Forever Glamorous

Chapter 34

ONCE AURA MANAGED TO balance all of her grocery bags in her arms, she walked out of the supermarket with her head held high. People came to and fro, some twiddling with their grocery lists before going in. She smiled to herself, feeling free for the first time in a few days.

After the whole Elaine take-down debacle on her socials, she decided to take time off and sulk like a normal human being. Grandma Ruby was so done with her moping around her house, she ordered her to get her butt out of her bed and get the groceries she needed. Seeing as she had no other option, she put on clean sweatpants and a crop top, and headed out to the local supermarket.

Surprisingly enough, she felt better for herself. It seemed like what she really needed was to get out and feel the sun on her skin, smell the salty air, and see the people walking about doing their own thing.

She rounded a corner, making her way back home. It wasn't a long way, so she didn't bother taking her grandmother's car. The heavy bags made her regret her choice somewhat, but, at the same time, walking felt better.

A small gasp startled her from behind, but decided it didn't concern her. She continued trudging forward, already starting to sweat from the heat of the summer.

"Aura Chandler!"

She stopped in her tracks and turned to find a small group of people holding up their phones to her face. She frowned, perplexed, and took a few steps away from them.

"How do you feel about Elaine dragging you?" one asked.

"What did you do that labels you as irresponsible?" inquired another.

"What are your thoughts on the drama?" a third questioned.

Aura swallowed hard, not knowing how to properly react.

"I apologize, but I really am not in the best mental state to answer this right now," she managed to say before turning around and walking away.

They tried following her, yelling out their questions. One of the girls even pulled on one of her grocery bags. She struggled with her, crying over a game of tug-o-war she had not signed up for, but she was able to pry her bag free.

Then, she purposely took wrong turns in an attempt to get rid of them, but it was hard. When she thought she got rid of them, they came barreling down another street, yelling their questions and filming her run away.

Finally, she heaved on the front steps of Grandma Ruby's house, tears falling down her cheeks when she lost them.

"Ari?" she heard from behind.

She dropped all of her grocery bags and lept into Tyson's arms, sobbing. He kept asking what was wrong, but her words were too mumbled for him to understand since he asked over and over again. She kept crying so loud, her family walked out of the house at the commotion.

"What is going on?" her father demanded.

Tyson shrugged, and picked her up. She trembled in his arms as a never-ending stream of tears wet his shirt.

Once they were all inside, and her father had picked up the groceries she had dropped, they asked her what happened. Tyson sat beside her, holding her hand and drawing small circles over it with his thumb.

She recounted the whole thing. From how she left the supermarket intact and was then followed by a group of people. They listened as she told them how they were asking questions about the whole drama with Elaine Cavette. She even told them how she responded to their questions by saying she wasn't in the best place to answer them, but they kept pestering.

Tyson squeezed her hand when she told them how they basically harassed her, tugging on her bags and following her across town. She thought she would never get back home with how insisting they were.

"If that happens again, you are calling the police. There's a difference between asking questions and harassing." Her father shook his head, frowning as Aura sniffled some more.

"I don't wanna go out by myself anymore," Aura whispered.

They agreed with her sentiment, and soon she was left alone with Tyson. She leaned her head on his chest, hiccuping. She wondered what else could have happened had she not taken those fake turns trying to lose them. Would they have gotten into Grandma Ruby's house?

"It's over now," Tyson whispered. She nodded, but that didn't make it any better. There she was happy to be out and about, and a group of strangers ruined it for her. People who didn't even know her demanded her answers and attention. She did makeup, that's what they should be focusing on, not what Elaine Cavette had said about her.

Tyson excused himself to use the bathroom, promising to be back in a minute. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, so she pulled it out as he left.

Zachary: Hey, gorgeous, I'm thinking of you. Wondering when you can come to the club so I can formally congratulate you on your magazine feature ;) 

Aura deleted the notification as Tyson came out of the bathroom. Her heart hammered in her chest as he sat down beside her once more. His arm went around her shoulders, squeezing her lightly.

"Don't worry, Ari, you're safe now," he said. She nodded, but now she was scared tenfold. Perhaps she had escaped those brutal people wanting to get the scoop on Elaine's drama, but she also had to deal with the ever so charming Zachary McBane and the threat of his empty kisses.

With Tyson's arms around her, she didn't know what to do. Zachary was a fun friend to have around if she wanted to experience luxury, but that also meant having a little too much fun. And now Tyson had wedged himself into the picture.

Aura would have to confront Zachary. She feared that his advances would get out of hand, and by his insinuations, it was obvious what he was hinting at between them. She did not want that to continue.

Why couldn't life let her take a break for one minute?

First, the drama with Elaine. Second, people filming her and chasing after her to get more information out of her. And now, she still had to deal with Zachary and his rich flock.

That summer vacation was turning her world upside down, but it wasn't like she didn't expect it. Everything went downhill after she had to cancel her gig with Lacey Redd.

If only she could've flown in later...maybe most of her problems wouldn't exist at all.