Chapter 28- Passions And Schemings
★
"We have to do something about that Aurora." Alayah muttered.
"What do you mean by we? I have nothing against her." Asha replied.
They're heading to their next class.
That's because you're interested in Ricky." Alayah rolled her eyes.
"And I want Leo for myself. Aurora is always around him, and I hate it. I can't even sit close to him without that girl showing up. That guy is so hot."
Asha frowned, then shook her head. "No. I'm not interested in Ricky anymore. I hate him. I want revenge and I definitely won't let him get with Ivy "
Alayah's smirk was satisfied. "Fine. Then we work together. Make Aurora and Ivy suffer. Make sure Aurora and Leo don't get together, and make sure Ivy and Ricky don't get together too."
Asha folded her arms, thinking. "Okay. I'm in. What's the plan?"
Alayah smiled cynically. "I'll tell you later, we'll start with Aurora. Nobody will see it coming."
"Deal." Asha said. They exchanged a look, the kind that promised trouble.
Oma leaned against the restroom sink, fanning her face with both hands as if that would steady her racing heart. Her mind kept circling back to the janitor's closet.
Mason.
His voice. His eyes. The way he had asked her to be his girlfriend right there, between mop buckets and cleaning supplies.
"He's insane." She muttered under her breath, shaking her head. "Completely lost his mind."
She pressed her palms flat on the sink, staring down at the porcelain. She needed to calm down.
Yes, she liked him, she couldn't deny that, but jumping in this fast? No. She had told him she needed time. She needed to think.
The restroom door creaked open, and Aurora walked in. She didn't even notice Oma at first.
She brushed past her, heading straight for the mirror. Her chest rose and fell sharply as though she had been running.
She turned on the faucet and splashed water over her face, then scrubbed at her hands so hard her knuckles turned red.
Oma frowned, straightening. "Hey... what's wrong with you? What happened again? Did Leo do something?"
Aurora didn't answer. She just kept scrubbing, her breath coming out in sharp bursts.
Then she shut her eyes tight and took one last deep breath, holding the edge of the sink as though it might steady her. When she opened them, her reflection stared back at her, pale and shaken.
The images hit her like a tidal wave.
That empty lab. Leonard's hands on her. His mouth everywhere but her lips. Her chest squeezed, her heart pounding.
Did she really just do that? Did she actually let him touch her? Kiss her all over?
Oma touched her shoulder gently, worried. "Auri, what's going on? Don't scare me again, you know how quickly I get worried about you."
Aurora's voice came out faint, almost a whisper. "Something happened."
Oma leaned closer. "What happened?"
Aurora's lips trembled as she tried to form the words. Finally, she breathed out, "I let him touch me."
"Huh?" Oma narrowed her eyes.
"Yes." Aurora's gaze stayed locked on the mirror, her tone flat and hollow. "I let Leonard touch me. He kissed me all over."
Oma hesitated. "Your lips?"
"No." Aurora shook her head slowly.
"He carried me in his arms and started kissing me all over. It was as if he was saving another moment for..."
"Your lips?" Oma tilted her head.
Aurora stayed silent.
A flicker of something warm crossed Oma's chest, but she pushed it down quickly. This was a good thing actually.
"That's... nice."
Aurora whipped her head toward her. "Nice? How is this nice , Oma? Why did I let him do that? I didn't even stop him. Well, I tried at first, but then I just... let him continue."
Oma tightened her grip on her shoulder, steadying her. "Listen, this is a good thing. This is how it always starts."
Aurora's brows knitted. "How is this a good thing? Make it make sense. I literally just let Leo touch me all over." She broke off, her voice trembling.
"And what do you mean by 'this is how it always starts'?"
Oma softened her tone. "Okay, calm down, fire.
You're gonna be fine. Just relax. Think about it.
You didn't get triggered by him. Remember Mr. Thorne?
He touched your shoulder and you threw up.
Those guys on the stairway? You had a full-on trauma attack.
But Leo touches you now and... nothing. Isn't that good?
Maybe this is your chance to heal. You literally made out with him. "
Aurora's lips curled bitterly. "Made out?! Gross! Heal? Do I look like I wanna heal? I want this hatred for guys to stay in me until the day I die."
"Gross?" Oma laughed. "Girl, you can't change the fact that you made out with him, and I'm damn sure it was a hot make-out."
Aurora threw her a glare.
Oma sighed, shaking her head. "Fine. Just calm down, okay? Relax."
Then, as if to lighten the air, she added with a small grin, "Anyways, Mason just asked me to be his girl."
Aurora turned her head. "Your answer?"
"I told him to wait. I need time." Oma's said proudly. "Now chillll."
"Cool." Aurora muttered plainly, eyes drifting back to the mirror.
Just then, the door swung open and Kimberly walked in. A smug smile appeared on her face when she saw Oma and Aurora.
Aurora's expression immediately hardened. Without a word, she stormed past Kimberly, her shoulder brushing against hers. Oma shot Kimberly a glare before following Aurora out.
Kimberly scoffed, her reflection smirking back at her in the mirror, hatred gleaming sharp in her eyes.
"Keep being the celebrity here. I'll get you when you least expect it." She said with an enigmatic smile.
He opened his gallery. The first photo was the one he'd taken of her the day he arrived.
He scrolled until his eyes landed on the picture he'd taken of Aurora changing for gym class.
He stared at it for a long time, breathing deep. "Just like last time, I'll make you suffer for choosing someone else over me. You'll watch it. You'll witness it. And after, I'll take you away, and this time I'll succeed." He muttered through a clenched jaw.
Class just ended for most departments including Aurora's. She stepped out of class with a sigh, already pleased she's going home.
The girls are chatting behind her. But Kiara's eyes are on her, watching in case Leonard's comes to her.
"Three hour class of boredom." Ivy whined.
"Girls, I gotta go. Jaxen's waiting outside." Roseanne strolled off.
"Bye." The girls chorused.
"That reminds me, Oma, why haven't you added Aurora to our group chat?" Ivy furrowed her brows.
Oma sighed. "She's gonna leave immediately I add her. It's useless."
"Just do it." Ivy shrugged.
Kiara smiled. "Yeah, imagine all she can tell us when she's added. Like her and Leo."
"Yeah." Ivy grinned.
"Fine, then." Oma muttered.
"And if she leaves add her back." Ivy squinted her eyes.
"And if she leaves again. Keep adding her till she's fed up and stays." Kiara said and Ivy laughed.
"Ok, I have to catch up with her. Ciao." Oma left them.
"Bye!"
"I don't wanna go home now. Let's go out." Ivy pouted.
"Are you kidding me?" Kiara chuckled.
"Ivy." Ricky came to them, Ivy frowned and threw a glare.
"Stay away from me, Ric." Ivy pulled Kiara away.
"Ivy!"
"What do you even wanna talk to her about?" Sean appeared, Ricky turned.
"I don't even know. I just..." Ricky trailed off.
"You've gone crazy."
Ricky aggressively ran his hands through his hair.
"I don't know what's going on, but just give her space for now, use the party as an opportunity." Sean patted his shoulder and left.
"Yeah..." Ricky muttered, staring into space.
He saw Asha staring at him across the hallway, more like glaring. He returned the glare and strolled off tiredly.
"Seriously, you couldn't wait?" Oma rolled her eyes.
"Didn't wanna interrupt your chat." Aurora threw her bag in her car.
"Have you seen Leo after what happened earlier?" Oma asked knowingly. Aurora froze.
"Do I suddenly have a tracker on him to always know his whereabouts?" She narrowed her eyes and slid into the driver's seat.
Oma smiled mockingly. "Okay, he could probably be with a girl or something. Anyways, it doesn't matter to you." She faked innocence.
Aurora's lips formed a twisted smile. "You're right, it doesn't matter to me."
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have a horror movie to catch." She smirked.
Oma frowned. "Didn't I forbid you from that? Auri!"
Aurora drove off.
"Aurora!" Oma stumped her foot.
"She's so impossible!"
Another girl? Is he that much of a whore? After kissing her without her permission?
Why does she even care? She actually doesn't.
He can do whatever he wants, but one thing's sure; he's never coming close to her ever again.
She arrived at the cinema after almost thirty minutes.
The theater wasn't crowded. Perfect.
Her hair was no longer in a ponytail, she had let it down after stepping out of the car earlier.
She took her seat and unwrapped a lollipop. She wasn't a fan of popcorn, so she didn't buy any. Her lollipops would do.
Twenty minutes into the movie, the theater had already turned into something else.
Screams, screeching, gasps.
Aurora stayed calm. She was used to it. These were her favorite kinds of films.
"Hi." A male voice came from beside her. A blonde guy sat next to her with popcorn.
"Want me to hold your hand while you watch?" His eyes lingered on her, lustful.
Aurora slid her hand casually into her pocket and brought out her pocket knife.
Her eyes never left the big screen, as if no one was sitting beside her.
"One... two... three. You'll be sorry if I get to five," she said casually, though her voice cut like ice.
"Four..."
The guy swallowed hard and bolted immediately.
Aurora rolled her eyes so hard they almost hurt.
Her phone chimed.
PSYCHOPATH: Good girl.
She didn't bother replying. Who the hell did he think he was? And what was that even supposed to mean?
No. It wasn't random. He never sent things for nothing. It felt like he could see her.
PSYCHOPATH: Knew you wouldn't let anyone touch what's mine.
Her eyes narrowed.
He couldn't be serious. This guy...
She scanned the dark theater.
And there he was. Draped in black. Watching her like she was the only thing worth seeing.
The hood shadowed most of his face, but his lips,pink, curved in a slow smirk, stood out. His stare pinned her in place.
Her breath caught. Anger burned in her eyes, sharp enough to cut him where he sat. Screams from the movie rose around them, the perfect backdrop to their silent war.
He stood. Slow. Heavy. Intent in every step until his shadow swallowed her row.
Before she could react, he dropped into the seat beside her and pulled her onto his lap.
The lollipop stick bent in her fist.
"You better not have put a tracker on me without asking." She snapped.
"Without asking?" His voice was low, dangerous, his hand sliding along her waist. "So you'd have said yes if I did?"
"Stop following me." Her tone was ice, but her pulse betrayed her, hammering against his chest.
"Funny." He murmured, lips grazing her ear. "Shouldn't you have gone to the police by now? Told them your classmate won't leave you alone?"
His arm tightened, drawing her closer until nothing was left between them.
"You really do like my company, don't you?"
Her body went stiff. She wanted to shove him off, to shred his smirk with words. But she froze, glare locked on his.
"Lost your voice, Noelle?" His breath brushed her neck, hot and deliberate, while the theater screamed on, oblivious.
His hand slid beneath her oversized jacket, fingers brushing her bare skin for the second time that day.
God, they're not small. Calling them small would be a lie. Hidden under her shapeless clothes, no one would ever guess what belonged only to him.
Her hand shot up, seizing his wrist before he could roam further.
"Leonard..." Her voice was strained, warning, but his thumb was already dragging across her bottom lip. The things he wanted to do to her burned behind his eyes.
Unseen in the back row of the dimly lit theater, a figure in black raised a camera.
The faint glow of the screen was enough to catch every stolen moment between them.
The lens captured Aurora pressed against Leonard, her face half-hidden against his shoulder, her body tense, subtly resisting.
The man clicked the shutter a few more times. Then, just as quietly as he had arrived, he slipped away with the evidence.
Aurora's pulse was thrumming. Her free hand dipped into her jacket pocket. Before Leonard could react, cold steel flashed, and she drove the knife into his arm.
His arm split open, his blood soaking his black jacket. Leonard watched it bleed, almost amused, his lips curving faintly as if she'd just entertained him.
"You just marked me, Noelle. You're catching up, I see." His voice came, eerily calm.
Her chest rose at each sharp breath she took. Looking at the knife still in his arm, seeing that he's not affected.
She knows it didn't hit deep, but is this whore on drugs? No pain, nothing?
"I'll make sure I mark you too. But in a different way, with my special weapon and in a different part of your body." Their eyes locked.
Her eyes scanned his, looking for an emotion, anything. But he's locked, so many walls up.
"Turned on from a stab? Interesting." He chuckled darkly.
The fact that he's not even lying.
"You're sick. You're absolutely sick." She spat.
"I'm keeping the knife as an early birthday gift from you. And yes, I'm not holding you anymore but you're still sitting on me."
She immediately stood up and stomped his foot before storming out of the theater.
"Ouch." He muttered, and took the knife out of his arm. Blood poured our, soaking his jacket.
He wiped the blood off with his jacket, giving it a hard stare.
She'll be introduced to his knife soon.
He saw her lollipop on the seat to him and took it. It's bent, definitely her handiwork.
"Strawberry." He muttered with an eye roll.
It towered over the city, and at the very top was Melvin's office. It was all glass and steel and the world was beneath him.
Melvin took a sip from his coffee as his eyes rummaged the file in his hand.
He was still busy with that when the intercom buzzed softly on his desk.
Without looking up, he reached for it. "Go ahead."
"Sir, there's a man here with a delivery. He says it's for you... something called the Purple Package."
"Send him up." Melvin set the intercom down.
Minutes later, a man in black stood before Melvin in his office.
Melvin opened the large envelope and spread the photos across his desk.
There were shots from other days too, even inside the college grounds. He scanned each one carefully, not wanting to miss a flicker of expression. In most of them, Aurora was frowning, her annoyance plain.
Leonard's hands were always on her. Always pulling her close.
"You may go." Melvin said without looking up.
"Yes, sir." The man bowed and left quietly.
Melvin stroked his chin. "So this is the Leo. The one after my daughter..." His eyes lingered on a particular photo, Leonard with Aurora in the college parking lot.
"Took everything from your father, even his way with women..."
He studied the pictures again, his gaze sharpening.
"Could it be the old flame from their childhood? Is that why she isn't triggered by him? Is it love? Or is Leo playing his games, and she's falling for them?" He murmured, leaning back into his chair.
A long sigh escaped him as he strained his neck.
His phone buzzed on the desk. Gemma.
He answered with a swipe.
"Aren't you picking me up, Mr. Raven?" Her sharp voice rang out, and he could almost see her rolling her eyes.
"Got caught up with something. I'll leave soon." He said calmly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Soon? You better leave that office now and come take me home."
"Relax. I'm on my way." He grabbed his keys from the desk.
"Good. I'm waiting." She hung up.
Melvin slid the photos back into the envelope and walked out with it.
The Raven mansion was quiet when Melvin and Gemma walked in. Aurora was curled up on the couch, picking at the last bits of her dinner while the TV flickered in front of her.
"Welcome." Aurora said plainly without looking up.
"My love. How was your day?" Gemma kissed her hair.
"Pretty nice?" Aurora replied sarcastically.
One of the maids came to Gemma and took her bag upstairs.
"Nanny Mira!" Gemma called, Mira came out of the kitchen.
"There are shopping bags in the car, get them please."
"Sure." Mira went outside.
Melvin loosened his tie, eyes resting on his daughter. "How's school?" He asked, tone light but loaded.
"Fine." she muttered without looking up.
"Making any new friends? Aside from Oma?"
Aurora shrugged, stabbing her fork into her plate. "Not really."
His voice dipped lower. "And Leonard? Is he still bothering you?"
Her jaw tightened. "I don't know anything about him. I don't care. I hate him."
"You're sure?"
"Why would I lie?" She shot back, flat and sharp.
Melvin held her gaze for a moment, then sighed and dropped it. "Alright. As long as you're not... having episodes anymore."
Aurora didn't answer.
Gemma gave Melvin a questioning look and he returned it with an assured one.
He went upstairs.
"So, baby, I saw this stunning car and it's something you'll definitely like. It'll be here tomorrow." Gemma dropped onto the couch beside Aurora.
Mira entered with shopping bags dangling from her arms.
"You hired a butler?" Aurora asked flatly.
"I had to. I'm going to be insanely busy for weeks, and I doubt I'll even go near the kitchen."
"Anyways, here they are." Gemma took one of the bags and opened a small velvet box inside. Rows of silver knuckle rings gleamed under the light.
"I know how obsessed you are with knuckle rings and chokers." She handed them to Aurora, then pulled out another box, revealing a black leather choker with a silver clasp.
"Remember, Charlene and her family are coming this Saturday. Do not do anything crazy."
Aurora's face darkened.
That meant Leonard was coming too. The punk was coming too.
Her mind drifted back to what happened earlier in the theater... and in the lab. For no reason at all, her skin still tingled, hot, like every place he'd touched, every spot he'd kissed, was burning under her clothes.
"Auri." Gemma's voice snapped her out of it.
"Hm?"
"What happened?"
"Sick of everything." Aurora's tone was clipped. Then, glancing at the rings in her hand, she added with a crooked smile. "Thanks for the gifts, though. At least when I slap someone now, the rings will leave a mark."
"You're impossible." Gemma rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "You can check out the rest on your own." She rose to her feet, heels clacking against the marble as she headed upstairs.
Aurora let out a sharp breath, her chest tight.
The thought of Leonard was enough to ruin her mood all over again.
Melvin walked over, silent, and held out the thick envelope. Her brows pulled together as she took it from him.
The moment she slid the photos out, her breath hitched. The first picture shocked her to bits.
"Oh my gawd!"
Leonard stretched out on his bed, phone buzzing on the nightstand. A text lit up the screen. It's Oma.
Short Gossiper: You kissed Aurora? ??
His lips curved, eyes narrowing at the message. He typed back lazily...
Leonard: Stop pestering me, or I'll end the relationship you haven't even started with Mason.
He tossed his phone aside.
His mind went back to the theater. He could swear he saw Caspian after Aurora left.
A sly smile graced his lips.
---
Wayne finally let Kimberly go home, he has a business trip.
She lay sprawled on her bed, the glow of her phone lighting her face.
Leonard's photo filled the screen. Her thumb traced over it, soft, like she was touching him.
Her smile hardened into something darker.
"She's going to pay for this." She whispered. "Aurora Raven thinks she can steal him from me?"
Kimberly locked her phone and curled onto her side, venom simmering in her eyes.
"Tomorrow." She murmured into the dark. "Tomorrow she won't know what hit her."
TBC...