Chapter 16

"The house was big, and the party lasted all night, so it took a while for Cooper to find me. In the morning, it was pretty obvious what had happened," I whispered, looking out at the lighted freeway. Hues of red and green and white light moved fast on the street.

For the past hour, I had been opening up to Xander, catching him up on what happened freshman year, or why I'm even at this school.

"He should've rotten in jail. That goddamn-"

"What's done is done, Xander," I put my hand over his, trying to calm down his anger. He was struggling to maintain his shaking. "I reported it, but there was no evidence of it being nonconsensual."

He stroked my hair, encouraging me to continue.

"And he was the star football player, his dad was the vice principal, so word got out about that night, but nobody believed me when I said it was against my will."

"What?" Xander shouted in disbelief with scrunched brows. "I can't fu-"

"Parker," I winced as I said his name, "spread rumors that I 'wanted it' and was practically begging him for it and all, hence the slut rumors about me. I mean, it was the football star against some random 14 year old. They got so bad over the rest of the summer that I enrolled here instead. And that's why I had gotten so angry at you for saying I was yours that first day I met you. I didn't want any slut rumors circulating about me."

"I'm sorry about that, Aurora." I looked up at Xander to see him looking out in the distance, a wrinkle in his forehead. "If I had known-"

"Stop," I put my hand up to silence him. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"Was he your first?"

"Yep. First and only." A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "I think that's why Cooper practically forced his parents to let him enroll at our boarding school with me."

"So he could always protect you," Xander said in a hushed voice while stroking my hair, struggling to keep calm. He cupped either side of my face which forced my teary green eyes to stare into his grey ones. "You have two protectors now."

I softly smiled at him as he wiped away the remaining tears on my face with his thumb. "I know."

-I always knew.

And so we stayed like that, basking in the calm silence and crisp air. The atmosphere wasn't only full of stars, but of unsaid words and a strengthened bond between us. One that neither of us intended to break.

♛ ♛ ♛

"Class dismissed."

I unfortunately had Psychology alone, so I packed up my things and made a beeline for the cafeteria.

There were more stares as I walked through the hallway. I was getting used to them though, ever since this morning when the entire school found out about Xander and I's scene in English. I didn't know why everybody's so freaked out, though. It was just a kiss, right? Every class had to do the same assignment, so what was the big deal?

If it was just a kiss, why did it feel like it wasn't just that? I thought to myself.

Quickly dismissing that thought from my head, I pushed open the doors to the cafeteria and grabbed a plate of the food. Eh, it didn't look too bad today. I made sure to get a brownie since I knew Xander always ate mine. It kind of became our thing, I guess.

My eyes quickly scanned the cafeteria to see the rest of my friends at our designated table, and made my way over.

"They were all staring!" I shouted as I slammed my tray down on our table, interrupting whatever conversation they were having before.

"Huh?" Michael asked, taking a sip out of his Sprite can then putting his arm over Sabrina's shoulders.

"All of Xander's fangirls," I paused to look at him with an annoyed expression, "along with the entire freaking cafeteria!"

"Sorry, love, but I've accumulated a wide fanbase for my godly looks," he teased, putting his arm over my chair which didn't go unnoticed by our friends.

"It's annoying." I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. "Why did you even have to kiss me! We could've avoided all this!"

"Well, you said you wanted to get a good grade, so why not go all out?" He sent a smirk my direction. "We got a good score on it, didn't we though?"

"We got a 98," I said and slumped down in my chair. "And I got cleared to run again!"

"See? That's thanks to me!" Xander showed off his cheeky grin.

"Sorry to interrupt, but did something happen?" Olivia asked with a big smile as she leaned forward in her chair.

"What?" Xander and I asked in unison, both our facial expressions confused.

My eyes momentarily widened at what she was implying. Apparently Xander got what she was saying too.

"No!" Xander confirmed, stiffening his posture. "She's with Tommy, after all."

"She's actually not with him anymore," Cooper smirked my direction as I sent him my meanest death glare. "They broke up yesterday evening."

"I told you that in confidentiality!" Olivia scolded him like a child and smacked his arm.

"Wait, you dumped him?" Xander turned to face me.

I shrugged, trying to fight off the rose color rising on my cheeks. "It-it was mutual."

That earned a slight smile from him.

♛ ♛ ♛

"You know Xander's 17th birthday is this weekend," Michael said over the sounds of basketballs bouncing against the gym floor and the squeaks of sneakers.

Normally, Xander would be in this class, but he had to make up some test that he had skipped awhile ago. It was last period, school was about to end and I had never been more ready for track, especially since I could actually run now.

"Really?" I asked, dropping the basketball I was about to shoot. "He never told me! When is it?"

Michael brought his water up to his lips to take a sip. "November 5th."

"Are we gonna throw him a party or something?"

"Nah, he throws his own parties back at his dad's house since his house is big enough for a party," he said, setting down his water back on the bleacher. "It's about 20 minutes away."

"Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask you something since you've been friends with Xander for years."

"What is it?"

"Oh, um, you know at the track game how that Xander and that black-haired guy got into a fight? I think his name is Bradley?"

"Yeah, and?"

"Well, why did they get into a fight?" I asked, looking down at my chipped nail polish. "And they were yelling about some girl and-"

"Calm down, Aurora," Michael interrupted. "He'll tell you when he's ready, which seems soon. So just ask him. It's not what you think it is."

I sighed and looked back up. "Okay, well what should I get him for his birthday?"

"That one's up to you. But when it comes to Xander, he can have pretty much anything materialistic, so make it something special- something he'll appreciate."

I nodded. Do I get him protein powder, or something? I mean, it's obvious he's pretty well off, so what do you get someone who can have anything?

"So how are things going with him? Does he know about your little crush on him?"

"Stop! I regret telling you!" I smacked his shoulder and leaned against the wall. "And why is it that you get to know about my 'little crush' but I can't know about Xander's? I swear, if you told him about it, I'll make Sabrina castrate you!"

He smirked. I was so used to Xander being the one smirking. The two were really like brothers. "You and Xander are perfect for each other; you're both very dense at times."

"Do you mean what I think you mean?" I raised my eyebrow at him with a ghost of a smile hovering on my face.

"No comment," he snickered and picked up a basketball to resume shooting hoops. "One versus one?"

I nodded with a prideful look on my face. "If I win, you have to tell me about Xander's little crush."

"Okay, but I'm going to win."

"Like hell you are!"

Long story short, I ended the day with a loss and Michael with a victory. Surprising, I know.

After a quick insult to my basketball skills, Michael and I left from the gym, him desperate to flee school, and I ready to run.

As I made my way to the field, I spotted Cooper making his way to me. He was clad in his track shorts and a muscle tee, a duffle bag on one shoulder and his backpack on the other. I was already in running attire from just having gym.

"Hey, Coop! Heard about Xander's birthday party?"

"Yeah, it's gonna be a crazy I heard," he said with a nod, falling into step with me as we made our way to the bleachers. "But if you don't want to go to a party, I won't go either, okay?"

I eyed him like he was a crazy person. "Are you kidding? It's Xander's birthday party! I have to go, and Xander wouldn't let anything bad happen, you know."

"Okay, but if you ever change your mind," he said, setting his things down on the bleachers in front of us.

"I won't." I shook my head and pulled my hair into a ponytail. "I don't know what to get him, Coop."

It was a little short notice, but I still wanted to get him a memorable gift he'd appreciate.

"I found out about the news an hour ago! And I'm hearing that his birthday is in two days?"

"Chill, you'll figure it out." Cooper ran his hand through his chestnut hair. "Have you spoken to Tommy yet?"

I turned my eyes from him to Tommy who was across the field talking to Joey and Brett.

A sigh left my lips, turning back to Cooper in front of me. "No, it'll be too awkward."

"Copper!" Coach Segal roared across the field, followed by his whistle which we had all gotten used to.

He rolled his eyes. "Probably wants to talk about my grades. They haven't been as good as they usually are. I'll be right back." He jogged over to Coach. "It's Cooper, by the way!"

I laughed at his ability to get fed up about little things and turned around to get my water bottle from my duffle bag, but was met with Xander approaching me.

"Hey, gem," he sported a lazy grin and a loose tee shirt from his football team with gym shorts. We shared a smile of secrecy as memories from last night, came rushing into my head. I felt closer with him, which wasn't helping to keep my little "crush" a secret.

"Hi, Alexander."

His eyes turned down for a moment before quickly regaining their usual mischievous spark. "I'm only letting you call me that."

"Aw," I cooed, reaching up to pinch his cheeks. "I'm special!"

He rolled his eyes to feign annoyance, but a grin still slithered its way onto his face. "Sure you are."

"Oh, so Michael briefly informed me that you're turning 17 tomorrow!"

He nodded looking down at his sneakers. "You heard."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Eh, it's not a big deal. Most people just remember it because I always throw a party," he said, rubbing his neck.

"It so is a big deal!" I flailed my arms. "What do you want for your birthday?"

"Nothing," he shook his head, setting down his duffle bag next to mine on the bench.

"I'm still getting you something. What's your favorite color?"

"Green," he answered without a second thought.

I assumed it would have been blue, since his entire dorm room was navy.

"Why?" I eyed him skeptically.

"I just like green," he said with a shrug and a crooked smile. "And you don't have to go to my party, or whatever. I get it if you don't wanna go. Really I do."

I pondered over it for a second. "Just people from our school will be going?"

He nodded.

"Okay, I'll go."

"You don't have to, I'd understand."

"No, I want to go," I inhaled. "I-I need to get over it at some point."

"It would be completely fine if you didn't actually wanna go-"

"Xander!" I cut him off before correcting myself with a teasing smile. "Alexander, I'll still go. And you, Cooper, Olivia, Michael, and Sabrina will be there. It'll be okay."

He eyed me with his arms crossed and narrowed eyes. "You sure?"

My lungs took a shaky breath in as I fisted my hands behind my back.

"Of course I am."

♛ ♛ ♛

and that was chapter 16! hope ya liked it! lemme know if you have any questions bc i'll be glad to answer them or clear up any confusion :) don't forget to vote or comment!

q: fave show?

a: i'm watching grey's anatomy as i'm typing this rn so yeah lol. currently almost done with season 3, and i highly recommend!

i love you tons! -sophia