[color=darkgray][CENTER][COLOR=8ECDB7][sup]__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://i.imgur.com/trGSdE7.gif[/img]

[url=https://open.spotify.com/track/0vOkmmJEtjuFZDzrQSFzEE?si=50TatZawQzyY2RQhbdjUVA][img]https://i.ibb.co/589szLm/harperbanneri-copy.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=silver][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Southern Plateau[/I] - [I]Pacific Royal Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=silver][b]Welcome Home #1.091:[/b][/COLOR] [I]The Lonely Hearts Club[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][center][COLOR=8A9A5B][SUP][sub]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][/center][indent][sub][color=silver][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR][I] [color=8A9A5B]Harper[/color] [@Qia][/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=silver][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [COLOR=darkGRAY][I]Flock Together[/I][/color][/right][/SUP][/indent]
[indent]The afternoon faded into evening and Aurora just wanted the day to be over already. It had been a rollercoaster, with highs and lows that would have been tough for anyone to predict, but she was looking forward to spending time with her teammates and their Firebird peers, which would hopefully clear her mind of everything going on. After splitting off from Haven, she had served herself a small portion of food from the makeshift buffet, but admittedly, her appetite was shot. She at least made sure to grab a Hyper-Aid to replenish the HZE’s she’d used to teleport supplies back and forth all day, but otherwise, she picked at her plate, pushing what was there around. Normally, she would have been starving after such bouts of her abilities, but for one reason or another, she wasn’t interested in tonight’s meal. Deciding not to bother, she put her plate down, opting to sip on her beverage instead. She could always teleport back to her dorm if she got hungry later, but she didn’t foresee that happening. 

As she looked around, her eyes fell on her teammates chatting. She caught bits and pieces of each conversation, but from the seat she had chosen, she wasn’t positioned to participate, so she popped in her earbuds, letting the music she played wash over her senses. With a new soundtrack, she simply observed. Haven and Harper were engrossed in a discussion about something that seemed important, animated reactions coming from both of them. Calli and Banjo sat next to each other, hand in hand, and the redhead couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. They had been an unexpected pairing, but still, they were so solid. 

The redhead looked to the intentionally empty seat next to her, which was meant for Lorcán. Yes, Aurora had saved him a seat, like she always had. Sure, they didn’t sit together at every gathering, but most of the time it ended up that way whether it was planned or not. Tonight, she guessed, was one of the few times he preferred to sit elsewhere, as she had seen him carry his plate over to where his cousin Cassander and Gil were located and joined them instead. She didn’t mind, of course, but it stung a little after this afternoon’s, well, [i]situation[/i].

She watched as Lorcán got up and approached their group, and Aurora moved to wave, but he didn’t even acknowledge her, didn’t even look at her. He made a beeline over to Haven and the two struck up a conversation. It was odd, to say the least, that he didn’t say hello or hadn’t come over to talk to her. It made the girl feel uneasy, on edge. 

Harper’s discerning eyes meticulously scanned the scene from her position across the campfire while Haven and Lorcán conversed. Her innate talent for reading subtle shifts in body language alerted her to the silent strain evident in Aurora’s stance. The usual brilliance of Aurora’s crimson tresses even seemed somewhat subdued under the flames provided by the campfire, mirroring the hidden disquiet that she grappled with, unseen by others. 

Except for her, of course. 

With Lorcán’s departure, Haven had turned to Harper with a grin, excitement dancing in her eyes. [COLOR=TAN]“It's our lucky day, Harps.”[/color]

Harper’s gaze, momentarily ensnared by Haven’s infectious enthusiasm, soon drifted back to Aurora. The vivid recollections of the day’s earlier events clashed with the current reality before her. The Aurora that had radiated some sense of vitality during the morning’s ceremony now seemed like a shadow of her former self, isolated and pensive. The disparity was striking, and Harper felt a compelling urge to bridge the gap between the Aurora of the past and the solitary figure that now sat before her. It was a call to action she simply could not ignore. 

[color=8A9A5B]“Hey, Little Dove?”[/color] Harper’s voice was soft, a tender note in her address to her feathered companion. She placed her barely touched plate of food beside her, her hunger no longer felt as much. [color=8A9A5B]“I need a moment, alright? I promise I’ll be back shortly,”[/color] the brunette assured, her words gentle but laced with concern. With that she stood, her movements deliberate, as she navigated the space between her and Aurora. 

[color=8A9A5B]“Hey…”[/color] Harper said once close by, taking the empty seat beside her friend. A gentle elbow nudge accompanied her greeting. [color=8A9A5B]“You’ve been missed.”[/color] The admission flowed with an ease that Harper’s former, more guarded self would have envied.

But, with Aurora, words like this found their way naturally.

The redhead offered Harper a small smile as she approached, popping out her earbuds and pausing the music she had been listening to. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Hey,”[/color] The girl greeted warmly, turning to face her friend who now sat next to her. She sighed, letting her hands fall into her lap and beginning to fidget with her fingernails. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Sweet of you to say, but I’m good. Trust me.”[/color] Aurora lied, letting her eyes glance down to the ground briefly before looking back up at her dark-haired friend. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“It’s been quite a day, just enjoying a bit of quiet, I guess.”[/color]

She looked around at their friends strewn across the campsite as well as the members of Firebird as everyone ate their dinner and chatted. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Nice that we’re all together tonight. How’d things go with Mei and Calli this afternoon?”[/color]

Harper’s intuition tingled as she observed her friend’s subdued presence. Aurora’s smile was a mere shadow of its usual radiance, and her hands, usually so steady, now betrayed her with their nervous dance. Aurora deflected, her voice threading through topics of inconsequence—anything but the weight that Harper knew pressed on her shoulders. Harper’s heart swelled with compassion all the while, recognizing the silent plea for reprieve in her blue eyes.

[color=8A9A5B]“Mei and Calli? Oh, they were great,”[/color] Harper shared, indulging her friend’s query. [color=8A9A5B]“Their ideas were perfect. Honestly, I felt like I didn’t really contribute much other than putting them together.”[/color] The joy in her voice was infectious, a brief respite from the undercurrent of concern.

Yet, as Harper’s gaze lingered on Aurora, her smile waned. [color=8A9A5B]“Rora,”[/color] she ventured softly, [color=8A9A5B]“are you sure you're alright? I know today has been a lot, and you seem..."[/color] Harper trailed off, searching for the right words, [color=8A9A5B]"...a bit out of it. Here, but not really here. Is it because of what happened this morning? With our degrees and stuff?"[/color]

Aurora knew better than to think she could get anything past Harper, as much as she attempted in that moment to remain inconspicuous. With an ability like hers, it was impossible for her not to notice the minute details. Try as she might, the redhead wouldn’t get off easy here. She let her smile fade, biting her inner lip. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Not exactly…”[/color] She started, her eyes scanning the campsite. It was at that exact moment a certain dark-haired girl sauntered over to Lorcán with an unmistakable air of confidence, stood close to him, too close, and said something she couldn’t decipher. The way Amma smirked was almost feline. A predator who had just found their prey. Aurora was suddenly nauseous.

[COLOR=8ECDB7]“Haven and I were doing supply runs and we thought it’d be nice to bring everyone some water, especially given that it’s so hot out today.”[/color] She took a sip of her drink, trying to fight back the bile that rose in the back of her throat, [COLOR=8ECDB7]“And when we got to the construction site, only Rory was there. Apparently, Lorcán and Amma ditched and went off into the woods, [i]together[/i]. Everyone was whispering about it, but Haven wouldn’t tell me what they were saying. They kept staring at me though, it was almost like they felt bad for me.”[/color] 

[COLOR=8ECDB7]“Something just felt so…[i] wrong[/i] about it. He’s my best friend, and I’ve never known him to be selfish like that. To just leave his friends high and dry. You know how I feel about Amma- she is not a good influence and she worries me, especially when it comes to Lorcán. I just don’t want to see anything bad happen to him.”[/color] The redhead explained, looking at Harper with a twinge of anxiety in her eyes. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“And now to make matters worse, he’s ignoring me and I don’t know why.”[/color] Aurora exhaled deeply, realizing she was rambling. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Sorry, that was probably more than you bargained for.”[/color]

Harper listened intently as Aurora recounted the events of the day, her words filled with worry and confusion. Despite Aurora's attempt to remain composed, Harper couldn't help but notice the subtle clues that hinted at something deeper. She could sense Aurora's concern for Lorcán and her uneasiness about Amma's influence on him. Harper couldn't blame her either; she had felt a similar nervousness during their time at the beach.

The idea that Lorcán might have reciprocated Amma's advances was difficult for Harper to comprehend as well, especially given the feelings for Lorcán that Harper suspected Aurora harboured. Yet, she did her best not to let her worries show on her face.

[color=8A9A5B]"It's understandable that you're worried,"[/color] Harper began instead, her tone gentle and empathetic. "It does sound out of character for Lorcán to abandon his responsibilities like that." She paused, considering whether she should voice her own misgivings. [color=8A9A5B]"You know, I've also sensed something off about Amma. There's an intensity, a possessiveness in the way she interacts with some of us that leaves me uneasy."[/color]

Placing a reassuring hand on Aurora's shoulder, Harper continued. [color=8A9A5B]"I think it's important that we keep an eye on the situation, for Lorcán's sake. He might not be aware of the effect Amma has on him, and as his friends, we should be there to support him if things take a turn for the worse."[/color]

Pausing for a moment to let her words sink in, and recalling Calliope’s advice to Mei from earlier, Harper added, [color=8A9A5B]"But let's also remember that Lorcán is his own person, and we have to trust his judgment, even if we may not always agree with his choices. We should be there for him without overstepping his boundaries."[/color] She sincerely hoped her words hadn't been too harsh; the last thing she wanted was to hurt Aurora.

The redhead nodded, taking in the words of wisdom Harper imparted. Her friend had a soothing quality to her, and just having her ear put Aurora at ease. The dark-haired girl wasn’t wrong; Lorcán could do what he wanted when he wanted, and as much as it killed the girl to see him make [i]interesting[/i] decisions, she had to let him do so. But that didn’t change the unmistakable sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as a result of his choices. Why was she having such a hard time with this? 

She broke eye contact briefly, letting her gaze drift to where he was standing across the way. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“You know, Lorcán and I actually met on my very first day at PRCU,”[/color] Aurora recounted, her eyes glazing over ever so slightly as she let herself remember. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“After I got off the ferry, they brought me to the Administration building and told me to wait outside while they handled some paperwork. I was standing next to the rose bushes, and this boy ran past.”[/color] She smiled at the memory, [COLOR=8ECDB7]“He was clearly in a rush to get somewhere, but when he saw me, he stopped… and he waved. He didn’t even know me and yet he smiled at me like I was an old friend. Other than the HELP workers who had gotten me out of my last placement, it was the first genuine kindness I had received in a long time.”[/color]

Aurora played it off as if it was nothing. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“I don’t even know if Lorcán remembers that, but I do.”[/color] The redhead looked back at Harper, brushing a strand of copper hair behind her ear. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“He’s always been so good to me, and I think I’ve always just tried to do the same for him. Friends look out for each other,”[/color] She explained, [COLOR=8ECDB7]“He’s never given me a reason not to trust him. I just don’t trust [i]her[/i].”[/color] 

Harper was completely engrossed as Aurora recounted her first meeting with Lorcán. The story struck a chord with her, and she could deeply appreciate the impact of that moment on Aurora's life. Despite its simplicity, Lorcán's thoughtful gesture had clearly left a profound impression on her friend.

[color=8A9A5B]"I see now why you're so protective of him,"[/color] Harper remarked in response to Aurora's revelation. [color=8A9A5B]"In the time that I've known him, he’s always come across as genuine and open-hearted. He seems like the type of person who truly values such meaningful encounters, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he also remembers that moment,"[/color] Harper paused thoughtfully before continuing, [color=8A9A5B]"I think... we should trust his judgment and ability to look out for himself to a point. You can express your concerns, but…give him a chance to explain. Okay?"[/color]

Harper offered a comforting smile. [color=8A9A5B]"I think it would mean a great deal to him to know that you stand by him here, just as he stands by you and everyone else in the group."[/color]

Aurora let her friends' words ring in her ears before shaking her head. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“I don’t even think I need to express my concerns to him, he knows how I feel.”[/color] She sighed, [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Lorcán has such a pure heart, so pure that I’m afraid someone will take advantage of it. He’s not guarded or jaded, and he has such an optimistic outlook on everything.”[/color] The redhead found another set of blue eyes across the campsite, [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Amma is the opposite, and in the last year I’ve known her she hasn’t done anything to prove me otherwise.”[/color] She recoiled as she thought about the two of them sneaking off together to do god knows what, [COLOR=8ECDB7]“I will always stand by him, and of course I will give him the chance to explain, but I have [i]such[/i] a bad feeling about this and I can’t shake it.”[/color] 

Harper’s gaze followed Aurora’s to the blue eyes that, to this very moment, she could recall looking into, resisting the urge to shudder. Perhaps, Aurora had every right to be concerned about their enigmatic teammate. Still….

The brunette’s apprehension, at this point, was palpable as she nibbled on her lip. Tucking a rebellious strand of hair behind her ear, she ventured with a hesitant resolve, [color=8A9A5B]“Rora... have you ever considered that this protectiveness of yours and your judgment of our teammate, who neither of us really know, stems, in part, from the depth of your... affection for Lorcán?”[/color] It was the closest thing she could say without sharing what she believed to be the hidden truth she perceived about the situation. 

The redhead blinked once. Twice. Three times. She felt a blush creep up on her cheeks as she blankly stared at Harper. 

Now, the thing was, Aurora [i]did [/i]indeed feel a certain level of affection towards Lorcán. It was no secret how close the two were and how highly the girl thought of him. Their friendship had been one of her favorite parts of her time at PRCU, in fact, it was quite possibly the most important thing to her. Over the years, their bond had evolved from something innocent and surface level into a connection that was much, much deeper. 

But, as strongly as she felt about him, the redhead never let herself go so far down the rabbit hole in determining what that truly meant for her, for the two of them. And even if she had, in her eyes, she was too afraid to explore it. To risk it. 

Aurora swallowed, trying to will away the flush that now shaded the freckles on her skin in scarlet hues. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Of course I care about him… the same way I care about you, and Haven, and my other closest friends.”[/color] She chose her next words extremely carefully. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“I couldn’t bear to see anything bad happen to any of you. I can’t take losing anyone else I care about.”[/color]

Harper’s gaze remained fixed on Aurora, the weight of her friend’s emotions hanging heavily between them. She observed the conflict etched into her expression, noting how the fiery glint in her eyes from earlier had dimmed at the mention of Lorcán. It was as though the mere hint of him, coupled with the insinuation of deeper feelings, conjured a whirlwind of confessions and concealed yearnings. 
How relatable it was. 

Harper reached out, her hand gently grasping Aurora’s, a silent show of solidarity. [color=8A9A5B]“Rora,”[/color] She began, her voice soft but firm, [color=8A9A5B]“it’s okay to admit that what you feel for Lorcán might be more than what you feel for the rest of us. It doesn’t diminish the love you have for us; it just means that your heart has found a… different kind of connection.”[/color] Was she, perhaps, pushing things? But no, she couldn’t do it. Between the both of them, Aurora had the best chance of making something that was great even better. How could she not want that for her? 

Harper continued, [color=8A9A5B]“Wouldn’t you agree that it’s better to understand what’s going on with you, because there definitely is something deeper at play here, than to live with any potential ‘what ifs’?”[/color]
 
Aurora could feel her heartbeat quickening. Her eyes darted around nervously, suddenly overly concerned that those around them would hear what was being discussed, and leaned a little closer to Harper. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Harps, there’s nothing to understand here. We’re just friends.”[/color] She snapped, unintentionally, as the redhead had no interest in entertaining this discussion, not now, maybe not ever. The dark haired girl meant well, the redhead knew that, but sometimes she could take things a step too far. She was a loyal friend, alright. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Forget I said anything… I’ll talk to him later about what happened with Amma. Let’s just move on, okay?”[/color] She squeezed her friend’s hand. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Please.”[/color] 

Harper could feel the tension radiating from her friend, and she squeezed her hand back gently. Best not to push it. She’d done it once before and it had almost cost her everything with this one.
 
[color=8A9A5B]“We’ll shelve this conversation for another time then,”[/color] she suggested, [color=8A9A5B]“Circle back when the time is right. About Amma. About everything.”[/color] The brunette offered a small smile as she slowly withdrew her hand. A respectful pause, rather than a full retreat. 

Aurora brought her now free hand up to her necklace, holding the gold heart shaped pendant between her thumb and index fingers. [COLOR=8ECDB7]“Sure, yeah.”[/color] She dismissed, hoping to drop the conversation altogether, before turning to face forward in her chair. 

[COLOR=8ECDB7]“Another time.”[/color]

The two girls sat quietly for a few moments, the crackling of the fire and the chatter of their teammates and peers hanging in the silence. The redhead glanced back at her friend briefly before clearing her throat, [COLOR=8ECDB7]“So… care to share who you’re bunking with tonight? It’s not me, and I know it’s not Haven so… spill.”[/color]

Aurora’s voice held a playful edge, but it was enough to send a rush of warmth to Harper’s cheeks.

This was karma, wasn’t it? 

Harper hesitated, her mind racing with excuses and half-truths. [color=8A9A5B]“Oh, um, I’m bunking with Gil,”[/color] she managed to say, her voice a practiced steadiness. She gave a casual shrug, her expression one of feigned indifference. [color=8A9A5B]“It just worked out that way. Pure coincidence. No big deal.”[/color] Glancing over her shoulder with exaggerated concern, Harper continued, [color=8A9A5B]“Speaking of which, I think Haven’s giving me a funny look. Probably wondering where I disappeared to.”[/color] 

With a swift motion, Harper rose from her seat, her departure as sudden as her decision to flee the conversation. She tossed a peace sign over her shoulder to the redhead as she made her way back to Haven, sending a silent message.  

[color=8A9A5B][i]Not today, sucka.[/i][/color][/indent][/color]