Infinitely Yours

Chapter Nine

(Aurora's POV)

I spent the rest of the week suffering through whispers and random people asking me questions I didn't care to answer. They only got worse the day Ellie and Maya were both absent and I sat with Asa during lunch.

He'd found me before Lucas had that day, but I was more than happy to eat with him. After that, people couldn't stop talking about how they'd never seen Asa smile or eat with anyone before.

I became an anomaly to them. I messed with everything they thought they knew.

Did I care?

Not one f*cking bit.

Now?

Now it's Saturday which means Archie's birthday.

I walked through the gates and was surprised to see not a single person. I quickly made my way to Asa's door only to find that he wasn't there. I tried calling and texting, but got no response.

I placed the bags I had down by the door and searched for a hidden key or something. I found nothing.

What did I decide to do?

My brilliant self decided to walk towards and into the main building. Hundreds of eyes instantly latched onto me and I was a bit intimidated.

"Lost?" A man said as he walked up to me, taking a swig of his beer as he did so.

"I....I'm looking for-"

"Me?" A voice interrupted.

Jameson.

I relaxed a bit.

"Do you have a key to his place?" I asked.

"He not there?"

"No and he's not answering his phone."

"Don't have a key. Only one key and he has it. Not a fan of letting others in there. I've only been inside a few times. You're free to wait here out of the heat."

He noticed my brief glance around the room and laughed.

"They're harmless to you. Promise."

"I have some cold stuff. It's Archie's birthday, so we're gonna make him a cake."

"Buzz, go get the lady's groceries." He said.

"On it." A man said, getting up and walking out.

"You can keep them in the fridge here until he gets back."

"Thank you."

"Of course." He smiled.

He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and turned to face everyone.

"This is Aurora. Her family just moved back into town. She is Asa's......best friend and she is like a daughter to me. She is to be respected. She is one of us as far as I am concerned. Disrespect her and you disrespect me. Understood?"

"Understood." Everyone said at once.

The kitchen area was right there in that main room so as Buzz helped me put my cold things in the fridge a majority of the others watched me with curiosity.

I was there probably ten minutes when Jameson had to leave with some others. My comfort level went down after he left and I prayed for Asa to hurry his ass up.

A man, who introduced himself as Grizzly spine came over and spoke to me.

"Asa's best friend huh?"

I nodded. "Yes."