what shock feels like? She questioned to herself. It didn’t hurt nearly as bad as they say. Not yet. But she knew it was going to hurt like hell.

At the sound of another gunshot, The couples heads moved to face the sound. Myrtle’s husband laid on the ground, blood pouring from his head as a gun laid beside his hand.

Gatsby jumped back into the pool, pulling Rose’s body into his arms. Soon, he was covered in her blood. He pulled her to the edge of the pool, holding her wound shut.

“Hey, I’m going to be okay.” Rose touched a hand delicately to Gatsby’s face. His hand reached for hers, smearing blood across her porcelain skin. “I’m just going to have a scar.”

Then the pain came. She winced, hissing through her teeth, then calling out in pain. Maybe she was wrong, maybe she was going to die. That’s sure what it felt like.

The police had been called, then Nick. Rose was rushed in surgery and a bullet was removed from her right arm.

A funeral was set for the following week. Not many people showed. Not for anyone special. Only for the man that tried to take Gatsby’s life.

Meanwhile, Gatsby held the hand of the girl that made him forget that Daisy was leaving. He held her hand gently, as to not hurt her.

The injured girl smiled at the gorgeous man. “I told you.” She laughed lightly. She wasn’t in as much pain anymore.

“You did.” Gatsby nodded, placing his lips to her hand.

Rose bit her lip, not knowing if now was an appropriate time to voice her feelings for the man she had only met not that long ago. But, no matter what, her feelings were true. She opened her mouth to speak, but was stopped as someone else spoke what she was meant to say.

“I think I’m in love with you, Rose.”

Rose smiled even brighter, filling up the whole room. “I love you, too.” She lent over slightly and kissed the man.

For her love for Jay Gatsby was the thing that saved her.

• The End •