Arlan's Point Of View

Aurora's blueberry sugar scent is driving me mad. My hands were twitchy to touch her soft thighs and kept adjusting anxiously on the wheel. I hope she didn't notice. I had to stay calm. She was a quiet thing, legs dangling at the seat and finger nails lightly taping along her black seatbelt. Probably never even been fucked, if I had to guess. Rain had started to lightly fall, tapping against the car rhythmically, creating a cozy ambiance for the drive home.

"This is a nice car," She said quietly, gazing up and around it after staring out the window for a while. "Looks expensive."

"It's a lamborghini, doll," I said, laughing under my nose at her innocence. She was quiet.

"I like it."

I couldn't help but smirk. She was adorable.

"How did you afford it? Or did your parents help you?"

"I got it all on my own, sweetheart." Just like I lived on my own and worked on my own. Fuck my parents, if I saw their graves again it would be too soon. Pisspoor alcoholics that left before I could ride a bike.

At first, I thought Aurora might just be another thing to mess around with, take the edge off of work by taking off her clothes. But now, now I had a newfound purpose with her. Maybe I could be her little savior. After hearing her words about being in fostercare, I knew her life was probably shitty. And now, I wouldn't have to worry about figuring out the cohorts to picking her up, or working around any sort of schedule. I could just come home to her, she could live with me... and wouldn't she like that?

I skillfully opened the glove compartment in front of her to retrieve my cigarette box, then opened the cup holder for my lighter. At a red light, I cupped the cigarette and flicked the lighter, it making a soft snip noise, before quickly inhaling greedily and exhaling an obscene amount of smoke.

A delicate little rabbit sneeze broke me out of my thoughts. My eyes traveled to see Aurora behind the smoke. Her little nose, slightly reddened at the top, was scrunched up and her eyes were watery.

"Bless you, sweetheart, I'm sorry. I'm so used to smoking in my car."

"It's ok, my foster house smells like that a lot."

Just as I suspected. The place was most likely shitty and horribly taken care of.

"Are there young kids in there?" My brow flicked up. I stepped on the gas when the light turned green. She adjusted against the window more comfortably.

"Yeah."

"Damn. I wouldn't smoke around them."

"They do a lot of bad things to...nevermind," She quickly shut herself off.

"What?" I said alarmingly, my brows drawing into a deep V shape. "Aurora."

"Do you need an address?" She changed the subject impeccably quick.

"What bad things do they do? Is it not safe there?"

"I-I shouldn't have said anything..."

I quickly flicked up my turning signal and pulled over into a near by church parking lot. The rain was starting to pour in heavy sheets now. Aurora frantically started looking to her left and right as we pulled in, unsure of why I was doing so.

"What are you--Arlan, where are we?"

Aggressively, I put the car in park, nearly slamming back the gear. I turn to look at her, and her wide blue eyes look terrified of my angry expression.

"What is your foster home like, Aurora? What happens if you get in trouble? You were so scared to miss the bus that you said fuck, and you don't seem like the type to swear. Tell me, what kind of place is this that you want me to take you home to? Do they hit you?"

"Please, I don't know," Her anxious eyes dropped my face.

"What do you mean you don't know?" I snapped and she jumped and whimpered.

Her eyes wandered around my face, panicked.

"Please. I don't know. I don't want to get in,"-

"Trouble?" I finished her sentence. "What kind of trouble? What kind of stuff goes on around there? Are you safe? I can get you,"-

She immediately broke into sobs and began pleading.

"No, please! DONT tell anyone. Arlan, please, I need somewhere to live," her desperate tone urged me.

My heart wrenched at her pleas and the sight of tears rapidly coursing down her chubby cheeks. I just wanted to coddle her into a tight hug. I deserved some shit hole like that to live in, not sweet little Aurora. Flashes of ugly and violence ran across my mind as to what this poor thing must go through. I couldn't let her stay there. I couldn't bare to drop her off where they might do unspeakable, unthinkable things towards her. I needed to save her. All I needed to do was manage to convince her to stop by my house, and we'd be good she'd never leave. Thunder clapped and the little thing jumped, looking behind her at the storm.

"Are you afraid of thunder?" I questioned.

"Not if I'm inside," She whimpered.

I sighed, turning the car back on and beginning to reverse.

"I'll take you home. But first, I've got to use the bathroom. We're going to stop at my place, as I'm sure your folks would be mad if I came in with you. You're coming in, I don't want you in the car alone in a thunderstorm."

"Ok," Quiet little Aurora agreed, just happy she was off the spot with answering any questions. "I have an hour to be home, that's how long the bus takes," She mumbled.

She dumped her head down, surely mad at herself that she had brought the cigarette smell up.

As I made my way to my estate, I couldn't help but notice the stark difference in the woman I was with now and my previous girlfriend. Kacelynn was wealthy, privileged, and obnoxious at times. Aurora was polite, shy, and deprived. I wanted a good woman like her to give a good life, and that I would make sure of. I just needed time to get Aurora comfortable.

Rolling up to intricately intertwined black gates, an estate lied before us that resembled something of The Adam's Family- just my style. Aurora curled up into herself against the window as her huge eyes peered around the ominous atmosphere before her: the thunderous rain, pure gray sky, spider-like gate and huge mansion.

"Is this a hotel?" Her voice peeped in quietly.

"No," I said curtly, stopping at the security code. "But you're cute."

She didn't understand.

"Your family must be super wealthy. Are they nice?" She said, knowing she'd be meeting his parents.

I rolled the window down slightly and she flinched at how hard the rain was coming down. After what seemed like two minutes of punching in a security code, which she looked away from out of politeness, she heard a noise and peered up. The gates slowly removed from each other and began to open. The car moved forward.

"I live alone."

"W-what?" She said breathlessly. "Y-you...how? You're so young...h-how do you have money for all this? Sorry if these are personal questions," She backtracked, "I just..." She trailed off, feeling as if she had said too much to someone she barely knew.

"I'm emancipated and a lot of money was left in my name."

All lies.

"Wow...I'm...so sorry," Was all Aurora could think to say.

I offered her a half smile but she was looking down, surely feeling bad for me. I tucked my car securely into my garage, turning the engine off and looking to the feeble thing.

"It's alright, Aurora," I said kindly, gently. "Now come on, let's hurry inside so I can get you home."

We hurried in from the rain, which successfully got us quite drenched in its downpour. Panting breathlessly, I locked the door and swiped my curls out of my eyes.

I saw Aurora in awe of the high ceilings and sleek, leather furniture. The place felt intimidating to her, I could tell. It did kind of seem like a hotel, and a dark one at that. The kind you might have a business meeting in on Halloween night. I could understand her confusion. She's probably thinking "Why would a 17 year old need a huge space like this to himself?"

Every artifact in the house was either black or white. There was a bar near the kitchen with high black stools, and pristine, white table and counter tops. Leather couches adorned the living room connected to the kitchen, with luxurious black carpeting underneath. The sight was breathtaking but strange and very overwhelming to her. She walked hesitantly, like she shouldn't even have the right to walk on such nice floors. It was cute and amusing.

I placed Aurora on one of my leather seats and she looked up. Doe eyes. Ugh.

"What baby?" I questioned at her concerned face.

Her pupils dilated at the pet name and I felt my palms twitch.

"Can I have some water?" She licked her lips.

I smiled, restraining myself and my intrusive thoughts.

"Of course. Let me go over to the water cooler and get you a cup."

She released a breath she didn't know she was holding and nodded, looking down. Thunder made her flinch and hug herself.

"Please, make yourself comfortable. We won't be here long. But welcome to my home, Aurora," I called from the kitchen, retrieving a Dixie cup.

Aurora was silent, couldn't bring herself to speak. I could tell she was anxious to go home. The anxiety that she may be in trouble for being just a minute late was starting to get to her.

"Aurora?"

She looked up at me, doe eyes startled.

"I said here," I laughed and my arm outstretched with a dixie cup filled with water.

Her hand shook slightly as she took it and heartily gulped the water.

"I'm gonna run to the bathroom and then maybe we can watch a movie? I have a theatre downstairs."

"N-no Arlan, I told you I have to go," She fought quietly.

"I know, I know," I sighed, "It's just...I don't have many friends at school either, and, I like you Aurora. I know I don't know you, but I want to get to know you. Let's hang out."

"We can hang out in chemistry," She said, quickly standing. It hadn't dawned on her that she stood just below my chest until now.

I chuckled. "That's not hanging out, that's just being in class together."

"Arlan, I can't stay. My foster home has rules. But...I'll tell you what. I promise we'll find a time to hang out."

In truth, I knew she was saying this so I'd just take her home already.

"Oh yeah? How's tomorrow? I mean, we don't have chemistry tomorrow, so there's no argument that we're guaranteed to see each other."

"I can't...I work. But, why don't you stop by? I'll give you a free coffee for being so generous and giving me a ride. I seriously appreciate it, Arlan."

"Well, I'm more of a hot chocolate guy. And I didn't know you worked, where do you work?"

"Little Louisa's."

"Oh, that old cafe on the corner...yeah, I've seen it. I've never gone in."

"Yeah, it's not really for...rich people," Aurora nervously giggled.

I felt a smirk I couldn't fight climbing up my face.

"Right," I said pointedly.