Chapter 23- Unraveled Secrets In His Arms
"What do you mean the project is canceled?" Oma snapped.
"Mr. Roland quit," Ivy said, and Kiara groaned.
"What?! Why?" Oma exclaimed.
"He left the country," Rosanne replied.
"How do you know that?" Oma asked.
"Rumors," Rosanne replied.
"I worked so hard," Kiara groaned.
"So, who's replacing Roland?" Oma asked.
"Well, we don't know yet. We'll find out in class later. We still have about 30 minutes," Ivy shrugged.
"Ugh! What are we supposed to do with our project now?" Oma complained.
"Burn it, throw it away, toss it. My gosh! Jaxen would be so happy after hearing this," Rosanne said happily, and Oma's eyes flickered.
"Where's Auri?"
"She was in class with me, but I left her. She could be anywhere," Kiara replied with a sigh and left, clearly disappointed.
"Haven't seen her," Ivy shrugged.
"See ya, ladies. I need to go find out if my baby already heard the news," Rosanne did the peace sign and left.
Oma sighed deeply, uneasiness creeping in. "Where is she? Her phone is switched off"
"You know, sometimes you just gotta chill about Aurora, she's not a toddler that'll get lost." Ivy said plainly.
"I know. She's just... fragile. Don't ask me how." Oma replied heavily.
"Come on, let's go to the cafeteria." Ivy pulled her away.
ROOFTOP ~
Aurora's shaking calmed, but her body remained stiff. Her eyes were shut tight, as if trapped in a horrifying memory.
"I-I told him I wasn't interested; he wanted to rape me. He tried to—" She stopped, her eyes moving as if the scene in her mind was changing.
"Bianca wanted him; she was obsessed with him." Leonard's jaw clenched, and the darkness in his eyes deepened.
"For her birthday, she planned everything.
My kidnapping and rape, she wanted me to disappear so Zane would be hers.
She pretended to be a friend. I loved her, but she betrayed me and got Ginny raped instead.
They made me watch them torture her; they all took turns.
I saw everything, tied to a chair. Slapped, punched, harassed.
" She revealed everything, her grip on his jacket tightening.
Leonard placed his hand at the back of her hair and slowly stroked it to calm her.
"Why didn't you tell your parents?" he asked gently.
"He had a video of me changing for gym class and threatened to release it if I told them. So I lied, saying it was just a weird guy with a crush. I said I could handle it. If only I'd spoken up... Ginny wouldn't have...."
"Bianca set me up; she worked with Zane. Ginny tried to save me but ended up suffering instead.... Seven guys, they all took turns on her. They hurt her badly..." Her breathing became unsteady, and Leonard kept stroking her hair.
"I couldn't help her. I just watched..."
"And then, they faced me... Zane threw her under the bed like dirty laundry. The slaps, punches, screaming.... The sex starved look in his eyes.... He beat me up badly..."
It played in her head like it happened yesterday.
"You know I love you, right? I wouldn't wanna do anything to hurt you.
" He said, getting up from the chair with a deep sigh and that sly smile on his face like he just conquered the world.
"After this, we'll leave the city, away from your friends.
.." He chuckled, looking at Ginny's hand that peeped under the bed.
"Away from your parents... Everyone." He smiled.
"My dad is gonna enroll us in another school.
Don't worry, you'll be happy... With me.
" He walked to the bed slowly and sjs shivered even more.
"Zane... P-please, don't do this..." She whispered in fear.
He turned to the door that was left ajar.
"The click from that door is the last thing I remember... I... I... Can't..."
She remained still and quiet, yet she was breathing normally. Her breaths were stable.
For minutes, they stayed in that position and as for Leonard, he couldn't stop himself from remembering, from being thrown back to that fucked up night.
FLASH BACK ~
"You're not even gonna try to..."
"Try to what? Defend myself? You're willing to listen to me even if I lie?" Bianca cut him off and she sighed.
"Listen..." She patted his shoulder. "I just... Got tired. Simple. I like someone else now. He's just everything I want, okay? You're nice too, you always get me gifs, take me out, and love me a lot, and all those lovey stuff.." She let out a bored sigh.
"I love Zane..."
"Zane." He repeated, his voice so broken, the same sounded like a curse in his mouth.
"Yeah. Find another girl that'll love you like you used to love me."
"I still do." Leonard said quickly.
"Let it go. Don't hurt yourself." She replied, getting fed up.
"Bianca..." He went closer.
"Stop, stop. Just stop or I swear I say you tried to rape me." She threatened, pointing a finger at him, leaving him in utter shock.
It's real. It's fucking real.
End Of Flashback ~
Aurora's movement snapped Leonard out of his thoughts.
Her eyes opened slowly, unfocused, and then closed again. Too bright.
The wind in her hair… the calm…
But that scent,spicy, expensive...
Wait.
Wasn’t she on the rooftop after Leo. Leonard.
Her eyes snapped open with a gasp.
Strong arms held her. She was resting on someone's lap.
Leonard.
He looked at her, bored and blank.
She sat up quickly, getting off his legs, and almost fell.
His hand shot out, grabbing hers to steady her.
She pulled her hand away as if it burned.
"What the hell... How did… What happened..."
She paused.
And then everything hit her like a tidal wave. The words. The confessions.
Her past.
Her body went stiff. "No… no way. I didn't..."
Leonard stood up slowly, with that usual “so what?” look.
"You like to be held in people's laps. Interesting," he said, his voice flat with amusement.
"No. No." Her voice was sharp now, panic hidden underneath.
Had she really let him win?
"Why did you touch me?" Her coldness returned, like armor snapping into place.
Leonard chuckled darkly, amused, as if he was watching a show just for himself.
"You're funny, too?" He smirked, taking a slow step forward.
"You didn't want to leave me. You were so comfortable in my arms...on my lap. So, princess, tell me...who touched who?"
He leaned in, his face inches from hers, cocky and amused.
Aurora's breathing was shallow and sharp.
"Whatever I told you..."
"Is staying with me," he finished, his tone final.
"I don't trust you," she hissed, her eyes narrowed.
"I don't want you to." His voice was ice.
"Crazy how you think your mess means anything to me." Then he turned, walking off.
No drama or emotion.
Of course, just Leonard being Leonard.
And for some reason... She knew he wouldn't say a word.
He couldn't care less anyway.
TBC...
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