Chapter 22

    "Are you sure you don't wanna stay at my place?  Luke was planning on visiting, but his plans got changed," said Gabriel who was on the phone with Aurora. 

    "This is my new home and I'm safe here," Aurora assured her friend as she sat in her new room.  "I'm actually glad your cousin's plans got changed because I don't feel comfortable around him.  You know, because of his and my history."

    "I understand that. So," he said, trying to change the subject," what are doing anyway?"

    "Adding some of my style to my new room," Aurora said as she looked at the posters she had hung up and her pictures of her friend that were on her desk.  Aurora looked at her watch.  It was 7:30 P.M.

    "Today has really been different," said Gabriel.

    "Yeah, it has."

    "Are you sure you're alright?"

    "I'm fine.  Stop worrying so much."  Suddenly someone knocked on her door.  Slowly the door opened to reveal Jesse standing in the doorway.  "I'll talk to you tomorrow.  Bye."  She hung up the phone.

    "Can I come in?" Jesse asked.

    "Sure." 

    Jesse walked in and closed the door behind him.  Aurora got off her bed and walked towards him.  They just looked at each other not knowing what to say.  Jesse stood with his hands in his jeans and Aurora held on to her locket.

    "That's a beautiful locket," Jesse said as he looked at it.

    "Thanks.  It was my mothers.  My father gave it to her for their first anniversary."

    Jesse opened the locket and saw a picture of a man and a woman with a little boy and a baby in the woman's arms.

    "Those are my parents," Aurora pointed out.

    "Is that Brennan?" Jesse asked as he looked at the little boy.

    "Yeah, and that baby is me."

    Jesse looked at the picture of Aurora's mother with her brown hair, blue eyes, and tender smile.  "You look just like her." 

    Aurora just smiled.  "Today has been bizarre.  Is this what you guys do everyday?"

    "Pretty much," Jesse hesitated," I need to talk to you about Brennan.  He asked me if there was something going on between us."

    "What did you tell him?"

    "I said no, but honestly I don't know if there is or not.  Brennan is my best friend and I really don't think he would be too thrilled if I was involved with you because you're his sister.  I don't want to hurt him."

    "I understand.  I don't want to hurt him either.  He and I have just reconciled.  I don't want to screw that up."  Aurora paused.  "But somethings, are worth taking risks."

   Jesse nodded in understanding.  He didn't say a word.  He walked to the door and opened it.  He turned back to face Aurora.  "Would you like to go out for dinner?"

    Aurora smiled.  "Yes, I'm starving."  She got up, walked out of her room with Jesse at her side, and she closed the door.

THE END

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All things must come to an end.  I hope you enjoyed reading this story because I enjoyed writing it.   Thank you for all the reviews.  Please review this last chapter.  But, don't think I'm through yet. 

Coming soon is the sequel "Old Friends, New Enemies".