Freedom, Flowers, Books, and the Moon

Chapter 18

Aurie stirred, squinting at the light streaming through the window, her brain still foggy from sleep. When her gaze landed on the figure standing by the window, she blinked, recognition hitting her like a splash of cold water. King stood there, drinking coffee from the mug in his right hand, his posture relaxed as he looked out over the sprawling yard. His dark slacks and white-button down, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showcased his ability of ever looking like an authority figure, even in the intimate early morning light of his bedroom. A rush of memories flooded back to her—last night, the confusion, the ease of his comfort—and Aurie's face flushed. She quickly ducked her head under the covers, pretending to be asleep, hoping he hadn't noticed her movement. King chuckled softly at the girl's antics, his voice cutting through the room with a quiet amusement.

"Aurelia."

She peaked her head out from under the comforter, her heart pounding in her chest, though she'd never admit it. "Yes?"

"What are you doing, little one?"

Aurie blinked, embarrassment and confusion rushing through her. "I—um—I don't know."

King raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "You don't have to hide, Bambi. It's not like I forgot that you were there."

The girl could feel her cheeks turning a scarlet red, but she pushed that to the back of her mind as she slowly pulled the covers down, trying to act nonchalant. She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

"How did you—" King began, pausing and furrowing his brow at the flurry of frantic footsteps approaching his door.

"Where is she? How did she leave?" Cielo's voice, tinged with panic, burst through the door before it even opened fully. "Dio mio! Do you think she walked back to campus? Or worse, took an Uber? We need to get to campus. I'll put out a missing persons report. It hasn't been 24 hours yet but I'm sure I can push it through." He rambled as he paced back and forth, his words tumbling over each other.

King and Aurie made eye contact. The latter slapped a hand over her mouth to stop the giggle that threatened to bubble up. Cielo continued, now switching to rapid-fire Italian, his hands gesturing wildly.

"E se quegli uomini in qualche modo l'avessero trovata? E l'avessero afferrata mentre camminava? O peggio ancora, l'avessero presa mentre era a casa nostra?"

"Cielo!" King finally said, sensing the rise in the Italian's panic.

"What?" Ciel stopped his pacing for a moment as his focus shifted to the other man.

King bit back a smirk as he gestured to his bed, where Aurie waved at Cielo.

Cielo froze, his frantic expression melting into stunned silence as his cheeks turned bright red. He cleared his throat. "Oh. " He paused, his voice lowering as he raised an eyebrow, looking back at King. "Oh."

King's lips curled into a slight smirk, his eyebrow lifting in a silent challenge. "Whatever you're thinking, no."

Aurie squinted, confused, before the realization hit her and her face turned an even deeper shade of red. "I—um, I had a nightmare." She confessed.

Cielo softened immediately, sighing. He ran a hand through his hair, concern sweeping over his features. "I'm sorry cuore mio. Why didn't you say something?"

She shrugged, biting her lip and looking down at the comforter clamped in her grasp. "I didn't have to, King figured it out when I wandered in here last night."

Cielo glanced at King curiously for a moment but didn't ask further, knowing his friend would reveal nothing. "Ok bambola." he said gently. "I'll show you which room is whose after breakfast, just in case you need us again." He nodded at King before turning to leave, but not before kissing Aurie softly on the forehead.