The girl who never knew

“Aura” Jamie exclaims from across the hall coming towards me with her arms wide open.

“Stop you are crushing me!” I gasp while trying to get her off me.

“Oh, Aura aren’t you excited? It’s our last day as seniors … we’ll be out in the world soon …. Be whatever we wanna be” she says sighing happily.

“Oh I’m excited alright but I’m gonna miss this place… wait why are you talking like that?…

NO WAY! NO WAY! Did they ask you? OMG, they did….CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I hug Jaime tightly!

“Yup you are looking at the class valedictorian! It finally happened” Jamie says looking proud and happy at the same time.

“We have got to celebrate!!!!”

“Celebrate what?” Max comes in hugging Jaime from the side and placing a sweet kiss on her temples.

“Meet our valedictorian MS. Jamie Adams!” I say dramatically.

Max looks at her proudly and embraces her in a deep kiss.

“Some of us might feel uncomfortable you know” I try to make them conscious but they don’t seem to care.

“So we have a few things to decide …. How are we gonna celebrate Jamie and our vacation?”.

This seems to get their attention as they instantly turn towards me.

“Well we could go to that new place that opened around the block and decide there what we do on vacation over some drinks” Max suggested

“Or we could celebrate both together “ Jamie gives us her best smile.

“But where do we go?”

“Oh I know we could go on a hike on the Rocky Mountains through the forest! Imagine the beautiful scenery, starry nights” Jamie says looking almost dreamy.

“Nah! I think we should go down to the beach, we could bask in sun during the day and chill on the cold sand at night” I say almost feeling warm from my imagination.

“Uh Hello! Have you guys considered a road trip?” Max looks at us looking happy with his suggestion.

“NO!” Both me and Jaime exclaim together.

“Okay” Max shrugs looking bored.

“How are we gonna decide then?”

“I know! Let’s play ROCK PAPER SCISSORS!”

Jamie ends up winning the game.

“Yay!! Hike it is!” Jamie jumps happily.

“So here it is we leave tomorrow at 5 AM sharp!” Jamie says looking at Max as if warning him to be on time.

I let out a chuckle

I see a group of people rushing towards us …. CORRECTION! Towards ME!

I see Alaska leading them.

Alaska is this “popular” kid. He is cute yet hot, he happens to be the lead in every sport and could get any girl he would point his finger at. I have wanted him like forever now but I’m too much of a chicken to ask him out, plus he would never go for me RIGHT?…

“Hey Aura you got a little drool right there” Max laughs pointing his finger at the corner of my mouth.

“You have to ask him to the dance Aura, this could be your last chance or you might end up wondering and regretting thinking what it could be” Jamie rubs my back soothingly.

“I guess you are right…. But he looks busy right now I’ll do it after coming back yeah?!” I try hard not to look at him but when I do he was looking right into my eyes.

He holds my gaze and I feel like I was burning under it, he starts to walk towards me and I try hard not to run away.

“Hey, Aura! How have you been?” He asks me in his deep husky voice.

“ Hi, Aa… Alaska I am fine thanks … how have you been?.” I trail off.

“ I’m doing GREAT! What are you guys up to tonight?.” He addresses us all.

“I hope you guys are not busy cause I’m having a party at my place you know for celebrating our last day as seniors, I was hoping you guys would like to come?”

“Actually”…. As I am about to decline his offer I’m cut off by Jaime.

“Yes, sure we’ll be there just text us the location… Can’t wait!!!” She looks excited and thanks to him for the invite.

As Alaska was leaving he turns towards me,

“I hope to see you there!” He says holding my gaze as I look into his beautiful grey eyes.

“Aura he wants you back girl! Come back to my place with me lets get ready together and I’m doing your makeup tonight!”

As I’m about to open my mouth in protest Jaime cuts me off.

“NO BUTS!!! We are going!”

Max agrees with her by nodding his head and giving me a reassuring smile.

“If you feel uncomfortable we’ll leave early okay?” Max puts his arm around my shoulder.

“Ugh! Fine, we’ll go…”

“YAY!” They both cheer together.

“But we have to leave early if we wanna make it to the mountains on time… so don’t be late alright.”

“Definitely” Jaime exclaims.

A FEW HOURS LATER

“Hey, Jaime please go easy on my makeup” I request her as She is known to be dramatic.

“Don’t worry honey I don’t need to do anything you already are the most beautiful girl I know”

“Aww aren’t you the sweetest!”

“Don’t move I’m almost done.”

“Sure Thanks.”

“Done!”

As I’m about to look at myself in the mirror Jaime step in front of me and blocks it.

“First wear this dress and then look at the final look please!”

She hands me this beautiful powder blue dress embellished silver sequence.

When I come out of the room and look at myself in the mirror I almost can’t take my eyes off my self, the dress hugs me at all the right places, the colour brings my eyes out which are looking more blue cause of the pretty pink eye shadow, and the sequence makes me sparkle. My hair is curled and tied to perfection making me look like I have never looked before.

“Oh my Aura you look like a vision in this dress, I knew I brought it for a reason.” She says looking at me with pride and satisfaction.

“I can’t thank you enough babe… you are amazing!” I give her a big hug.

“Come on I’ll help you get ready, Max is waiting for us in the driveway” I point at the window asking her to hurry.

Jaime herself looks astonishing, she chose a black mini dress which fits her like a glove.

When we get downstairs Max is waiting for us by the car, his jaw drops open when he sees Jaime and instantly embraces and kisses her passionately.

“Exactly the reaction I was hoping for…” Jaime smirks.

“You link beautiful Aura,” Max says politely.

“You are such a gentleman Max, you look handsome as well”

We then head out.

After a short drive…

“We are here!” Max points to an extravagant 2 story house that looks as good as new.

“It’s so… WOW!” I trail off gaping at it with my mouth slightly open.

“I know right” Jaime agrees.

As we enter I feel everyone’s eyes on me, but all I can feel is one burning gaze from across the room.

“Hi Aura… you look …. Wow! …. That’s the best I can do … I’m speechless” Alaska steps closer as he says this.

“You … you look amazing as well” I chuckle to hide my nervousness.

Alaska smirks at my response.

“Are you nervous Aura?…. I did not know… I thought I did not affect you… and that’s driving me CRAZY!” He says moving closer to me with every word.

I simply gasp when I process his words and realise how dangerously close he is to me, so I shrug nonchalantly to make him think he doesn’t affect me at all.

But that shrug was enough to push him over the edge. He groans and swiftly closes the distance between us.

We end up in a hot kiss.

When I realise we are not alone I break it.

Alaska groans when I move away.

I let out a chuckle at his reaction.

“Follow me Aura I wanna show you something”

I do as he says and we come to an opening in the forest which is almost his backyard.

“You have a beautiful home”. I say looking around as if I had seen nothing as beautiful as it ever before.

“Thank you. You are so sweet and nice” he says taking my hand into his.

“Tell me something about yourself Aura …”

“I… I’m Aura, I don’t know much about my family cause I was brought Up by the St. Vincent orphanage uptown, they said I only had this necklace with my name around my neck when they found me at their door. They discovered I was good at studies and stuff so they always encouraged me to try hard for my future… I got a scholarship to this school so I had to move here… Jaime and Max have been my family ever since…. What about you?”

“Oh, sweet Aura… I’m sorry about your childhood must be difficult living all alone without your parents around… have you ever thought about looking for them?” He asks as if he knew where they were.

“I never tried actually… they decided to leave and as their daughter, I respect that”

“That’s very noble and brave. You truly are a gem” he looks at me with pride.

“Enough about me tell me something about you”

“Well, there is nothing much to tell… I was born and brought up here… my family happens to be one of the oldest and influential families here, my family and my people are everything to me. And another person is making their way into my heart….” He says looking at me.

Listening to those words I can’t help but lean in for a hug.

We melt in each other’s arms as we gaze at the night sky when suddenly Jaime’s voice echoes in the air.

We both look into each other eyes in horror and rush back…

“Hey is everything okay?” I ask Max who is drunk out of his mind.

“Hey, you guys look whose here!” Max whoops in excitement.

“HEY!!!!” Everyone says collectively. All of them are as high as max.

“Where is Jaime?”

“Heyy Aura … Aura…” Jaime’s voice comes from inside…

I run towards her voice.

“ Aura! GUESS WHAT?! WE ARE ALL GOING TOMORROW!!!” Everyone whoops.

Alaska asks “where are we all going?” As he approaches us. I put my face in my hands.

“We are all going hiking on the Rocky Mountains tomorrow,” Jaime says as she hugs me from the side almost making us fall.

“That sounds dope lets go!” Alaska says as his eyes sparkle with excitement.

“Great we’ll see you tomorrow at 7 … I’ll have to get them out of here before they cause any more trouble.” I put Jaime’s arms around me and start to walk out the door when Alaska come from behind and insist on helping.

“If you insist… can you please get a hold on Max?”

Alaska easily lifts Max as if he weighs nothing… I frown at that confused as to how he was doing that but I decide to let it go.

“They are both safe and sound … I buckled them up don’t worry.” Alaska stands next to me after he puts Jaime and Max in the back seat.

“Yup they should because we are gonna be sleeping in there!” I say feeling embarrassed.

He looks at me surprised… “Aura you know how to drive right?” He says almost unable to contain his laughter.

“Umm … what will you do if I say no?” I feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“First I would try hard not to laugh… then I would offer to drive you all home,” he says trying hard not to laugh….Then we both look at each other and burst into a laugh.

“Come on, on a serious note we all live at different places how will you drive us all out?… we could do one thing … If you are comfortable Max could crash here and you drop me and…”

“Or you all could crash here we got a lot of room” Alaska smirks making me blush.

“Jaime and Max could crash in the guest room and you and I can go out in the woods and talk till the sun comes up.” His eyes glittering with excitement.

“I love that idea dude!!!” Jaime jumps out of the car and runs up the driveway while Max chases her.

“Guess we should not be going in there anyway” Alaska laughs making me notice how mesmerising that sound is.

“Lead the way,” I said bowing.

“No come along” he smiles holding my hand, making me blush.

“Hey so… I wanted to ask how long like… have you …. You know…. Have wanted me? … and why me?” I can’t help myself but ask when I notice his face… his beautiful face.

“Hey,” he says in a low voice as he stands and holds my face in his soft palms.

“You are the most beautiful girl I have ever laid my eyes on… I know that sounds cheesy and cliché and something you already know but I don’t know but I feel pulled towards you… you are this incredibly smart and generous person… I mean I don’t even understand how other people aren’t here fighting to stand where I’m standing. But that’s good for me right?” He says happily with a glint of love in his eyes which makes me believe he’s not lying.

“You look cute when you blush,” he says looking at me like I was the only thing he wants to see ever.

I can’t hold myself anymore I just go in and kiss him passionately.

“Hey I forgot to add HOT AND PASSIONATE” he adds. We both chuckle.

The rest of the night just passes stealing glances, gazing at the Moon and whispering sweet words.

As the sun is about to rise we decide we should get back and rest.

I sleep in the second guest room and even though he offers me to join him in his bedroom.

“See you my princess” he kisses my temple and leaves.

NEXT MORNING

We decide to push the meeting time to 9 as everyone was hungover.

“Hey what happened last night why did we sleep here” Max enters the room looking confused.

“UGH! My head” Jaime follows him holding her head between her palms.

“Good morning you guys… you guys got too drunk to go back so we had to crash here,” I say cheerfully

“Oh no we are so late let’s freshen up and leave… a good thing we packed before we came in,” Jaime says looking at the watch.

“Uhh… you don’t remember?….” I look at Jaime raising my brows at her.

“What? What did I…?” Jaime looks confused as she tries hard to remember.

“You got drunk and invites all your new best friends to join us on the trip” I see embarrassment travelling to her face as I say those words.

“Oh no… so everyone is gonna be joining us?” Max asks me like it's the matter of life and death and I can't help but chuckle.

“Not everyone…” their smiles turn up …”But all of those who came yesterday which means yeah everyone” I laugh when I see their faces.

Both of them GRONE together.

“Good morning everybody” Alaska joins us as he hugs me from the side and kisses my cheek.

Jaime’s eyes go wide as she realises that she forgot the most important detail of last night yet she doesn’t show it in her words.

“How did you two sleep?” Jaime asks almost looking excited.

“Did we sleep?” Alaska says giggling.

My eyes go wide on his response. “We went into the forest for a walk.”

“Aww that’s sweet”

“I think we should get going or we’ll be late,” Max says as we all look at the watch and start rushing out the door.