Kingdom of isolation - you can't hide

Thirty Seven - Dual POVs (II)

Aurora

"Why am I seeing your cute little face plastered all over my socials?"

"What do you mean? You know I don't do social media." I murmur absentmindedly, watching the condensation drip from my order of a strawberry lemonade. It's too early to be having something this cold, but I need something to wake me up. 

Last night was another insomniac episode and I desperately need some positive energy before I combust. I sip the lemonade with unwarranted bitterness. I ordered this flavour begrudgingly after remembering what transpired between me and the devil yesterday. 

I mean, to call it disgusting and then go out of your way to buy it for yourself and send me a picture of you doing so? It's suspicious behaviour.

Amara levels me with a blank stare, casually leaning over the table with her phone in hand as if she's about to tell me a secret. Since I was unable to sleep last night, I felt the need to meet up with the girls and get my energy back up. 

Although, by the looks of it, they all seem to be in need of an energy boost, especially Ophelia. Something about her low energy today isn't sitting well with me. She's naturally quiet and albeit shy in comparison, but that's not all there is to her. 

She's also kind, assertive when needed and honestly..a gentle soul. If I wasn't so stressed about my own life being in shambles, I'd push all of my energy into the curious case of Ophelia Knight. 

I still haven't opened the can of worms that's Mia and my stupid brother. I've catalogued everything for the future when my mind won't be working overtime like it is right now. 

Still, I'm grateful that she was able to come out here today despite her own circumstances. I hope I can do the same for her. I glance at the three of them sitting around me, looking beautiful as always.

"Your little trip yesterday was payday for the royal sucking paps. You look like you're enjoying yourself. Did you get high? Jesus." Amara's voice is a mixture of disdain and amusement.

Huh? My eyes widen in disbelief as I lean closer to the phone, more specifically, what's on the phone. Is that..

"Cute outfit, by the way."

Whoever took these pictures has no respect for someone's privacy, particularly mine and mine alone. I do appear to be having a great time, a part of me is surprised that it's me and not an imposter. Why was I like this? 

I'm..happy, despite the grim reaper standing behind me. The images are devastating to say the least, and I'm glad they live in a different part of the internet, only accessible to those who can afford it. Because if this was out for public scrutiny, I would be dying in embarrassment. 

It's also the reason why I never found anything like this on the regular internet. I didn't have spare money lying around to subscribe to crap like this. 

My hands grapple for her phone in an effort to, I don't know, delete them or something. But she keeps it out of reach, brown eyes sparkling with amusement.

"I was not high!" I splutter.
"You were genuinely enjoying yourself?" She accuses, mockingly. I shake my head in denial but that feels disingenuous.

"I mean, yes..of course I was, it's a frikkin amusement park!" I huff, hiding my face behind the confines of my hands. 

"This has nothing to do with him. Why didn't they include the images where I'm having a good time all by myself?" I mumble, the words muffled.

"Narrative, baby, context. You played right into the sicko's hands even if he did nothing."