SKYLINE HEARTS

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The following day, I finally cornered Harry one final time before I let this topic go.

Ever since Skylar blurt out that Harry had a crush, I couldn't seem to let it go. Occasionally, we would drop the topic or the conversation would be taken elsewhere. But today, nothing of that sort would happen. My curiosity was at its peak and it needed some kind of answers. Harry evaded this question for weeks straight and I think it was time he came clean. According to our pact-yes, now even I had a pact with A-Rankers-there were to be no more secrets between us. I threatened them that I would revoke our friendship if they even tried to lie or hide things from me.

"So, I'm going to ask one more time or your precious gets it," I said, keeping the pointed edge of the car key very close to Harry's Jaguar. Harry raised in hands in surrender as he carefully took a step forward. Skylar was standing a little far, but still between the two of us as she watched the exchange with an amused expression. She was slurping on her chocolate milkshake.

"Come on," Skylar snickered. "How about you tell her now how proud you are of her for playing dirty like this to get you to spill?"

Harry shot her a deadly glare.

"Your albums and photocards are next, Sky," I shot her an equally deadly glare. I watched blood slowly draining out of Skylar's face as her eyes widened in shock. "I know you know."

"You wouldn't dare."

I inched the key closer to the car door. The gap between the key and the shiny, spotless door was merely an inch. A little push and there will be a noticeable scratch on Harry's car. Aurora from the past would be beyond horrified at Aurora from the present. Present Aurora cared about the truth more than anything and wouldn't stand any more lies, present Aurora had a spine and would speak up when she had to, present Aurora wouldn't back out from a fight.

That's what happened when you spend too much time with S-and-A-Rankers. They make you a version of themselves. I wouldn't say I lost every bit of my identity to forge the new one. I still was the same good ol' Aurora with the kindest of hearts and softest of smiles, but now my personality had an addition of a few more traits that may someday come in handy.

"You're being crazy, Au-No, stop. Don't. Please. I beg you."

"Make a choice, Moore. I don't have all day."

"Fine, fine. You want to hear it?" I nodded at Harry. Harry shared a knowing look with Skylar that I couldn't quite decipher. Maybe it was one of those "it's-time" looks before they drop a bomb.

Harry inhaled deeply. "Just step aside from the Jaguar, Aurora, and I will tell you."

I slowly let my hand fall back to my side and stepped away, but not too away, in case I needed to threaten Harry into spilling the beans. Harry let out a sigh of relief seeing his precious car safe and unharmed.

"Her name's...." He paused briefly before looking me dead in the eye. "Isabella. Isabella Hawthorne."

I stared into his honey-brown orbs, searching for any hint of deception. After a while when I found none and felt the sincerity in his voice, I allowed him to continue. Skylar shot him a subtle look while pretending to take a sip. She thought I wouldn't notice, but I did. I brushed off the odd feeling bubbling in my chest at their subtle exchange and focused on Harry's narrative.

"I'm not going to bore you with my sob story," Harry's voice cracked and I noticed Skylar's eye roll from the corner of my eye. "But I had been crushing on her for as long as I remember. But then-"

His voice cracked further, but he steadied it. The sincerity in his voice was unmistakeable. His gaze lowered to the ground for a second before he looked up at me again. Tears threatened to roll down, but he was determined to hold them back. My heart broke.