Page 28 of Autumn Secrets

The following day Mum needed to go back into the office again, despite it being a Sunday. She was kind enough to arrange someone from the office to pick her up, so that I could have the car if I needed to go somewhere. There weren’t many buses that ran on a Sunday around here. I knew she felt guilty because of her busy work schedule, but I’d assured her so many times that I was perfectly fine on my own.

“I promised we’d try to find you a car this weekend.” She sighed and looked at me with guilty eyes.

“It’s fine – we’ll do it another day. Seriously, don’t worry about it. I’m quite tired from last night anyway.” Actually, I was exhausted.

“I’m a terrible mum. I haven’t even had a chance to ask if you had a good time last night.”

“I did, so now you’ve asked. We’ll talk later tonight,” I reassured her. “Now please, go to work.”

She gave me a hug. “I love you.” She smiled. “Okay, I’ll be home with pizza later and we’ll have a girls’ night.”

“Sounds good.” I looked at the time. “You need to go; I know you’re busy. See you tonight, Mum.”

I tried to call Lexi throughout the morning, but I only got her voicemail. By lunchtime, I really started to worry about her. Even if she had slept in, this was too long without a reply. I needed to find her, or at least speak to her, because I didn’t like the way we had parted last night. Truth be told, I hadn’t liked anything that happened last night. If I could talk to her, I was sure she could help me fill in some of the missing pieces.

I picked up my phone and called her again but reached her voicemail for the millionth time this morning. I decided to call Jasmine instead, but she didn’t pick up either. I continued to scroll down my list and pushed the call button to Mia without any expectations, but she was the first to pick up.

“Aurora?”

“Hi, Mia, how are you? Did you have a good time last night?”

“I had a great time. What about you? Did you enjoy the party?”

“Yeah, it was great.” I felt a bit awkward with my answer. I wasn’t sure if I would define last night as great. It was more accurately horrible, to be perfectly honest.

“And what happened with Adrian? He went after you pretty quickly.” Mia giggled. “I have no idea who this Evangeline is, but I honestly think he’s got it bad for you, Aurora.”

“I don’t think so. Anyway, I have no intention of anything more than a friendship with Adrian, if that.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue, like something foreign that I was forced to swallow, but didn’t like the taste of.

“Oh, trouble in paradise already? So, what are you going to do? Have you decided to go with Julian instead?”

“No, it’s not like that. I’m not really interested in anyone, to be honest.”Liar.

God, I was messed up. Was this how people saw me? Some kind of lovesick, hormonal girl? I didn’t want them to think of me like that. It was so far from the person that I truly was.

“Okay, if that’s what you’re feeling,” Mia continued.

“It is, it really is. Anyway, have you spoken to Lexi today?” I needed to get off this topic fast.

“No, not since yesterday. I guess she’s busy. She didn’t realise he was back…”

“Wait. What? Who’s back?”

“Luca. He came to the party last night.”

“Luca?”

“Yeah, remember we told you about the famous four? Julian, Adrian, Elijah, and Luca…”

“I remember. I didn’t meet him last night though.”

“Jeez, where were you all night?” Mia laughed.

I swallowed the lump that was growing in my throat. I had to try and supress the panic that threatened to consume me. WherehadI been all night? That was the question I was so desperate to find an answer to.

“I don’t know – dancing I guess,” I lied. “Did you actually see Lexi leave with Luca?”

“I didn’t see herleave, you know, jump in a car and all that. But she came up to me and told me she was leaving with Luca.”