Love, Dahlia // B2

[6]

Luke's P.O.V.

"Aura?" I tap her shoulder. When she spins around a smile spreads over her face.

"Luke, I knew I vould see you ageen."

"Well," I hold my arms out, motioning to the club. "You do know where to find me."

"Zis is true," Aura smiles. "Now, don you have songs to play?"

"Oui, I do," I nod. I walk back up onto the stage area and make my guitar appear in my hands.

I played almost the whole night. Whenever I got a break, I talked with Aura. She is strangely helpful, even though she knows little to nothing about what I'm going through.

"So zis, Dahlia," she says, leaning on the table. "She iz very special, no?"

"Yeah," I can't help the smile that spreads over my lips. "She is."

Aura asks, "Und you have told her how you feel?"

I pause, thinking of my last day with Dahlia. "She knows."

"Why did she noot come witf you?" She questions, taking a drink from her slim glass.

"She couldn't," I shake my head, looking up at the stage. Caleb is tapping his wrist. He's getting impatient with me and my breaks. Usually as the night goes on they get longer and happen more frequently.

"Why noot?" Aura shakes her head, not understanding.

"She's alive," I say plainly. I point at Aura's glass and she pushes it toward me, raising her eyebrows. I down whatever id left in it in one swig. It burns my throat. So that's definitely not water. I close my eyes tightly and shake my head.

"A veray well desarved drink," Aura laughs. "You have dun zee impossible and fallen in love wit la heartbeats."

"Heartbeats?" I ask, still feeling a dull burning sensation in my throat.

"You Americans call zem Lifers, I believe?" She says, tracing a pattern on the table with her finger.

"Yeah, we do," I look around the room, quickly avoiding Caleb's glare. "Aura?"

"Oui?"

"Do you want to come back to America with us?" I ask.

"Would your Caleb allow zees?" She slowly sits up straighter in her chair. I've obviously peeked her interest.

"I can beg," I shrug.

"I huv always wanted to go to America," Aura smiles, daydreaming. "I vas headed to my plane ven I died."

"Tragic," I say before pointing up at the stage. "We'll talk soon, Aura."

"Oui, we will," she replies quickly, waving me off. I run back up onto the stage and start playing my guitar. The rest of the band starts up and Caleb gives me a pleased nod. As if I really have a choice if I want to come up here and play or not.

*****

"So, you found a pet?" Caleb grins when I ask him about Aura at the end of the night.

"Not a pet," I clenched my jaw, not wanting to slip up and say something to land me on Caleb's extra bad side. "Just a companion."

"You have been pretty good while we've been in France," he sighs, swirling his finger over the rim of his glass. "And I do miss my lovely Hollywood club. My European locations aren't half as grand... or exclusive," he glares around the club, looking down on the ghosts around him. "I suppose we can take a trip back to America."

"Thank you, Caleb," I bow my head, partially so he couldn't see the genuine anger growing on my face but partially because I felt too weak to look Caleb in the eyes. I'm going back to Cali.

"Now go," Caleb says quickly. He examines his nails. "Oh, and Luke?"

I glance up at him. He doesn't look back.

"You're pet can come too."

I nod and walk away with my head bowed. When I turn around, I scan the emptying club for a familiar head of strawberry blonde hair. Then I spot her.

"Aura!" I poof next to her, making her jump.

"Luke," she sighs, putting her hand over her lifeless heart.

"Sorry," I shrug. "But I've got great news. It involves you, me, and a little trip to California."

Aura's facial expression changes to shock and then excitement as she process my words. She cheers and throws her arms around me quickly. "Merci! Merci! Je t'aime! Merci!"

I laugh and hug her back. I'm glad I met Aura when I did.

A.N.

Hia!

Sorry I haven't uploaded in a hot minute. School sucks and I have been distancing myself from my phone big time.

Anywho. My Sunset Curve shirt came in and all I can say is.... I didn't stop smiling all day yesterday while I was wearing it -

Have a great day yall!

-Redd

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