wild ↣ p. lahote

xv. wish that you were here

AN HOUR LATER, Aurora's waist-long hair was gone, cropped up to just below her armpits. Her hair was now curlier, thanks to it being way lighter, and Aurora was in love. It was just the thing she needed.

"I look like a whole new person," Aurora said to herself, admiring the short curls.

Parker nodded from behind Aurora, looking at Aurora's reflection. "You look so good. Makes me want to cut my hair," she agreed, toying with her light brown hair.

"Noooo, don't, I love your hair!" Aurora exclaimed, eyeing her aunt's loose curls with jealousy. "Do you want to go get dinner?"

Parker checked her phone, and upon seeing the time, immediately shook her head. "It's eight P.M. on a school night, no. I have to be a responsible guardian!"

Aurora met her aunt's eyes in the reflection, giving her the best puppy dog eyes she could muster. "Please, Parker, I need it. And you don't want to cook.... and we haven't gone out in forever! Come on, let's go. Girls night on the town!"

Parker frowned, thinking Aurora's words over. She finally seemed to capitulate as she quickly flicked off the light. "Come on, let's go before I change my mind."

"Yes!" Aurora cheered, pumping her fists in the air. It was a habit she'd picked up from Emmett, she remembered painfully. No, Rory, Aurora thought to herself. You dated, and broke up. He's a malicious, murdering asshole. Be a bad bitch and forget about him.

And that's what she did. Aurora had forgotten all about Emmett before she reached Parker's car; she focused all of her attention on picking out a restaurant to go to.

☽

"Okay, Rory, you didn't need to pop off so hard!" Aurora squealed to herself in the mirror. "Sis, you went off! God damn it, Rory, save some for everyone else!"

It was Monday morning and Aurora was standing in her mirror, admiring her look for school that day. After a long talk with Parker at dinner the previous night, Aurora had realized she needed to get her shit together, or at the very least look like she had her shit together. She didn't want anyone thinking she could be so easily affected by Emmett. She had to look strong. She had to look like a bad bitch!

And damn, did she look good. Her now-curly hair was in a half up, half down hairstyle with a few stray strands of hair framing her face. She was wearing the usual dusting of makeup: mascara, blush, brows, and chapstick. She was clad in a knee-length, loose cream colored cardigan, a cheetah-print bodysuit tucked into dark skinny jeans, and her white Doc Martens. Along with her grandma's necklace, she had a few gold necklaces dangling from her neck, matching her golden hoops and golden rings. Aurora felt confident in her outfit. She felt good about herself. She loved this feeling.

"Rory!" Parker called from downstairs, startling Aurora out of her reverie.

"Yeah?" Aurora called back, tousling her hair. She waited for a response, but didn't get one. She hated when Parker did that. Sighing in irritation, Aurora frowned in the mirror and left the bathroom, heading downstairs. "What?" She asked Parker, who was sipping her coffee as she watched the news.

"Are you ready for school?" Parker asked, her eyes never leaving the TV. Aurora rolled her eyes as she turned around to go back up the stairs. Parker could've just called up the stairs, Aurora didn't need to go all the way downstairs for that simple of a question. 

"Almost. I'll be ready to leave in like, two minutes," Aurora said before disappearing back upstairs. She sprayed on her vanilla-scented perfume and rubbed on her vanilla-scented deodorant before grabbing her phone and heading back downstairs. Parker's eyes were still glued to the TV, watching the young meteorologist describe the weather forecast.