Freedom, Books, Flowers, and the Moon

Chapter 17

Later that night, Aurie had fallen asleep, her feet in King's lap and her head in Cielo's as he absentmindedly played with her hair. King looked at his watch, and the time read 10:07. 

"Should we wake her?" he asked the other two men.

Beau sighed, "Probably. I hate to do it though; you know she has to be exhausted after the day she's had."

Cielo nodded. "I'll do it." He gently ran a hand through her hair. "Aurie," he said softly. 

No movement.

"Aurelia," he tried again a little louder.

Still no movement.

He sighed and shook her shoulder. "Angioletto"

Aurie groaned in response and rolled onto her back, cracking her eyes open.

"You need to wake up, piccolina."

"Do I have to?" Aurie croaked.

Beau chuckled at this, "Darlin' its past 10."

She sat up, "Really?"

King grabbed his phone out of his pocket and showed her his screen.

"Shit." Aurie cursed.

"Language." King raised a brow.

Aurelia blushed and bit her lip. "Sorry," she sighed. "I guess I better get home." Her mind raced as she remembered the day's earlier events: running through the streets from the group of men that robbed her and her friends.

King noticed the faraway look on her face and glanced at the other men, having a nonverbal conversation with them. Beau was the one who decided to speak. 

"Y'know, sweetheart, if you don't feel safe at your dorm, we do have an extra bedroom."

The room was silent for a beat, the men too nervous to speak, and Aurie stunned.

"You guys," she started and swallowed roughly, "would let me stay here?"

"You don't have to," Cielo rushed to say, "but we have the space. If it would help you feel safer, we'd be happy to let you stay the night."

Aurie nodded, contemplating. "I don't have any clothes though."

"I think Gabby left a pair of leggings last time she was here, and I'm sure one of us has a t-shirt you can borrow. King can drop you off by your dorm in the morning to change and get your things for your school day," Beau supplemented.

The girl nodded to herself once more, seemingly having made her decision. "Are y'all sure you don't mind?" She looked around the group. 

"Yes, doll," King assured.

She bit the inside of her cheek. "Ok, where's my room?"

A few minutes later, they were upstairs, and Cielo opened the door to the spare bedroom, flipping the switch by the door to light the room. Aurie walked in hesitantly, taking in the space. A warm light softly filled the room. There was a queen-size bed sat against the center of the back wall, covered with a light gray quilt, and the girl sat her trusty tote bag on it. On the right side of the bed sat a small nightstand. The wall opposite the bed, beside the door, had a large mounted TV with a desk underneath. Aurie walked over to the closet beside the bed, pushing the door open to find a small walk-in closet. She pulled open the curtains on the window adjacent to the closet to see the light woods that pressed in on this side of the house.

"Ok, here you go." Cielo put his hands in his pockets as he leaned against the doorframe. "On the other side of the stairs is the bathroom. Um, yeah." He said, feeling kind of awkward for once, "All of our bedrooms are on this floor, so if you need anything, don't be afraid to ask. Beau should be in here in a few minutes with some clothes," he paused. "Is there anything I didn't cover?"