You and me | Pacey Witter

thirteen

AURORA WALKED down the school hallway, Pacey close to her side. The two held hands and Pacey had gone on a rant about the upcoming fishing trip he was going on with his dad on the weekend. "Well, hey, I have a great idea, why don't you, uh, bring Lucas along?" she suggested. "It would work out for the both of you. You would have someone there for support, and he could clear his mind of what happened the other day."

Pacey thought about it before he shrugged, "it could be fun, I guess," he stated. "If he comes home complaining about the constant bickering between me and my dad was, don't blame it. It was your idea."

Aurora nodded, "I promise."

Jen walked up to the couple with a small smile on her face. "Uh, hey," Jen greeted. "Do you mind if I talk too, Aurora?" she questioned.

Pacey shook his head, "not at all." He leaned down and pressed a short kiss against Aurora's lips, both of them smiled into the kiss. Jen felt the awkwardness as she watched the two. They pulled out and Pacey smiled, "she's all yours."

Pacey left the two girls alone, Aurora turned to the blonde with a curious expression on her face. "Hey, so, I'm helping Ms. Leery, with this news report and it's about you know, what they think, blah, blah, blah, stuff like that. I was wondering if you'd like to be in it?"

"Well, as much fun as that sounds fun, I have plans," Aurora told the girl. "Me and my uncle were supposed to do this fun hangout or whatever this weekend. He thought it would be fun, so," she shrugged.

"I don't blame you," Jen told the girl. "I wouldn't want to do it either, but I'll let her know. Uh, have fun on your little hangout with your uncle," she told her with a smile on her face. 

"Thank you," Aurora smiled, "Good luck, trying to find other girls." She gasped, "you should try, Joey. I know it'll be awkward, but she really has a way with words, and who else do you know that voices their opinions like she does?"

"Good idea," Jen stated. "Thanks, Aurora."

- - - - - - - - - - -

AURORA AND her uncle Joshua were currently in the small diner, Jack had taken her to the night of her birthday. A banana split sundae was in the middle of the table with two spoons stuck into it. 

At the moment, the two of them were talking about the memories from their childhood. "I remember when you were younger, maybe around four or five, we went to this huge park, or it's probably not as big as we thought it was, but to you and Lucas, it was like a castle," Joshua explained with a small smile.

"But anyways, before we got there, he warned the two of you to be careful, since there were lots of trees around," Joshua told her, "You didn't listen. Instead, you were on the swings and not too far away from you was a tree. So, you decided to jump off the swings and grab a hold of the tree branch." Aurora covered her face from embarrassment as a small nervous laugh left her lips. "But you never held a hold of it, you face planted straight into the tree branch. How was that possible? We don't know. But you had a bloody nose and swore you would never go back to the park again, and you didn't."

Aurora's mouth had been a gape in surprise at the story. "Oh, my God," she said with a laugh at the end. "I can't believe that. I was- I was so stupid," she exclaimed. "I mean, why were you guys going to allow me to jump to the tree anyways?" she asked with a smile still on her face.

Joshua shrugged, "your mom said she was okay with it, as long as I was there watching you," he exclaimed. 

"Clearly, that was a big mistake!" she exclaimed, jokingly.

The laughter soon died down and it fell silence between the two of them. This whole night, Aurora could tell that something had been bothering her uncle this entire night, she just couldn't figure out what. "Why'd you bring me out today, dad?" she asked with a curious tone. "I mean we never do anything like this, and don't get me wrong, I had fun, I just want to know why."

Joshua sighed, he knew he was going to have to tell them soon, but this had been his moment to tell the girl. He adjusted his posture and folded his hands, resting them on the table. "It's your dad. He contacted me."

Aurora's eyes widened as she felt the shock erupt throughout her body. It's been five years since they had last seen their dad, she didn't want to see him now. "What?" she managed to say with a slight shake in her voice. "What? Why? What did he want?"

"He said he was ready to try and be a father again," Joshua told the girl. "He said that he was ready," he shrugged, and Aurora was about to speak up to say something but was cut off by him. "But I told him no. I- I know your feelings about him, Aurora, and you don't want anything to do with him. I told him that."

Aurora glanced down at the table with teary eyes. Her hands were set on the table fidgeting with each other. "Why does he want to come back?" she asked. "I mean after five years, why does he want something to do with us now?" she questioned but didn't get a response. "I hate it. I hate him so much."

"I know, I know," he whispered. Joshua heard a small cry leave her lips. He moved over toward the other side of the table where she sat and scooted in the booth beside her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Aurora leaned her head on his shoulder as she shut her eyes, tightly to prevent the tears from falling, but it didn't work. Joshua pressed a small kiss to the side of her head.