[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 #4.057:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Look What You Made Me Do[/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]guilty conscience[/I][/color][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]
[indent][color=808080]Making Lorcán jealous was the exact [i]opposite [/i]of what Aurora was trying to do. In fact, she prayed that he wasn’t watching them dance right now - the last thing she needed was to make things worse than they already were, but clearly Chad had other ideas. What had transpired between the two in order to cause such hostility? She had never seen them interact in the past, she didn’t even think that they knew each other, so her curiosity was instantly piqued.

[color=#8ecdb7]“Who knew you’d be so eager.” [/color]The redhead stated as they continued to sway, pretending to go along with the act. The words stung as they left her lips, but she wasn’t about to reveal to him the reason she was really looking for Lorcán. [color=#8ecdb7]“What is it that you’re getting out of this?” [/color]She watched as the dark haired boy’s expression darkened at the question.

[color=#d71d2d]“Let’s just say he hurt someone very close to me. I’d take [/color][i][color=#d71d2d]any[/color][/i][color=#d71d2d] opportunity to get back at him for what he did.” [/color]His intonation was low, a warning, and Aurora knew better than to push the issue further. But she found it hard to believe that Lorcán actually harmed someone, he wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone a person, on purpose. There must have been a piece of the puzzle missing. Chad’s eyes lightened again, and he smirked before spinning her outwards and then pulling her in, her back now pressed against his chest. His breath was warm on her ear as he leaned in to speak, [color=#d71d2d]“More importantly though, I could never say no to a beautiful girl like you.”[/color]

Oh?

She turned back to face him and continued to sway, one slow song morphing into the next, but noticed his gaze was out into the distance still. Aurora followed his line of sight, which led to his friends who stood in the same spot they had left them in. One of them nodded their head towards the exit before mimicking having a drink and the entire group began to migrate to the front of the A.R.C. She glanced back at the dark haired boy only to find his eyes were now locked on her, a devious smile playing on his lips.

[color=#d71d2d]“What do you say we get out of here?”[/color] He stopped moving his legs, planting them firmly before his arm snaked around her midsection towards the small of her back, [color=#d71d2d]“Head to the speakeasy, have a few more drinks…”[/color] His hand came to rest on her lower hip, [color=#d71d2d]“Go and have some real fun.”[/color]

The redhead tensed, her cheeks flushing almost instantly as his thumb stroked along the fabric of her dress. He’d just had his hand on her waist while they were dancing, but this felt more deliberate, more intentional. That combined with his previous comment led her to believe that the vibe was [i]definitely[/i] shifting between them in a way she wasn’t prepared for.

[color=#8ecdb7]“I, uh… I don’t think…”[/color] She stammered, clearly wary of the sudden change in dynamic and unsure of what to say in response. Chad’s smile turned into a playful smirk, a flirtatious glint in his eye.

[color=#d71d2d]“You’re cute when you’re flustered.”[/color] He commented, another compliment based on her appearance, raising his eyebrows, [color=#d71d2d]“This dance is lame anyway, and besides…”[/color] His hand slowly slid lower as he leaned in towards her ear, speaking barely above a whisper.

[color=#d71d2d]“I’ve been dying to find out what’s under this dress.”[/color]

The alarm bells in her head sounded loudly and this time, she listened to them. Aurora immediately tried to take a step away from Chad and create some distance, but he quickly moved his hand back up to her waist and pulled her into him. 

[color=#d71d2d]“Don’t get all shy on me now, Aurora. I’ve seen the way you’ve been looking at me.”[/color] He insisted. She was quick to shake her head, confused on how he’d come to such a conclusion when she hadn’t intentionally given him any indication of interest. She knew a lot of girls liked Chad in that way, but she had eyes for someone else. 

[color=#8ecdb7]“You’ve got the wrong idea, I don’t want-” [/color]The redhead tried to explain, attempting to maneuver out of his grasp, but the dark haired boy tightened his hold, effectively keeping her from going anywhere.

[color=#d71d2d]“It’s okay to be nervous,” [/color]He assured, his voice sickeningly sweet even with what he was insinuating, making bile rise up in the back of Aurora’s throat. Her eyes searched around the dance floor, desperately looking for a friendly face. She hoped one of her friends was near and could see she needed assistance; in an ideal scenario, Harper would have been watching from across the room with her keen eye or Haven would have been eavesdropping from afar. But with all the commotion, she likely was lost in the shuffle. 

[color=#8ecdb7]“No, Chad, I’m not interested,”[/color] She formed the words successfully, but her voice still wobbled in her panic, something that the dark haired boy latched onto and ran with.

[color=#d71d2d]“Come on, baby, you know you want to.”[/color] He wasn’t relenting, choosing to ignore her blatant refusal and her heart sank. How more obvious could she be?

His hand slid lower, cupping her backside. He squeezed, and her breath caught in her throat. 

[color=#d71d2d]“We can take things slow,”[/color]

How could she have been so [i]stupid[/i]. His words and actions had been questionable this whole time and yet she had chosen to sweep things under the rug, believing she was reading into it all too much. That denial had led her to this moment. Amma’s words repeated in her mind and she finally understood what the raven vixen was warning her about, [i]who[/i] she was warning her about. Chad had asked her to the dance for one reason, and one reason only, but she had been so consumed in her woe over Lorcán that she hadn’t seen the warning signs. 

She knew guys like Chad. They didn’t get rejected often, so when they did, they didn’t take it well. Or rather, they didn’t accept the rejection at all, and she was not about to let him pressure her into doing anything she didn’t want to do. Aurora may have been her mother’s daughter, but she was definitely [i]not[/i] her mother. 

Enough was enough. 

Her face turned bright red, not in embarrassment or flattery, but in anger.

[color=#8ecdb7]“[/color][i][color=#8ecdb7]Don’t [/color][/i][color=#8ecdb7]touch me, and [/color][i][color=#8ecdb7]don’t[/color][/i][color=#8ecdb7] call me baby.”[/color]

This time, she didn’t hesitate as she slapped Chad across the face. 

The deafening sound of skin hitting skin seemed to ricochet even with the music playing loudly in the background. Releasing his grip, the boy reached up and cradled his face before looking back at her, eyes gone dark and alight with rage. Aurora took the opportunity to step back, separating herself from him.

[color=#d71d2d]“What the hell, Mitchell!”[/color] He spat, his facial expression contorting into one of shock for the action taken. 

[color=#8ecdb7]“I said [/color][color=#8ecdb7][i]no[/i][/color][color=#8ecdb7], Chad.” [/color]Aurora stated firmly, standing her ground. People around them were starting to notice the altercation, and seeing this, Chad grabbed the redhead’s arm, his fingers digging into her fair skin.

[color=#d71d2d]“Teleport us out of here before you make more of a scene than you already have.”[/color]

[color=#8aaceb]“The lady said no,”[/color] A voice roared,[color=#8aaceb] “Let me express that in a language you’re familiar with.”[/color]

Cass was a blur of motion, his fist connecting with Chad’s jaw, stunning the taller boy and causing him to release her. A follow-up strike to Chad's chest exploded with a concussive blast that sent him sliding back across the floor.

Lorcán pushed through the dumbfounded crowd, appearing beside Aurora and reassuringly grasping her hand while his free hand crackled with energy. He took a step in front of her and stared Chad down.

[color=#fe650d]“If you ever touch her again, you’ll lose the hand.”[/color] Lorcán spat, his fiery eyes prepared to burn a hole through him.

It all happened so fast, Aurora barely had enough time to react before Cass came out swinging, but as Lorcán grabbed her hand, angling himself between her and Chad, all of the panic she felt instantly vanished. The pair had practically appeared out of nowhere, but she wasn’t about to question how they had come to her aid so quickly.

Relieved, the redhead squeezed the hand that held hers. 

[color=#d71d2d]“You’re going to regret that, Charon,” [/color]Chad seethed, scrambling to his feet while clutching his chest. He looked down at Cass with the few inches he had to his advantage. [color=#d71d2d]“I should have taught you a lesson the first time.” [/color]He snarled, referencing their altercation from the day prior before looking over the blonde’s shoulder to where Lorcán stood. The dark haired boy saw red.

[color=#d71d2d]“So now you want to play the hero? That’s [/color][color=#d71d2d][i]rich[/i][/color][color=#d71d2d].” [/color]Chad scoffed, [color=#d71d2d]“You and I both know you’re far from innocent.” [/color]No one else would understand the reference, but he knew it’d cut deep nonetheless. He shook his head, [color=#d71d2d]“But you can have her, Roth, she’s a fucking tease anyway.”[/color]

Lorcán’s empty hand clenched into a fist at Chad’s words. He’d heard the term before but didn’t quite understand how Aurora was a tease. If anything, Lorcán knew it was Chad forcing a debt on the young woman she had no obligation to pay. 

[color=#fe650d]“No, she’s my friend, she doesn’t owe me anything,”[/color] Lorcán replied, standing his ground, [color=#fe650d]“And she doesn’t owe a junkyard dog like you a moment more of her time.”[/color] He paused before addressing Chad again. His experiences with Miranda earlier that day flooding back, the memory of his confrontation with Lance and Ryan, the actuality of that situation. A cool head began to prevail as he tried to reason with Chad.

[color=#fe650d]“Lance’s memories were altered, along with your parents’ and yours.”[/color] He explained, [color=#fe650d]“I didn’t harm your brother, but he hurt someone and consequences found him.”[/color]

[color=#8aaceb]“Apparently a familiar trait,”[/color] Cass snarked.

[color=#fe650d]“For tonight, these are your consequences,”[/color] Lorcán continued, [color=#fe650d]“Unless Aurora says otherwise,”[/color] He turned to look at her, waiting to see if the girl he loved had anything to add. 

The redhead met Lorcán’s molten gaze, fully knowing he’d unleash the fire he’d been keeping at bay if she said the word, and only then. Because at the end of the day, even though her best friend would always have her back, he knew that she was capable of fighting her own battles. And she definitely wasn’t done here. With a nod and another squeeze, she let go of his hand.

In an instant, she teleported directly in front of Chad and sent her knee straight into his groin.

He howled, doubling over in agony, not having had enough time or awareness to protect himself. The students around them seemed to grimace or wince in response, but Aurora’s focus remained pinned on the dark haired boy, her sapphire eyes abnormally icy. 

[color=#8ecdb7]“You so much as say a word to me ever again and I will teleport you off of the Southern Plateau.” [/color]Aurora threatened, brow furrowed.

Chad managed to lift his head after a moment, his face still contorted in pain, and glared at the redhead. 

[color=#d71d2d]“You little-” [/color]He began but stopped himself, noticing just how many people were now watching them. For a moment, it seemed like he wanted to retaliate, but if there was anything the boy cared about, it was his reputation. He looked between the three of them, from Cass, to Lorcán, and back to Aurora, staring her down. [color=#d71d2d]“This isn’t over, Mitchell.” [/color]He spoke through gritted teeth low enough for only her to hear before hobbling off, their classmates parting like the sea and creating a clear path for him to depart the A.R.C.

[color=#fe650d]“You want to get some air?”[/color] Lorcán offered, taking a hold of Aurora’s hand again, [color=#fe650d]“Feels like a good time for ice cream,”[/color] He smiled, turning to take her other hand as well, giving them both a small squeeze.

The redhead exhaled as she felt the familiar warmth of Lorcán’s skin, not realizing she had been holding her breath. Everyone else in the background seemed to fade away, her focus only on the boy standing in front of her, and she nodded in response, a small smile reappearing on her face.

[color=#8ecdb7]“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.” [/color]

[color=#8aaceb]“Well, I’m not needed here,”[/color] Cass stated dryly, [color=#8aaceb]“I suppose I should find my date and apologize for my tardiness.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“So long as you’re not here,”[/color] Lorcán replied with a smirk of his own, his eyes never once leaving Aurora’s, [color=#fe650d]“But thanks, you’ve always got my back,”[/color]

[color=#8aaceb]“Always will,”[/color] Cass replied, loosening his tie before pushing into the crowd and leaving the pair alone for some much-needed communication.

Without another word, Aurora teleported herself and Lorcán out of the A.R.C.[/color][/indent]