Broken

Chapter 8

Aurora’s POV

“Are we going to Jessica’s party tonight?” Mia asked as we sat down at our table.

“I am going,” Rhys said. “Aurora is not.”

I looked at him with a confused expression on my face.

“Why not?” Mia asked, surprised. “We go every year.”

Rhys sighed and shook his head.

“I don’t want to go, trust me,” he said. “But I promised the guys from the team that I will go so I have to.”

“Yes, but why isn’t Aurora going?” Mia asked, looking at me.

I didn’t know what to tell her. I completely forgot about that party, but I kind of wanted to go. I wanted to have some fun and forget about everything else. Rhys and I didn’t talk about it so I had no idea why he said that I wouldn't be going.

“Because all of those fuckers are going to be there,” Rhys said angrily. “I am not letting anything happen to her.”

My stomach twisted. Mia furrowed her eyebrows.

“What do you mean?” Mia asked. “What would happen to her? Amelia can stare at her with that ugly look on her face from everywhere.”

Rhys clenched his fists and looked at the table where Amelia was. I could feel her burning gaze on my back.

“That fucking bitch,” Rhys said angrily.

I kicked his foot under the table and he looked at me. I just shook my head. I didn’t want Mia to know. I didn’t want anyone to know.

Rhys gulped and took a deep breath.

“I just don’t want her to go,” he said as he stared stabbing his food aggressively. “You two can stay home and watch something.”

I glanced at Mia and saw her staring at Rhys with a mixture of anger and confusion on her face.

“Are you afraid that some guy will come to talk to her?” Mia asked, smirking a little. “Are you jealous? You can’t keep her from every man on this planet by forbidding her to go somewhere. She will find a boyfriend sooner or later.”

I rolled my eyes at Mia. She just enjoyed provoking Rhys.

“Over my dead body,” Rhys mumbled angrily.

My heart skipped a beat.

“So you are jealous?” Mia asked, smirking and crossing her arms over her chest.

Rhys looked at her and narrowed his eyes.

“No,” he said. “I don’t want her to go because I want to keep her safe.”

Mia sighed and rolled his eyes at him.

“She is really going to find a boyfriend and you will spend your entire life crying about what you lost,” Mia said, shaking her head at him.

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from chuckling. I didn’t want a boyfriend. Well, maybe I did. I wouldn't mind if Rhys was my…

Well, never mind. That would never happen. We liked each other, but that would never happen. Rhys didn’t want a relationship and I wasn’t ready to be in one.

“Why do you have to be so annoying?” Rhys asked angrily.

“Why do you have to be so stubborn?” Mia said, narrowing her eyes at him.

Rhys rolled his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Leave him alone, Mia,” I said, making her look at me. “He isn’t jealous. He’s jut a bit angry at Amelia, that’s all.”

Mia rolled her eyes again.

“Okay,” she sighed. “I guess we are all living in a delusional world and lying to ourselves.”

“God, you are so annoying,” Rhys said as he started picking up his things.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“To sit with my team for a bit,” he mumbled. “Listening to Mia is not good for my anger.”

I snorted and shook my head. Mia rolled her eyes at him again.

“Keep rolling them,” Rhys mumbled. “They are going to get stuck.”

He picked up his tray, kissed my temple, and walked toward the table where his teammates were sitting.

“He is so in love with you,” Mia mumbled, shaking her head.

I looked back at her and sighed.

“Let it go, Mia,” I said as I looked at my full plate. “It will never happen.”

My stomach twisted. I couldn't eat no matter how hard I tried.

“Fine,” she mumbled. “But we are going to that party.”

I looked up at her and furrowed my eyebrows. A part of me wanted to go, but I didn’t want Rhys to worry. Also, I knew that my brother and Amelia would be there and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to spend the night with Amelia staring at me like she wanted me dead.

“I’m not sure, Mia,” I mumbled. “Rhys said...”

“Stop it,” Mia said, narrowing her eyes at me. “You want to go. I know that you do. We go every year and this won’t be an exception. This is our senior year. We deserve to have fun. Rhys can handle his jealousy.”

I sighed and wanted to protest, but Mia interrupted me again.

“Give me one good reason why not,” Mia said, crossing her arms over her chest. “And it better not be Rhys.”

I let out a loud sigh.

“Fine,” I mumbled. “Pick me up at nine.”

Mia smiled brightly.

“Oh, perfect!” she said. “I can pick you up earlier and we can get ready at my place.”

I shook my head. I didn’t want her to know that Rhys temporarily moved into my house. She wouldn't stop talking about us being together.

“I have some homework to finish,” I said.

Mia raised an eyebrow at me.

“It’s Friday,” she said. “You can finish it over the weekend.”

Fuck. I should have thought of something else.

“I can’t,” I said, looking back down at my untouched food. “Just pick me up at nine, okay?”

Mia sighed. She was silent for a moment.

“Why aren’t you eating?” she asked.

I looked up at her and frowned a little.

“I am not hungry,” I mumbled.

“Why?” Mia asked. “Did you eat before school?”

I nodded and pushed the tray way. I lied. I didn’t eat before school. I didn’t eat anything since yesterday morning. I simply couldn't. Every time I tried to put something in my mouth, I remembered the pain in Sebastian’s eyes. I remembered Amelia’s hateful words. I remembered Rhys saying I was in danger.

I was a bit overwhelmed and I needed a break.

Maybe going to the party wasn’t a bad idea. I would spend some time with Mia and my other friends. I would laugh and talk about something else other than Sebastian and Amelia.

“We will have to avoid Rhys tonight, won’t we?” Mia asked, making me look back up at her.

I nodded. “A little yes. He won’t be paying much attention, though. He will be with his friends.”

Mia nodded and smiled brightly.

“Oh, I am so excited!” she exclaimed. “We are going to have the best time!”

I smiled back at her.

I hoped that she was right. I needed to have a relaxing night. I needed to have a good time.