My Enigma

Chapter Thirty-One

Auroras POV

By the time mum dropped me off from school, I could barely feel my legs.

Everything from the pep rally to the match to the weight of Levi's name on everyone's lips had drained me. I dropped my bag by the door and stood there for a long second, just... still. The house was quiet, but not the good kind of calm. The type that echoes. The kind that makes you realise just how loud grief can be, even when no one's saying a word.

Mum had a business dinner to attend, so I was on my own.

I made my way upstairs slowly, every step like a chore. My room greeted me with the same familiarity. It always had the posters on the wall and the old guitar Levi used to mess around with in the corner, untouched, still tuned, still his.

I sat at the edge of my bed, fingers grazing the strings.

The rally had been... heavy. Beautiful, sure. Powerful, yes. But it didn't change the fact that he wasn't there to see it, and that broke my heart because I am sure he would have loved it. He was always a people person.

A buzz from my phone interrupted my thoughts. I checked to see that Hanna had created a group chat called The Wanderers.

The title has a nice ring to it.

Hanna: Rory, change and pack an overnight bag. We're all heading to Gabe's after dinner.

Gabe: Bring snacks. I'm not sharing my chips this time.

Connor: I'll pick up drinks. Non-alcoholic, unless y'all need to cope in that way?

Luke: Wait, does Rory know Gabes place?

I stared at the group chat for a beat. My stomach tightened when I saw his name. I am pretty sure he knew that I didn't because I had never been there before.

Hanna: Rory doesn't know Gabe's place, and I'm going early with Connor. So, Luke, can you pick her up?

Luke: Say less. Rory, I got you.

My first instinct was to protest. To tell them I'd sit this one out and I just needed to be alone. But something in me, maybe the same stubborn part that knew Levi would've dragged me to Gabe's without question, he wouldn't let me back out.

I texted Hanna privately.

Me: You sure this isn't weird? He and I alone?

Hanna: You're stronger than you think. Just ride. If it gets weird, text me.

Right. As if she would be able to help.

I got up, packed some clothes into a bag, put on something comfortable—an oversized hoodie and leggings—and texted Luke privately to let him know I was ready.

As I waited for him, I wrote Mum a note detailing where I had gone so that she would not worry. I stuck it on the kitchen counter at a spot where she would notice it easily. Calling her would have been easier, but she had a work dinner, and I did not want to disrupt or mess that up. So, I settled with a note. I really hoped that would be enough.

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The knock came a few minutes earlier than expected.

I opened the door to find him standing there, hands in the pockets of his hoodie, looking like he had thought about turning around three different times on the way here.

"Hey," he said, almost too softly.

"Hey."

He didn't push. Didn't smile too much or act overly familiar. Just grabbed my overnight bag like it was instinct and opened the passenger door for me.