Tidal Wave. | obx szn 1

John B (The Pussy).

Jane Minerva was immediately shocked by her triplet children when they walked through the door at 12:36 a.m.

Aurora has drops of Kelce's blood on her hand, Lucca has John B's blood over his shirt with soaking wet hair, and August going to a party ultimately surprised her.

"Lucca, August, go to your rooms. Now." Jane demands. Aurora stands still, with her hands folded in front of her.

Lucca and August sit on the top step. They listen as their mother reprimands Aurora.

"Where the hell were you, Aurora?" Jane yells. Her hand makes a loud slap sound as it hits the marble counter. Her other hand is on her hip.

Aurora doesn't answer. She stares at the glass of red wine that was just to the right of her mother.

"Answer me, kid!"

"I was at John B's." Aurora whispers.

"Speak up, Aurora! I can't hear you!"

"I went to John B's!" Aurora yells, louder.

"I don't like that tone, Aurora." Jane says, firmly.

"You just told me to—"

"Shut up! Don't speak another word!"

Just then, Harrison Minerva walks through the front door. Almost as if on cue, Jane takes a sip of wine. Her mouth shuts.

"Hello, girls." Harrison whistles, kissing the top of his daughter's head.

The intensity of the room was impossible to ignore. To Harrison, it felt as if he just walked into a sauna.

"Everything okay?" He asks, walking to his wife.

"Just fine. Aurora, go to bed."

Aurora listens. When she gets to the bottom of the stairs, she immediately notices her siblings. She continues going up the stairs, ignoring them. When she passes them, Lucca and August both turn to her.

"Rory," Lucca calls, hoping she would come back.

Aurora doesn't respond. With her head down, she goes to her room without a word.

Lucca and August look back and forth between each other. Worry fills their hearts.

"Last time mom yelled at her like that she—"

"Yeah, I know, Auggie." Lucca interrupts, "go to bed."

༄

The Minerva house was completely silent the rest of the night. Normally, there would be video games and movies playing throughout the night, but nobody dared to make a sound.

For the first time in a long time, Aurora didn't sleep. She stayed awake all night, staring at her ceiling that was lit by glow in the dark stars.

Even by morning, Aurora hadn't fallen asleep. She got ready fast.

When she got downstairs, she immediately notices her family eating breakfast around the table.

"Good morning, Aurora." Jane says cheerily.

Aurora ignores her. She goes to the fridge and pours herself a glass of apple juice.

Harrison looks up from the newspaper. "Did you not hear your mother, Rory?"

"I did, but last night she told me I wasn't to speak a word. So, I'm listening to her wishes."

Harrison looks to his wife. He has always been aware of the feud between his daughter and wife, but has never witnessed it firsthand. Jane will never tell Harrison of the fights that her and Aurora have.