Aurora (#1)

e i g h t e e n

"Rori!" Felicity squealed and ran towards me when she saw me at my locker. I sighed and planted a smile on my face.

"Hey." I said.

"You missed out on the party at the weekend. It was so good. Doesn't matter there's loads more parties coming up and you have to come." She insisted.

"I don't know Felicity. I'm not much of a partygoer. If anything I'd probably ruin it for you." I told her. I've been to a fair share of parties before but with everything I had going on I couldn't take a night off. Balancing jobs and school work was hard. My new job at the library club was starting in a few weeks so I needed to factor that into my life. I had no time for socializing.

Oliver and Jess joined us at my locker. "That was definitely a good party Rori. Even I went." Jess piped in.

"As a football player, I've been to loads of parties and Abby throws some of the best. Next time you should come." Oliver said.

"I'll think about it." I sighed, slamming my locker closed. "Is Christian around? I need to speak to him."

"He didn't come with me today and I haven't seen him since the party. He seemed angry because he was completely trashed by the end of the night. He was a complete mess and he wouldn't talk to me." Felicity said, shrugging. I gulped, the guilt bearing down on me.

"Yeah, he was mumbling something about someone being different. But everyone turns their back on him." Oliver said. Tears pricked my eyes but I blinked them away.

"Let's get to class." I said as the first bell rang. We went our separate ways after homeroom. I settled down quickly and took out my math books. I handed in my assignments and extension work at the end of the lesson.

"Rori." My teacher, Mr Levitt called.

"Sir?"

"You're excelling in this class. I know you were moved from the normal math class to this AP class but I feel as though you're beyond the syllabus we teach. On your SATs I know till get full marks which is why I want to give you college standard math assignments. They'll take more time than the assignments you have been given but I'm sure you'll be able to handle it. I hear you want to go to NYU?"

"Yes."

"Well I can tell you they have a great math faculty there and I'm sure you can get the scholarship you need." He told me.

"It flattering you have so much faith in me sir. But what if I don't?" I said, the question that I have been asking myself since I arrived.

"There's no question that you're the brightest student we've had in a long time so I have no problem in placing my faith in you. I don't have to think about you not being able to get in because I have absolutely no doubt they'll accept you." He said. The amount of faith he had on my work was overwhelming.

"Wow. I don't know what to say sir."

"If you haven't joined the mathletes I suggest you do that. We meet every Wednesday at twelve thirty in room six. Come this week, we've got a competition coming up and we need a new competitor. See how you feel about it, but I hope to see you Wednesday lunch." He smiled and nodded at me. I took the assignment from his hands and left the class.

My head was sill reeling from the praise I had received that I walked to my locker in a daze. I didn't know I had bumped into someone until I felt myself falling. But instead of hitting the ground ass first, I felt a strong arm catch my waist.

"Uh, thanks." I muttered, still dazed. The person let go of my waist and I finally looked up. "Christian." I breathed. He had a stormy look in his eyes and his lips were pulled in tight line.