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Location: Strigidae Dorm - Pacific Royal Campus
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Dance Monkey #4.021: A Heart's Fine Print
Harper fluffed the pillows on her bed meticulously, her fingers sinking into the soft fabric as she arranged them just right. She smoothed out the blanket, ensuring it was perfectly draped over the bed, creating a nest of comfort. The room was bathed in a warm, inviting glow from the string lights she had artfully, or so she thought, hung around the room. Each tiny bulb twinkled like a star, casting gentle shadows that danced on the walls, making the space feel like a cozy haven. Believing she was finished, she took a step back, admiring her handiwork and feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over her.
That sense of satisfaction lasted all of five seconds as she saw a blur of red practically dash beside her, leaping and landing on the bed with a bounce.
“Ugh, finally!” Sierra exclaimed, her voice filled with relief as she tore open a bag of chips from the bowl on Harper’s desk with casual abandon. The crinkle of the bag and the crunch of each bite filled the room, each sound grating on Harper’s nerves. She had worked so hard to create a peaceful, inviting atmosphere, and now it was being shattered by the noisy, boisterous presence of her sister. The sister that she had, admittedly, called upon. But still.
Harper’s usual scowl appeared on her face as she watched Sierra munch away, crumbs scattering on the freshly smoothed blanket. The sound was like nails on a chalkboard to the brunette’s ears, frustration building up within in seeing all her efforts being undone in an instant.
“Seriously?” she said, folding her arms across her chest, her voice tinged with exasperation. She glared at the other woman, who seemed completely oblivious to the disruption she was causing. Or perhaps she was simply ignoring her. Either way, she needed to go.
“You know,” Sierra said between bites then, her mouth half-full, “you’re seriously overdoing it. It’s just a movie night, not a royal ball.” She took another chip, chewing thoughtfully. “I mean, look at this spread,” she waved a chip around dramatically, “it’s like you’re hosting a five-star feast. I’d almost think you were trying to impress someone.”
Harper’s scowl deepened. “It is not! And do you mind not messing up everything I just set up, please?”
Sierra shrugged, still munching away. “Oh, come on, Harps. It’s just a bed. I’m sure Aurora won’t care if there’s a crumb or two.”
Harper sighed, her shoulders slumping.“Well, I do. I wanted it to be nice for her.”
Sierra took a final, exaggerated bite and crumpled up the chip bag, tossing it casually aside with a flick of her wrist. The bag landed with a soft thud, adding to the mess that Harper had been so desperate to avoid. All the while, the redhead’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she gave Harper a teasing smile, clearly enjoying the reaction she was provoking.
“You know, my life does not, in fact, revolve around you, baby sister,” she said, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm. Harper’s eyes narrowed as she watched her sister stretch her arms above her head, each movement languid and unhurried, as if she had all the time in the world. The casualness of it all irritated her, her fingers twitching with the urge to straighten the blanket once more. But what could she do, really? Her big sister was always going to be herself, through and through, a trait that Harper found somewhat admirable at times—even envied a little.
This was not one of those times.
“I’m going to go do something less… extravagant now,” Sierra continued.And with that and a mock salute, she got up and sauntered out of the room before Harper could retort, leaving the brunette to deal with the mess and her own simmering frustration.
A girl’s night was exactly what Aurora needed after her rollercoaster of a day.
She was looking forward to having the chance to sit back, relax and not have to put up a front or a smiling facade around her best friend. To simply just live in the moment and be present instead of mulling over things she couldn’t control. Her mind had been riddled by an endless inner monologue since the morning, she’d been hemming and hawing over the decisions she’d made that had brought her to this point, so it was an understatement that she was looking forward to something else to fill the void.
Although the redhead had attempted to get her mind off what had occurred at the infirmary, she’d still instinctively been checking her phone all afternoon, silently hoping that Lorcán’s name would miraculously pop up on the screen, but it didn’t. It seemed he’d made his choice, and that was something she’d be forced to live with. As much as it hurt, she couldn’t be mad at him, and she’d need to learn to be supportive of… whatever was going on with him and Amma.
As Aurora approached the front door of the Strigidae Dorm, she reached to pull the handle in order to enter, but it escaped her grasp as someone exited, nearly plowing into her unintentionally. Quickly side-stepping to avoid a collision, she apologized to the girl who was headed out, her hair a similar shade of crimson to her own. Walking into the dorm, she made the familiar trek up to Harper’s room and knocked on the door, rocking back and forth on her heels as she waited to be let in.
Harper stood in the middle of her room, staring at the remnants of Sierra’s casual mess—the chip crumbs scattered across the blanket and the crumpled chip bag tossed aside. The sight of the disarray gnawed at her, each crumb a tiny reminder of her sister’s carefree intrusion into her life. The warm glow of the string lights, which had once felt inviting and cozy, now seemed almost taunting against the backdrop of her aggravation.
Taking a deep breath, Harper’s hands moved almost automatically as she began to gather the debris, her fingers deftly picking up each crumb. All the while, she muttered to herself, her exasperation bubbling to the surface. “I just wanted to make it nice. I really did,” she whispered, shaking her head. The crumpled chip bag was next, and she tossed it into the trash with a bit more force than necessary. She quickly moved to straighten the blanket, smoothing out the wrinkles with precise, deliberate movements.
“I’m not trying to impress anyone. I’m just-” Harper faltered, her hands freezing in their position on the blanket as her mind became overloaded with all sorts of emotions. Frustration, disappointment, and a touch of sadness swirled within her, each vying for attention. She felt a lump forming in her throat, her carefully constructed composure threatening to crumble.
None of which she could properly process as there came a knock at the door. The sound jolted her out of her spiralling thoughts, her heart skipping a beat. Harper’s hands dropped to her sides, her fingers still tingling from the tension. She stood there for a moment, frozen, before her feet moved forward almost on their own. Reaching for the doorknob, she fixed her facial expression, smoothing out the worry lines and forcing a small, composed smile. Only when she was sure she could maintain this facade did she turn the doorknob and open the door.
“Hey, beautiful,” Harper greeted, her voice carefully light. She stepped aside, allowing her friend to step into the room.
The redhead’s lips tugged up into a soft, sad smile.
“Hey, Harps.” She didn’t hesitate to step forward and wrap her friend in a hug, squeezing tightly. So much had happened since they had last seen each other, and exhaling a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding, Aurora relaxed almost instantly in her presence. Releasing her hold, she moved into the room and set down her tote bag on a chair, gazing at the string lights and comforting atmosphere that Harper had created. Allowing herself another moment to decompress, the ambiance inviting, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“You’re amazing, you didn’t have to do all this,” She sat down on the bed, running her hands over the soft blankets, “But I can’t even begin to tell you how needed this was,” The redhead flopped back, letting her locks fan out behind her before lifting her arm and pointing to her tote, not bothering to move, “I brought dark chocolate almonds for you, they’re in my bag,”
Harper’s smile warmed at Aurora’s reaction, a genuine sense of relief enveloping her like a comforting blanket. The way Aurora’s eyes lit up at the sight of the comfortable setup made all the effort feel worthwhile, Sierra’s earlier criticism dissipating from her mind. She moved over to the tote bag, her fingers brushing against the fabric as she retrieved her favourite snack, a delighted squeal escaping her lips. The familiar crinkle of the packaging brought a sense of comfort, a small but significant piece of her perfect evening.
“Thanks, Bestie,” Harper said, setting it on the desk with the other snacks, arranging everything just so. “It’s nice to know that some people know how to appreciate another person’s hard work.” Her eyes then lit up with excitement as she turned to grab her laptop from her bedside table, flipping it open with a flourish. She plopped down on the bed beside Aurora, the mattress dipping slightly under her weight. Clicking her tongue, she allowed her fingers to dance over the keyboard, ready to pull up the list of movie options she had carefully curated. The glow from the laptop screen illuminated her face, highlighting the eagerness in her eyes.
“Ok, so I narrowed our options earlier for movies but….what are you in the mood for?”
Aurora grumbled. It wasn’t that Harper hadn’t picked good movies, because she had. A lot of them were classics that she loved. But what they all had in common was that they were romance movies, and she wasn’t in a lovey-dovey mood in the slightest. In fact, the last thing she wanted to watch was a chick flick. It might have been girl’s night, but the lingering feeling of hearing Lorcán say Amma’s name remained in her gut.
“Don’t hate me, but can you find, like, a comedy or something? Or an action movie?” She pleaded, moving her hands to cover her eyes. “Normally I’d be down for Pride and Prejudice but today I’d prefer to slap Mr. Darcy instead of drool over him.”
Harper’s smile wobbled slightly as she processed Aurora’s request, the unexpected mood shift catching her off guard. She had been so focused on creating the perfect cozy atmosphere that the change in tone felt like a jolt. But she quickly decided to roll with it, determined to keep the evening light and enjoyable. She turned to her laptop, her fingers dancing over the keys with practiced ease, pulling up the list of other movie options.
“Got it, comedies and action movies it is,” Harper said. She glanced back at Aurora with a playful grin, hoping to see a spark of amusement in her friend’s eyes. “I mean, who needs to watch a romance when your life is practically one, right?” Her tone was teasing, and her words were meant to draw Aurora's smile. She was fishing, but couldn’t help herself. The curiosity was too strong, and she needed to know how things had gone between her two friends.
“Yeah…” Aurora trailed off, trying her best to maintain her composure. She didn’t want to get upset again, not now, not when tonight was supposed to be a chance to get her mind off everything. But Lorcán was interwoven in every facet of her life and she was slowly coming to realize how obvious her feelings for him must have been over the years. The redhead couldn’t go one conversation without mentioning him in some capacity, at every table she saved him a seat, and even the most mundane things would bring her thoughts back to him.
With a defeated sigh, she sat up, propping her elbows on the bed, her lips settling into a thin line.
“He said her name when he woke up. She was the first person he asked for.”
The room seemed to shrink as Harper slowly processed Aurora’s words, the warm atmosphere suddenly feeling stifling. Her playful grin faltered, replaced by a look of concern and confusion that she couldn’t quite hide. The warmth of the string lights now seemed distant, their glow unable to chase away the sudden chill that settled over her. She had been so sure that everything would go well, that Aurora’s conversation with Lorcán would be a success. So, what in the world was her friend alluding to?
“Oh, Rora…” Harper said softly, trying to find the right words.She placed the laptop to the side, the screen dimming as it was set aside, no longer the focus of the evening. She then shifted from her sitting position, laying down on her back next to her friend.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize things were so complicated. I thought—well, I just thought you were going to tell him how you felt,” Harper continued. She could see the pain in Aurora’s eyes now and wished nothing more than to take it away. But what could she really say here?
Harper shifted, her concern evident as she continued to look at Aurora. “I know it’s hard, but… who is this person he asked for?” She kept her tone gentle, trying to navigate the conversation without adding to Aurora’s distress. On the inside, however, there was only one thought running through her mind on who it might be: Please don’t say Amma.
Aurora took a steadying breath, relaxing her arms and returning to lying back on the mattress. “I was going to tell him, especially because yesterday we were convinced he wasn’t going to make it through the night.” She shuddered, the memory of crying in Lorcán’s room with Cass forever engrained now into her mind. “But I didn’t get the chance, because as soon as he woke up he took my hand,” She lifted her left hand where the ring that Tori had given her sat perfectly on her ring finger, the warm string lights glinting on the etched licks of flame, “And he called me Amma.”
“I teleported right out of there, I couldn’t bring myself to stay.” She let her hand flop back down onto the bed, turning her head to look at her friend. “I feel so fucking stupid, Harps.”
Harper took a moment to compose herself before responding. She was here to help Aurora and, if they were both lucky, to have some level of fun as well. She was not trying to impress anyone. She wasn’t.
“Look,” Harper began, her voice carrying an edge that she didn’t bother to soften. Not this time. She’d decided before her conversation with Haven that she was done playing nice, but now she felt truly done with tiptoeing around the truth. “I get that this is tough, but—” She paused, the words catching in her throat as she thought of Lorcán. The image of him, pale and fragile, smelling of death while lying in that hospital bed haunted her. Cass’s description was all she could rely on, really, given that they hadn’t been allowed to see him. Still, the thought of him lying there, fighting for his life and clinging to any semblance of hope, while those who cared for him could only watch and hope in turn, deeply bothered her.
It was a scene she had imagined countless times, been in countless times.
“—Lorcán just woke up from something life-threatening. He might have been confused or disoriented. If you’d stuck around, you could’ve cleared things up instead of bolting at the first sign of trouble.”
Aurora instantly clocked the shift in her tone of voice, a grit now present that wasn’t previously there, her friend’s words grating against her conscience and the inner turmoil that she had felt all day. Harper hadn’t been there, it had been 4 days of torment watching Lorcán deteriorate, and him waking up this morning and asking for Amma had been the straw to break the camel’s back. Sticking around was easier said than done.
“Cass standing right there and seeing the whole thing as it happened was embarrassing enough, staying would have meant Tori and Aiden feeling sorry for me, and Ripley too,” Aurora explained, her cheeks heating up just thinking about the way that Cass had looked at her with such pity. “Lorcán promised me that night in the tent after our powers mingled and he told me about what happened with Amma, that they were just friends and nothing more. I can’t believe I got my hopes up that he could possibly feel the same way about me that I do about him.”
Harper gritted her teeth, feeling the tension radiate through her jaw. She had seen Aurora struggle with uncertainty for too long, and it pained her to watch her flounder in the dark. She knew that words alone wouldn’t be enough to convey the depth of her conviction.
But she had to try.
“But none of that stuff changes what you mean to him, Rora!” she exclaimed, her voice firm but laced with a hint of desperation. Harper could see the doubt in her eyes, the way her friend hesitated to believe in her own worth. It infuriated her that she couldn’t see what was so obvious to everyone else. “If you really want to know what’s going on, you’ll have to talk to him directly. It’s the only way to figure out where you stand with him, instead of always guessing from the sidelines like this.” She wanted to shake the redhead, to make her understand that she couldn’t keep living in this limbo. The cost of her continued inaction was too high, and Harper doubted her ability to pull the other out of the pit of despair it would likely lead to.
Aurora rubbed at her eyes, hoping the motion would soothe the pressure she felt building behind them. “Of course, I still need to talk to him at some point, I just-” She swallowed the lump that was growing in her throat, her anxiety over the situation rising. Her hand moved to run over Harper’s blanket, hoping the sensation of the plush fabric would relax her woes and worries. “I don’t feel sure of anything anymore. All it took was one word and now I’m doubting every interaction we’ve ever had where I thought there was something more.”
“He hasn’t even texted me at all since he was discharged. Kelcey told me she saw him out of the infirmary, and he’s said nothing to me. How do you think that is supposed to make me feel?”
Harper sighed, reaching out and placing a comforting hand on Aurora’s shoulder. “Sometimes, people don’t reach out right away because they’re overwhelmed or unsure of themselves. It doesn’t necessarily reflect how they feel about you or what you mean to them.” She squeezed Aurora’s shoulder gently, trying to offer the reassurance she could.
“It’s frustrating, I get that,” Harper continued, her tone softening but carrying the edge of bluntness she was known for now. “But if you’re waiting for him to come to you, you might be waiting a long time. Sometimes, you have to take the initiative yourself, even if it’s uncomfortable or seems unfair.”
She paused, glancing away as if the words were harder to say than she’d anticipated. “It’s like I told you before…you deserve to be heard, Rora. So, if you care about him and want to know where you stand, you need to tell him. Don’t let your doubts or fears stop you from finding out.”
The wheels in Aurora’s head turned as Harper’s words forced her to reevaluate. She wasn’t wrong, Lorcán was likely overwhelmed with everything that had happened. After all, he had practically been on his deathbed, the boy had enough to process as it was, let alone think to reach out to her. Viewing it from that lens, she knew she definitely wasn’t a priority at the current moment and she was okay with that, it was understandable. But the uneasiness in her gut remained. A few days ago, she had been adamant that she would talk to him upon his recovery, and voice her feelings regardless of whether or not he shared them. But now? Things just seemed so complicated.
But her brunette best friend seemed to know exactly where her mind was going, and she agreed that her woes shouldn’t preclude her from speaking her truth, telling Lorcán just how much she cared about him. She loved him, and that wasn’t changing anytime soon, no matter how anxious the thought of telling him made her. Wordlessly, she looked at Harper and simply nodded, taking everything she said to heart, and agreeing, even if it was difficult to hear.
As she started to plot her next move, she knew there was something key that might put a wrinkle in her plans.
“This is a terrible time to tell you, but if I’m still going to tell Lorcán how I feel, it’s going to need to be after the dance.”
“Because as of this afternoon, I have a date… and it’s not him. Chadwick Patterson asked me.”
Harper’s eyes widened as Aurora’s revelation sank in, her mind racing to catch up with the unexpected twist. For a moment, she simply stared, her mouth slightly agape, as if trying to process the shock that had just been dropped into her lap. Shaking her head in disbelief, the brunette felt a surge of incredulity bubble up inside her. She pushed herself up from her reclining position on the bed, her movements sharp and decisive, as if trying to shake off the surreal feeling.
With a dramatic flair that belied the moment's seriousness, she snatched a pillow from beside her, the soft fabric cool against her fingers. Then, without further ado, she gave Aurora a light, playful whack across the face with it, the pillow making a satisfying thump.
“Seriously, Rora? A date? Now? What on earth are you thinking?” Harper asked, unable to contain a small, disbelieving laugh. Without waiting for a response, her patience being already worn thin by her conversation with Sierra and now this, she dramatically flopped back onto the bed, shoving the same pillow over her face and screaming into it.
Aurora knew what was going to happen next as soon as she saw Harper reach for the pillow, but she couldn’t move fast enough before the plush fabric met her face. A muffled noise escaped her lips upon impact, but she simply resigned to her fate. When the pillow was removed she spoke with an understanding sigh.
“Okay, I deserved that, but what was I supposed to do? Chad overheard me saying to Kelcey that I didn’t have a date, so it’s not like I could lie to his face. No one else asked me, there was no reason for me to say no.” She began to explain but was interrupted by the brunette releasing her own frustration into said pillow, a muted scream audible. The redhead winced at her animated display and her face heated up, instantly feeling self-conscious as a result of her reaction.
When she finally pulled the pillow away, Harper’s face was flushed, and her expression was one of exasperation. “Maybe if you let Chadwick down gently, he might be understanding,” she suggested, though her voice lacked conviction. Even as she said it, Harper knew it was not only a ridiculous suggestion at this point but also a hurtful one. For wasn’t she in a similar situation with Cass? She highly doubted that, in Aurora’s place, he would have taken kindly to something like that if she went through with it.
Besides, Harper was looking forward to going with him. Despite their meeting under weird circumstances, she had enjoyed talking to him, finding an unexpected comfort in his presence. It had been surprisingly…easy, their conversation flowing naturally as if they had known each other for years. Though mainly about a foreboding subject that made her shudder now, there was an undeniable connection there that she couldn’t ignore. Sighing deeply, Harper propped herself up on her elbows, her gaze softened with sympathy.
“I’m not going back on my word, Harps, what’s done is done. Besides, it’s not like Lorcán didn’t have the opportunity.” Aurora reached up and fiddled with her necklace.
“Tori even agreed with me, she said I deserve to have fun and go with a guy who’s willing to ask me. So sure, it might be terrible timing, but this actually might be what I need right now. After everything that’s happened- the Trial, Lorcán’s health scare - I want tomorrow night to be fun, don’t you?”
“Just don’t…settle for him, okay? Have a good time, or try to at least,” Harper replied. Then, hesitating for a moment, she allowed a small, sheepish smile to tug at her lips. “Speaking of dates, I guess I should mention that I’ll be going to the dance with Cass. So…I guess I kinda get it.”
It was now the redhead’s turn to be shocked, her jaw unhinging slightly. She took the pillow, and whacked Harper across the arm, payback.
“Cass as in, Sassy Cassy? Pain in my Cass? That Cass?” Aurora’s eyes bugged out and her brow raised. “Since when?”
But her expression eased as she thought about the side of the blonde boy she’d seen over the past four days. As abrasive and smart-mouthed as he may have been, she’d learned more about him and his emotional capacity throughout their whole ordeal. He’d been charismatic and considerate; made sure she was taking care of herself, had ensured she was getting sleep, shared the burden they all carried. He’d comforted her when she cried, and supported her when things seemed bleak. There were certainly worse people that Harper could be going with…
Aurora dissolved into a small smile, reaching out and taking her friend’s hand in hers.
“That’s exciting, Harps. I’m happy for you.”
“Sassy Cassy? Pain in my Cass?” Harper repeated, shaking her head with a grin that lit up her face.“You’ve got quite the way with nicknames, you know that?” Her laughter was light and infectious, a brief respite from the heaviness that had settled over them. As the words left her lips, her amusement faded into a more genuine, warm smile, one that reached her eyes this time around.
Aurora smirked, a glow returning to her features as they discussed a much less stressful topic, “I came up with the nicknames because I know they annoy him, but as much as I enjoy giving him a hard time, I don’t think I would’ve gotten through this week without him.” She’d known Cass for nearly five years at this point, they’d had their disagreements and she’d always suspected he’d been a bit jealous about how much time Lorcán spent with her instead of him, but recently there was a mutual understanding there. An olive branch, in a way, with senior year looming over their heads. And now, they had their own traumatic experience to further bond over.
“Yeah, that sounds like the Cass I’m going with. The one and only,” Harper said, looking down at their joined hands. “I guess you could say we hit it off. He’s not just a pain though. I’ve actually found him pretty…decent, in his own way.” The words felt like an understatement somehow, despite not knowing the blond very well. There was something about him that intrigued her, something that made her want to dig deeper. Maybe it was because they seemed to share certain similarities, like blunt honesty. Or maybe it was him offering to go to the dance with her despite their abrasive meeting.
Or maybe it was the unpredictability he brought, the challenge he represented. A wildcard.
“He’s right in my comfort zone, at least.”
“Cass is rougher around the edges, but he has a good heart. You guys are going to have a great time together.” Aurora reassured, squeezing Harper’s hand prior to releasing it. “Seems as though we both will need to get all dolled up for the dance tomorrow then. I was going to see if all the girls wanted to come and get ready at my place, if that’d be of interest?”
“That sounds like fun. It’ll be nice to have them around and have things be about…well, everything else for a change.” Harper’s voice faltered here, her head tilting to the side in curiosity. “You do mean…everyone right?” she asked.Regardless of Aurora’s feelings about Amma, the last thing she wanted was to isolate her. It seemed…cruel, and Harper couldn’t bear the thought of anyone feeling left out.
It was evident who Harper was referring to without speaking a name, not just from her body language and facial expression but also from the intonation of her voice. Aurora swallowed, brow furrowed. She had yet to think about Amma’s role in all of this. Lorcán may have said her name upon awakening, but did that mean she should be angry with her? Possibly. After all, the redhead bore her soul to the girl in that infirmary room, disclosing her love and defending it with a passion she didn’t even believe she possessed. But on second thought, she knew she couldn’t be too upset with her. She didn’t owe her anything, she barely knew her.
After all, they wanted the same thing.
So she stood by the words she uttered back in the infirmary: Amma wasn’t a monster.
“Yes, everyone.”
Shaking off her unease, she abandoned the topic, grabbing Harper’s laptop and looking through the curated list of movies with a lighter view.
“On second thought, I wouldn’t mind a rom-com…”
That sense of satisfaction lasted all of five seconds as she saw a blur of red practically dash beside her, leaping and landing on the bed with a bounce.
“Ugh, finally!” Sierra exclaimed, her voice filled with relief as she tore open a bag of chips from the bowl on Harper’s desk with casual abandon. The crinkle of the bag and the crunch of each bite filled the room, each sound grating on Harper’s nerves. She had worked so hard to create a peaceful, inviting atmosphere, and now it was being shattered by the noisy, boisterous presence of her sister. The sister that she had, admittedly, called upon. But still.
Harper’s usual scowl appeared on her face as she watched Sierra munch away, crumbs scattering on the freshly smoothed blanket. The sound was like nails on a chalkboard to the brunette’s ears, frustration building up within in seeing all her efforts being undone in an instant.
“Seriously?” she said, folding her arms across her chest, her voice tinged with exasperation. She glared at the other woman, who seemed completely oblivious to the disruption she was causing. Or perhaps she was simply ignoring her. Either way, she needed to go.
“You know,” Sierra said between bites then, her mouth half-full, “you’re seriously overdoing it. It’s just a movie night, not a royal ball.” She took another chip, chewing thoughtfully. “I mean, look at this spread,” she waved a chip around dramatically, “it’s like you’re hosting a five-star feast. I’d almost think you were trying to impress someone.”
Harper’s scowl deepened. “It is not! And do you mind not messing up everything I just set up, please?”
Sierra shrugged, still munching away. “Oh, come on, Harps. It’s just a bed. I’m sure Aurora won’t care if there’s a crumb or two.”
Harper sighed, her shoulders slumping.“Well, I do. I wanted it to be nice for her.”
Sierra took a final, exaggerated bite and crumpled up the chip bag, tossing it casually aside with a flick of her wrist. The bag landed with a soft thud, adding to the mess that Harper had been so desperate to avoid. All the while, the redhead’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she gave Harper a teasing smile, clearly enjoying the reaction she was provoking.
“You know, my life does not, in fact, revolve around you, baby sister,” she said, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm. Harper’s eyes narrowed as she watched her sister stretch her arms above her head, each movement languid and unhurried, as if she had all the time in the world. The casualness of it all irritated her, her fingers twitching with the urge to straighten the blanket once more. But what could she do, really? Her big sister was always going to be herself, through and through, a trait that Harper found somewhat admirable at times—even envied a little.
This was not one of those times.
“I’m going to go do something less… extravagant now,” Sierra continued.And with that and a mock salute, she got up and sauntered out of the room before Harper could retort, leaving the brunette to deal with the mess and her own simmering frustration.
A girl’s night was exactly what Aurora needed after her rollercoaster of a day.
She was looking forward to having the chance to sit back, relax and not have to put up a front or a smiling facade around her best friend. To simply just live in the moment and be present instead of mulling over things she couldn’t control. Her mind had been riddled by an endless inner monologue since the morning, she’d been hemming and hawing over the decisions she’d made that had brought her to this point, so it was an understatement that she was looking forward to something else to fill the void.
Although the redhead had attempted to get her mind off what had occurred at the infirmary, she’d still instinctively been checking her phone all afternoon, silently hoping that Lorcán’s name would miraculously pop up on the screen, but it didn’t. It seemed he’d made his choice, and that was something she’d be forced to live with. As much as it hurt, she couldn’t be mad at him, and she’d need to learn to be supportive of… whatever was going on with him and Amma.
As Aurora approached the front door of the Strigidae Dorm, she reached to pull the handle in order to enter, but it escaped her grasp as someone exited, nearly plowing into her unintentionally. Quickly side-stepping to avoid a collision, she apologized to the girl who was headed out, her hair a similar shade of crimson to her own. Walking into the dorm, she made the familiar trek up to Harper’s room and knocked on the door, rocking back and forth on her heels as she waited to be let in.
Harper stood in the middle of her room, staring at the remnants of Sierra’s casual mess—the chip crumbs scattered across the blanket and the crumpled chip bag tossed aside. The sight of the disarray gnawed at her, each crumb a tiny reminder of her sister’s carefree intrusion into her life. The warm glow of the string lights, which had once felt inviting and cozy, now seemed almost taunting against the backdrop of her aggravation.
Taking a deep breath, Harper’s hands moved almost automatically as she began to gather the debris, her fingers deftly picking up each crumb. All the while, she muttered to herself, her exasperation bubbling to the surface. “I just wanted to make it nice. I really did,” she whispered, shaking her head. The crumpled chip bag was next, and she tossed it into the trash with a bit more force than necessary. She quickly moved to straighten the blanket, smoothing out the wrinkles with precise, deliberate movements.
“I’m not trying to impress anyone. I’m just-” Harper faltered, her hands freezing in their position on the blanket as her mind became overloaded with all sorts of emotions. Frustration, disappointment, and a touch of sadness swirled within her, each vying for attention. She felt a lump forming in her throat, her carefully constructed composure threatening to crumble.
None of which she could properly process as there came a knock at the door. The sound jolted her out of her spiralling thoughts, her heart skipping a beat. Harper’s hands dropped to her sides, her fingers still tingling from the tension. She stood there for a moment, frozen, before her feet moved forward almost on their own. Reaching for the doorknob, she fixed her facial expression, smoothing out the worry lines and forcing a small, composed smile. Only when she was sure she could maintain this facade did she turn the doorknob and open the door.
“Hey, beautiful,” Harper greeted, her voice carefully light. She stepped aside, allowing her friend to step into the room.
The redhead’s lips tugged up into a soft, sad smile.
“Hey, Harps.” She didn’t hesitate to step forward and wrap her friend in a hug, squeezing tightly. So much had happened since they had last seen each other, and exhaling a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding, Aurora relaxed almost instantly in her presence. Releasing her hold, she moved into the room and set down her tote bag on a chair, gazing at the string lights and comforting atmosphere that Harper had created. Allowing herself another moment to decompress, the ambiance inviting, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“You’re amazing, you didn’t have to do all this,” She sat down on the bed, running her hands over the soft blankets, “But I can’t even begin to tell you how needed this was,” The redhead flopped back, letting her locks fan out behind her before lifting her arm and pointing to her tote, not bothering to move, “I brought dark chocolate almonds for you, they’re in my bag,”
Harper’s smile warmed at Aurora’s reaction, a genuine sense of relief enveloping her like a comforting blanket. The way Aurora’s eyes lit up at the sight of the comfortable setup made all the effort feel worthwhile, Sierra’s earlier criticism dissipating from her mind. She moved over to the tote bag, her fingers brushing against the fabric as she retrieved her favourite snack, a delighted squeal escaping her lips. The familiar crinkle of the packaging brought a sense of comfort, a small but significant piece of her perfect evening.
“Thanks, Bestie,” Harper said, setting it on the desk with the other snacks, arranging everything just so. “It’s nice to know that some people know how to appreciate another person’s hard work.” Her eyes then lit up with excitement as she turned to grab her laptop from her bedside table, flipping it open with a flourish. She plopped down on the bed beside Aurora, the mattress dipping slightly under her weight. Clicking her tongue, she allowed her fingers to dance over the keyboard, ready to pull up the list of movie options she had carefully curated. The glow from the laptop screen illuminated her face, highlighting the eagerness in her eyes.
“Ok, so I narrowed our options earlier for movies but….what are you in the mood for?”
Aurora grumbled. It wasn’t that Harper hadn’t picked good movies, because she had. A lot of them were classics that she loved. But what they all had in common was that they were romance movies, and she wasn’t in a lovey-dovey mood in the slightest. In fact, the last thing she wanted to watch was a chick flick. It might have been girl’s night, but the lingering feeling of hearing Lorcán say Amma’s name remained in her gut.
“Don’t hate me, but can you find, like, a comedy or something? Or an action movie?” She pleaded, moving her hands to cover her eyes. “Normally I’d be down for Pride and Prejudice but today I’d prefer to slap Mr. Darcy instead of drool over him.”
Harper’s smile wobbled slightly as she processed Aurora’s request, the unexpected mood shift catching her off guard. She had been so focused on creating the perfect cozy atmosphere that the change in tone felt like a jolt. But she quickly decided to roll with it, determined to keep the evening light and enjoyable. She turned to her laptop, her fingers dancing over the keys with practiced ease, pulling up the list of other movie options.
“Got it, comedies and action movies it is,” Harper said. She glanced back at Aurora with a playful grin, hoping to see a spark of amusement in her friend’s eyes. “I mean, who needs to watch a romance when your life is practically one, right?” Her tone was teasing, and her words were meant to draw Aurora's smile. She was fishing, but couldn’t help herself. The curiosity was too strong, and she needed to know how things had gone between her two friends.
“Yeah…” Aurora trailed off, trying her best to maintain her composure. She didn’t want to get upset again, not now, not when tonight was supposed to be a chance to get her mind off everything. But Lorcán was interwoven in every facet of her life and she was slowly coming to realize how obvious her feelings for him must have been over the years. The redhead couldn’t go one conversation without mentioning him in some capacity, at every table she saved him a seat, and even the most mundane things would bring her thoughts back to him.
With a defeated sigh, she sat up, propping her elbows on the bed, her lips settling into a thin line.
“He said her name when he woke up. She was the first person he asked for.”
The room seemed to shrink as Harper slowly processed Aurora’s words, the warm atmosphere suddenly feeling stifling. Her playful grin faltered, replaced by a look of concern and confusion that she couldn’t quite hide. The warmth of the string lights now seemed distant, their glow unable to chase away the sudden chill that settled over her. She had been so sure that everything would go well, that Aurora’s conversation with Lorcán would be a success. So, what in the world was her friend alluding to?
“Oh, Rora…” Harper said softly, trying to find the right words.She placed the laptop to the side, the screen dimming as it was set aside, no longer the focus of the evening. She then shifted from her sitting position, laying down on her back next to her friend.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize things were so complicated. I thought—well, I just thought you were going to tell him how you felt,” Harper continued. She could see the pain in Aurora’s eyes now and wished nothing more than to take it away. But what could she really say here?
Harper shifted, her concern evident as she continued to look at Aurora. “I know it’s hard, but… who is this person he asked for?” She kept her tone gentle, trying to navigate the conversation without adding to Aurora’s distress. On the inside, however, there was only one thought running through her mind on who it might be: Please don’t say Amma.
Aurora took a steadying breath, relaxing her arms and returning to lying back on the mattress. “I was going to tell him, especially because yesterday we were convinced he wasn’t going to make it through the night.” She shuddered, the memory of crying in Lorcán’s room with Cass forever engrained now into her mind. “But I didn’t get the chance, because as soon as he woke up he took my hand,” She lifted her left hand where the ring that Tori had given her sat perfectly on her ring finger, the warm string lights glinting on the etched licks of flame, “And he called me Amma.”
“I teleported right out of there, I couldn’t bring myself to stay.” She let her hand flop back down onto the bed, turning her head to look at her friend. “I feel so fucking stupid, Harps.”
Harper took a moment to compose herself before responding. She was here to help Aurora and, if they were both lucky, to have some level of fun as well. She was not trying to impress anyone. She wasn’t.
“Look,” Harper began, her voice carrying an edge that she didn’t bother to soften. Not this time. She’d decided before her conversation with Haven that she was done playing nice, but now she felt truly done with tiptoeing around the truth. “I get that this is tough, but—” She paused, the words catching in her throat as she thought of Lorcán. The image of him, pale and fragile, smelling of death while lying in that hospital bed haunted her. Cass’s description was all she could rely on, really, given that they hadn’t been allowed to see him. Still, the thought of him lying there, fighting for his life and clinging to any semblance of hope, while those who cared for him could only watch and hope in turn, deeply bothered her.
It was a scene she had imagined countless times, been in countless times.
“—Lorcán just woke up from something life-threatening. He might have been confused or disoriented. If you’d stuck around, you could’ve cleared things up instead of bolting at the first sign of trouble.”
Aurora instantly clocked the shift in her tone of voice, a grit now present that wasn’t previously there, her friend’s words grating against her conscience and the inner turmoil that she had felt all day. Harper hadn’t been there, it had been 4 days of torment watching Lorcán deteriorate, and him waking up this morning and asking for Amma had been the straw to break the camel’s back. Sticking around was easier said than done.
“Cass standing right there and seeing the whole thing as it happened was embarrassing enough, staying would have meant Tori and Aiden feeling sorry for me, and Ripley too,” Aurora explained, her cheeks heating up just thinking about the way that Cass had looked at her with such pity. “Lorcán promised me that night in the tent after our powers mingled and he told me about what happened with Amma, that they were just friends and nothing more. I can’t believe I got my hopes up that he could possibly feel the same way about me that I do about him.”
Harper gritted her teeth, feeling the tension radiate through her jaw. She had seen Aurora struggle with uncertainty for too long, and it pained her to watch her flounder in the dark. She knew that words alone wouldn’t be enough to convey the depth of her conviction.
But she had to try.
“But none of that stuff changes what you mean to him, Rora!” she exclaimed, her voice firm but laced with a hint of desperation. Harper could see the doubt in her eyes, the way her friend hesitated to believe in her own worth. It infuriated her that she couldn’t see what was so obvious to everyone else. “If you really want to know what’s going on, you’ll have to talk to him directly. It’s the only way to figure out where you stand with him, instead of always guessing from the sidelines like this.” She wanted to shake the redhead, to make her understand that she couldn’t keep living in this limbo. The cost of her continued inaction was too high, and Harper doubted her ability to pull the other out of the pit of despair it would likely lead to.
Aurora rubbed at her eyes, hoping the motion would soothe the pressure she felt building behind them. “Of course, I still need to talk to him at some point, I just-” She swallowed the lump that was growing in her throat, her anxiety over the situation rising. Her hand moved to run over Harper’s blanket, hoping the sensation of the plush fabric would relax her woes and worries. “I don’t feel sure of anything anymore. All it took was one word and now I’m doubting every interaction we’ve ever had where I thought there was something more.”
“He hasn’t even texted me at all since he was discharged. Kelcey told me she saw him out of the infirmary, and he’s said nothing to me. How do you think that is supposed to make me feel?”
Harper sighed, reaching out and placing a comforting hand on Aurora’s shoulder. “Sometimes, people don’t reach out right away because they’re overwhelmed or unsure of themselves. It doesn’t necessarily reflect how they feel about you or what you mean to them.” She squeezed Aurora’s shoulder gently, trying to offer the reassurance she could.
“It’s frustrating, I get that,” Harper continued, her tone softening but carrying the edge of bluntness she was known for now. “But if you’re waiting for him to come to you, you might be waiting a long time. Sometimes, you have to take the initiative yourself, even if it’s uncomfortable or seems unfair.”
She paused, glancing away as if the words were harder to say than she’d anticipated. “It’s like I told you before…you deserve to be heard, Rora. So, if you care about him and want to know where you stand, you need to tell him. Don’t let your doubts or fears stop you from finding out.”
The wheels in Aurora’s head turned as Harper’s words forced her to reevaluate. She wasn’t wrong, Lorcán was likely overwhelmed with everything that had happened. After all, he had practically been on his deathbed, the boy had enough to process as it was, let alone think to reach out to her. Viewing it from that lens, she knew she definitely wasn’t a priority at the current moment and she was okay with that, it was understandable. But the uneasiness in her gut remained. A few days ago, she had been adamant that she would talk to him upon his recovery, and voice her feelings regardless of whether or not he shared them. But now? Things just seemed so complicated.
But her brunette best friend seemed to know exactly where her mind was going, and she agreed that her woes shouldn’t preclude her from speaking her truth, telling Lorcán just how much she cared about him. She loved him, and that wasn’t changing anytime soon, no matter how anxious the thought of telling him made her. Wordlessly, she looked at Harper and simply nodded, taking everything she said to heart, and agreeing, even if it was difficult to hear.
As she started to plot her next move, she knew there was something key that might put a wrinkle in her plans.
“This is a terrible time to tell you, but if I’m still going to tell Lorcán how I feel, it’s going to need to be after the dance.”
“Because as of this afternoon, I have a date… and it’s not him. Chadwick Patterson asked me.”
Harper’s eyes widened as Aurora’s revelation sank in, her mind racing to catch up with the unexpected twist. For a moment, she simply stared, her mouth slightly agape, as if trying to process the shock that had just been dropped into her lap. Shaking her head in disbelief, the brunette felt a surge of incredulity bubble up inside her. She pushed herself up from her reclining position on the bed, her movements sharp and decisive, as if trying to shake off the surreal feeling.
With a dramatic flair that belied the moment's seriousness, she snatched a pillow from beside her, the soft fabric cool against her fingers. Then, without further ado, she gave Aurora a light, playful whack across the face with it, the pillow making a satisfying thump.
“Seriously, Rora? A date? Now? What on earth are you thinking?” Harper asked, unable to contain a small, disbelieving laugh. Without waiting for a response, her patience being already worn thin by her conversation with Sierra and now this, she dramatically flopped back onto the bed, shoving the same pillow over her face and screaming into it.
Aurora knew what was going to happen next as soon as she saw Harper reach for the pillow, but she couldn’t move fast enough before the plush fabric met her face. A muffled noise escaped her lips upon impact, but she simply resigned to her fate. When the pillow was removed she spoke with an understanding sigh.
“Okay, I deserved that, but what was I supposed to do? Chad overheard me saying to Kelcey that I didn’t have a date, so it’s not like I could lie to his face. No one else asked me, there was no reason for me to say no.” She began to explain but was interrupted by the brunette releasing her own frustration into said pillow, a muted scream audible. The redhead winced at her animated display and her face heated up, instantly feeling self-conscious as a result of her reaction.
When she finally pulled the pillow away, Harper’s face was flushed, and her expression was one of exasperation. “Maybe if you let Chadwick down gently, he might be understanding,” she suggested, though her voice lacked conviction. Even as she said it, Harper knew it was not only a ridiculous suggestion at this point but also a hurtful one. For wasn’t she in a similar situation with Cass? She highly doubted that, in Aurora’s place, he would have taken kindly to something like that if she went through with it.
Besides, Harper was looking forward to going with him. Despite their meeting under weird circumstances, she had enjoyed talking to him, finding an unexpected comfort in his presence. It had been surprisingly…easy, their conversation flowing naturally as if they had known each other for years. Though mainly about a foreboding subject that made her shudder now, there was an undeniable connection there that she couldn’t ignore. Sighing deeply, Harper propped herself up on her elbows, her gaze softened with sympathy.
“I’m not going back on my word, Harps, what’s done is done. Besides, it’s not like Lorcán didn’t have the opportunity.” Aurora reached up and fiddled with her necklace.
“Tori even agreed with me, she said I deserve to have fun and go with a guy who’s willing to ask me. So sure, it might be terrible timing, but this actually might be what I need right now. After everything that’s happened- the Trial, Lorcán’s health scare - I want tomorrow night to be fun, don’t you?”
“Just don’t…settle for him, okay? Have a good time, or try to at least,” Harper replied. Then, hesitating for a moment, she allowed a small, sheepish smile to tug at her lips. “Speaking of dates, I guess I should mention that I’ll be going to the dance with Cass. So…I guess I kinda get it.”
It was now the redhead’s turn to be shocked, her jaw unhinging slightly. She took the pillow, and whacked Harper across the arm, payback.
“Cass as in, Sassy Cassy? Pain in my Cass? That Cass?” Aurora’s eyes bugged out and her brow raised. “Since when?”
But her expression eased as she thought about the side of the blonde boy she’d seen over the past four days. As abrasive and smart-mouthed as he may have been, she’d learned more about him and his emotional capacity throughout their whole ordeal. He’d been charismatic and considerate; made sure she was taking care of herself, had ensured she was getting sleep, shared the burden they all carried. He’d comforted her when she cried, and supported her when things seemed bleak. There were certainly worse people that Harper could be going with…
Aurora dissolved into a small smile, reaching out and taking her friend’s hand in hers.
“That’s exciting, Harps. I’m happy for you.”
“Sassy Cassy? Pain in my Cass?” Harper repeated, shaking her head with a grin that lit up her face.“You’ve got quite the way with nicknames, you know that?” Her laughter was light and infectious, a brief respite from the heaviness that had settled over them. As the words left her lips, her amusement faded into a more genuine, warm smile, one that reached her eyes this time around.
Aurora smirked, a glow returning to her features as they discussed a much less stressful topic, “I came up with the nicknames because I know they annoy him, but as much as I enjoy giving him a hard time, I don’t think I would’ve gotten through this week without him.” She’d known Cass for nearly five years at this point, they’d had their disagreements and she’d always suspected he’d been a bit jealous about how much time Lorcán spent with her instead of him, but recently there was a mutual understanding there. An olive branch, in a way, with senior year looming over their heads. And now, they had their own traumatic experience to further bond over.
“Yeah, that sounds like the Cass I’m going with. The one and only,” Harper said, looking down at their joined hands. “I guess you could say we hit it off. He’s not just a pain though. I’ve actually found him pretty…decent, in his own way.” The words felt like an understatement somehow, despite not knowing the blond very well. There was something about him that intrigued her, something that made her want to dig deeper. Maybe it was because they seemed to share certain similarities, like blunt honesty. Or maybe it was him offering to go to the dance with her despite their abrasive meeting.
Or maybe it was the unpredictability he brought, the challenge he represented. A wildcard.
“He’s right in my comfort zone, at least.”
“Cass is rougher around the edges, but he has a good heart. You guys are going to have a great time together.” Aurora reassured, squeezing Harper’s hand prior to releasing it. “Seems as though we both will need to get all dolled up for the dance tomorrow then. I was going to see if all the girls wanted to come and get ready at my place, if that’d be of interest?”
“That sounds like fun. It’ll be nice to have them around and have things be about…well, everything else for a change.” Harper’s voice faltered here, her head tilting to the side in curiosity. “You do mean…everyone right?” she asked.Regardless of Aurora’s feelings about Amma, the last thing she wanted was to isolate her. It seemed…cruel, and Harper couldn’t bear the thought of anyone feeling left out.
It was evident who Harper was referring to without speaking a name, not just from her body language and facial expression but also from the intonation of her voice. Aurora swallowed, brow furrowed. She had yet to think about Amma’s role in all of this. Lorcán may have said her name upon awakening, but did that mean she should be angry with her? Possibly. After all, the redhead bore her soul to the girl in that infirmary room, disclosing her love and defending it with a passion she didn’t even believe she possessed. But on second thought, she knew she couldn’t be too upset with her. She didn’t owe her anything, she barely knew her.
After all, they wanted the same thing.
So she stood by the words she uttered back in the infirmary: Amma wasn’t a monster.
“Yes, everyone.”
Shaking off her unease, she abandoned the topic, grabbing Harper’s laptop and looking through the curated list of movies with a lighter view.
“On second thought, I wouldn’t mind a rom-com…”
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