A Princess and A Zombie (A Z-O-M-B-I-E-S and Descendants AU)

Ch. 18

If it was possible to see red, she did.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" She all but screamed at him.

"You said not to hover, I'm not."Jay pointed out.

She shook her head furiously, scoffing. "Not hovering? You're literally following me around town, Jay! That's the very definition of hovering."

Jay's expression remained calm, despite the anger radiating from Aurelia. "I'm doing my job, Aurelia. You know that."

Her eyes flashed with fury. "Your job? Or are you just using this as an excuse to keep tabs on me?"

He couldn't meet her eye, his gaze dropping to the ground. "It's my job, Aurelia. I swore an oath to protect the royal family, and that includes you."

"The same oath you took right before you broke my heart. Yes, I'm well aware!" Aurelia's voice cracked with the weight of her unspoken feelings, her past pain surfacing despite her best efforts to keep it at bay. Jay's face twisted in anguish, the torment in his eyes mirroring her own.

"Aurelia, I-" he started, his voice barely above a whisper.

"No," she cut him off, her hands trembling as she fought to regain control. "You don't get to apologize and act like everything is fine. You made your choice, Jay."

Jay's shoulders slumped, the burden of his decision evident in his posture, even through the layers of leather he wore. "I didn't realize..."

"You didn't care. You cared only for yourself. I'm finally happy, or I'm getting there at least, and I won't let you or anyone else take that away from me," Aurelia said, her voice firm despite the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.

Jay looked up, pain evident in his gaze. "Aurelia, I never wanted to hurt you. I thought I was doing what was best for both of us. I love you, I wouldnt hurt you intentionally."

"You love me?" Aurelia took a deep breath, trying steady her trembling hands. "Love isn't just a word you can throw around to make everything right again, Jay. Love is about actions, about trust, and you shattered that trust when you walked away from me without a second thought. You left me broken and alone, and it took me a long time to heal from that."

Jay's face contorted with regret as he reached out a hand toward her, but she stepped back, keeping a safe distance between them. "I know I can't change the past, Aurelia," he said, his voice filled with desperation. "But I want to make things right. I want to earn back your trust and show you how much I still love you."

Aurelia shook her head, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and determination. "Jay, you had your chance. You made your decision, and now I have to make mine."

Jay's eyes pleaded with her, his voice barely a whisper. "Please, Ari, don't shut me out. I've changed, I've grown. I've realized my mistakes, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right."

Aurelia's heart ached at the sincerity in his voice, but she had learned the hard way that love alone couldn't fix everything. "Jay, it's not just about you anymore. It's about me and my well-being. I deserve someone who will be there for me, who won't walk away when things get tough. I deserve better."

"Ari please-"

Aurelia's heart skipped a beat as her best friend called out to her. It took a moment for Aurelia to gather herself and respond, her eyes still fixed on Jay, who stood before her with a pained expression.

Eliza rushed over, concern etched across her face. "Ari, you look so upset. What happened? Is everything alright?"

Aurelia took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She realized that the conversation with Jay had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within her, leaving her feeling vulnerable and on the verge of tears.

"What's going on here?" Eliza demanded, her voice filled with concern and a hint of anger. "Who are you?"

Aurelia shook her head, attempting to compose herself. "It's nothing, Eliza. He's no one."

Eliza's gaze narrowed on Jay, her protective instincts kicking in. "Did he do something to you?"

"No, no. It's not like that. We were just talking," Aurelia explained, though her voice still held a note of sadness.

Eliza turned her attention back to Aurelia, her expression softening. "If you're sure... But if he hurt you, he'll have me to answer to."

Aurelia managed a small smile, grateful for her friend's support. "Thank you, Eliza. But I can handle Jay."

A glimmer of recognition flashed in Eliza's eyes at the sound of the name.

Brushing it off, Eliza nodded, though she still shot Jay a wary glance. "Alright. But remember, I'm always here if you need me."

"I know," Aurelia replied, her heart swelling with gratitude.

With one last glare at Jay, Eliza linked arms with Aurelia. "Come on, let's get out of here."

As they walked away, Aurelia couldn't help but glance back at Jay, who stood frozen in place, his face a mask of pain and regret. She felt a twinge of guilt, but she quickly pushed it aside. She needed to focus on herself right now, not on Jay's feelings.

"Are you really okay?" Eliza asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Yeah, I am," Aurelia replied, her voice stronger now. "I just needed to get that off my chest."

"Well, I'm glad you did. And remember, you don't have to go through this alone. You have friends who care about you."

Aurelia smiled, feeling a sense of peace for the first time in days. "I know, Eliza. Thank you."

As they continued down the path, Aurelia felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

"We're having another block party, you in?" Eliza asked, trying to cheer her up.

Aurelia's spirits lifted at the mention of the block party, a welcome distraction from the intense confrontation she had just experienced. "Yeah, that sounds like a lot of fun. I could use a night to just relax and enjoy myself," she responded, her smile genuine this time.

Eliza squeezed her arm reassuringly. "That's the spirit! It'll be a great way to take your mind off things and just have a good time with friends."

Aurelia nodded, feeling truly grateful for Eliza's presence and support. "I really appreciate it, Eliza. You always know how to lift my spirits."

Eliza grinned. "That's what friends are for, Aurelia. We stick together through the good times and the bad. And tonight, we're going to have an amazing time at the block party."

As they approached Zombie Town, the sound of music and laughter grew louder. The streets were filled with people, and colorful lights illuminated the houses. It was a lively and festive atmosphere that instantly lifted Aurelia's mood.

Aurelia spotted familiar faces among the crowd and waved enthusiastically. She felt a sense of belonging and warmth as she joined her friends, their laughter and conversations filling the air. The worries and tensions of the day seemed to fade away, replaced by a feeling of joy and camaraderie.

But he just had to ruin it.