An Unkindness of Ravens || LUCAS SCOTT [2]

One ― Like an Arsonist

2004 ― Tree Hill, North Carolina

Aurora James stood in the airport. She was waiting for Alex to text her that he retrieved their car. He had to pay a flat rate fee to leave his car in the parking garage while they were gone for the whole summer, and the flat rate fee for three months was way cheaper than paying by the day like you normally have to. Aurora was about to grab her phone to call Alex and make sure he didn't get lost when she saw Lucas standing a few feet in front of her with flowers.

"Okay, putting aside the fact that I do look pretty good considering I've been on a plane for about six hours, you cannot ambush me at the airport with flowers and a nicely tanned end-of-summer body, considering the way we left things...-" Aurora stopped talking when she saw Lucas frown and look over her shoulder. Aurora turned around to see Karen, who had a huge smile on her face. "...-three months ago," The brunette finished her thought. Lucas smiled sheepishly.

"Actually, I'm just... here to pick up my Mom from New Zealand," He said and Aurora's eyes widened. He never mentioned that during the times they did speak on the phone during the summer. "I didn't think you were coming until tomorrow," He said.

"Well, you thought wrong," She said. She felt her phone vibrate and when she checked it, she had a text from Alex saying he got the car and he was outside. "Well, Alex has pulled the car around. Quick, maybe you can tell me you love me or something," Aurora said sarcastically as she grabbed her suitcase and brushed past Lucas.

Lucas shared a look with his Mom. Karen was looking at him with concern, and then he turned back to the spot Aurora had left from and he sighed. He did miss her, and that was not how he envisioned their reunion going when she got back into town, but he couldn't blame her for giving him the cold shoulder.

He was determined to do everything he could to win her back.

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After Aurora James threw all her clothes in her laundry hamper, took a shower, and changed, she checked her phone and saw she had a text from Lucas asking if she could come over. She decided she would take Blake's advice and try to extend the olive branches to her sister and Lucas, so she went. She knocked on the back door and Lucas opened it and stepped aside to let her in.

"So, does this mean you're talking to me now?" He asked. Aurora shrugged as she sat down at his desk.

"Depends. Why did you ask me over?" She asked. That's when she noticed he had one hand behind his back. When he brought his hand forward, he had a small bouquet that was obviously not store-bought.

"I brought you some flowers," He said. Aurora raised an eyebrow as she took them.

"And where did you get them?" He asked.

"The neighbor's yard," He said with a sheepish smile. Aurora rolled her eyes, but she was still slightly smiling. Then she sighed.

"I'm sorry for blowing up on you at the airport," She said and he nodded.

"Ah, it's cool, you know," He said as he shook his head. Aurora ran her fingers through her hair as she sighed.

"No, I felt stupid for jumping to conclusions. How could you have been there to pick me up when you didn't know I'd be back today? I guess your confession before I left just freaked me out and I didn't know how to handle seeing you again," Aurora said and Lucas nodded. He thought about that a lot and he knew he shouldn't have sprung on Aurora that he loved her and wanted to be with her right before she was about to leave for three months, but he needed her to know how he felt.

"And how are you now?" He asked.

"I'm fine. How was your summer?" She asked. Lucas sighed. He didn't want to brush over what happened like it didn't affect them both.