Aurora Book 1: Soitera

2. Stay Out

I wake up starving the next morning. Stupid me forgot to eat anything last night. I pick some strawberries to munch on while I get the trash out.

It must have stormed all night, everything is wet. But I love the after-rain smell. The walk to school is pleasant and tasty. Raspberries and strawberries are perfect this morning.

Mrs. Young is bouncing on the soles of her feet when I get to study hall. She gives me the biggest hug. "You did so well. I am proud of you. If you do this well on the real test, the colleges will be fighting for you. Have a cookie."

Part of me thinks she gives me sweets because I never have money to eat. But other times it seems like she's just a kind person. Every school should have teachers like her. "Thank you. What should I work on?"

"Computer Science was your lowest score."

"I figured it would be business."

"That was second to lowest."

"I'll work on those two as much as I can this week."

"That's a good idea, but don't burn yourself out. Make sure you allow some time for winding down."

"I will. Thank you so much for your help."

"Any time, sweetie."

I grab a desk and get my business book out.

Then Everett sits in front of me. He stares at me like he's trying to figure something out. "How are you?"

"Perfect. How are you?"

"Good. But last night..."

I talk over him. "I told you to stop on the road. It's your fault. Just forget it ever happened. Please?" The last word comes out more like a beg than a question.

"EWW." A girl in the hallway screeches, "Why is he talking to her? She stinks."

"Right." Holly pulls him up, "Everett, eww. What are you thinking?" and out the door they go.

I open my book and try to read. But I keep thinking about it. I know I don't stink. The swimming pool has little bottles of soap, shampoo, and conditioner in the showers. I steal some every day. I steal enough for the weekends. Hell, last year, I stole enough for summer break. There are no cameras in the showers and the swim team girls bring their own soap and stuff. I think it evens out. Then there's a hygiene cabinet in the girl's bathroom. The school keeps it stocked with small deodorants, teeth stuff, and female hygiene products. I take a lot of that too. They could say I'm a thief, and they would be right, but I sure as hell don't stink.

We have a washing machine. Dad always has some cheap soap beside it. It doesn't smell the best, but my clothes don't stink. I don't know why they would say that.

I spend the rest of the day wondering if I stink.

I get out at 3, and I have no clubs to attend. Days like this suck. I never know what to do, and I don't want to go home.

My feet lead the way through the village. It's very small, and the school sits in the middle. The only other businesses here are a gas station and an ice cream shop. I tried to work there last summer, but they only hire four people, and I wasn't that lucky. The gas station won't hire me because I'm not old enough to sell alcohol.

A dog barks and breaks my train of thought.

The town is perfect. The huge houses line up perfectly with their white picket fences. Their big front porches. Attached garages. Perfectly landscaped yards. It's one of those villages you would see in a magazine. I actually think it has been photographed for a few.

The cemetery sits at the edge of town. There are quite a few roads in it. You wouldn't think a town this size would need such a big cemetery, but here I am. I walk to the back. Third row. Forth grave. I clear the cut grass off it and shine the stone.

"What are you doing?"

"AHHHH!" I launch my whole bookbag at Everett's head.

"Calm down." He catches it and puts his hands up. "Just me."

"You just jump scared me in a cemetery. What the hell are you even doing? Are you following me?"

"No. I run here, sometimes. It's safer than being on the roads."

"I've never seen you here."

"I usually run in the morning. I was talking to my dad half the night and woke up late. I saw you and figured I would say hi."

"Hi." I rip my bookbag away from him. "Goodbye."

"Who?" He points at the stone.

"STAY OUT OF MY LIFE."

I run all the way home. Past all the perfect houses and manicured lawns. Then I see my house. The yard is full of weeds and looks like it hasn't been mowed in 6 weeks. One of the windows has a big crack in it. Everything is dirty, and a porch rail is hanging off the side.

The assholes are outside working on the car again. I dodge before they can see me and hide in my secret garden. I study and eat until John leaves and my dad goes in. Then I sneak into my room through the window. I fall right to sleep. It's late.

Something brushes against my head and I stretch.

Everett's voice disturbs the silence. "Good morning. I wanted to make sure you were ok."

My eyes pop open. He's standing beside my bed. I have no idea what's happening. "Why? How?"

"The front door was open."

"So, you came in?"

"I thought your dad was dead on the floor."

"He's awake?"

"No. He snored and fell over when I yelled."

"Why are you in my room?"

"I wanted to make sure you're ok. I was going to take you to school. I figured you'd be awake." He seems as lost as I feel. I think he finally realized what he did. "Do you want a ride?"

"Everett..." I pull open the curtain and see how high the sun is. "What time is it?"

"7."

I jump clear over the bed and run for the bathroom. He says something, but I don't know what it is. I'm already in the shower.

I realize he's gone after I get dressed. I rip the brush through my hair and pull it into a ponytail. This is good enough for today.

My dad's alarm doesn't go off until 8. I'm always gone by then. I try to leave for school at 7. I get there at 7:30 on a normal day. Classes start at 8:30.

I'm sure several of the kids in my class will see me walking today, but at least I don't have to deal with my father, and I won't be late.

I grab my bag and bolt for my garden. Cucumber today. No time to pick berries.

Eyes burn into me as I step out of the woods. It doesn't take me long to find the source. Everett is staring at me from his car. "Get in."

"No."

"Just get in. I really need us to not argue right now. And we're going to the same place anyway."

I can't argue with his reasoning. "Fine." I buckle my seatbelt and take a bite of cucumber. "I thought you left."

He takes off slowly. "I told you I would be back."

"Didn't hear you. I was in the shower."

He hands me a doughnut. "Take it."

"No."

"Why?"

"I'm not going to owe you anything."

"You're not going to owe me anything for a doughnut. What is wrong with you?"

Tears fill my eyes as I avoid his gaze. That hurt more than it should have.

He pulls up to the stop sign right beside the school and I jump out. "Thanks."

"What?"

I run off before he can say anything else. He doesn't even understand how horrible some of his friends are. If he pulled into the parking lot with me in his car, drama would surely start.

I finish the cucumber as I open the door.

"Oh, my heavens, Aurora. I was starting to worry about you. Is everything ok?" Mrs. Young is waiting for me.

"Everything is fine. I was up late studying and slept in on accident."

"Well, you still made it on time. Did you have time to eat something?"

"Yea, I ate on the way."

"Good. Hurry up so you're not late."

I rush to class thinking I'm late. Turns out, I'm the second person there. Mr. Walker stares me. I must have captured his attention as I ran in. "Everything ok?"

"Sorry. I woke up late and now everything is a mess. I thought I was late." The clock reads 8:15. I'm 15 minutes early.

He nods and goes back to his papers.

A few minutes later, everyone else comes in. Holly and a few of her friends are eating doughnuts.

"Where did you get that? I want one." Brock pretends to take one.

"Nope. Mine." Alice spins and puts her back against Brock. "You'll have to ask Everett."

"Bro?!?"

"I'm out." Everett laughs at Brocks devastation. "The girls claimed them."

Brock huffs and slams himself down. "Whatever, Romeo. You bought them for the girls. I see how it is."

"Some girls are worth doughnuts, man. Get over it."

The girls giggle. I stare at my papers and don't pay any attention to their weird flirting.

Alice sits on Everett's desk. "Don't be jealous, Brock. He knows we do things that you won't."

I shiver a little. I was right. I would have owed him if I took that doughnut. It's always something. People don't do anything for free.

Mr. Walker takes attendance. "We're going to start on..."

Ezra runs in the door and slams her binder into the back of Liam's head. "YOU GAVE ME AN STD."

Everyone turns to her. Nobody knows what to say.

Liam jumps up. "DON'T LOOK AT ME. YOU'RE THE ONE WHORING AROUND EVERYWHERE."

"DON'T TURN THIS ON ME. EVERYONE KNOWS YOU'VE BEEN WITH HOLLY AND GINGER TOO."

"AND LIKE YOU WEREN'T f*****g THAT GUY IN OUR LOCKER ROOM LAST GAME."

"DON'T BRING ME INTO THIS. I DIDN'T TOUCH HIM." Holly throws her notebook.

Mr. Walker calmly leaves. Odd time to take a break, but I can't fault him. I don't want to be here either.

"OH PLEASE," Ezra slams a chair into the wall. "MAYBE IF YOU WOULD GET OFF BROCK AND EVERETT'S d***s, YOU WOULD REALIZE ALICE IS DOING BROCK AND MATEO."

My mouth falls open. This is a lot to sort out.

"GET DOWN." Security is no joke here and, apparently, hitting someone with a binder will get you in trouble. They take Ezra out of the room.

Then Mr. Nelson comes in with a huge bowl. The scent of bacon fills the room. "It is apparent that some students are in need of counseling. Go to the office." He points at people, and they walk out.

There are only four of us left in the class.

Mrs. Young comes in with cartons of milk. "They made too much bacon for breakfast. You kids can split it, and I brought you some milk to go with it." She puts the bacon on plates and gives us each one.

Mr. Nelson smiles. "They won't be back today."

Mr. Walker nods as the other two leave. Then he starts his daily lesson plan like nobody is absent and none of that has just happened.