Aurora sat in one of the precinct's interrogation rooms. It was nothing like the movies. Her's didn't have the huge mirror that was obviously a two way mirror. The walls were painted a pale green, almost tea green. She had been sitting here for at least two hours. She couldn't see it, but she had a feeling the sun had already risen.
And she wasn't privileged with two cops, a good one and a bad. She just got one, an officer O'Brian and she wasn't quite sure which category he fit into. He slid into the room with a cup of coffee in on hand and a manila folder in the other. She wondered what could possibly in the folder, but she didn't bother ask. She supposed they could have pictures of the crime she was sure to be blamed for. Where the hell was Daniel, and what did he tell them?
Pulling back his chair, he plopped down before Aurora. He flashed a bright white smile in her direction. Is he being nice, or is this a trap? She couldn't decide. "So Aurora, tell me about Daniel."
His name invoked so many emotions in her anger at his stupidity, concern for his predicament and now her predicament, and love. Love that she always had for him and probably always would. But when she spoke she managed to keep her voice emotionless, "What about Daniel?"
"From the way he talks you've known him practically your whole life, right?"
She smiled she couldn't help it. It always made her happy to know Daniel had been talking about her, and if Officer O'Brian had heard him talk about her he was here. Not exactly safe but better him here than gone. "Yea, I met him when I was three; he was five. We were at Katie Bell's birthday party," She paused living in her memories.
But before she could continue the door to the interrogation room opened. A woman with burgundy curls popped her head into the room, "Officer O'Brian can I talk to you?" He exited quietly and swiftly leaving behind both the folder and his coffee.
Aurora sat there alone now that the memory of Daniel had left her to deal with whether or not she would spend the rest of her life in jail. She knew it was stupid to help him, but she couldn't leave Daniel like that. She knew that for him her assistance was more than just that. It wasn't a test but it wasn't too far from being one. He wanted to be worthy of her love and he screwed up. She couldn't think of another way to show that she was.
Officer O'Brian chose that moment to reenter the room where she sat. He didn't look too happy. "Aurora, what were you doing at Daniel's house?" He jumped the gun. By his previous question she thought he would take this slow, earn her trust, but apparently he didn't have the time for that.
"He called me. Told me he wanted me to spend the night, but he'd be late. So I came over, like always." The lies spilled out faster than her brain had registered them. She left him alone. She did the worst thing possible she saved herself and herself only.
Officer O'Brian ran his hands through his messy dark curls, "You're free to go."
She sat out front while they called for her dad to pick her up. She was getting out that should have been enough, but it wasn't. She walked up to the front desk, "Do you know where I can find Daniel Grayson?"
The blond woman looked up from her paperwork and smiled. "He's staying here tonight," She paused trying to find the words.
"Why," I asked knowing, but needing to hear the words.
Her smile fell as she saw my tear filled eyes. "He confessed," she whispered in my direction. "But you're better off without him. A pretty girl like you doesn't need to worry about guys like him," She said more confidently.
Daniel confessed, but somehow she wasn't in his confession. He saved her. He was more than worthy of her love, but was she worthy of his?
***
Later that month Mr. Stevenson, Aurora's dad, packed up and moved, taking Aurora away from everything that she had ever known, and the one thing that meant the most, Daniel.
