Chapter 3 - Aurora

Sunday, I throw on jeans and a shirt, winding my hair up into a loose ponytail, I slide my feet into my comfy trainers and wait for Rae to pull up outside to take me out with them all. 

Shane's jacket is still on the chair in my bedroom and I have no idea how I'm going to give it back to him. The idea of seeing him, or more to the point, him seeing me and recognising me, turns my insides over. I can't think about it without worrying I'm going to puke. 

"Aurora." My friends wave at me from the car excitedly and I hobble down the path to the car.

"What did you do?" Jenny asks in an amused voice, turning around to face me as Rae drives us to the cinema car park.

"Long story short, I was running and ended up getting tripped over and twisting my ankle." I grimace. "It hurt like hell, but it's getting better."

"Running?" Jenny's brows knit together in confusion. "Why were you running at a party?"

"Streaking." My cheeks flame at the memory, and they're mouths fly open, Rae nearly crashes the car, spinning around to look at me and we all scream as we're thrown sideways, a horn blaring from a car on the opposite side of the road. 

"Sorry, sorry, shit, warn me first why don't you?" She exclaims, once she's back in control of the car and focused on the road in front of her. "I don't even know where to start with the questions?"

"We all did it together, Ben dared Kia to streak and then I don't really know how, but it ended up with us all doing it so she wasn't alone." I giggle, thinking about us all getting ready. The nerves and excitement mixing as I stood trying to cover myself, wondering how to get my trainers on without bending over and giving everyone an eyeful.

"Christ Aurora, seriously?" Jenny bursts out laughing. "Well our night seems boring in comparison."

"Why, what happened?" I look from her to Priya, both of them sharing the same smile.

"Rae snogged Danielle Liscombe from Carlton Academy." Priya squeals, almost bouncing in her seat with excitement.

"No fricking way? She's gorgeous, I can't believe I missed that, how did it even happen?" Rae's cheeks are burning as she pulls into the car park, she jumps out of the car and I'm right behind her, grabbing her arm to stop her escape, my voice too loud as I squeal. "Tell me, tell me, tell me."

"Urgh fine, I was singing an old Shania Twain song. You know the one, That Don't Impress Me Much. I love that song, and these two bastards made me do it all alone, magically disappearing to the toilets at just the moment we had to go on stage." She glares across at them and they shrug their shoulders in mock innocence. "Anyway, when I finished she came over with a drink and we just got chatting and then she kissed me." 

"Oh my god, this is amazing." I shout a little too loudly, causing a few people nearby to turn and stare at us. Rae's eyes widen and she blushes furiously, hissing at me to be quiet. Clapping my hands over my mouth, I lower my voice to a whisper. "Sorry. Are you going to see her again?"

Rae shrugs, turning to carry on walking, I grab her arm, half to keep her beside me and half to help me limp along beside her. Keeping my focus on her face, she doesn't look as happy as she should right now so it feels like I haven't got the full story.

"Well how did it end? Did you swap numbers or anything?" She shakes her head, pushing the door open to the cinema and holding it for me to get through. 

"We had to go, so I said bye and that was it."

"Well, maybe she'll be there next week? And I'll definitely be your wingwoman then." I squeeze her arm and she gives me a relieved smile, the tension noticeable reducing in her shoulders. I'm so happy for her, if my ankle wasn't still hurting, I'd be dancing on the spot. "Danielle Liscombe, oh my god."

"You're definitely coming next week?" Jenny leans in between us, her face the picture of seriousness. "Because, you know, we do require clothes at all times, we won't be running naked through the streets."

"You weren't there, you can't judge." I laugh, sticking my tongue out at her. "And yes, absolutely, I can't wait. I mean it's Danielle Lipscombe for goodness sake."

"Come on, we're cutting it close as it is." Rae says in an attempt to end the conversation, we've still got nearly twenty minutes before even the adverts at the beginning of the film start but still she pulls me into the queue, showing far too much interest in the sweets in a bid to avoid any further questions.

Oh no! What's going on? Surely I can't be owed this much bad luck! 

As if I'm being haunted by them, Shane, Billy and Luke waltz into the cinema and queue for tickets a few groups behind us, laughing and joking about the party.

"I'm coming next time, who knew those cadet freaks were so wild?" Luke laughs, nudging Shane and my focus flits back to them,.

"I can't believe you nearly shagged one." Billy adds, snorting as though it's the funniest thing in the world. 

"Shit I know, I'm gutted." Shane exclaims, laughing with his friends. "She was hot."

"I know mate, I saw." Billy cackles loudly, earning a few side glances from the people around him. "We all saw everything."  

The memories of seeing them all there flood my brain. Falling over in front of them, twice, then Shane helping me and then kissing me, twice, his hand trailing over my skin. Unwittingly, I pull my scarf up around my ears to hide my face which I'm sure must be scarlet right now, my friends catch the movement and stare at me with interest and accusation in their eyes. I know they want to know why I didn't mention Shane and the other idiots were there. I shake my head a little too violently, praying they won't say anything within earshot. 

Someone behind us clears their throat, alerting us that it's our turn and, understanding my desire not to be seen, my friends group around me to keep me hidden as we go to the counter.

"That Danny guy cock blocked you though eh Shane? Else you'd've had her." Shane laughs loudly, agreeing with them and I nearly snap my neck, trying not to spin around and glare at him. I'm mortified that he's told them about what happened and even more that he's right. As much as I say I hate them, that I hate him, I wanted him last night, more than anyone else I've ever met. I've never felt those sorts of sparks with anyone before and it was amazing.

But why did it have to happen with him? 

Rae frowns at me, hearing Danny's name has sent her brain careering in the, unfortunately, correct direction and I know she won't let up until she knows exactly what happened.

"What happened?" Rae hisses once we find our seats, Jenny and Priya peer at me from behind her.

"Nothing, I'll explain later." I whisper, my eyes on the door, but they won't stop staring at me. "Ok fine, Shane and Billy were there for a bit, but they left."

"So why did you go red when they started talking about it?" Jenny smirks, knowing I'm hiding something from her.

"They're the reason I tripped when I was running." Their jaws drop open, their eyes dancing with the laughter I know is seconds from escaping.

"They saw you naked?" Priya exclaims, too loudly and I shoot her a look, ducking my head behind the seats when someone shushes us.

"Unfortunately." I whisper, leaning towards them. "Luke knocked into Alex, who tripped me."

"Imagine if you were that girl they were talking about, the one he nearly had sex with and then Danny walked in on." Jenny continues, looking at me for a reaction or a confession that I can't bring myself to give right now.

"I dunno." Rae says, studying my bright red cheeks as though she's figured it out, and she probably has. "Even I wouldn't say no to Shane Woodson. He's a dick, but he's fit as... Maybe I will come to the next party."

Priya giggles in agreement. The room goes dark, silencing the chatter until Shane and his friends walk past us. Just seeing him sets them all off giggling again and the sudden laughter draws the guys attention, they stop and frown at us in the darkness. Instantly I bend forwards, pretending to search through my bag for something and desperately hoping they won't recognise me.

"Forgot to turn off my phone." I say unconvincingly once they've passed and I see Rae grinning at me.

"It was you." She gasps a bit too loudly, barely concealing the squeal in her voice and the people behind us shush her. "I can't believe you forgot to mention that you pulled Shane Woodson. He said you nearly slept together, is that true?"

"Shhhhh." I hiss at her, looking around to see if the guys heard, but thankfully, they're sitting too far away. "Look, I promise I'll tell you everything later. Much later, when they're not around. I don't want them to see me."

"They'll see you at school tomorrow?" She reasons quietly. "Would it not be better to get it sorted now? Without the audience."

"I gave him the wrong name and he didn't question it, I doubt they'll even recognise me tomorrow." 

I hope not anyway. 

She grins at me, wide eyed and I press my finger to my lips.

"Shane Woodson. Bloody hell."  She giggles quietly, sitting back as the screen lights up. 

Bloody hell is right! What am I going to do?

I glance back at him, his head rests on his hand, his eyes on the screen and a faraway look in his eyes. Yes, he's attractive, but that doesn't detract from his vile personality. Sober and sensible now, I can be objective about what happened last night, I was stupid and vain and horny. 

It won't happen again!

¥

The three of them sit on Rae's bed, mouths opening and closing like goldfish, no sounds coming from any of them. It would be almost funny really, if it wasn't my life.

"What… I mean… how…" Priya stutters, pausing to get herself together, she grins at me. "What was it like, kissing him, did he taste like smoke? I always thought because he smokes so much he'd taste like it." 

"When have you thought about kissing Shane Woodson?" Jenny looks appalled at her sister.

"I may have had a tiny crush on him back last year." Priya smirks, crossing her legs under her. "Don't pretend you didn't fancy Luke Thomas for like a whole year, because I remember it all. Vividly."

"I was eleven and it was before we knew what assholes they were going to be." Jenny's cheeks redden and she chucks a pillow at her sister for unveiling a secret we all already knew. Jenny had been paired with Luke in drama in year 7 and after that she'd gone bright red whenever he'd been in the vicinity, which had been quite often since we were mostly in the same classes back then. 

I'd forgotten about that, we'd even gone with her when she'd begged to go to the local youth club in the hope that he'd speak to her again, but he'd been too busy messing about with Shane and Billy to even notice she was there. That memory had obviously been sidelined by the almost immediate attention they seemed to direct at me, the names they concocted, the innuendos that meant I avoided any foods that could possibly look or sound like anything penis related, and then later on, the almost weekly instances of being soaked in something or having whatever I was carrying knocked out of my hands. 

"Well? How was kissing Shane Woodson?" Rae asks, nudging me out of my revelry. Grabbing her pillow, I sit down on the bed, clutching it to my stomach.

"It was unexpected, but it was nice, I guess." I say unconvincingly, and their faces tell me they don't believe me. "Ok, so it was more than nice, it made my whole body tingle in this crazy exciting way. D'you know what I mean? I've never had that before, it was weird, like I wasn't in control of myself." 

"You fancy him." Jenny exclaims, her voice high pitched in horror but grinning as though it's hilarious.

"No." I shriek, laughing to cover up what I fear might be the truth. "No, I hate him. He's just a really good kisser. He's had enough practice I suppose."

"And he really gave you his jacket when you hurt yourself?" Priya scoots closer to me, her eyes wide.

"Yeah, it's on my chair at home." 

"Wow." Rae breathes out. "Maybe he's not such a dick after all. I can't believe you told him your name was Anne though."

"Yeah although he noticed that Danny called me Rory so I'm hoping he doesn't make the connection. Rory could be short for anything, couldn't it?"

"Yeah maybe, Lorelei or something." Rae is sitting on the edge of the bed, studying my face as I talk. "So how did the second kiss happen exactly?" 

"Well, he literally carried me through the streets back to Danny's, nearly all the way anyway. He stopped and kissed me again around the corner." 

"And that's when he asked you to go back to Danny's dads room again?" She asks, perceptive as a detective. "And you agreed?"

"Yes." My cheeks burn at the admission and they burst out laughing again. "But luckily Danny and Kia arrived and I came to my senses."

"But you definitely still hate him." Jenny grins at me knowingly. "Even though you're smiling like a Cheshire cat when you're telling us about him kissing you."

"Yes." I say decisively, reliving it and trying to convince myself it wasn't the best thing I've ever experienced. "I was confused by alcohol and his pretty face, it made me stupid for a while."

"Well, if you're going to be an idiot, you may as well go all the way." Jenny bursts out laughing. "What are you going to do with his jacket tomorrow, walk over and hand it to him? Throw it at him?"

"I have no idea. I don't want him to know who I am if I can help it." I look at them for help and Jenny smiles broadly.

"I have an idea, but you'll need to go home and get your stuff, and the jacket. We're all sleeping here tonight."