Abstract

Chapter 11

Daniel Adams was the epitome of a good-looking man who only grew more ruggedly handsome with age. Females, and males alike, tuned in for the news: not really for the stories making headlines, but for charismatic man who reported them. He made women swoon and men turn green with envy.

It was ironic, because looking at the sight before me, I saw nothing of the swoon-worthy news anchor the local media painted him to be. I saw a man: made of flesh and bones and mistakes. It made my mission to talk to him a little easier.

"Here," I said, handing him a glass of water. He was nursing a massive hangover. Taking the glass gingerly out of my hands, he gulped it down with rapid gusto.

"Thank you," he groaned while holding his head. "What happened last night?"

Instead of answering his question, I asked him one of my own, "What were you thinking coming into my home and causing chaos with your intoxication?"

He shoulders slumped in shame. "That bad, huh?"

I shrugged dismissively. If I thought about last night any longer it would just make it less appealing to talk to Daniel.

"I'll let you rest." I said, after a while of standing there like a fool. As I turned to leave, his hand shot out and grabbed my arm.

"I want to talk to you. Please, Aura." He pleaded.

"We'll talk later. You can barely feel your face."

He nodded number and lied back down on the couch. I took it as my queue to leave. It was the last day of school which meant it was the last day of high school. I needed to get to school before those annoying chicks who cried for everyone who was leaving.

"I'm gonna miss you so much, Audrey." A blonde girl cried as she cut off my oxygen supply with what she interpreted was a hug.

"My name is Aura, but thanks." I said, while prying her off me.

At our school, we didn't have a valedictory with caps and gowns. We had a dignified occasion with all the students of the school where the matriculants would give speeches and reflect on their time at Claremont High School. This all happened before final exams, now all that was left to do was say our goodbyes to our fellow peers.

"Aura," I heard Adam shout my name from the quad. I walked to him and his fan Base, which consisted of 8th graders who rolled up their school skirts so high they might as well have been wearing belts.

"We're gonna miss you so much, Adam! You've only been at this school for 3 months and you're already the coolest guy that has ever graced these floors." One of the girls said, giggling. Wow. It must have taken her a whole hour to memorise that.

"Thanks, Michelle. Don't worry, I'll visit every once in a while." He winked at her, and if only science had permitted it, she would have melted in the spot if she could.

He moved away from the cackling girls and put a heavy arm around me. "Let's blow this joint. High school reminiscing is over rated anyway."

We walked out school, but not before Adam shouted, at the top of his lungs I might add, "Peace out, suckers!"

Our walk back to my house was filled with flowery conversation. He asked me about last night when I frantically stormed out of Zylen's house.

"It was my dad. He and I aren't really... on the best of terms. But I'm trying to rebuild our relationship."

"It's know how you feel. My biological dad wasn't exactly Father of the Year either."

He told me about his childhood and how he was abused my his father. He didn't go into too much detail about it, but I could tell it was really bad. I was almost ashamed at how surprised I was to find out he was bisexual. It just amplified the message that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.