Aurora Book 1: Soitera

8. Safe Spot

We go back to his house after school. It's nice being able to do homework at a desk. The garden wasn't bad. There wasn't much wind in the woods, but the desk makes everything easier.

His mom checks on us about every five minutes. But we ignore her and work on homework. He sneaks a kiss every time she leaves.

When we go to dinner, Jerry stands up. "Tomorrow is the last day of school before the break. We'll leave Thursday morning at 2 on the airport shuttle. Everyone, have your stuff packed before 8 tomorrow night. That's when they're picking it up. Your mom is dealing with the luggage."

She holds up color sticks. "Pick a color."

I am so confused.

Everett grabs two color sticks for us. I have yellow and he has gray. "That's the color of your luggage. It's in the living room. Pack at least five outfits and five pajamas. We'll have access to washers and dryers. Do not pack thirty outfits. You also will not need any type of soap. That is all provided. Do pack at least one long sleeve shirt. Evenings may get chilly. Pack a swimsuit. Toothbrush. Tennis shoes. Sandals. That should be good for shoes. The normal stuff like socks and underwear."

"Do we need beach towels?"

"No. They have those. Do not clog up your luggage with towels."

After dinner, we go back to his room. I work on homework, and he attempts to pack. "There's a washer and dryer really close to the rooms. Doing laundry isn't a problem. But I don't want to pack so little that I have to do it every day."

"Five outfits isn't enough?"

"It is enough. But I try to stay running every day. That's one outfit. Then my clothes for the day. Then the swimsuit. After that, I change again to have dinner. Then it's pajamas. That's five outfits. I like having extras."

"I guess I've always just worn one a day." I shrug my shoulders. "Then I wear the tee shirt to sleep. I've never had pajamas before now. Don't let me forget those sandals."

He folds a couple more tee shirts for the luggage. "You ever been to the beach, baby?"

"No. I'm excited to see it. I hope I can get on the plane. What if the paperwork isn't right or something?" I run and hug him. "Don't leave me at the airport please. I don't know how to get back. Will the airport shuttle bring me back if I can't go?"

He smiles and brushes my hair back. "You'll be fine. I won't let that happen."

"I don't think you'll be able to help it. Just don't leave me alone with no idea how to get home."

"I promise, I won't. I'll make sure you're safe, and you get home."

"Thank you."

Something beeps. His dads voice comes out of a speaker beside the door. "Everett, come down to my office."

"Alright."

"He's going to tell you..."

He kisses me to cut me off. "Work on your homework. I'll be right back. Then we'll go to your house, and I'll help you pack."

-Be right back. - Turns into 40 minutes. I get tired of waiting and my homework is done. I want to go pack, but I'm afraid his dad is telling him to never mind. I'll leave the luggage here and go home. I don't feel right taking it and I don't want to get my hopes up by packing.

I grab my bookbag and get downstairs.

I hear Everett yell, "BUT YOU EXPECT ME TO LEAVE AURORA THERE?"

"SHE KNOWS HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HERSELF. THAT IS HER WORLD. SHE HAS LIVED IT FOR YEARS. SHE KNOWS HOW TO SURVIVE. SHE DOESN'T NEED YOU TO STEP IN. NOTHING THAT BAD HAS HAPPENED TO HER."

Something breaks and hits the wall. It was loud.

I run home. Then I sneak in my window and curl up in my bed. I hug my knees and wish I never told anyone I signed with that school. It's led to nothing but bad things. Life was easier when I spent my days in the cemetery and ate out of my garden. When I was alone, it was easy to tell who the kind people were. I can't tell anymore.

Everett carries in a big box. He never says a word. He opens the box and puts something together.

After half an hour, a rack for me to hang my clothes on stands in the middle of the room. He pushes it against the wall and leaves.

Maybe they talked him into never talking to me again. I'm not surprised.

I'll figure it out. But I will miss his mom's cooking. At least I get to take driving classes. That makes me happy.

He comes in with packs of hangers and a yellow suitcase. "Let's hang your clothes up, baby."

"I thought you left forever."

"No." He puts a tee shirt on a hanger. "You heard us yelling?"

"Something broke."

"Yea, I broke a chair. It's ok. I got my point across."

"I don't like that."

"I'm sorry it was loud. Let's forget about it for now. We'll have a quiet night."

"It's not usually like that at your house."

"You're right. Everything is fine though."

I help hang stuff finally. We get done and he opens the suitcase. "We can pack your stuff now."

"I don't want to go, Everett. I don't want to cause problems."

His arms wrap around me. "I promise you, it had nothing to do with the trip. I don't like you staying here. Ever. I hate feeling like you're not safe. My dad doesn't want me staying here anymore. That's what we were arguing about. Not the trip. I promise."

"They don't care if I go?"

"Not at all. My mom is even getting excited about having a girl around. She'll probably make you go shopping at least once."

I hug him and sigh. "Maybe she'll teach me how to cook something."

"I'll have her show you how to make noodles. She makes the best homemade noodles. Let's get the packing done."

Ten outfits later, half the suitcase is still empty.

"How do you have some much room, woman? Did we forget anything?"

I toss a couple of handfuls of nighties in. "Nope. My clothes are littler than yours."

"Are the sandals in there?"

"Yea. But I don't have a swimsuit yet."

"There is a surf shop close to my uncles. We can check it out when we get there. It'll give us some time to wind down from the plane ride."

"That sounds perfect. You can fill the rest of my suitcase if you want. I can't think of anything else to take. Do I need laundry soap?"

"Nope. And don't try to pack it. You can't take it on the plane." He pulls me onto the bed with him.

"Are you going home?"

"No. You're safe with me here. This is fine."

"Your dad will get madder."

"No, he won't. I'll stay with you tonight. You can stay in a guest room at my house tomorrow. We'll figure the rest out later. Close your eyes."

"I'm not sleeping in jeans."

He sits up and smiles. "You putting on one of those little frilly things?"

I push him down and laugh. "No. I'm just not sleeping in jeans." I take them off and pull my bra off. "That's uncomfortable too."

"Please let more stuff be uncomfortable."

I roll my eyes. "Are you good?"

He tosses his jeans. "Yea, I'm fine. Come here."

I snuggle against him. He's always so warm. "Will I sleep alone tomorrow?"

"I'll find a way to you."

I let that be the last thing he says before I fall asleep. It's a comforting thought. I'm not sure how or why though. Maybe I do feel safe with him.

I get jarred awake by a loud crashing sound. It sounds like the house is crumbling. I jump out the window and run to the garden. Everett went the other way. Usually, when it's that loud, they're fighting. I don't want to get caught in the middle. I wrap the tee shirt around my knees and curl up beside a plant. My safe spot.

Everett picks me up sometime later. I'm not sure how long, I was sleeping. He carries me back to bed. "He went through a wall when he passed out. It's ok."

We make it to school the next day and everything starts out normal. Then, during fourth period, I get called to the office. Everett's parents are standing there.

Mr. Nelson smiles. "You've been signed out. Have a wonderful break."

"Thank you." I glance around and Everett is nowhere. "Where is he?"

"This is for you. Get your things."

I shiver. This does not feel right. "No." I step back and towards the door.

"You have a doctor's appointment, sweetie. That's all. I'm taking you, but Jerry had to come because he's on all the paperwork. You're not in any danger."

Jerry turns towards Nelson's office. "I'm going to need Everett too."

"Alright."

She smiles. "Go get your things ready. Everett can come too."

All three of them meet me at my locker. I'm still trying to decide if I should run or not.

"Have you ever been to the doctor?" Everett grabs my bookbag.

"No."

"It's not a big deal. People are supposed to every year. Let's go. I'll drive her."

His dad nods. "How was the night?"

"Someone went through a wall at three in the morning. Someone else went out the window."

I glance at them. "I went out the window."

His mom smiles. "Where did you go?"

"My secret garden." I get in the car and buckle my seatbelt.

Everett and his dad disappear at the doctor's office. Then I get called back. The woman talks to me for a long time. Then she runs all kinds of tests. I leave with birth control pills and a clean bill of health. That makes me feel a million times better. I know about diseases and was always scared I had something.

Everett's mom is in the waiting room when I get out. I show her the pills. "I'm perfect."

"I'm glad you decided to get birth control. I know you and Everett are close, and I don't want a baby to mess things up for either of you."

"We're not." I shake my head.

"But if you do, you'll be prepared now. That's the best plan. You still need to use condoms though. This isn't 100% percent effective. And don't trust condoms either. They break. I have a three-year-old that proves that. I take birth control now too."

"I had it sent to your house. I don't want anyone at my house to find out. Is that, ok?"

"That's fine. I'll make sure you get them. Did she tell you to take them at the same time every day?"

"Yea. I'm going to do it in the morning. She said food will help with avoiding an upset stomach. I've never taken medicine before."

"If your stomach hurts on the islands, let me know. We'll call her and figure it out. You might need a different dose or something. Getting a new medicine right before vacation is not ideal. But it was the only spot she had open before Jerry's paperwork runs out."

"I appreciate it. I really do. I always wanted to see a doctor. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Let's go find the boys."