ꕥ 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 ꕥ

• CHAPTER 9 •

THIRD'S POV

Aurora stares at Dario.

His concentration is merely admirable. He does not care if she's dying; he will finish what he starts.

No one will make him do the opposite.

Aurora leans in closer toward him. She waits for a moment until he's finally done with his work.

Then she leans in much closer and smiles. "Hey Dario, are you free tonight?" She asks, staring at him. enjoying his features.

He looks up at her and raises his eyebrows. "No, I'm going to be busy killing myself because of your existence." He glares at her.

"Dario, you're such an ass," she says, rolling her eyes. "I was simply asking because I was wondering if you wanted to come to a party with me and some friends; your sister told me to ask you," she says, feeling a bit hurt.

"Why don't you ask that mall guy? I'm sure he'd love to go to that party with you," he says, clearly annoyed by her asking and the mention of the mall guy.

Aurora's hurt suddenly turned into amusement. "Aww, Dario, are you jealous?" Aurora asks, standing and kneeling right before him.

He looks at her, wondering why he's suddenly gotten so pissed over a guy flirting with Aurora. She is simply his job; he's been asked to check on her and make sure she's out of trouble.

She infuriated him so much that he couldn't even comprehend why.

"Now why the hell would I feel anything towards you or because of you? You are simply a girl, a naive, annoying, and aggravating girl who has mommy issues." He leans in and stares right into her eyes.

Dario realizes his harsh words were too much; Aurora gets up and walks out of the class.

"God," Dario sighs, closing his eyes.

He didn't mean to hurt her; for some reason, he can't stand the already rising guilt of hurting her.

Dario grabs his and her stuff and follows after her.

He looks around and notices the janitors closet door slightly closing. He walks inside and manages to find the light.

He looks to his right and finds Aurora standing near the window with her face in her hands.

He puts the bags down and stands near the door. "Aurora" Dario's voice nearly comes out as a whisper.

He's fighting his inner thoughts.

What the hell should he do? God knows he's never had to apologize to a woman or girl. He simply doesn't apologize, period.

Now, why in hell would Aurora make him want to apologize? to beg for her forgiveness? He shouldn't even care.

"Dario, can you do me a favor?" Aurora turns around to face Dario. dried tears now on her cheek. She tries to wipe as much as she can.

But tears still threaten to leave her eyes. "what?" He asks, staring at her with caution and worry.

"Fuck off, and never talk to me again or even look at me or fucking be around me," she says as she steps closer. "I may be a bitch; what was it you called me?" She raises her eyebrows.

She snaps her fingers and chuckles. "That's right! a naive, annoying, and aggravating girl with mommy issues," she laughs.

"You know I never truly understood why you hate me so much?" She takes a few steps closer to him.

He shakes his head. "It's not hate; it's distaste; it's dislike." He says this, stepping closer. "I didn't mean what I said back there," he says, looking down at her.

she scoff. "Oh no, I'm sure you meant it." She rolls her eyes. Grabbing her bag from the floor, she goes to leave, but Dario stops her and turns her around.

"I didn't mean it; I got carried away." Aurora cuts him off and pushes him away. "You don't seem to understand that everyone has issues, and just like me, you also have mommy issues." She pauses and makes him look at her.

"I just don't get why you have to lash it out on me!" she asks him, hating the way he makes her feel and the way she has to force herself to hate him.

"I'm sorry," he says, and suddenly the closet becomes deathly quiet. "Why do you hate or dislike me?" She asks, and Dario sighs.

"You want to know why?" he asks, pulling her by the waist and making her look right into his eyes.

"Because you make me feel things I've never felt before," he pauses, and suddenly she feels confused.

"You make me feel jealous whenever you talk to a guy; you make me doubt myself; you make me want to apologize; you make me feel guilty; you make me feel things I don't want to feel!" He says, his voice now much deeper.

Aurora brings her hands up to cup his face.

He steps back and shakes his head. "This can never happen; like you said, we are both a little fucked up; god knows two fucked up people can't fix each other." Dario grabs his bag and walks out of the closet.

He goes to his car and drives away.

Aurora stands in the closet, feeling hurt once again. She's never hidden her feelings for him, but he's so difficult to understand.

She doesn't even know what it is she wants, or maybe she does. She's just blinded by self-sabotage and his confusing mood swings.

It's hard for her to keep up. One thing is for sure: She'll make sure he understands his feelings and knows hers.

She's not going to give up that easily, especially since Dario is the first guy to make her feel the way she feels for him.