Chapter 37: 𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮

AURORA

age seventeen

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"Miss Hyde?" The voice brought me back from my daydreaming.

Huh? I lifted my head and my eyes meet Mrs. McKay. Her glasses were hiding her piercing blue eyes. Her eyebrows furrowed in a sharp line and her hands placed on her hips.

"I'm waiting for the answer, young lady." I looked at the border and my mind got dizzy with all the numbers and letters.

"Umm, I don't know..." I whispered.

"That's what I thought. You need to pay attention or else I'll have to call your dad." Did she have to embarrass me in front of everyone?

Also, what was her obsession with wanting to call my dad? Did she want to see him that bad?

The math class dragged on for twenty more minutes and the bell finally rang. I practically ran from the classroom.

The hallway was packed with people and my eyes searched around, trying to spot his hair.

Apollo, my best friend. Someone I grew up with.

His hair was very easy to spot because Apollo had poliosis. He had a white strand of hair in the front. He also had a white line on his left eyebrow and a few of his lashes on his left eye were also white.

Since we were kids I always thought that he looked angelic. I've never seen anyone like him before, he was unique in my eyes.

I pushed between the sea of bodies and then I finally saw him. He was talking to Ethan. I waved my hand but he was still not seeing me. When I was close enough I called out his name and his blue eyes found mine.

A big grin formed on his beautiful face. His dimples permanent on his cheeks.

He said something to Ethan, tapped him on his shoulder, and started to walk toward me.

"Rory!" He threw his arm around my shoulder and brought me closer to him, placing a kiss on my temple in the process.

"You done for today?" He said. We started to walk down the hallway.

"Yeah, you?"

"Same. Thankfully." He let out a breath of relief. I loosened the tie around my neck. I hated the uniforms. I loved how they looked but they were pretty uncomfortable.

The skirt was in a navy blue color, same as the blazer, the shirt was light blue and the tie was black with some white and red patterns.

As I said the uniforms looked good but on Apollo, it looked mesmerizing. He was taller than me, way taller. I didn't even notice when he grew up this much. His dark hair was a disheveled mess on his head.

He was also fit since he was practicing karate.

We were pretty different. Apollo was more of a sport guy and I was more of a music girl. I played the violin and I loved writing music. Dad and Mom always supported me in whatever decision I made, so when I told them that I want to study music in college, they were more than happy for me.

"You coming to my place? We can order food and we'll watch that boring tv show of yours."

"Excuse me! Vampire Diaries is not boring." I pushed on his chest.

"You and your vampire obsession." He tightened the arm around me and we both laughed. We finally got out of school and walked to his car.

Just like every guy I knew, Apollo was obsessed with his car. He treated it like a baby and even gave her a name. Lily.

He opened the door for me and I sat on the leather seat. He then took hold of the seatbelt and secured it around me. I tilted my head and smiled at him.

Grinning at me, he placed a light kiss on my forehead and then closed the door.

When he got into his seat he took out his phone. "Here, order takeout."

"What kind of food? Maybe Indian?" I turned my head to him.

"Whatever you want." I nodded and proceeded to order the food. It took us around fifteen minutes to arrive at his house.

The whole ride me and Apollo sang our favorite songs and screamed the lyrics from the top of our lungs.

We did our usual routine like every single day when we were leaving school. We were best friends before we could even talk. So many pictures of us are hanging in our homes from when we were babies when we started kindergarten.

The photos of our first day of school. When we finished middle school. Every single one of our birthday parties. Whatever picture I had of myself, Apollo was next to me holding my hand.

When we started high school, Dad wasn't the happiest of how close our relationship was. It always makes me laugh how he stared at Apollo and gave him warning looks. By my Dad's standards, I'm not supposed to date till I'm thirty or something.

It's not like he had to worry about anything because mine and Apollo's relationship was strictly friendly even though I would have wanted it to be more.

I was in love with him.

Since I turned fifteen I knew I was in love with my best friend, but he never showed any interest in me. At least not in that way.

"We're here, Rory." Apollo waved a hand in front of me and I realized that I got lost in my thoughts.

Oh. I unbuckled my seatbelt and we got out of the car.

Their house had a big garden that I loved because it had so many different flowers. Flowers that I've never seen before. His mom loved them and she and Mom were always working outside and planting new flowers and always talking about it.

We made our way to the door and Apollo pushed it open.

We were immediately greeted by Aunt Isla. "Welcome, kids." She was in the kitchen putting flowers in a vase.

"Hey, mom." Apollo walked towards her and gave her a kiss on her forehead. I was the next one to greet her.

"We'll be in my room." He said to her and she nodded, giving us a tender smile.

Our parents were already used to this because we were always together. If I was not at his house, he was at mine.

Walking up the stairs, we arrived at his room and we threw our bags on the floor.

"Wait you got new games?" I walked towards his table where he kept his game collections. His room was filled with bookshelves and shelves stacked with games and movies. There was his king-sized bed on my left and big windows on my right.

He also had a big TV that literally emerged from the floor. I remember when his dad brought him and surprised him for his birthday.

We were so excited and spent our days watching anime and movies on it.

"Yes, I did, a couple of days ago." I turned to him and he was standing behind me, his hands in the pockets of his navy blue slacks.

"Aaron is going to freak out when he hears," I said. Aaron was our computer genius and was very competitive in collecting all types of games.

"Your tie is crooked." He stepped closer to me and took hold of it, trying to fix it.

"Now you're acting like my dad." I rolled my eyes and chuckled.

"I mean someone has to be the parent in our friendship."

"Yeah sure, you old man." Me and Apollo always joked about this and I always called him an old man because he like to pretend that he was the more mature friend.

"Oh really? Let me show you exactly how old I am." He bend down and threw me over his shoulder. A throaty laugh escaped my lips and I hit his back.

"Put me down!" He walked over to the bed and basically threw me on it. My body bounced and his hands attacked me and did what I was most afraid of.

He started tickling me.

"Noo!" I couldn't contain my laughter and by now I sounded like a dying rat. I tried to wiggle out of his hold but it was impossible because Apollo was way stronger than me.

I turned around and somehow ended up on my stomach but he wouldn't stop.

I felt Apollo's breath on my neck and tried to push him away. He took hold of my hands and placed them behind me. "Who's the old man now, Rory?" He whispered.

"Okay, okay. I give up." I said breathlessly.

He loosened his hold on me and let me turn around. I landed on my back again and he was hovering over me. My heart hurt at how beautiful he was. I wish he knew how much in love I am with him.

My eyes traveled to his lips.

"What is going on here?" We both turned our heads to the door.

Aunt Isla stood there with her eyebrow raised. Her eyes were pined on us. Apollo quickly pushed himself off and stood up.

I did the same and ran a hand over my brown hair and smoothen it down.

"Nothing Mom," Apollo said and starched the back of his neck.

"Mhmm, okay. Your food arrived." She walked in and placed the bag on the cabinet.

"Thank you." We both said at the same time and she nodded. She still didn't look away from us and she still seemed suspicious.

"Leave the door open." She pointed a finger at Apollo and turned around opening the door wider. "It will stay like this."

"Mom...Okay." A light pink color traveled from his neck up to his cheeks.

Leaving his room, we were both left alone.

"Why does she always have to embarrass me like this." He whined and went to grab the bag with food.

I fought the urge to laugh. Both our parents always acted like that with us.

"Let's eat." We sat on the bed and opened the food containers.

Piece by piece we ate our food. He put on Vampire Diaries and we both debated on who the better brother is and Apollo would occasionally get frustrated with Elena.

After the longest debate, I finally convinced him that the better brother is Damon.

He said that I only like him just because he's hotter and to be honest I can't deny that he really was the hotter brother of the duo.

When our stomachs were full of food, I leaned my head on the headboard and sighed. Patting my belly I turned my head to Apollo.

"What?" I asked when I noticed him already looking at me.

"I have something to tell you." At his words, my stomach tightened. What was he going to tell me?

I nodded, sating up on the bed, crossing my legs.

"Umm, I asked Hayley out. We're meeting tonight." My ears buzzed and I almost didn't even hear the words.

"You did?" My voice came out broken and barely audible.

"Yeah. She immediately said yes so I assume she likes me as well."

"Oh..."

Nothing else came out of my lips because all the words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat with the lump that was forming.

Tears threatened to well up in my eyes but I suppressed them from doing so. I heard my heart break piece by piece and felt it bleeding.

"I should...I should go." I said and started to get up from the bed.

"Why? Did something happen?" Was he really asking me that right now?

"My stomach. I don't feel well. Maybe it was the food or something. I really should go."

"Okay, I'll take you."

I stopped him. "No, I'll go by myself."

"You sure?"

I just hummed and nodded. I had to get away from here as fast as I can. I quickly grabbed my bag and hurried out of the room. Running down the stairs I said a quick goodbye to Aunt Isla and when I got out of the door a sob left my lips.

I tightened the strap of the bag and made my way down the street. We lived ten minutes away and I was thankful that I can use that time to let my tears fall down my face.

I had no right to be mad at him but my heart didn't listen to my brain. It had a mind of its own.

Placing a hand over my mouth, I cried and cried.

I knew he kind of liked Hayley but I didn't know he was actually going to ask her out. I was afraid to admit my feelings and accidentally ruin our friendship and also ruin our parent's friendship.

I couldn't afford to do that to them and I don't think I'll be able to live without having Apollo by my side. I can't go on without our friendship.

Our house appeared in my vision and I wiped my eyes.

I opened the door and peeked my head inside. There was no one here. I tiptoed up the stairs, trying not to get attention on me. I didn't want my mom to see me like this.

Before I could open the door to my room a voice stopped me.

"What happened to you? You look ugly." Oh my God.

"What do you want Axel?" I turned around, gripping the knob.

He was holding a bowl of ice cream in his hands.

"What do you look like that? Do you have any idea how ugly you look?" I was going to punch him so hard that he'll forget his own name.

"Can you piss off? Go to rot in your room and leave the rest of us alone."

He brought the spoon full of ice cream to his lips.

"That's why Apollo doesn't like you back." Now I've had enough. I took hold of bag and threw it at him.

He successfully dodged it. That piece of shit.

"I'll kill you, Axel. I swear I will."

The door of Aaron's room opened and he stepped out.

"What's going on here?" He said, adjusting his glasses. He was dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt and I assume he was either asleep or was playing games on his computer.

"Rory is trying to kill me." Axel blurbed out.

Aaron rolled his eyes.

"Can you go to your room Axel and leave everyone alone?"

"Why is everyone against me? I didn't even do anything." He lifted his hands in surrender.

"Fuck off, Axel. You know what you're doing."

"Well, you know what? That's why Luna doesn't like you back."

My eyes widened. "You like Luna?" I asked. Luna was Aunt's Evelin daughter and she was a year younger than the twins.

"No, I don't, she's obnoxious." He said and gave Axel a sharp look.

"Then why did you ask her to come over for the weekend? Huh?" Axel pushed further.

"Because Mom forced me to do so." Aaron clarified but he didn't sound convincing.

"Yeah sure she did," Axel smirked.

"Okay, Axel that's enough. Or I'll tell Mom and Dad that I saw you smoking." He started to cough, almost choking on the ice cream.

"Now, calm down. I didn't mean whatever I said. I was just joking." Yeah sure he did.

He tapped his foot on the floor. "Just don't tell them."

"That's what I thought." I walked towards him and picked up my bag. We all went to our rooms and I slammed the door behind me.

Not bothering to take off my uniform I jumped on the bed and buried myself in the pillows and blankets.

The tears started to fall again and I don't even know how long it passed of me just lying and soaking the pillows with tears.

I think I might have fallen asleep because when I heard a knock on the door, I struggled to open my eyes.

The door slightly opened and I finally was able to see. It was Mom.

Her hair was clipped back and a few strands were falling down her forehead. She had a skirt on that reached below her knees and a sweater over her torso.

"Aurora, honey?" She spoke and walked further in.

I rubbed my eyes and slowly sat up on the bed. My eyes were stinging and I felt them being swollen from all the crying I did.

"What happened baby?" She sat next to me and caressed my hair. I shrugged my shoulders and lowered my gaze on my hands that were placed over my lap.

"Talk to me. Tell me what happened." My chin trembled and the sobs broke again.

"Oh baby, come here." Mom scooped me closer to her and circled her hands around me. I sank into her embrace and my body shook.

Her warm hands rubbed my back in soothing motions.

She let me cry on her shoulder. Mom always knew how to comfort me.

"Is this about Apollo?" She whispered.

"Mom, stop." My breath hitched with each word.

"Okay, okay. I won't say anything." She continued to hold me and I felt my breaths relax and I somehow calmed down.

She pulled away and cupped my face. Wiping the tears away with her fingers she smiled at me. A smile that always cheered me up. Not just me but everyone in the house.

Especially Dad.

"Go and take a shower. Your dad will be home soon and the dinner will also be ready."

"Do you need help with the dinner?" I asked her.

She shook her head. "No honey. Aaron is helping me today." I nodded and she stood up.

Leaving my room and gathering myself I went to the closet to take clothes.

Walking into the bathroom I took off my uniform and stepped under the hot water. For a few minutes, I relaxed and tried to keep my mind off Apollo and what he said.

After I was done, I dried my hair and dressed up in a crop top and sweatpants.

Dad arrived and we all gathered at the dinner table. Mom made sure that we all had dinner together and not separately. Dad started talking about work and we all listened to his stories and peacefully ate our food.

Then we helped Mom and Dad clean the dishes and clean the table. Axel seemed anxious, scared of me telling them about the smoking thing.

He should know his place. He always snitches on me and Aaron.

I said goodbye to everyone and went to my room. I don't think I'll be able to sleep knowing that Apollo is somewhere with Hayley right now.

What are they doing anyways? Was she going to be his first kiss?

I bit my lip to prevent the tears because I was tired and I just wanted to lie in bed and feel sorry for myself. Maybe even play my sad playlist.

Yeah, that's what I'll probably do.

Getting under the sheets, I wrapped myself in my favorite blanket.

I grabbed my phone and searched for my playlist. Placing the headphones over my head I laid down. It was around 11 pm.

I just laid, the music filling my ears.

After the fifth song finished, I heard a message pop up on my phone. I took the phone and opened it. It was Apollo.

Old man Pollo🤠: U up?

Me: Yes, why?

Old man Pollo🤠: Cause I might be standing outside by your window :D

Wait what? What was he doing here?

I quickly stood up, almost falling off the bed because the blanket got tangled up around my legs.

I walked to the window and pushed the curtains to the side. And indeed he was standing outside. He lifted his head and waved at me.

I opened the window. "Pollo, what are you doing here?" I whisper yelled.

"Are you not going to invite me up?" He gave me his smile which melted my heart.

"Okay." I opened the windows wider and I saw him climb on the tree that was next to my room. He knew what he was doing because it was not the first time that he was sneaking in here.

He has done it countless times.

Usually when I was grounded and he was not allowed to visit. I watched him get closer and closer and then he was finally by the window. He threw the bag inside, a bag that I noticed just now.

Then he climbed inside and dusted off his clothes. He was dressed in a black hoodie and grey sweatpants. His hair was tossed back.

"Hi." He grinned breathlessly.

"Hi!" My heart swelled at his presence. He was here.

Did he come back from his date? Was he here to tell me how it went? I hope not because I've had enough suffering today. I was drained. I don't think my heart can take it if he starts to talk about it.

"Did you...did you come back from your date?" I hesitated to ask.

He stretched the back of his neck.

"I didn't go. I was thinking about you and how you said that you don't feel well." He continued. "Soo... I called her and canceled it. I don't think I would have been at peace knowing that you were in pain." He crouched down and grabbed the bag.

"I thought that maybe you had your... period but you did want to tell me. I bought you some chocolate and sweets." He took out my favorite chocolate from the white bag.

My mouth stayed agape. He really went to the store at this time just for me?

I mean did I really expect less from him? He was perfect.

Without saying anything I jumped and wrapped my hands around his neck. Not wasting any second he circled his hands around my waist and lifted me up. My legs went around him and we stayed like that for a few minutes.

I buried my face in his neck and his beautiful scent filled my lungs.

He caressed my back. "You're still in pain?" He murmured against my hair.

"No, I'm good now." Now that you're here Apollo I'm more than good.

He hummed. "Let's get you to bed then. You'll eat the food tomorrow. Hmm?"

I whispered a quiet okay and he walked to my bed. He lowered us and the mattress sank under our weight.

We laid on our sides, me still not letting go of him and he didn't as well. He placed my favorite blanket over me and kissed my forehead. I glued myself to him. He scooped me closer, our breaths fanning our skin. Our hearts beating in sync.

I placed my hand over his heart and I closed my eyes.

"Your dad will kill me if he sees me here," Apollo whispered in my ear. We started to chuckle quietly.

"Yeah, he actually could."

Someone wanted a chapter about their kids and here it is. You ask, I write 🫴

Btw Apollo is Isla's and Ash's son. The couple from After You.

The characters aesthetic:

AURORA HYDE

APOLLO BARLOWE