[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[/I] - [I]Pacific Royal Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=8ECDB7][b]Dance Monkey #4.036:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Fine Line[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][center][COLOR=8ECDB7][SUP][sub]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][/center][indent][sub][color=8ECDB7][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/color][I] N/A[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=8ECDB7][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [COLOR=808080][I]A Heart's Fine Print [/I][/color][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]
[indent][color=#e1b7c1]“Leah, stop moving, I’m not nice enough to redo these a third time.” [/color]

[color=#808080]Aurora laughed to herself as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, freshly showered and wrapped in a plush bathrobe, finishing up her skincare. With the door open, she could hear Maddy and Leah at the kitchen table, the former attempting to paint the latter’s nails, which was proving to be quite the challenging task. The blonde had difficulty sitting still normally, let alone remaining stationary long enough to avoid getting polish all over her fingers. The redhead was certain that by now Maddy’s patience was wearing thin, but nevertheless, she persisted. Kelcey was avoiding the chaos, sprawled out on the couch, a sheet mask on her face and scrolling through her phone.[/color]

[color=#808080]Everyone was busy getting ready for this evening’s festivities - the senior dance was one of the main highlights of the Fall semester. Aurora was excited to enjoy a night off from the shitty hand that she had been dealt over the last week and a half, even if she was a little nervous about having an actual date to the function. She’d be lying though if she didn’t admit she was having second thoughts about her decision, but Chad had texted her not too long ago to confirm, so there was no getting out of the commitment now.[/color]

[color=#808080]Leaving the bathroom, Aurora walked towards Kelcey and perched herself on the arm of the sofa, letting her lips settle into a weak half smirk.[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“You know, I think you should go to the dance just like that. It’s a great look[/color][color=#8ecdb7].” [/color][color=#808080]She stated sarcastically, even if the joke felt a tad forced. She had been keeping to herself for most of the morning, and her poking fun was a sorry attempt at a somewhat normal interaction. The brunette looked up from her phone slowly, raising a quizzical eyebrow at her. They had been roommates since Freshman year and by now the girl could easily tell when things were not completely right. Aurora didn’t have to say anything, Kelcey could read her like a book.[/color]

[color=#6b729e]“Okay,” [/color][color=#808080]She spoke with a labored tone as she sat upright and peeled off her face mask, carelessly discarding it on their coffee table. [/color][color=#6b729e]“What’s wrong?”[/color]

[color=#808080]Aurora held strong for another moment before letting her mouth drop and revealing a sad expression, eyelids drooping ever so slightly. With a deep exhale, she spoke of what was weighing heavily on her shoulders.[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“About tonight, even if he might be interested in someone else, I don’t want to hurt Lorcán’s feelings or for him to be mad at me. I don’t know how he’s going to react when I tell him that I have a date and-”[/color]

[color=#6b729e]“He already knows, Rora.” [/color][color=#808080]Kelcey interrupted matter-of-factly, lying back down on the sofa unceremoniously, as if she just didn’t drop an absolute bomb on her friend. [/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“Wait,” [/color][color=#808080]Aurora’s eyebrows were now raised, confusion etched onto her features.[/color][color=#8ecdb7] “He does?” [/color][color=#808080]The brunette sighed, setting her phone down and looking back at Aurora.[/color]

[color=#6b729e]“Yeah, I told him. When I saw him yesterday after you ‘ported to the Alumni Village to get the dress from Tori.”[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“You- [/color][i][color=#8ecdb7]what[/color][/i][color=#8ecdb7]?” [/color][color=#808080]She was in disbelief of what she was hearing, which prompted Kelcey to elaborate.[/color]

[color=#6b729e]“Well someone had to, and better for me to be the bad guy who upset him than you. You don’t owe him an explanation.”[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“I mean… I guess.” [/color][color=#808080]Aurora gnawed on the inside of her cheek, instantly anxious. Maybe [/color][i][color=#808080]that’s[/color][/i][color=#808080] why Lorcán hadn’t texted her at all. It was possible he was too mad to even speak to her, let alone hear her out. The wheels were turning in her head, the train flying off the rails, until Kelcey rested a hand on hers.[/color]

[color=#6b729e]“Look, it’s better that Lorcán has had time to process this so you can have a conversation that isn’t emotionally charged. At the end of the day, he doesn’t have a right to be angry. He should have asked you if he didn’t want to see you going with someone else and these are the consequences of his own actions. Period, full stop.” [/color][color=#808080]The brunette reasoned, trying to instill the logic into the redhead’s brain. She was always blunt, which was both a positive and a negative, but she always spoke the truth and it was something that Aurora appreciated about her. [/color]

[color=#808080]But before she could reply, a knock at the door interrupted their conversation, both girls' faces contorting into ones of surprise, as they weren’t expecting anyone this early in the day. The brunette quickly got up, the redhead not far behind her, and approached the front door, opening it to reveal a younger boy shifting his weight from foot to foot.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Which one of you is Kelcey?” [/color][color=#808080]The underclassman asked, nervous energy radiating off of him, his voice shaky finding himself face to face with the older women. [/color]

[color=#6b729e]“Who’s asking?” [/color][color=#808080]Kelcey questioned, defensively. The boy relaxed a touch, slightly relieved that he was in the right place, before revealing a bouquet of flowers that he had been hiding behind his back. He handed them to her, a note tucked in between the stems.[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Special delivery from House Lutra.” [/color][color=#808080]He stated, his mission accomplished, offering Aurora a small smile and nod before scurrying off. [/color]

[color=#808080]The brunette’s brow raised as she stepped away from the entryway and into their kitchen area, examining the arrangement  - deep purple chrysanthemums, red spray roses, along with some other jewel toned flowers amongst eucalyptus and greenery. Plucking out the card, she read it aloud. [/color]

[color=#6b729e]“[/color][color=#6b729e][i]Just a little something for my date to the dance. Can’t wait to see you tonight, I love you. Oliver.[/i][/color][color=#6b729e]” [/color][color=#808080]Kelcey bit her lip, attempting to hide the smile that crept up on her otherwise serious features. Oliver was her teammate and boyfriend of three years. He was her true opposite, friendly and warm where she was reserved and aloof. Extroverted and outgoing where she was introverted and distant. And yet, Aurora always thought that they were the perfect match. Opposites attract and all that.[/color]

[color=#d1634d]“Is that… are you [/color][color=#d1634d][i]blushing[/i][/color][color=#d1634d], Kelce?”[/color] [color=#808080]Leah’s eyes went wide as she teased, spying the light rosy hue across the bridge of the brunette’s nose and the apples of her cheeks. As quickly as she let her softer romantic side show, Kelcey reverted to her sarcastic and icy exterior.[/color]

[color=#6b729e]“I will ruin your manicure, Leah.” [/color][color=#808080]She taunted, to which the blonde quickly dropped her playful demeanor and turned back to Maddy who tried to hide her amusement.[/color]

[color=#808080]Aurora shook her head at the exchange, there was [/color][i][color=#808080]never[/color][/i][color=#808080] a dull moment between her roommates. But her joy dissolved into discontent, Oliver’s display of affection tugging at her aching heart. She imagined what it would be like if Lorcán had sent her a bouquet, how that would make her feel if it was something even remotely possible. But it was unlikely he’d do that, after all, he’d send flowers to [/color][i][color=#808080]Amma[/color][/i][color=#808080] before he would send them to her. [/color]

[color=#808080]Harper’s words from the evening prior rang in her ears, imploring her to take action and not stand idly by. And with Kelcey’s confirmation that he indeed knew about her date, even if he was in fact ignoring her, at this point there was no use in waiting for him to reach out. If she was going to tell him how she felt, she needed to be brave and take that first step. Pulling out her phone, she let her fingers fly across the screen, typing out a message and not hesitating to hit send.[/color]

[color=darkgray][table=bordered][row][cell][center][b]SENT TO [color=FE650D]LORCÁN ROTH[/color][/b]
[color=#8ECDB7]Hey, I’m so relieved you’re okay. Sorry I ducked out before you woke up 😔
Want to talk to you about something… come find me tonight, I’ll save you a dance.[/color][/center][/cell][/row][/table][/color][/indent]