tutor and scones

eight: september 30 2020

"Hello, sleeping beauty" a faint voice said, which shook me awake.
I yawned, realising that Jameson was standing in front of me. I was leaning on a random tree, which I tamed just a few minutes ago. It was a Wednesday so from what I remember Jameson just finished latin and had twenty minutes of free time. That also let me know that my first half of free time has just passed by. I pulled out my right earbud, offering it to Jameson. He dropped his backpack on the bright grass and leaned on the bark beside me, his fingers brushing mine to take the earbud. 'The last great american dynasty' played at the same time he cleared his throat.

"So it's Avery's birthday in a few weeks..."
I knew what this meant. This meant it was also the day Emily Laughlin passed.
I tilted my head on his shoulder and rubbed his shoulder. It was silent and the world stopped for a moment when the bell rang loudly. Luckily, we had twenty minutes plus fifteen minutes until our next period. I had criminal law next, Mr Parks taught us and he was pretty chill so I loosed my muscles, feeling my pulse be calm.

"When will my brother tutor you again?"Jameson asked, putting his head on top of mine.

"Tomorrow, after school."

"So you have to wait for Xan?"

"Yep, unfortunately, I have to wait twenty minutes."

"Stop whining, you waited twenty minutes now."

"But it's calm..."

"Sleep?"
I hummed, closing my eyes and sensing that the Hawthorne brother had as well.

*

Thursday, october 1st, 4:03 pm
The Hawthorne house. The place I've found myself at least once every week for over a month now. The place I would probably never get used to. And the place I would never love to spend time in.

Taking my doc martens off, Alexander strolled off to the kitchen and grabbed two glasses of water- one for me and one for him. I checked if a certain brunette wasn't pacing around the house. I didn't realise that Alexander's eyes were focused on me.

"Aurora? Are you alright? Or are you nervous to be alone in a room with a very charismatic and incredibly charming man?" He chuckled, turning on his heels to strut up the stairs.
I scoffed as I followed his steps.

"You mean a boy, not a man" I stated, now entering his room and throwing my backpack besides the door frame.
I caught him rolling his eyes not very sneakingly as he thought so. I chucked my blazer at him, forcing him to hang it on his chair.

"However, you still agree I am most certainly a charming and charismatic boy, right?"
Now I was the one rolling my eyes, taking a seat on my favourite spinny chair. I span in the chair, my head becoming dizzy.

"Okay, but seriously, do you?" Alexander joked, I was about to reply but decided that if I kept my mouth closed, he'd stop.

...

I struggled with my doc martens, the shoes stiff and annoying yet very elegant. I was very, very focused on putting my shoes on. The world was silent, no one loud in the house, kind of therapeutic but creepy. I sighed, throwing my head back. My head banged on the wall, hardly as a tear slipped out.

"Ouch, you okay, Aurora?" a gentle voice began.
Jameson, I noted in my brain.

"No, these stupid shoes. This stupid world. Just... shut up, please..." I sighed, too frustrated.
Probably the coffee made me depressed, I drank four cups today...not healthy.

"I know you told me to be quiet but I'll help."
I hid my face in my hands, forgetting that my mascara would smudge. Jameson approached me, untying the laces and trying to loosen them up so I could easily put my foot in. I wouldn't know what to do without him, he was the bestest friend I had- including Max and the others! He handed me the black, polished shoes and I slid my feet in them, successfully. I smiled and leaned down for a hug. Well, actually I tackled him, which made him almost fall but he caught his balance. He sighed, breaking the hug apart when I looked down, unable to meet his eyes.

"Hey, I need to show you something" I screwed my face up, annoyed that I had to put my shoes on after struggling and probably take them off just because he needed to show me something, "tomorrow."
I released a breath I didn't know I was even holding, waving goodbye to him as I exited their house.

On my way back home, I saw a stray cat. A cute cat. Black fur with a white patch of fur on his stomach. They say black cats are bad luck but I don't care. I don't listen to those people. The cat crossed the street... bad luck. But I didn't believe in that so I walked away, wanting to call it but concerned that I might not be home by time. The phone screen showed me the time 6:57 pm. I had three minutes. Shit... I began to run back home, the weather was gloomy and I hoped it wouldn't rain. Of course, the universe didn't listen and it started to rain. Only a bit. I ran as fast as I could, which if I'm being super honest, isn't that fast. 661, 659, 657, 655, 653 and finally 651. My house. I still had a minute, I rang the doorbell, checking if someone was home. My mother answered the door, her hair up in a bun and a wooden spoon in her left hand.

"Spaghetti?" I asked, chucking my doc martens and my backpack dropped off my shoulders.
Ma nodded, giving me a taste of the sauce. Yum... I hummed pleasantly as she began to put the food on our plates. Chris had a night shift on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Ma put in the leftovers in the fridge and I helped her clean up. The night was quiet, I lit my candles. A black candle, wood scented, a dark-green candle, forest scented and a beige one, cinnamon. The room didn't need any light when the candles were lit. I loved candles. They gave light, smell, warmth and I felt comfortable. Safe. My eyes focused on the flames reflecting on the ceiling. The flames moved as if they had their own body and mind. As if they were humans. As if they danced like Lola and Ant last time. As if... my mind drifted away. My eyes shut.

{1107 words}