[COMPLETED BUT WONT LET ME PRESS THE COMPLETED BUTTON AHAHHA]
Aurora Lockheart was once the sunshine girl-bright, kind, and full of life. But one night changed everything, leaving her a shadow of who she used to be.
A year later, just as she's be...
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January 6th, 2006. The start of a new term, the start of what I had already decided would be a year of changes and second chances. But walking back through those school gates felt like entering enemy territory. I'd resolved that this year would be different, that there would be no more hiding, no more ducking behind walls. I wasn't afraid of who I'd become in the past year; if anything, I felt awake in a way I hadn't before. Everything had changed between me and Gerard, but his steady presence beside me was all I needed to feel like we could weather anything.
Gerard pulled his car into his usual spot, taking a deep breath as he turned to look at me, his face tinged with worry. "It's going to be rough in there," he said quietly. "With Lizzie."
Of course, he didn't need to tell me that. The splinters in our friendship circle were already clear, and I knew the wounds were still raw. The lines had been drawn, and although some things had strengthened, like mine and Gerard's bond, other relationships were barely holding together.
"I know that you're in a tough spot," he continued, looking down as his cheeks flushed slightly. "But I don't expect you to choose sides, okay? I don't want to make you feel like it has to be that way." He lifted my hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to my knuckles, then met my eyes. "You can be both."
"Both?" I repeated softly, surprised by his words.
Nodding, he traced his thumb over my knuckles. "Yeah. You can be her friend and still have me. It doesn't have to be all or nothing."
But I knew in my gut that it was more complicated than that. "Actually, Gerard, it does." I could see confusion flash in his eyes, and I reached up, my hand curling around the back of his neck, pulling him close so he could feel the weight behind my words. "Because this year, I'm done pretending. I'm done hiding how I feel or what I need. And I need you. All paths lead to you. So if that means I have to make a choice, then so be it. From here on out, we're a team."
A slow, grateful smile softened his expression. "You come first, joker," I finished, kissing him gently.
The vulnerability in his eyes made my heart clench. "I won't mess this up, Aurora," he whispered, squeezing my hand like he was afraid to let go. "But I'm not just going to say it. I'm going to show you."
My smile widened as I met his gaze. "Wow, you actually listen to me."
"Every word, Princess," he replied, his eyes twinkling.
Just then, a loud knock drummed against the car's hood. "Get a bleeding room, will ya?" came Johnny's familiar voice. His face appeared at the driver's side window, his smirk as cocky as ever. "Come on, Gibsie, time to get your sorry backside to practice." He opened the driver's door and yanked Gerard out with a grin.
Despite his grumbling, Gibsie shot me a look that said he'd be back, and I watched as he wrestled with Johnny, their laughter echoing through the parking lot.
"Are you ready?" My sister Shannon's voice came from behind, her usual calm presence somehow reassuring. As I grabbed mine and Gibsie's bags, she looked over at me, her expression as uncertain as I felt. "Lizzie's not in a good way," she added carefully.
"It's not my problem," I said flatly, shifting the weight of the bags on my shoulder. It felt harsh, but it was the truth. I couldn't keep one foot in the past, not if I wanted to move forward.
"I still love you both, you know," Shannon replied with a sigh, falling into step beside me. "I won't pick a side."
"I'm not asking you to," I told her, managing a small smile. But I knew that loyalty had already taken a toll on everyone. Gerard had made his choice, too—Johnny had always been his rock, his unwavering support. And right now, that was what he needed most.
As we walked into the crowded hallways, hand in hand, the stares began almost immediately. Heads turned, voices dropped to whispers, and I could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on us like a thousand tiny needles. The attention was sharp and uncomfortable, a constant reminder that everything was different now.
"So this is what being in a fishbowl feels like," Gibsie muttered, attempting to lighten the mood. I could see the tension in his eyes, though, and I tightened my grip on his hand.
"Or what being Johnny Kavanagh feels like," I joked, nodding toward Johnny, who had just backpedaled to walk alongside us.
Johnny cast a sweeping glare around the hall, his voice rising above the whispers. "People in this bleeding school can't mind their own business," he called out, causing several people to quickly avert their gazes.
I felt a surge of gratitude as Johnny led the way, his presence grounding Gerard in a way only he could. It was obvious how much his friendship mattered. And as we finally reached the sixth-year common room, the divide became painfully clear. Our old group was scattered, the once-tight circle now a jagged line of tension and fractured alliances. The air was thick, a sense of unresolved tension filling the room.
Our arrival was like throwing a match into dry tinder. Lizzie's gaze snapped to us, her expression hardening as she looked from me to Gibsie. Her anger was palpable, a simmering storm barely contained, and I found myself stepping protectively in front of him, daring her to try anything. I was done letting people like her hurt him.
The silence was broken by one of the girls murmuring, "Well, this is awkward." Whether it was Shelley or Helen, I couldn't tell. I was too focused on keeping my stance, on making it clear that I wasn't here to back down.
Gerard's hand tugged gently on mine, drawing my gaze back to him. His expression was calm, his voice soft. "Take a walk with me, Princess," he whispered, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my knuckles.
"Anywhere," I replied, a quiet promise in my words. "I'll go anywhere with you, Gerard Gibson."
His eyes shone with a mixture of relief and gratitude. "Right back at you, Aurora Lockheart."
And just like that, we turned and left, hand in hand, leaving behind the fragments of our past. This was our new beginning, our chance to rebuild, and as we walked down the hallway, I knew that no matter what lay ahead, we'd face it together. This year would be ours.
