Aurora walked out of the doors, her chin tilted high and her shoulders squared, the intercom buzzed loudly again and the metal parted for her. Once she spotted her car, the confidence melted and her legs trembled, she would've landed on the ground if it weren't for Calvin's quick save.

He frowned, eyeing her with a concerned look, "Are you okay?"


Her tongue felt too heavy to lift so she simply shook her head.

Calvin sighed, muttering to himself about hoe he knew this was a bad idea from the start. His arms swept her feet from the ground and he carried her into his arms, walking silently until they got to the car.

She has no idea how he did it but he managed to pull the door open singlehandedly whilst still carrying her and gently placed her on top the chair. As he moved to close the door, she reached out to him,


"Don't tell anyone about this," Then she added with a bit of desperation, "Please?"

He seemed to contemplate on the matter but nodded after a while, "Your secret is safe with me."


She smiled gratefully, "Thank you."

The ride back home was tense and filled with silence, for the first time, Calvin didn't turn on the radio and she was thankful for the quiet. She desperately needed it.

Evan's face kept flashing whenever she closed her eyes and all she could hear was his taunting voice and echoing laughter. She clutched at her chest, he wanted her to make a choice but she would outsmart him in his own game,

He'd been winning for far too long but she understood now. The entire thing was like a chessboard to him but rather than being a piece, he was the one moving them.

But not anymore.

By the time they returned home, her legs had come alive again and she managed to make it to the front door with shaking. Even her quaking fingers had resided, she hated how they always trembled whenever she was anxious or scared or both.

She gently locked the door behind her, trudging towards the stairs. Her mother burst out from the direction of the living room, cornering her in the hallway,

"And where are you coming from?" Miriam crossed her arms on her chest, glaring at Aurora disapprovingly.

For a brief moment, Aurora wondered if there was ever a time her mother even looked at her with love rather than inadequacy. She had never notice or maybe she choose not to but it was glaring now that no matter what she did, it would never be enough in her mother's eyes.

"Out," She responded, "I asked Calvin to take me out on a drive, I was sick of staying home all day."

Her mother scoffed, rolling her eyes, "Well, if you hadn't caused all this ruckus in the first place, you would be in school right now where all your peers are at."

She sighed, not having the energy to argue with the woman right now, "I know you didn't stop me to tell me this," Seeing as she'd been constantly ringing it in her ears for the past three days now, "What do you want?"

Her mother was startled and it showed from how her expression faltered. She coughed, eyeing her skeptically,

"We managed to pull down all the posts and pictures pertaining what happened, we found the person who took the pictures and uploaded them too," That caught her interest, "But your father suggested we just agree on a settlement from him instead of making it a bigger deal and drawing unnecessary attention."

Aurora nodded and her mother shifted closer,

"We managed to keep this on a hush hush so make sure you don't do any more stupid things, okay?"

"I understand, can I go now?" She gestured towards the stairs and her mother sighed, shaking her head and muttering under her breath.

Aurora made to move but Miriam piped up again,

"One last thing, I spoke with Matt and he agreed to go along with it."

She looked over her shoulder, her brows creasing, "Go along with what?"

"The picture of course, he's willing to be the mysterious man in the photo."

She spun around so sharply, her leg cracked with the motion, her eyes blazing with fury,

"What did you just say?"

Miriam pointed an accusing finger at her, "Don't you dare give me that look, you were the one stupid enough to make a mistake like that and let's not even get started on how you managed to whore yourself out to whatever dunce you decided to sleep with," She took a threatening step forward, "Just be grateful that Matt is lenient enough to take the fall for you."

Aurora was dumbstruck. Her mother had completely stolen every voice from her mouth. She wondered if Evan was right and maybe she did have something to do with his mother's death.

It would make sense after all, Miriam Rochester was a woman who would stoop at nothing to achieve whatever she wanted and it disgusted Aurora to the core.

"Do you not even have an ounce of pity for me!?" She didn't meant to but it came out as a yell, tears welling up her eyes.

Miriam looked at her, unconcern plastered onto her pristine features, "Pity? Did you just say pity?" She questioned with a condescending sneer, "If you even pitied yourself, you would comply to everything with making so much as a noise."

She took a step forward, taking a lock of Aurora's hair and rubbing it between her fingers,

"Everything I do, every decision I make, everything," Her voice rose and she curled her fingers around the strands, tugging, "It's because of you, my precious daughter. You're an epitome of perfection, the nation's beloved ballerina and the fiance of the most eligible bachelor in the state, nothing can stand between that. Nothing."

She released her hair and Aurora staggered backwards, clutching the wall for support as she struggled to breathe. She watched her mother walk away, her hips swaying side to side,

"Oh, and do prepare for the contest," Her mother called out without looking back, "I managed to get them redo the whole thing again and this time, do try not to ruin it."

As her mother disappeared out of sight, Aurora's nails dug into the wall and she struggled to contain the fury rising within her.

Patience, Aurora, her mind whispered soothingly.

Patience.