Arlan's Point Of View

I saw it, everything. Kacelynn's interrogation, Dustin's threats. I had to plan faster than I anticipated.

"Here's one in Locklyn, boss," Nate said, quickly typing on his computer in my living room. "Boarding School for girls."

"Too far, her foster home will be suspicious." I flick at my cigarette lighter again, feeling beyond agitated that Dustin hadn't learned his fucking lesson, tapping my foot. I tear off my leather jacket in frustration, whipping it across the room.

"Okay...how's Bakerfield? Boarding School For Academic Exellecence and Superior Endeavors."

"She's going to be pretending to go to boarding school on 'scholarship," I air-quoted, "so her caretaker doesn't have to pay for a real school and she can live here. Bakerfield is not realistic, it wouldn't fit the plan-there's no way she'd realistically get a big enough scholarship to go there for free. Kacelynn went there, that place charges an arm and a very privileged leg," I toss my lighter in the air and catch it, flicking it on and off. I shake my head. "Agatha wouldn't believe her."

Nate turned around, sighing and rubbing at his light stubble.

"Man, are you sure this is even going to work?"

I leaned forward.

"You're going to make it work-all of you," He swallows as I bite the words out between my teeth. "You're all going to make sure she can't leave."

"Why risk bringing someone around here that could blow your cover? Possibly report us to the police?"

"Aurora's not like that, she doesn't judge," I bite lowly.

"How are you gonna balance pretending to be a high school man, being the head of our mafia and taking care of this girl? I-I'm sorry but I'm just tryna be realistic here. Why don't you just force some parents to adopt her?"

"Because I fucking want her to myself, and I have the means to take care of her and I'm in love with her!" I roar in rage, standing up and chucking my lighter across the room and Nate flinches. Rarely does he get affected by my rage, he's used to it, but now, he looks concerned.

"Okay, right, sir, I'm sorry," he puts his hands up in submission.

"Any more useless fucking questions, Nathaniel?"

He shakes his head fast.

I sigh and rub my tattooed neck. "I'll be back," I grumble, heading to the other common room. Nate switches around and soon I hear the click of his keyboard again. I rub across my eyes and up my eyebrow before sliding out my phone and calling Aurora, needing to calm down. Needing to hear her sweet, syrupy shy voice. Drone...drone...nothing. I hang up and quickly call again. Drone...drone...drone...nothing. Fuck, where was she? I call again...drone...drone...drone...drone...-

A crackling noise on the other line. My heart picks up with joy, then I hear a sniffle, and my heart sinks. She's crying.

"Arlan, I'm at work."

Poor thing has to work today after all she's been through?!?

"What's wrong, babe?" I ask frantically, pretending I don't know. She sniffles heavier and whimpers beneath her breath. She's crying and it hurts me.

"N-nothing, I'm okay, but I'm at work."

"Did Dacie like her toys?" I try to take my mind off of it.

She giggles softly. "I-I...can we just hang out tomorrow?" She says in a rush.

I smile softly. "Yeah, baby."

She sniffles and sighs.

"Sorry."

"No need to be, doll. Try to relax. I'll pick you up tomorrow." I hang up. The fact that she sounds so miserable kills me, but makes me all the more excited. She has no idea what's in store for her tomorrow. Tomorrow, I introduce her to a whole new life. No more foster home, no more gross pigs like Dustin, no more barista job, no more pain, sadness, or anxiety.

Aurora, I'm about to give you the life that you've never had.