To The Moon And Back

Chapter 7

I thought a lot about skipping breakfast, but Noah insisted that I go. He said things about energy and nutrition and some other total nonsense. And then he pulled me off the bed.

So now we're listening to a daily update from the lady named Martha Torman, the one I met yesterday. She looks smart, wearing a grey suit and heels higher than my hopes for the future. I'd look like a penguin walking in that.

"Who's she?" The guy beside Noah asks.

"Educate yourself, Thamer. She's the Senior Director of Los Angeles Dome."

"Why do you know that?" Thamer whispers.

"Because I'm staying here, maybe? Now shut your face."

She gives a small speech about us being a massive hope for the future and says that she's very pleased to welcome us here.

After the speech, I leave for the restaurant and look around to search for Cass. I spot her purple curls a moment later.

"Good morning, Cass!"

"Oh, hey, Aurora! Have a seat," she says. "Wait, what day is today?"

"Um, Tuesday. Why?"

"Well, guess you'll meet the fam today."

"What?" I raise an eyebrow.

"You'll see."

It doesn't take long for Jay to grab her hand and kiss it. His eyes meet mine for a second but I break that.

Too soon. I just broke up with my ex yesterday.

"Hello, Aurora," he says, extending his hand. I feel embarrassed. I give him my hand for his stupidly adorable courtesy. "Oh, Martha's here."

She grins widely at all of us. "Cass, Jay, hello, my loves." She raises an eyebrow at me.

"That's Aurora, my friend," Cass says.

"I know. It's a pleasure to meet you again, Aurora," she says, sitting down next to me.

Why don't I really understand what's going on here?

"Bonjour, everybody," a lady says, sitting beside Jay, opposite to me. She's classy, like Martha, but looks slightly more conceited. "Who's that?" She points at me like I'm garbage.

"That's Aurora, Cass's friend," Martha says.

"Well, what's she doing here? This is our table, go find somewhere else to eat," she says.

My cheeks are burning. I wish this plate of scrambled eggs swallows me alive.

"Sylvie! Don't embarrass the girl, we invited her here," Martha says.

"No, we didn't," she says. "I don't invite poor loners with no friends to eat at my family's table."

"Sylvie, seriously, stop this," Jay says. She says something but I don't hear it.

I feel something I've rarely tasted before. Vibrating in my core. Spreading through my body. Seeping into my pacing heart. Feeding into my anger.

Confidence.

"I don't even want to sit near someone half as arrogant as you, God help the stick up your ass. Bon appetit," I say, leaving the table. My legs want to rush out of here and find a hole to hide in and die. But I walk slowly, not giving her a second look.

I definitely made a scene, because everyone is smiling at me in what I hope is awe. I can hear Cass saying my name but I neglect her.

When I reach an empty corridor, I bury my face in my hands. My hands shake. My shoulders tremble. My lips quiver. Every bit of adrenaline is leaving my body.