[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]Augmented Reality Center[/I] - [I]Pacific Royal Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=8ECDB7][b]Dance Monkey #4.055:[/b][/COLOR] [I]guilty conscience[/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]Time to Dance[/I][/color][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]
[indent][color=#808080]Chad’s arm wrapped around Aurora’s shoulders felt heavy, but the weight of her own actions bore heavier. The further that they walked from where Lorcán stood, the more guilty she felt, her best friend’s words reverberating in her head on a loop. He’d so willingly provided answers to the questions she hadn’t been nearly bold enough to ask, and instead she had hastily made her own assessment about the entire situation.[/color]

[color=#808080]It begged the question, what else had she misconstrued?[/color]

[color=#808080]Well for starters, that night in the tent before the trial he’d been talking about [/color][color=#808080]her. He’d fallen [/color][color=#808080]asleep trying to ask [/color][color=#808080][i]her[/i][/color][color=#808080] to the dance. He had only just confirmed his intentions but the answer had been right there all along, clear as day. Their powers intermingled and he had said how [/color][color=#808080][i]right[/i][/color][color=#808080] it had felt, he’d even assured her that Amma was just a friend - and yet, she’d doubted herself. Chalked it up to him being overwhelmed with everything that had happened that day with the school losing accreditation.[/color]

[color=#808080]The following evening in his dorm room, he’d said everything he did during the trial was to get her back, and he didn’t know what he would have done if anything had happened to her.[/color]

[i][color=#fe650d]Someone you love.[/color][/i]

[color=#808080]Was it possible that he felt the same way? Everything was starting to click.[/color]

[color=#808080]Even so, she didn’t have an answer as to why he had asked for Amma when he woke up. What had she said or done that caused her to be the first person he wanted to see, and thus set off this chain of unfortunate events? She racked her brain for a logical explanation- [/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“Earth to Aurora,” [/color]

[color=#808080]Chad shook her shoulder gently and Aurora blinked rapidly, snapping out of the trance she’d found herself in. [/color][color=#d71d2d]“Damn, am I boring you that much?” [/color][color=#808080]He asked playfully.[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“No, no not at all,” [/color][color=#808080]She quickly recovered, swallowing and offering him a smile, although it was much smaller than the one she’d given Lorcán only a few minutes prior. [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“I’m sorry, I just zoned out for a second.” [/color][color=#808080]The girl stated apologetically. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but inside she was beside herself.[/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“Guess I need to keep you a bit more stimulated then.” [/color][color=#808080]He winked, and where Aurora should have continued to burn, she instantly went cold. The action itself would have made the majority of girls on campus weak in the knees, but in that moment the redhead was immune to it, even a bit repulsed by it.[/color]

[color=#808080]She should be here with Lorcán. [/color]

[color=#808080]The pair rejoined Chad’s group of friends and Aurora tried to remain present as they conversed. She knew she’d only cause more issues for herself if she bailed on her date and went off to find the person she truly wanted to spend the evening with. So, she smiled politely and listened, pretending she had an ounce of interest in water polo. The discussion droned on, and the redhead thought she had gained the ability to turn invisible until one of Chad’s friends directed his attention to her.[/color]


[color=#ffffff]“So like, you can teleport [/color][color=#ffffff]anywhere[/color][color=#ffffff], right?”[/color][color=#808080] He asked, a dopey looking grin on his face. [/color][color=#ffffff]“Say you wanted to teleport to - I don’t know - [/color][i][color=#ffffff]the[/color][/i] [i][color=#ffffff]Gulo Dorms[/color][/i][color=#ffffff]. You could do that right?[/color][color=#ffffff]” [/color][color=#808080]He snickered, and the redhead raised her eyebrows.[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“I mean, no, it doesn't really work like that.”[/color][color=#808080] Aurora responded, warily, [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“It either has to be in my field of vision or I’ve had to have been there before.”[/color][color=#808080] She shook her head with a small laugh, trying to diffuse the situation, [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“It’s not like I can just show up somewhere I’ve never been.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Well that’ll change after tonight…”[/color][color=#808080] He said under his breath, nudging the boy to his right with his elbow accompanied by a small smirk. Did she hear him right? What kind of assumption was he trying to make?[/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“Okay, I think that’s enough from you,”[/color][color=#808080] Chad scolded, and yet there was something else laced in his tone and expression that she couldn’t quite discern. He took the drink from Aurora’s grasp and placed it down on a table before grabbing her hand. [/color][color=#d71d2d]“If you’ll excuse us, I think I owe my date a dance.” [/color]

[color=#808080]Before she could protest, the dark haired boy led her out onto the dancefloor just as the band switched to a slow romantic tune. Finding a spot amongst their peers, he pulled her closer using the hand holding hers and placed the other on the smallest point of her waist, the two beginning to sway to the music.[/color] [color=#808080]Aurora’s gaze wandered around the room, attempting to spot that familiar head of light brown sun bleached hair. [/color]

[color=#808080]She should have been dancing with [/color][color=#808080][i]him[/i][/color][color=#808080].[/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“I may be a jock, but I’m not stupid, you know.” [/color][color=#808080]Chad commented bluntly, causing Aurora’s sapphire eyes to instantly go wide as she returned her focus forward.[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“Oh, no, I was just-” [/color][color=#808080]She tried to cover for herself, and he chuckled at how quick the redhead was to react, interrupting her almost immediately before she could come up with a fabricated explanation.[/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“What I’m trying to say is that I know who you’re looking for.” [/color][color=#808080]He leaned in towards her, [/color][color=#d71d2d]“Normally, I’d be offended, but I get it.” [/color]

[color=#808080]Aurora tilted her head, her facial expression contorting into one of confusion.[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“...you do?” [/color][color=#808080]She questioned, surprised.[/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“Absolutely.” [/color][color=#808080]A devious smirk popped onto Chad’s lips.[/color]

[color=#d71d2d]“I’m all for making Roth jealous.”[/color][/indent]