[COLOR=808080][CENTER][COLOR=8ECDB7][sup]__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://i.imgur.com/F4qSWZf.jpeg[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=8ECDB7][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Myotis Dorm → Dining Hall[/I] - [I]Pacific Royal Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=8ECDB7][b]Dance Monkey #4.003:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Somebody Else[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][center][COLOR=8ECDB7][SUP][sub]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][/center][indent][sub][color=8ECDB7][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]Texts sent to [color=8A9A5B]Harper[/color] [@Qia], [color=D2B48C]Haven[/color] [@Skai], and [color=04cf3a]Rory[/color] [@webboysurf][/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=8ECDB7][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [COLOR=808080][I]November Rain [/I][/color][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]
[indent][color=#808080]Aurora had teleported from the infirmary directly to her dorm room, overcome with all sorts of conflicting emotions.[/color]

[color=#808080]Less than 24 hours ago she thought she was going to lose her best friend and somehow he had made a full recovery. It was nothing short of a miracle, and she was absolutely relieved and overjoyed that Lorcán was going to be okay. Not only that, but she had wanted to get the chance to tell him how she felt, how consumed she was by her feelings for him and how she realized that losing him would mean losing a part of herself. [/color]

[color=#808080]But his first words when he awoke were devastating to hear. She didn’t know what she had been expecting to happen when he stirred, but it certainly wasn’t hearing him ask for [/color][color=#808080][i]Amma[/i][/color][color=#808080]. Aurora wasn’t upset that it wasn’t her own name that was spoken, she could have cared less that he wasn’t asking for her specifically. Hell, he could have asked for just about anyone and she simply would have been content that he was coherent.[/color]

[color=#808080]It was that of all the people he could have asked for, of all the names he could have said, he said [/color][i][color=#808080]hers[/color][/i][color=#808080].[/color]

[color=#808080]The girl who he swore was no more than a friend, the girl he had explained that he was only trying to be nice to, welcoming towards. [i]She[/i] was the first person that he thought of when he came to. The redhead for some reason thought she truly had a chance, that every fleeting glance, every moment spent together, the night in the tent and the night in his dorm were signs that she and him were destined to be more, fated to be together. Aurora had spent his hospital stay uselessly romanticizing the moments that they had, building things up in her head to be more than they truly were, only to be torn down within seconds of him opening his eyes. 

Aurora felt stupid, embarrassed, ashamed that she believed Lorcán could actually love someone like her. She was a broken girl from a broken home, had nothing to offer him, and he knew it.[/color]

[color=#808080]All she could do when she got to her dorm room, confounded with these mixed feelings, was lay down on her bed and cry; she was pretty sure she’d single handedly been keeping the tissue companies in business, after all, she'd cried more in the last 5 days than she had in her entire life.[/color]

[color=#808080]Kelcey had come back from class to find Aurora a mess and sat there with her for as long as it had taken for the girl to calm down and the tears to stop flowing. Their other roommates returned, concerned and curious, and so the brunette suggested that she and the redhead go and get something to eat to have some space. So, they found themselves at the mess hall eating an early lunch.[/color]

[color=#808080]As they sat at the table, Aurora picking at her plate absentmindedly, she finally got around to replying to her texts from the last few days. She’d barely touched her phone since Lorcán was admitted and seemingly all hell had broken loose in the time she’d spent disconnected. The girl shot off a few messages after getting up to speed with everything that had happened. [/color]

[color=808080][table=bordered][row][cell][center][b]SENT TO [color=8A9A5B]HARPER BAXTER[/color][/b]
[color=#8ECDB7]Thank you again for being there for me the other day, don’t know what I’d do without you ♥ 
Just saw your messages, let's definitely do something, a girl's night would be great.
I can stop by later?[/color][/center][/cell][/row][/table][table=bordered][row][cell][center][b]SENT TO [color=D2B48C]HAVEN BARNES[/color][/b]
[color=#8ECDB7]Oh my god, I heard about what happened, I’m so sorry that you had to go through that.
I know we haven’t talked since the trial, but I feel absolutely [i]terrible[/i] that I wasn’t there for you.
Please forgive me ☹[/color][/center][/cell][/row][/table][table=bordered][row][cell][center][b]SENT TO [color=04cf3a]RORY TYLER[/color][/b]
[color=#8ECDB7]Sorry for not replying the other day, really appreciate you checking in on me though.
Hope you’re doing alright with everything that's happened… really glad Haven is okay. I feel awful I wasn't there for the team.
Also, Lorcán’s awake and should be discharged today! You can tell everyone if they don't already know.[/color][/center][/cell][/row][/table]After sitting in silence for the majority of their meal, Kelcey addressed what she thought was the elephant in the room.[/color]

[color=#6b729e]“Aurora, babes, you’ve gotta figure out what you’re doing about the dance.” [/color][color=#808080]She stated, and as she saw Aurora’s eyebrows immediately raise, her tone softened. [/color][color=#6b729e]“Look, I know you’ve had a really tough week, but now that Lorcán is better you should really come, and I think it’d be good for you to do something for yourself.” [/color]

[color=#808080]The redhead was quick to shake her head.[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“I don’t know, Kelce, even if I wanted to,” [/color][color=#808080]She paused, [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“Which, I don’t,” [/color][color=#808080]Emphasizing her wishes before continuing, [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“The dance is tomorrow. I don’t have a date, but more importantly I don’t have a dress. I’ve got nothing to wear.”[/color]

[color=#6b729e]“I’m sure someone on campus has something you could borrow,” [/color][color=#808080]Kelcey insisted, looking around the dining hall with her dark brown eyes, [/color][color=#6b729e]“You know, now that I’m thinking about it, I’m pretty sure Brynn bought two dresses when we went to the mainland over the weekend, let me go and ask her,” [/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“Kelcey, wait,” [/color][color=#808080]Aurora called after her, but the brunette was already gone, booking it across the room to go and talk to one of their housemates. She sighed, pushing the food on her plate around with her fork as her roommate instigated on her behalf, a woman clearly on a mission. And when Kelcey wanted something, no one could stand in her way. [/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“Can I join you?” [/color][color=#808080]A deep voice asked, and Aurora looked up to meet the steely gaze of [/color][url=https://assets.apnews.com/eb/cf/1f06bbcd673dd4072379b64f544d/b29c48fa2b60488f8a2d7ff31607d6c4]Chadwick Patterson[/url] [color=#808080]who motioned to the now empty seat across from her. Surprised to see him, even more surprised he was talking to her of all people, she simply nodded. He pulled out the chair and sat down, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back casually, his large muscles taught and toned.[/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“Was sorry to hear about Roth, not to mention Blackjack’s had a pretty rough go recently.” [/color][color=#808080]Chad commented, [/color][color=#d71d2d]“I’m sure it hasn’t been easy for you.”[/color]

[color=#808080]Aurora didn’t know much about Chad other than the basics, as his reputation preceded him. He was popular, the Captain of the Water Polo team and a talented athlete. They had been in a few classes together over the years and were acquaintances at most. It certainly helped his case that he was also easy on the eyes.[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“No it hasn’t,” [/color][color=#808080]The redhead responded, a bit taken back by his words of sympathy, [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“Not exactly how I pictured the beginning of my senior year.” [/color][color=#808080]She attempted to joke, setting down her fork and running a hand through her copper locks.[/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“I’m sure.” [/color][color=#808080]He concurred, before uncrossing his arms and leaning towards her, [/color][color=#d71d2d] “Look, I know you’re probably wondering why I came over, I just couldn’t help but overhear that you don’t have a date for the dance tomorrow.”[/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“And as it just so happens, neither do I.” [/color]

[color=#808080]Aurora’s brows furrowed, confusion evident on her face. How could someone like Chad not have a date to the dance? He surely had his pick, any girl would be fortunate to go with him if he had asked them. [/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“Would you want to go with me?”[/color]

[color=#808080]Okay, maybe not [/color][color=#808080][i]every [/i][/color][color=#808080]girl. [/color]

[color=#808080]Her head conflicted with her heart almost instantly. Flashes of fiery orange eyes and tousled wavy sun bleached hair danced across her vision and her heart told her that if she wanted to go with someone, it’d be [/color][i][color=#808080]him[/color][/i][color=#808080]. But Lorcán hadn’t asked her to the dance, had mentioned wanting to go with someone but didn’t indicate who. Especially considering that the first person he had asked for when he woke up was Amma, it was seeming more and more unlikely that he meant her, which is why her head said…[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“Sure,” [/color][color=#808080]The redhead replied with a smile that felt a tad forced, her face growing warm with his attention pinned solely on her, [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“That’d be great.”[/color]

[color=#808080]It wasn’t what she wanted, not in the slightest, but it was the logical decision. Chad had made the effort to ask her, it made sense to say yes. At least that’s what she told herself as he smirked, clearly pleased with her response to his question. He was a nice guy and seemed like he’d make a decent date, even if she wasn't in the proper headspace or mood to appreciate it.[/color]

[color=#6b729e]“Rora, she said that- [/color][i][color=#6b729e]oh.[/color][/i][color=#6b729e]” [/color][color=#808080]Kelcey started to say as she returned, but upon seeing the boy sitting there, quickly abandoned the previous topic, surprise etched on her features. [/color][color=#6b729e][i]“[/i][/color][color=#6b729e]Hey [/color][color=#6b729e]Chad[/color][color=#6b729e], didn’t mean to interrupt.”[/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“No problem, I was just leaving actually.” [/color][color=#808080]He stood, and it was only then Aurora realized how tall he actually was. [/color][color=#d71d2d]”I’ll pick you up at 8.” [/color][color=#808080]He winked at the redhead before acknowledging Kelcey with a nod and walked away. The brunette looked at him quizzically before quickly scrambling into the seat upon his departure and leaning across the table towards her friend.[/color]

[color=#6b729e]“Am I hallucinating? I leave you alone for no less than 5 minutes, and [i]this[/i] happens,” [/color][color=#808080]She tried to whisper but her excitement made it come out more as a rasp, motioning where he was previously sitting. [/color][color=#6b729e]“What the hell did I just miss?” [/color]

[color=#808080]Still a bit flustered, Aurora’s eyes were fixed in the direction that he headed off to. [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“I, uh, I have a date to the dance.” [/color][color=#808080]She stated sheepishly, to which Kelcey’s face lit up even further. [/color]

[color=#6b729e]“[/color][i][color=#6b729e]Chadwick Patterson[/color][/i][color=#6b729e] asked you to the dance, no fucking way.” [/color][color=#808080]The brunette turned her head to glance over at him as he rejoined his teammates on the other side of the mess hall, [/color][color=#6b729e]“Rora, he’s [/color][i][color=#6b729e]hot[/color][/i][color=#6b729e]. You scored.” [/color][color=#808080]She looked back at her roommate, a devilish glint in her eye, [/color][color=#6b729e]“Now you [/color][color=#6b729e]really[/color][color=#6b729e] need to find a dress. Brynn doesn’t have one for you to borrow, anyone else you can think of? Maybe one of your teammates?”[/color]

[color=#808080]The redhead paused, thinking of who she could ask this late in the game, and her conversation with Ripley from the other day quickly came to mind.[/color]

[color=#ffe599][i]You should ask Aunt Tori, it might be some sort of 80’s fit, but what’s old is new again.[/i][/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“I think I have an idea.”[/color][/indent]