Wow! Since the last update, so many recent reviews, follows, and a lot of people have favorited me as an author and this story too! Please remember to favorite me- there will be a sequel to WONDERMENT and it will be rated M, which will not appear as a default on since the rating is adult, so it's really important you follow me for the next part. Also, the sequel is rated M so make sure you are of age should you choose to read. Just thought I should write that as a little disclaimer just in case ;-) Please keep the reviews coming- I actually read EACH and EVERYONE and even reach out and PM people and give a thank you to those that have left reviews with an account. Now onto the next chapter!
Warning- Foul language this chapter. This update took some time because of the content because I wanted to really get this scene right. Hope you like it!
Adam's POV.
"Open the damn door Aurora!" I bellowed once again as I pounded on Aurora's dorm room door. Traveling to her dormitory in the middle of the night was something I hadn't done in a long time. That was history. I knew that afternoon when she came into my room it had to have been her that had stolen my Diary. Bitch!
Getting frustrated I was just about to bring my fist down on to the door again, harder this time when I heard a familiar syrupy voice behind me.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Thought you weren't interested in me anymore Adam." As I turned I found Aurora with that signature, cunning yet fake coy look, on her face. I looked down finding my diary in her clutches.
I pointed to the diary in her hands. "Give me back that diary and we'll both forget I ever came here."
"Sure take it. I don't need it." Aurora said as she casually tossed it into my hands. The gesture was way too nonchalant to not notice. What would make her want to part with it so easily? After all, it concealed my deepest, darkest secrets. I confusingly looked on at her.
"What made you think you had any right getting your hands on this?" I demanded.
"Shh! Keep your voice down for God's sake! Do you want the students to wake up and find you in the hallway in the middle of the night talking to me? My! If word gets to Belle, she'll certainly have a ruffle in her feathers now won't she?"
"For the millionth time, leave Belle alone!"
"Why? Because you have the hots for her and it turns out she does for you too. But wait! Doesn't she know it's you right? Because she's your personal barmaid at the city Tavern and she'll do anything for you while you're in your disguise, because she has no clue it's you under there. What would she do if she found out it was you all along underneath there? I sense Belle is the kind of person that doesn't like to be tricked or lied to, otherwise you would've told her by now, right?"
My mouth kept opening and closing. What was there for me to say? How could I rebuttal? She was right, and I was astonished that Aurora actually took her time to read all the little details in my diary. I'm sure I looked dumbfounded, and I could tell Aurora was loving every minute of catching me off guard.
"This whole charade you are pulling on her doesn't surprise me at all. You are a liar. You and I are cut from the same cloth Adam, I know what it takes to win. Sometimes we must deceive others so we can thrive. You and I operate like that. Lie to get by. You know what is surprising though? Belle as a barmaid!" she said following with a high pitched laugh."I always thought she was sweet and composed. Who knew she had a sultry side to her," Aurora said almost too calmly as she walked around me to get inside her room.
"You actually read it? I can't believe you read in my personal diary. Emphasis on personal!" I exclaimed in outrage. This was not good. Not good at all. It there was anything Aurora was good at, it was not keeping her mouth shut.
"What? I like reading."
"Bullshit! You've never read a day in your life. All you do is sleep, you and your twit of a roommate."
"Snow White and I just believe in the benefits of beauty sleep."
"Trust me all that sleeping is not helping your exterior, nor you interior for that matter. Better try something else!"
Aurora clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles got white. Surprisingly, she immediately calmed down. Her shoulders lowered and she composed herself as she turned and said,"Well you're welcome to come in and talk bargaining with me considering Snow White's not in right now."
"She's not in there? Gee and I thought she was just in a sound sleep considering she didn't wake the fuck up while I was pounding the damn door," I said sarcastically.
"Shh! Language. Now come in. Sit Adam, " she said in her infamous syrupy tone as she opened the door to lead me in. Her trying to calm me wasn't going to work.
"I'm not a dog," I mumbled as I stomped inside refusing to take a seat she offered. I wanted to just make sure she wouldn't spread the darkest and deepest stories of my life in my diary to anyone. Especially the parts that would compromise Belle in any way.
"So I have a bargain…"
"I'm not here to make bargains," I said cutting her off. "I'm here to take my diary back, the one that you stole. Now that I have it, you need to swear that you won't tell anyone what you've read in there. I mean it Aurora! Don't test me right now. I'm not in the mood."
"You can't threaten me," she said as she stormed up closer to me. The girl certainly had the nerve! "You think I care about your stupid diary? I skimmed through it and only read what was important to me. The stuff about your mother dying, your narcotic escapades, and your lame poems were of no interest."
I didn't want her to know how I was feeling, but it definitely didn't feel good at all that she made a mockery of the diary entries on my troubled past and poems. Her comment on my mother's death stung the most. It took every fiber of being to stay in control, but I knew if I wanted to get out of this unscathed while ensuring that Belle's positive reputation remained intact as well, I had to hold my ground.
"But when I got to the entries about Belle, I definitely became more, deeply, invested. I didn't miss a word about those entries as I am sure you can imagine."
I sighed in disdain when she began to take off her clothes in front of me. She was failing at being a distraction and to show her I was uninterested I rolled my eyes. Natural reaction anyway. The girl did nothing to me.
"Keep your clothes on."
"Don't flatter yourself! I'm not trying to seduce you, I'm sleepy. I need to get into my nightgown and sleep. Trust me I just want to keep this conversation just as short as you do. It's been a long day. Let's just state and discuss the terms."
"Terms? You think I am going to listen to your stupid attempt at trying to blackmail me and furthermore agree to your terms? Look I know where this is going and I have just as much information I could use to take you down, more in fact than you do on me."
"Is that so?" Aurora said in a fake attempt of trying to sound innocent. She slipped her nightdress over her naked body, snaking her hand around her nape to the hair out of her collar. She sat at her vanity mirror and began brushing her hair. How long was she going to prolong this?
"Look I have what I want it's in my hands," I said as I locked eyes with her in the mirror raising my diary for her to see. "I want your word that you won't tell anyone about Belle. It's not fair for her."
"Oh, I won't say anything, Adam."
"You mean it?" I asked showing a little more shock than I intended to.
"Of course," she said calmly with a smile as she continued brushing the long lengths of her hair. "I wouldn't think of it. But only if you promise me one tiny little thing."
"Here we go," I said rolling my eyes, placing one hand on my hip, while the other remained grasping the diary.
"It's not a big deal Adam. As I said it's one tiny little thing."
I cocked an eyebrow up.
"Take me to the Induction Ceremony, as your girlfriend."
"What?" I staggered.
"Take me and pretend to be my boyfriend. We have to go like we are together. Just this one day. I swear that's it."
"What the fuck…..why?" I exclaimed annoyed that yet again we were having this conversation. It seemed like I was going in circles with this girl!
"Adam, my father and yours are alumni members of the Gentlemen of Wonderland. They are going to get the issue of the Parthenon Gazette that depicts all about the event. It would be nice if we were seen together. It would definitely score points with my father, and I know it would with yours too. We can go our separate ways afterward."
"It's another lie Aurora. How long do you want to pull this facade? Every time there's a prestigious event? A dance? An induction? Eventually, it has to end, because we are not going to be together. Ever."
"Look I understand that!" she roared as she slammed down her hairbrush on to the counter. "I'm not asking you to marry me!"
"Not yet anyway," I mumbled but loud enough for her to hear.
"I would never stoop that low Adam," she insisted.
"You already are!"
"This is different"
I groaned in annoyance. Flapping my arms I countered, "No! It's the same exact thing. First, it starts with the induction ceremony but I know you. One thing leads to another, and eventually, you are going to lead me into a trap of marriage and I will resent you for all of eternity. Is that what you want for us? To resent each other? Forever?"
"Our countries need to unite. They are counting on us to start the process by us having a bond!"
My jaw dropped. "You're still considering marrying for the sake of our countries uniting" I cried. I couldn't believe this! I thought we were over the whole marriage discussion! When would this girl ever learn?
"Our parents specifically want us to bond," she repeated.
"It's not their choice Aurora! They can't tamper with our lives like that! It doesn't matter if we are royalty or not. And also you can't bring Belle into this. It's not right!"
"I know that Adam! Right or wrong, you have an obligation to fulfill as do I. But don't worry Adam. I swear I'm not asking for marriage. I'm just trying to make you see, that by giving this to them, this little morsel, proves that we tried but it didn't work. In fact, this will make the eventual official breakup more believable to our parents, because attending the induction ceremony will show how much effort we put into trying. All I am asking for is this one day, where we make a public appearance together. Just for the magazine writers and the artists. Then over the summer break, I will tell my parents the truth. That we just didn't see eye to eye. Don't you see? The whole event will give evidence that we're just not meant to be."
"No."
"No?" she asked perplexedly.
"N-O! No! It starts with this and ...look Aurora I just can't. I don't really care to prove to them to such extremes that we won't work. I'm sorry but I don't feel obligated to my father the way you do with yours. Mine was a dick and has been. You should know! You read my diary so you know that my mom killed herself because of him."
Aurora's eyes widened in the mirror. "She did...what?" she choked out.
"You didn't read that part?" I asked hesitatingly.
Aurora actually looked shocked, and dare I say immensely sincere. She turned from her chair where she sat to look directly at me. "I skimmed it Adam but like I said I never delved deeper into it all. I never realized what was the root cause of her death. I had no idea at all. You have to believe me. All I really read were the parts about Belle,' she explained as she stood up from her vanity chair towards me.
"Well, she did. So there. Now you know," I said turning my head away in shame. It was not something I was comfortable sharing about with her, but low and behold, I was caught in a game of tricks and I fell into it. Maybe Aurora really didn't read those parts about my mom, but how was I supposed to know truly? The girl lied all the time.
"I'm sorry."
"You're not sorry."
"Maybe not for Belle, or not letting go on my ambitions of uniting our countries, and needing to show my father where my obligations lie, but I am sorry about this," she insisted. " I have my mother. I know what's is like to have one because it's wonderful. I can't imagine if my mom would ever do something like that to herself."
I sighed. Even though I could tell Aurora was being genuine, which wasn't a side that I saw often if at all, I wasn't comfortable in this moment. "Can we change the subject?"
Aurora's face softened more and nodded.
"If you don't want to do this, I can't make you. Sure there's stuff about Belle that I know, and I admit that you having really strong feelings for her makes me a little jealous."
I looked on at Aurora feeling a little sorry for her. "I didn't mean to make you feel inferior to anyone Aurora."
A slight curve of her lips appeared. "I admit it. I had strong feelings for you, and it was easy with you. We had our own rules and we never questioned each other. But it's like you said on that balcony the night of the of the welcome dance. Would I be willing to be with someone I don't love just for political gain?" She began to laugh and shake her head. Why was she laughing? It was confusing to me.
Reading my face, Aurora stopped. "Sorry it's just, it's so pitiful isn't it?"
I remained cross-armed and confused.
"You see, the sad part is I have someone that loves me...and I can't even be with him," Aurora said with a crack in her voice. She loves someone. Someone loves her. Why do I feel so sad for her? Shouldn't I still be mad? That's what I usually would've done.
"Aurora, what are you talking about?" I asked softly as I noticed her tear ducts getting more and more engulfed with moisture.
"Phillip."
"Right. I knew you guys were definitely canoodling secretly."
"Well, it's not just canoodling. We are having...relations," she said distancing herself from me and taking a seat again at the vanity.
I raised my eyebrow totally knowing what she meant by that. At least I thought it did because when it came to her and me, relations usually meant something going on in the bed.
"It started while you and I were dating. It was innocent at first, and then after you and I broke up, I- this is embarrassing to admit," she paused.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," I said.
"No, it's, it's ok. After we broke up I got a little tipsy off some wine out of being upset."
It made me sad to hear how hard Aurora took the break up.
"I went to his room and started...making out with him. I was really forcing myself on him. Isn't that what every guy wants? I thought maybe hooking up with him would take my mind off of ...everything. Well, I guess I thought wrong because before I knew it Phillip stopped me. He told me, there wasn't a need to move fast."
Well, I'll be damned! This guy did not mean relations the way I did. Wow. And with Aurora of all girls?
"He sounds like a gentleman," I said almost as if I was thinking out loud
"He was….he is. He definitely was there for me in every way."
"So why can't you be with him? You should go to the induction ceremony with him on Thursday, not with me."
Aurora looked up with tears welled in her red eyes. "He's from Northern Belgium. His Father the King of the North and my father, the King of the South are not on good terms. Both sides are trying to seize Brussels and all of Belgium as their own. Phillip and I could never be together. Our alliance is forbidden You and I, on the other hand, that would help with our domestic plight. France could help us."
"My father is a Duke Aurora, not the King of France"
"I know but your father has the influence we need to get King of France on our side. Anyway, that's in the past now. Those tactics I had in mind for us, to help my beloved Belgium is all history. But now you know what my ideas were. That's why I was always so zealous about uniting ourselves. Political gain," she explained.
I shook my head in astonishment. "You definitely were paying attention in Political Science class," I joked. That caused Aurora to actually smile a little, and I felt pretty good about that. Part of me wanted to cheer her up even though we had just been at complete odds at each other. I felt a little bad, that maybe she thought of things too far between us, and definitely, more than I did.
"Look. I've said this before Aurora, and I'll say it again. You have the blood of a natural born leader in you, but me on the other hand, I'll just be someone on your arm."
"Well you would be really great arm candy that's for sure," she chirped. I smiled a little too smugly at that.
"Arm candy aside, I worry that you're taking on so much responsibility."
"Why? Boys are taught from the birth of their expectations. Are they the only ones fit to rule? I could rule, but my dad wouldn't see that if I didn't try. Just because I am a girl doesn't' mean I don't have the skills and intelligence for governing our country."
"So all this is to prove to your father that you have governing capabilities? Wow."
"You seem surprised."
"I guess you could say I am. All this time I know that you knew your obligations as a princess but I never thought of you as a feminist of sorts willing to overcome challenges to show your father of your inherit diligence to love and run your country. It's admirable."
I wish I had taken the time to know that side of Aurora more.
" My feminist side is not something I like to show to everyone. Just a select few."
"Like Phillip," I answered. She nodded.
"This was a topic we discussed a lot. We're both not fools here, we know our relationship would've wrecked havoc among our families. He wanted to pursue it anyway."
"So where do you both stand?" I asked.
"Well, we're not really a couple. I guess you could say I'm not sure if I really trust him. What if he's just using me to get Northern Belgium the advantage?"
I furrowed my eyebrows, thinking that she had a pretty good point.
"Has he said or done anything of the sort to cause suspicion?" I asked.
"No, he's been completely genuine. He's either the most honest man in the world, or he's the best con artist ever!"
"I think you being guarded totally makes sense here, but Phillip doesn't come off like the dishonest type. I don't know the chap well, but he's not much of a partier or one that regularly partakes in debauchery. I've never seen him at the same places I go to, so to me, he seems like a stand-up gentleman," I chuckled.
"Yeah, he's the opposite of the kind of men I use to hang out with," she said knowing she was referring to me.
"Haha, funny,' I replied sarcastically. "Look Aurora, being careful is fine, but maybe give Phillip a chance here. Not trying to jump the gun, but perhaps you both could unite Belgium one day."
"My father would disown me."
"So what? Like you couldn't handle leading a coup de ta?" I joked.
"Oh, I probably could," she giggled a little "but it's just a lot to think about. I love my parents Adam. I love my country. I get that you can't understand that though. I mean you don't know how it is to feel so loved and devoted to your family. Can't say I blame you either. If your dad caused your mom to take her own life, I can only imagine how disconnected you must feel towards him and his expectations. I live for their happiness because, in turn, that's what makes me happy. Proving to and knowing I can get them political gain."
"Well think about this. You have a guy that cares for you, there's some potential in political gain there, and you'd be happy."
"You make it sound like a no-brainer."
"Because it is. It's not even worth questioning."
"Ok fine, let's say I leave you off the hook. Where does that leave you and Belle?"
"There's nothing going on between Belle and me," I said sadly.
"But there would be if she knew who you were Adam."
"Why are you suddenly caring about me so much? I thought you despised Belle."
"Oh, I do. I'm not actually thrilled about the girl, and you and her, but I care about you. I know it may be hard to believe. While our past contains us using each other I also cared about you at the same time. Probably more than you cared about me though," she said shrugging her shoulders with a sad smile.
"I'm truly sorry if you felt like I treated you so badly Aurora. I thought we had an understanding."
"We did. My heart just….got too into it. More than I expected I guess."
I furrowed my eyebrows. I guess I could see that. She was a little more proactive about things at the time we were together. More than I was anyway.
"It happens," I said shrugging it off as best as I could so she wouldn't feel any more upset about it. "But if it's any consolation, I think this side that your showing, that's brave, good-natured and sensitive is really nice. And as the old saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Your strong side and sweet side interplaying together could be just the kind of leader Belgium needs."
Aurora smiled at that.
"So are you going to ask Phillip to escort you to the dance or what?"
"Are you going to finally reveal who you are to Belle?"
"Ok nice try but we're talking about you here, not me," I said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, I'd think I'd like to really go with him."
I nodded. "Good," I said with a smile.
"Thanks, Adam. I'm sorry for trying to rope you into another ploy. I'm not trying to scheme or anything-"
"Aurora,' I said cutting her off. "You don't have to explain with me. People like you and I are born with such an obligation, it's what comes with the territory, and sometimes it just gets the better of us It's not easy to balance the conflict between our duties with our personal desires. Not to mention pleasing our parents and trying to live up to their expectations."
"It's all so much isn't it?" she said with a sigh.
"Yes, but it doesn't have to be."
Aurora looked longingly at me"I wish I could have that attitude like you. That 'I don't give a fuck attitude' and just do what I want."
I chuckled at that. "Well, I'd actually like to care, but when you've been through a life like mine, the thought of power just doesn't appeal to me as much as being happy. Some people, maybe like you perhaps, equated power with happiness."
"And what do you equate happiness with, Adam?" she asked.
"I don't know yet. But definitely not power."
Aurora nodded. "Yeah. I'd have to agree with you on that," she said pausing to smile. "Thanks, Adam," she said getting up to embrace me.
I smiled and hugged her back as well. It was nice to make amends with Aurora. It felt like my life had started over for the better thanks to Belle's positive influence, and I was definitely relishing in it. Things didn't have to be negative and full of drama if I just let down my guard a little. Life truly was a little easier now, and it was definitely thanks to a certain brunette.
"Well well, what do we have here?" bellowed a deep voice from across the threshold.
Aurora and I turned to the direction of the voice near the door.
"You know, I really thought you were worth more than you knew, but it sounds like you know your own worth better than me. Didn't think you'd set your own standards so low for yourself, but here you are running back to the arms of the guy who totally used and crushed you. Oh and made you feel like the dirt on his shoe! That's what you said verbatim remember? Dirt. On. His. Shoe."
It was Phillip, and he looked more than pissed. Couldn't say I blamed the chap, considering that he found Aurora and me in each other's arms. But he had the intention all wrong. We quickly separated apart.
"Phillip, no it's not what it looks like," Aurora said crossing the threshold in hopes to get him inside.
"Really? Then what does it look like?" he countered, as he brushed her grasp off his arm causing her to stumble back a bit. He followed suit into the dorm slamming the door behind him.
"Look you shouldn't push her around like that," I said to Philip warning him.
"Who are you to talk about pushing around? Are you trying to teach me respect? You strung her along for months treating her badly along the way, so don't try to point out any of my actions. Let me be clear here, I didn't push her. I just wanted to come inside so we don't have the commotion in an open hallway. Unlike you guys, I have the decency and respect not to fool around or cause a scene in public.
"Chap! All I'm saying is calm down. This isn't what you think," I warned.
"What are you an empath? You know what I'm thinking? Tell me then what am I thinking then," he challenged.
"You're thinking we're together or having a moment of weakness." I stood my ground. I wasn't phased by him, though I had to admit, he appeared to be very much collected. A bit agitated, but nevertheless, collected.
"Were you?"
"No."
"Well, that's exactly what I was thinking about Mr. Empath. Honestly, the only thing running through my mind was what a fool I was to have fallen for her."
Even in mid-argument, the chap had so much class. I had no heart in prolonging this argument. I could tell his words came from feeling hurt and heartbroken, and he truly did respect and honor Aurora.
He then pointed to Aurora. " I thought you and I had something, something special that was worth pursuing even though it would've been risky given how our families are on opposing ends. But you knew that, didn't you? So you strung me along. I get it now. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, right? I guess you just pretended to like me so that in the end you and Mr. French influencer here would defeat me and my ruling family from gaining all of Belgium."
"No!" Aurora pleaded as she tried to hold Phillips' arm down. "Just listen to me, I have to explain-"
"What is there to listen to? That you're some kind of sick sadist going back to your ex that dumped you for political gain? Screw it! I don't want to listen to anything you have to say. You're nothing but a conniving soulless witch!" he berated as he walked away from her.
"Phillip you've got to listen to her," I begged.
"Shut up Adam! I'm not a fool. You've got this Casanova reputation, I get it. I just didn't think she was dumb enough to fall for it, a second time around- politics sake or relationship wise. " He said looking at Aurora pointedly. "I thought you were better than that. Looks like I'm the one that's the fool after all," he said sadly as he headed for the door.
"Phillip wait!" Aurora cried out as she followed behind him.
He turned around and I could see just how distraught the look on his face was. He truly did care for Aurora, and I felt immensely guilty being there like I didn't belong. It was so apparent that they were meant to be a couple that the mere presence of myself seemed so out of place.
Phillip briefly paused. "I came to surprise you. It's the music box we saw in the shop window the other day we took a walk into town. You said the tune it played was one you remembered as a little girl that helped you fall asleep." Phillip gave a sad chuckle as he took the small box out of his pocket.
I felt completely sorry for him. Whatever doubts Aurora had before about Phillip must have definitely been cleared up now. The gentleman sincerely cared for her. There was no sign of ulterior motives on his part. If Phillip knew that initially Aurora wanted to go to the induction ceremony with me and not him, it would've added more salt to the wound. This was a mess!
"How pitiful am I to think you would've appreciated this from me?" he asked softly as he placed the music box by the mantel near her dorm door. He closed the door behind him, prompting Aurora to sprint to the door to call Phillip back in.
By the time she opened the door he was gone, and I knew there was no way she could catch up to him. The scene of Aurora and I in a compromising position he had entered into didn't look good at all. I felt so bad for Aurora. I could see the desperation in her face, her shoulders bogged down in defeat. She closed the door behind her and began to cry into her hands.
I combed my hair with my fingers as I let out a sigh. It was late and I was exhausted and full of immense guilt. I felt so bad for being here. If I hadn't come so late into the night I wouldn't have put Aurora in this position.
"Aurora, I'm so sorry. I should've never come here so late in the night. It wasn't appropriate."
"It's not your fault. I shouldn't have stolen your diary, or asked you to come with me to the induction ceremony." She gave a great sigh and went collect a handkerchief from one of her dresser drawers and began to dab her eyes with it.
"We have to fix this," I said with a sigh.
"How could we possibly fix it? You saw the way he left. He doesn't believe me. He wouldn't even wait for an explanation! He's already...made up his mind," she recanted softly as she sobbed into the handkerchief.
"There's gotta be something we can do," I insisted.
Aurora shook her head in disagreement.
I looked up at the ceiling. How can I make things right? How do I do that?
"Aurora, what if you and I go to the induction together after all, " I asked.
"What? Adam! You and I just discussed this-" She was amazed. I was just as amazed at myself for suggesting the option as well.
"I know. We decided that we shouldn't go together. But Phillip will be there, and maybe in a really formal environment, he'll have to hear you out. You saw how he was so sensitive of the mere fact that someone could hear him in the hallway. He hates to make a scene. He's already made up his mind that we are going together anyway right? So why not give him what he will expect and confront him then?"
Aurora brought the handkerchief to her tear ducts.
"You would do that?" she gasped. "For me?"
"If you think it could help, yeah I totally would."
Aurora squinted her eyes. "Why would you want to do that? After all, we just discussed."
I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe because after having a civilized conversation with you for once, I've realized just how genuine you can be. I know how it is living up to the pressures of our families. So why not kill two birds with one stone? We'll show our relatives we're giving one last shot by posing as a couple at the induction ceremony, and you'll surely get a chance to talk to Phillip to clear up everything."
"That would killing two birds with one stone," Aurora said nodding.
I nodded in return.
"You really think it would work?"
"It's worth a shot." I shrugged, " He won't be able to go through humiliating himself by making a scene at the Wonderland Induction Ceremony. He would totally cringe."
Aurora was shaking her head in awe. "Adam, what about Belle?"
Yeah. She was in my mind too. I knew that suggesting this meant any chance of escorting Belle would be gone. That is if she would eventually decide to go.
"What about Belle?" I replied trying to look as nonchalant as possible. Truth be told, I was touched that even though Aurora was going through a terrible crisis at the moment, she still was kind enough to think of me.
"Come on Adam. We know that when it comes to the induction ceremony you have to be escorted by an active member. If Belle decides to go, you could've been the one to go with her."
"Well, I can't pause life on 'what if's'. She's really not sure about going."
"Why not?"
"Well partly because of the fact she doesn't think she'll fit in, even though I've tried convincing her otherwise."
Aurora rolled her eyes. "What is she talking about? She'll totally fit in. The other girls love her already," she pouted as she crossed her arms.
I could sense the jealousy in Aurora's tone. All this animosity that Aurora had for Belle was honestly innocent and just a reflection of her own insecurities.
"So what's the other part that makes her so apprehensive about joining?" she further questioned.
"Well, the other part is…" My voice trailed off. "Look I am about to warn you, I don't want you to get mad at her for me saying this, but she thinks that you pry into people's lives too much."
Aurora frowned at that.
"Belle feels like you asked a lot of questions about her and she doesn't feel like it was coming from a genuine stance of befriending her.
Aurora nodded. "So,you're saying she feels like I inquire too much about her and I judge her?"
I didn't want to make her feel bad, especially with what just went down with Phillip, but Aurora asked, so she needed to know.
"Yeah. She didn't feel like you were getting to know her for the sake of really getting to know her or to extend a friendship. She feels like you had ulterior motives."
"Can't say I blame her. She's right."
"Yeah, I know."
Aurora gave me a surprised look. I guess agreeing with her that she had bad intentions caught her off guard.
"Geeze, no need to be subtle there Adam," she scowled sarcastically.
"I'm sorry Aurora," I apologized putting my hands up in defense. "I am not trying to mean here, but you just admitted yourself to having ulterior motives towards Belle."
Aurora looked down on the floor. "It's not something I am proud of. When I saw you turn your attention to her, I admit it got me really jealous, but it completely dissipated when Phillip entered the picture. Just imagine how envious I was a couple months ago, before Phillip, and how furious I got when Cinderella brought up Belle's name in a sorority meeting earlier this year as a potential member."
"I imagine it must have been really hard for you," I acknowledged.
Aurora nodded, as she walked to her window. She stopped to sit on the sill and looked out at the night sky as she continued.
"Cinderella said that there was a 1st-year student taking many 3rd year classes by the name of Belle. It was impressive and definitely caught our attention. She emphasized how having someone like Belle with her intellect and charm would reflect well on our sorority. Of course talks, of you and her becoming close was running rampant across campus at that time. When I did talk to Belle, it was just to get to know her so I could judge her. I wanted to see what you saw in her. What was so special about her to you? I didn't get it, so I had to know for myself. Then Phillip came into my life and all that didn't matter anymore."
Poor Aurora. Phillip seemed so good for her. This was all becoming a mess, and I felt a pull to do something about it.
"Oh, Adam, it was all bad choices. I can't take them back, but I can do better now. And that's why I can't let you escort me to the ceremony Adam."
"Aurora, it's the only way we can make things right."
Aurora mustered up a smile. "Maybe for me it will, but I can't risk compromising you in it. I'll find my own way to talk sense into him. Philip will understand. If he loves me he will. If he doesn't well, it will be devastating but I can't go on making more wrongs can I?"
I smiled at that. "No, I guess not."
"Geeze! Did you ever think the two of us were capable of having a civil and genuine conversation with each other?" she said with a soft chuckled as she wiped some tears off her cheeks.
I shook my head. "I don't think I can find the words to truly express how amazed I am that we were able not to have just one, but a couple of genuine conversations together, in one night let alone!"
We both laughed. It was nice to see the night turn out for the better in the end.
"Hey, Adam. Think we can be friends?"
I nodded. "I don't see why not. Keep me updated on the Phillip part. By the way, if I see him, want me to try and reason with him too?"
"That's really kind of you, but I rather you not if that's ok. It could make things worse. I just want him to hear it from me. So he knows that my feelings are truly genuine."
"Alright, fair enough," I replied as I glanced at her clock on her desk. "Well, I better be off. It's late after all. Thanks for the diary."
Aurora shook her head, "Please don't apologize. I'm mortified that I even stole it. I'm cringing now, and all that about your mom. Gosh Adam," she sighed. "I am so sorry. Sorry for everything. Please know, your secret is totally safe with me."
I smiled and with that, left her room. I truly hoped Aurora would be just fine, and that she and Phillip would make amends as soon as possible. I left in wonderment at how Belle had changed me so much to the point that I could even make nice with Aurora. Who knew that by doing that it would actually prompt Aurora to be honest with me as well? We were actually more than cordial tonight. For the first time ever we were polite, genuine, and considerate. These were characteristics I never used to describe my relationship with Aurora prior. Funny how life changes in a blink of an eye.