Recapturing Fate

Chapter 10

It was Mark. Aurora didn’t know what to think. Was he following her? She mentally scolded herself for being paranoid but she knew the possibilities were endless. He did flirt with her and during their dance; his hands traveled a bit too much.

“Hey Aurora wait up!!” she heard behind her as Mark caught up to her. She didn’t want to be rude but she wanted nothing but to tell him to go away.

“Hey Mark what’s up?” she said while turning to face him.

“I just wanted to ask you if you would like to go for dinner sometime while you’re here.” He huffed out.

She was shocked. This wasn’t what she was expecting while she was here. It was a good shock but she felt queasy about it. She didn’t want to say yes and yet she couldn’t bring herself to say no. He was good-looking and had a great personality. What would go wrong? She silently cursed herself for jinxing her chances at it but knew she couldn’t go through with it.

“I’m sorry Mark. I can’t.” She said sadly. Mark looked at her dejectedly and quickly smiled to cover it.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m a big boy and I could take it.” He said assuredly. She quickly hugged him and told him it was great to see him. “The pleasure was all mine.” He said bowing goofily.

He walked off and Aurora walked to her car as fast as her feet took her. She got to her car and threw her bag into the passenger seat. She closed the car door and strolled to the hood of the car. She sat on the hood observing the school while everyone else drove away. The wind blew softly and her hair whipped onto her face. That was the end of the most pondered day. She chuckled lightly at the thought of this old home of hers. She stared once more into the bright sky and turned away before entering her car.

It had been an interesting night and yet she couldn’t grasp the fact that she had left this part of her life that was the only part that made her happy. Then again she had troubles in her home here so it was best to leave. ‘No regret’, she thought boldly. ‘Don’t regret it.’

The next day, Aurora went for a quick run around the neighborhood to be stopped more than once by the residents of their gated community. All those elderly people she had helped during her high school days stared at her with the same awestruck expression she had gotten so used to. ’There’s nothing special with me. Just little Aurora Mathews who grew up, she thought.

When she got back to her house there was a new car parked in the driveway. Another visitor I wonder who it is this time, she thought somewhat scared. She entered the house and bellowed to her mom.

“Hey mom where are you?” she yelled continuously.

Her mom didn’t answer and she looked around for signs of her mom. She looked into the dining room and saw Maria sitting with a young woman whose back was facing her so she didn’t know who it was. The woman turned and Aurora gasped happily.

“Renee, didn’t I tell you to not come up here?” Aurora laughed at full volume. Renee stood up and ran full speed at her.

“I know but I had to come!! You left all of a sudden and I got bored and lonely. It hasn’t been the same since Nick left me. I tried getting a rebound at the bar yesterday but it didn’t work.” Renee said in her signature pouty voice. To think they were best friends. They were nothing alike.

“Well, I’m happy you’re here. I get to introduce you to everyone here since they’re all within walking distance.” Aurora said excitedly.

“This is so exciting!! I have to admit this town is cute! And speaking of cuties this town is full of them! You look a lot like your mommy Aur." Renee hadn’t expected that her best friend would look too similar to her mom. They would have passed as sisters since she was quite young. Aurora smiled and hugged her friend. Aurora turned to her mom who raised an eyebrow at her. She smiled sweetly at her and tossed Renee a look. She turned to her mom again and pulled Renee out of the awkward room and up the stairs. She dragged Renee to her room and she stumbled more than once at the sudden lurches.

When they were in the sacred sanctuary of her room Renee pointed to a picture and smiled.

“Who’s this hottie?” She said in a low tone.

Aurora walked up to the wall and looked at the picture of Tristan and her at their junior prom. “Tristan Alvarez my first love and possibly last,” Aurora said sadly.

Renee’s eyes widened with shock. “So that’s him? The guy who broke the heartbreaker's heart? Interesting, I have to admit he is quite the looker.” She said with a devious smile.

Aurora rolled her eyes and said, “Don’t worry he’s part of your town tour.” Renee laughed and looked at the picture of Aurora and Tristan at the park. To her, they looked like they were in love. Even if it was just a puppy love, it was love. Now, Aurora didn’t show that happiness that had been displayed in the photo while he had been around.

Maybe he was that final piece Aurora needed in her life. She just didn’t know it yet. Her eyes had sparkled into that light and bright blue Renee herself, as Aurora’s best friend, had only seen once or twice. She remembered how Aurora had explained their break up. Her friends here knew he had ditched her on that night and that was true. Aurora had left out a big part in that explanation. He had told her he loved her and dropped her. His excuses built up and she thought it was because he was cheating on her. Luckily, it wasn’t but his love only lasted in words.

From the time before their anniversary, he had already decided she wasn’t the one for him. She skimmed more pictures and most of them were of her and her old friends at parties, picnics, dances, and just hanging out at her house. It reminded Renee of her old high school days and she smiled at the thought. Aurora had been a happy teen but Renee knew it was only at school. When she would arrive home there was either complete silence or uncontrollable screaming. It wasn’t a life for a perfectly happy girl. Without knowing who she was or how her life was you would have known she had been deeply hurt by the ones she thought loved her. When Renee met Aurora in their first week of college, she knew that Aurora had demons in her past that she couldn’t let go of. That’s what made her intriguing. Renee looked over a picture with Aurora arm in arm with three boys who were each handsome with no debate.

They all had wide smiles and there was one guy with glasses that looked like he had just come out of a magazine. The glasses took nothing away from his good looks and in other pictures with him, he might have had contact lenses. To Renee, he had the most incredible eyes. It sounded cliché but those eyes seemed to have their own story and they were calling to her.

“Who is this guy?” Renee asked with awe.

She looked closely at the picture and then back at Renee with a big grin.

“Why does it matter?” She replied still grinning.

“Look at him Aur!! He’s so gorgeous! Plus those eyes! I think I could stare at them all day.” Renee said dreamily. Aurora laughed at Renee’s display and sat on her bed. “That is my dear friend Max. Best athlete in school besides me and an overachiever. Good choice sweetie.” Aurora said happily.

Renee turned her attention once more to the picture. “Is he part of our tour?” She asked hopefully.

“Only if you’re a good girl,” Aurora said.

“I promise I will be as long as I get to meet that hottie,” Renee said with genuine determination.

Aurora laughed at her and quickly pulled out her suitcases. “Okay first help me to find something to wear. Then I promise I will try my best to help you with Max.” Aurora said with a smile.

Renee rolled her eyes and helped Aurora with her apparel. “Now I have the feeling you’re just using my newfound crush for your gain.” Renee frowned.

Aurora laughed and threw a sock at her. “Well don’t think like that. I’m going to make Max like you and he won’t even know what hit him.” Aurora said while her friend watched her suspiciously.

“I trust you,” Renee said with a big smile.