"We've arrived, Miss."

Aurora bobbed her head in response, picking up her purse from the seat and pushing the door open. The heels of her boot hit the concrete floor with a sharp clicking sound and she gently shut the door.


"Wait here," She told Calvin as she put on the large sunglasses she'd brought along, "I won't spend more than twenty minutes."

Calvi grunted in reply, rolling up the windows as she walked away. It was quite windy in here but it could be because they were on the bridge, thankfully she'd worn a large overcoat so she pulled the lapels together, snuggling into its warmth.

She walked for a while, stopping when she got to that familiar spot. Aurora turned so that she was facing the large expanse of water below, the setting sun casting a golden glow on the river.


She let her eyes flutter shut, taking in the smell of fresh air and listening to the soothing sound of tires speeding across the road behind her.

"Has anyone told you how much you look like a painting?"


Her lips quirked and she slowly opened her eyes, turning her head to the side. Ryan was standing beside her, a warm smile on his mouth and two styrofoam cups in his hold.

"Here," He offered one to her and she noticed that it had the Starbucks logo on it, "I brought coffee."

Her fingers wrapped around the cup and she raised it to her lips, taking a generous sip, "Thank you."

He nodded, shifting to face the view ahead, "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"More than," She whispered, taking another sip from the cup.

They stayed like that and Aurora appreciated the silent company. In the last few days, her life had been filled with so much noise, she barely had the time to sit in the quiet and jus relax. But now, right here with him, she could do that.

She heard him shuffle closer, glancing at her through the corner of his eye, "So, how have you been?"

Aurora sighed, lifting a shoulder, "Evan was convicted, I found out that my mother has been battling with anxiety hence the drugs and my father has refused to come home ever since my stepbrother jail term," She turned to look at him with a terse smile, "You guess, how do you think I've been?"

He had a consoling expression on his face and there was a slight crease between his brows, "Not good."

She shook her head, hiding her trembling fingers by wrapping them around the cup more securely, "And now, I'm constantly reminded of my wedding," She raised her hand showing off her ring finger, the gem glinting in the light, "Everyday it feels like I can breathe a little less. I don't want to get married but there's nothing I can do."

Her eyes flickered to meet his and she allowed her vulnerability to creep up the surface. Ryan breathed out and in a single motion, pulled her into his warmth and wrapped his arm around her back.

Aurora sniffled, resting her forehead against his chest and inhaled his comforting scent, "I'm so scared, Ryan. I know he's gone but I can't help but feel that this isn't over."

His arm instinctively tightened around her, "You'll be fine, flower. Everything will be fine."

She tipped her head up, resting her chin against his front, "But how?" Her vision was blurred due to the tears and when she blinked, a stray tear rolled down her cheek.

"I don't know," He whispered, pain etched on his face, "I have no fucking idea but I swear, I'll make sure you can breathe again."

He cupped her face, his thumb swiping back and forth against her cheek and erasing the wetness from her skin.

"Even if it's the last thing I do, flower," He vowed solemnly, a fierce fire burning in his orbs, "Even if it's the last thing I do."




Two days later and it was already time for the contest, she honestly had no strength left but she had no choice either. Her mother kept on drilling it into her head that she must be the one to come home with the position to dance.

Normally, Aurora would've taken it as a challenge but lately, the last thing she wanted to do was dance and that was a first.

"I'm so excited," Natasha clapped happily, bouncing up and down, "I can't wait to see the look on that bitch's face when you win."

Mason slung an arm around her shoulder and she stiffened, surprised by the sudden contact,

"Don't go easy on her, Rory. I know you like to take pity on poor things but not this time," He threw her and encouraging grin and she could only muster a weak one in response.

Natasha suddenly stopped walking and cupped her face, turning it left and right, "Are you okay? You look a little bit pale."

Aurora opened her mouth to respond but Mason beat her to it, shrugging his arm off her shoulder and poking at Natasha's forehead,

"What's wrong with you? Aurora is always pale, have you forgotten her nickname in high school?" They echoed the name simultaneously, "Redhead snow white."

Aurora couldn't help but chuckle and they both gave her ecstatic grins, linking their fingers with hers and hurrying into the large hall. She wished that she could tell them that Natasha's observation was right and she was indeed paler than usual,

But it was only because she felt like throwing up. The unsettling feeling in her gut rising.

The theater hall was full to the brim, Aurora was sure that the entire academy had attended including the little ones and apprehension struck again.

She thought that this was a small contest for the role, not a full-blown competition with so many watching eyes. She didn't stop walking until she'd gotten backstage where the other dancers had assembled,

By other dancers, she meant Louisa.

"Oh, hey," The blonde greeted with an enthusiastic wave and she waved back, coming to stand beside her.

"Why is Monroe making this a bigger deal than it should be?" She frowned in distaste, watching the older woman from the crack between the curtains as she made introductions.

Louisa shrugged, "According to her, today marks the beginning of a change."

Aurora scoffed, shaking her head side to side and Louisa chuckled. Professor Monroe finally called them out to the stage and they walked out, she first and then Louisa.

The crowd erupted in wild cheers and she tried to smile at them. She took her position and Louisa followed suit, their arms extended in the air.

Aurora waited with bated breath for the music to start and then suddenly, a phone chimed loudly, followed by another and then another and another.

She frowned, relaxing her heels against the floorboard and dropping her arms to the sides. Professor Monroe and some other teachers had come out from behind the backstage and we're chastising the students from bringing their phones but they couldn't care less.

The murmurs began to rise and everyone had different expressions; some were shocked, others amused and most flustered.

"What's going on?" She found herself asking, inching towards the edge of the stage with a frown.

And that was when she noticed that they were all staring at her. Each with different expressions that made that nauseating feeling return with full force.

"What the hell is GOING on!?" She screamed, her entire body trembling with fury.

Someone stretched a phone towards her and with trembling fingers, she leaned forward and pulled the device from his grasp.

When she turned the screen towards her gaze, a choked sound escaped her throat.

Evan.

She felt woozy and stumbled but a pair of arms were quick to hold her upright, she looked behind to see Louisa looking at her worriedly.

"What's wrong?" The blonde asked innocently and she shakily passed the device to her.

Louisa's peered at it with a confused face at first before it morphed into surprise and her eyes went wide in shock.

Aurora couldn't hold it back again, black spots were dancing in her vision and she felt a myriad of emotions overwhelming her. The last thing she remembered before falling unconscious was the picture of her and Ryan that had circulated the internet.