Aurora - *FELIX V. PAUL*

Ch. 1

Aurora walked through the front door with her purse and keys in hand. As she was hanging them up on the hooks by the door, she was startled by Charlie.

"Where's Bella?"

She jumped up and tried catching her breath, holding her chest where her heart would be. She shrugged. "Probably still at her party with her other family."

Charlie closed up his news paper and stood to face his daughter. "I thought you had gone with her?"

She scoffed. "Like I'd wanna be anywhere near that asshole boyfriend of hers. Breaks up with her, makes her feel so shitty that she run away and ends up in a hospital in Scottsdale. Then he shows up and stays by her side, next thing you know he's boyfriend of the year in her eyes." Aurora mutters to herself, but just loud enough for Charlie to hear.

"Where have you been?"

"On a date," she states as she pulls off her coat.

"Nice boy?"

She shrugged, "Better than the last two..."

"But?"

"Not really my type."

Charlie crossed his arms, unsure if he should continue this awkward conversation but wanting to be involved in at least one of his daughters' lives. "Why agree to go out with someone if they aren't your type? Wouldn't it be easier to wait for the right guy and then go on a date with him?"

Aurora chuckled at her dad's response. "Practice." She started for the stairs.

Her answer made Charlie's eyes widen as he uncomfortably rubbed at his ears and turned to her stuttering. "Wha-uh... um... erm.. pra....prac.... Practice? What.. um..... do you... practice?"

His loss of words stopped Aurora in her tracks as she turned with a stunned smile. "Nothing gross dad. I mean dating practice."

Charlie's eyes couldn't meet hers. "So... like holding hands and... kissing?"

"Dad!"

"I'm just asking is it kissing practice or...more? Do we need to have a... ahem... birds and bees talk?"

"Oh my gosh, Dad! I'm a virgin!"

"Lalalala okay!" He blocked out the awkward talk.

"Okay?"

"Great."

"Great!" Aurora continued rushing up the stairs to avoid her dad for the rest of the evening when he stopped her.

"Wait, wait. Did you get Bella a birthday gift?"

Aurora's jaw clenched at the mention of her stepsister. "Yeah. I got her a sentimental birthday card."

Charlie nodded. "Did you mean every word?"

"Yup."

He smiled. "What did it say?"

"Happy birthday, Bella. I really mean it." Charlie shook his head and let her go on her own way.

When she got back to her room, she plopped herself down on the small mattress her dad had dragged into the room intended for Bella. It didn't take long for her to start making comments about back pains. In about a week Charlie had the two switch beds. Aurora barely minded the bed-swap. In the almost year Bella had been in town, so much more had happened that made Aurora dislike her a considerable amount.

Ever since she had gotten with that boyfriend of hers, Edward Cullen, she had begun this social life that only included his family. Aurora could tell from the way Bella had changed that the Cullens were bad news. Charlie too was aware of the trouble Edward Cullen caused. The only person who couldn't see it was Bella, blinded by love. It made Aurora sick. Maybe even a little jealous...