Northern Lights

Chapter 4

She pirouetted on the tips of her toes, her arms dangling limply to her side as her sleeves swung around her—scouring for the disheveled mop of hair of her best friend. She cursed him out loud, a stream of profanities under her breath as she walked along the aisles, denying that no, she was not lost in a supermarket for God's sake.

It was awfully quiet though—noiseless. It was rather peculiar at this time of day on a Friday, when it should be sprawling with students from Moore High School, accumulating up on their supplies for the weekend.

She was actually getting antsy from the way the isles were empty and eerie as she expected a scream or a wail followed by a bloated zombie as he lumbered after her, his primal instinct to eat her brains, sucking it through her nose like Jell-O through a bendy straw—

She exhaled through her mouth and shook herself as if the image would loosen from her mind and fall to the ground to gather around her as piles of unrealistic impossible possibilities as she once again let her overactive imagination run amuck.

Get a grip dumbass. She scowled at herself. This is why you're labeled a weirdo.

She had walked by about halfway in front of the isles when she suddenly backtracked and read the label on top of the nearest.

Cereal

She had almost forgotten about the cereal that only came out during October. She ran down the aisle, skidding to halt, jaw dropping as she realized the Count Chocula cereal were placed at the top shelf. This was not her day.

 As she was about to scale it, about to use the shelves as a ladder and foot hold when a hand landed on her shoulder, startling her so much all the mutterings of curses became an out loud screech echoing throughout the seemingly empty store.

Skye made a tsk tsk sound as he tugged lightly on her hood, towing her gently towards the counter and away from Count Chocula with a bouquet of pink carnations, red velvet cupcakes, and Oreos tucked into his arm. She held out her arms towards her beloved cereal with a whine brewing in her throat.

"Let's go, Rose before they kicked us out of the store—again." As if it was only her fault that they did. He bundled her head between his arms, slinging his muscled limbs across her dainty shoulders. She made that keening sound again on the back of her throat, knowing it annoys the hell out of Skye as she was dragged away from her cereal.

They rounded on the corner and headed towards the two figures that stood behind an empty counter, one was standing rigidly. Someone Aurora was very familiar with. Her footing stumbled and she inhaled sharply, prompting her into a coughing fit. She tried to suppress her wheezing throat as much as she could so that she doesn't embarrass herself further.

Darrel Mason, the football god stood there in his school sweatshirt with his hands in his pockets, reclining against the counter with an air of boredom, a picture of nonchalance down to perfection.

She suppressed the urge to purr delightedly. She really did try her best not to ogle too long while he just gave her curt glimpse. She pleaded silently in her mind for him to give her a second glance for the hundredth time, and wasn't surprised when it didn't happen. She had been pining at him for a year now, it was difficult to stop, almost as if it was a routine or a reflex, and even more difficult to even imagine if he did somehow notice her the way she wanted him to notice her.

Ariana Grande's Honeymoon Avenue started playing from her back pocket. She dug out her phone, pressing ANSWER button while they waited behind Darrel and his best friend, Hunter, who could not stand still for the life of him. Twitching, shuffling, and giving her a simpering look, making her agitated more than usual.

"Hel-lo" She sang merrily, trying to ignore the duo in front of her.

"What time are you picking me up?" Skye's girlfriend, Sienna's voice filtered through the phone's tiny speakers.

"We're heading there after Joe's. Skye's just buying snacks 'cause he's on his period and he's craving."

"Shut up Reaver. Hey babe!" He called.

Aurora stuck her tongue at him and danced away from his fingers as they made a grab at her. A finger peeked out of her purple long sleeves to wiggle at him in a condescending way. She mouthed an insult to him.

"I have to go. I thought Skye was driving so I called you. " Sienna interrupted their little fight, Skye finally calming down when he heard her voice. Aurora did her damnest not to roll her eyes outwardly. That was a little rude.

"'Kay, we'll be there in..." Aurora snuck a look at Darrel's stuff and her eyes widened with incredulity.

Holy mother of all things holy

The counter was filled in piles, half a year's worth of food. Hunter sniggered at Aurora's reaction and twitched again.

"...as soon as we can." Aurora finished weakly. The phone call ended but she didn't even notice, or care. She carried a veiled tiny resentment towards the girl that she hid from Skye. For the first time, she wondered if Skye would pick her or Sienna if it ever came down to it.  

"Nice English."

She swatted Skye away with her too long sleeves.

A flustered looking worker burst out of the door and apologized profusely. He started ringing up their items hurriedly, eager to have the two of them out of the store as soon as possible.

She stuffed phone in her pocket and pretended to get out her Mickey Mouse leather wallet, given to her by Skye's cute little sister, when one of the last items was scanned. She stuck her tongue at him again before aiming a kick at Skye's shin and dashed away, cackling wildly as she left him alone to pay and carry their stuff.

She knew it was for Sienna and usually, Aurora would have gladly bought their food if it was only the two of them eating but she didn't want to feed his damn girlfriend for him.

But before she left, she saw Darrel, and to her it might or might not look like it, but he had smile tugging his lips.