Rebellious Aurora | ✓

thirty-two | i'm here to make amends

Damon was leaving on New Year's eve -which was in two days- and we had little time to spend with each other so we had tried making the best of it. I had invited Dakota to join but she had respectfully declined because she was feeling ill.

"You should hang out more with your sister," Damon said with a pointed look as he leaned back on his chair, observing his surroundings while sipping on the coffee.

The smell of my favourite café welcomed me the minute I stepped inside and I couldn't help but feel hungry again at the sight of the chocolate chip and vanilla muffins displayed.

I shrugged. "I should be doing a lot of things."

Damon cocked his head to the side. "You know, Dakota really loves you."

How many times have I been told that?

"I know."

I really did know.

"What will be of you when I'm gone?" Damon rhetorically questioned with a playful smile ticking his lips as he eyed this young, blonde girl walking past before sending a wink her way.

"I know you barely have any friends back home," I pointed out, gaining his attention and his brows frowned slightly.

He sighed. "I don't really get along with people from school."

I scoffed. "What about this rivalry of yours?"

"I will crush Reese's streak, don't have doubt."

I rolled my eyes and chuckled. "I didn't say I doubted you, cousin. But at least spend your time more wisely other than hanging out with your retard of a girlfriend and soccer."

He leaned in, eyes studying me. "What do you think I should do, then?"

"Make. Friends."

Damon laughed, taking a bite out of his caramel muffin before taking a sip from his coffee. "I have to focus on soccer next season. I can't be behind."

I smiled almost sadly. Almost. "Have some time to yourself. And besides, if you ever need some company, I'm always here."

Damon pointed at me. "That, I can rely on."

Damon wasn't really the social type, he was more of a conservative. Whenever something angered him or he needed to vent, he wouldn't go to anyone, no, he relied on soccer and I knew his dream was to become a professional player from the moment he picked up a ball. He was determined and I admired him for that.

"Are you guys hanging out without me?" I heard a familiar voice from behind, my heart skipping a beat as I turned around to face Ashton with a smirk on his face.

"You weren't invited," I pointed out with a stern look, ignoring my thumping heart.

Ashton scoffed. "I invited myself."

"Huh, I see what you mean now, Aurora," Damon muttered under his breath as Ashton him a glare but both of the guys pounded each other's fists. "Nice to see you again, Ash."

"Damon, you look so cute!" Ashton exclaimed in a girly voice, making me jump in my seat as I stared at him, horrified. Ashton threw his head back and laughed before kissing my temples. I almost swooned. "I knew it'd get her."

Damon chuckled. "Take care of her when I'm gone."

Ashton saluted him before he lifted me out of my seat to only have him take my seat. I frowned as he smiled up at me before putting both of his large hands on my waist and plopped me on his lap. "That's better."

"You're honestly stupid," I muttered under my breath.

Ashton looked at me with a smirk. "I mean, we could do other things in this position if you want-"

I decided to play his game as I spun myself around to face him, watching me with studied eyes. "Oh, you would like that, wouldn't you?"

Ashton's eyes clouded with lust and just as I was about to move my hips I felt someone throw something soft at me. I whirled around to see Damon giving me a disgusted look. "We're in a public area and I don't want to see my cousin give you a ride."

I chuckled before turning myself around again to face Damon as Ashton wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his nose in my neck. "Anyways, tell me about this Reese guy."

"Who's Reese?" Ashton asked with a murmur.

"Damon's rival in soccer, someone who he can't beat."

Damon groaned.

Ashton's face shot up and almost laughed. "And I thought you were a badass."

Damon rolled his eyes before getting up, putting a fifty dollar bill on the table as he saluted us. "I have to pack. Catch you later." And with that, he left.

A couple people around Ashton and I glared at them in return but Ashton only chuckled before taking my hand, leading me away from the café.

We walked side by side, hand in hand as we passed the stores that seemed to lure in but I restrained from doing so. I looked up at Ashton who was already staring at me with a smile on his face and I couldn't help but make a face at him.

"So, you told her," the demonic voice announced from behind and I balled my hand into fists at my side when I instantly turned around.

There she was, standing before me with a smirk and her arms crossed over her chest as she studied my movements.

"Rubyana." Her smirk almost fell at the sound of full name that escaped my lips.

"I did," Ashton admitted with a nod, his blank expression making an appearance.

"Why are you always following me?" I dared to ask, my skin crawling with chills as my palms began to sweat.

Ruby almost laughed. "Following you? I have better things to do than that."

I feigned a gasp. "You do Christmas shopping?"

Ruby clenched her jaw. "Drop the act, Steele. I didn't come here to fight you."

"Then why are you here?"

She took a step forward. "I've come to make amends."

I glanced at Ashton who was staring at her in confusion and before I knew it, I began to laugh. And laugh. And laugh. My stomach was aching and there were tears in my eyes as I, too, took a step forward and my laugh immediately ceased, replaced by a blank look.

"You can't fool me, bitch."

Ruby reigned in her anger. "I'm serious."

"You've come to make amends after a year of nearly killing me?"

Ruby's eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn't place my finger on and it was gone before I knew it. "You know I tried to stop it."

Anger raged through me and my blood boiled in my veins as the memory of the past knocked harshly on the doors of my mind. "But, you didn't. It was me who stopped it."

I found it so hard to believe that many weeks of taunting my friends and I, Ruby was seeking to make amends this entire time. Maybe it was because I didn't give her the chance to. Yet, it still wasn't my fault.

"What did you stop, Aurora?" Ashton questioned, truly confused as he watched us closely as if ready to break up a fight.

I shot Ruby a look and there was no longer that devilish look she plastered. It was a blank one, with a hint of remorse. "A fire."

a/n: what do you guys think when Aurora meant fire? Do you guys believe Ruby's intentions?

And yes, Reese and Damon are the main characters from the second novel!! I gave you guys a little sneak peak of "My Brother's Rival and I" and if you haven't checked it out already, you definitely should!

Thank you for your endless support. I appreciate it and I genuinely can't say it enough.

ariella xo