Aurora's Point Of View

Gently raising myself from bed in the dimly lit bedroom, I immediately regret it, clutching the plush blanket and groaning. A splitting ache in my skull had me clutching my head and crying out.

Giving a look of sympathy, Elise walks through the door with a tray of blueberry waffles and orange juice.

"Good morning, Aurora. I hope you're feeling alright."

I wordlessly pull the covers around me, feeling humiliated. She set the little tray on the table beside me.

"Please eat, it will help you with your hangover," Her features pull into a soft, caring smile.

I look at the food as she quietly leaves.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

I was so hellbent on proving to Arlan that he didn't own me, that I got myself drunk and made myself all the more vulnerable to him. I put myself at risk for alcohol poisoning, and worse than that:

I didn't even think about attempting to escape.

I let my pride get the best of me so much that I didn't even look for an exit. All I wanted was to prove him wrong and show him I wasn't a weak thing to possess over and take advantage of.

Yet, here I was, still in his bed, only furthering his incessant point that I was all his.

I hesitantly reach for a waffle, but quickly pull back when I hear the doorknob turning. Timidly, I lower myself in bed and peer up at Arlan from under my bangs when he enters.

Arlan is freshly showered, the rich smell of his blackberry cologne and body wash mingling together, his black curls brushed back neatly. A form fitting black t-shirt sculpts his build and exposes his intertwined-tattooed sleeved arms. He's got a white bandage wrapped around his bicep of what looks like a new tattoo. His pronounced brows furrow over his jade eyes, and my eyes lower from his. I feel vulnerable to his mercy in my weakened, hungover state. And he looks angry.

It's then I realize I don't remember changing out of my dress last night and into his shirt. Does that mean...he undressed me and did it? And saw my body exposed?

As I dwelled on the thought, he sauntered towards the bed and climbed onto it. Hovering his weight over me, I clutch the blanket and lower myself even more. He holds my gaze intensely, not saying a word.

"What the hell were you thinking?" He finally hissed in a whisper.

Avoiding his gaze and staring at the blanket in front of me, I felt a lump in my throat. I try to swallow it down, my heartbeat ticking rapidly.

"I wasn't," I admit shyly.

Rough fingers grab my face and squeeze my cheeks and I whimper as he laughs dryly.

"That's right, you weren't."

I squeal as he rips the covers off me and his hands flip me onto my stomach, my body face-down shoved into the pillow muffling my sounds of fear. His hands raise the back of my T-shirt and send a stinging slap to my bottom, making me scream into the pillow. I attempt to roll away from him before I can even process what's happening.

"Arlan, I'm hungover, please," I whimper softly in distress as he grabs my hips to place me back on stomach. His hand is flying, reigning punishing spanks on my bare, sensitive skin and I can't take it. It's just like what they did in my first foster home, only worse. My foster mom would only give two spanks. I started to lose count with Arlan after 15, and his hand was much more impactful.

"Do you have any idea how disrespected I felt?" The sound of my own skin slapping is horrifying. "I told you not to drink, and what did your disobedient ass do? Drink! I was worried all night you may be sick. You're lucky as fuck you weren't! You're. Supposed. To. Follow. My. Orders!" He slaps my bum harder on each word as he seethes with acidic anger. It's like he's on some sick power trip.

I feel his presence off me and the verbal and physical torment stopped. I never knew a human hand could have such a painful impact on skin. He turns my body over to face him as I'm hyperventilating, fat tears rolling down my cheeks. My pained bottom pressing against the bed made me whimper.

"I hate you," I weakly mumble, dizzy.

"Oh yeah? Is that what you thought when you were grinding that little ass on my lap last night?" He sneered.

I evade his gaze, mortified.

"I don't think it was," He taunted further.

He leans over to the bed and I flinch at his presence. He fishes around under the covers, pulling out the stuffed lamb and handing it to me. I quickly take hold of it and squeeze it to my chest, crying into it. Wow, Arlan, how truly considerate of you, you monster.

"Get up and sit in the chair," He orders darkly.

I look up and sniffle, confused. Is he going to handcuff me, leave me here?

He arches a menacing brow up at me expectantly, sending chills of cold fear down my body.

Rising up, I clutch the lamb to me. I feel so vulnerable and exposed in just his T-shirt and my bare legs. On the way there, he raises my T-shirt slightly to see the damage he's done and drops it when I walk past him. I feel myself shudder, embarrassed. I debate begging him not to handcuff me, but decide I'm too drained and hungover to bother. When I seat myself, I immediately yelp and stand up, my bottom stinging.

"I said sit in the chair," He roared and I flinch, before sitting back down with my hands under my bottom. I whine quietly under my breath, shifting uncomfortably.

"Arlan, it hurts," I whimper.

"This spanking is a punishment to help correct your behavior. Your little lamb is what's called aftercare, it comes after a punishment. Usually I apply a cream after spankings, but I need you to feel it. Everytime you sit down this week, you'll be reminded that I own you."

"Why do you have to own me?" I beseech weakly, looking at him with devastated eyes.

"Because I crave to. I'm a possessive man, Aurora. I need to," He crossed his tattooed arms and said from across the room.

"I don't want to be owned," I shook my head. "It's not fair, I'm a person."

"Forget being a person. Your Arlan's girlfriend, and if I own you, I can protect you. And that's it. Got it, Aurora?"

"No, I don't got it, I'm not okay with this," I whine, shaking my head. "You said I was safe here, you said you'd never hurt me. What happened to you?!"

"I didn't hurt you."

"You did."

He leaned off the wall and came forward as a sob broke from me, my skin grew cold and clammy at him coming closer. I feared he'd choke me.

"No," I choked through a sob, turning my head and bracing myself.

Instead, his tattooed fingers delicately played with the Dove on my necklace. I hesitated cautiously, looking at his hand near my neck. The strong, musky scent of him presented a dominant aura that overpowered my senses and filled me with fear.

"Put pants on, but you're wearing my shirt to school. Then meet Nate downstairs. And before you think of telling some stupid proffesor or little friend at school that you were 'kidnapped', just know you faked a high school degree to get into college, sweetheart. And you're eighteen now, Aurora. You could go to jail."

He was using his own illegal actions against me.

He dropped the Dove as it fell on my T-shirt. As I rose up shakily, I gasped as my body hit his chest. I coughed and closed my eyes as he profusely sprayed me with his cologne. His nose dove into my neck to inhale deeply, and he exhaled, satisfied, leaving the room.

Shuffling down the stairs after dressing, Nate hands me some papers.

"Oh, hey," He faked a smile, though I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. I doubt he slept more than a few hours last night. "Here are your assignments due today. I hope you had a good birthday," He had slight maroon colored bags under his eyes. My heart tugged.

"Thank you. I'm sorry," I say quietly.

"It's okay."

I knew he was exhausted, yet he was still being kind to me. When we got into the car, he handed me a bottle of Advil and water.

"Here. You look dead."

I gladly took four with water. On the ride to school, I curled up against the window and actually fell asleep. When I woke, Nate was gently shaking my arm, and I was a bit irritated to being woken. This hangover royally sucked.

"Hey, we're here."

Gently leaning myself up, I pick my backpack up from the floor.

"Thanks. My head's feeling kind of better."

"No worries."

When I walk into my Chemistry lecture hall, I feel all eyes on me. Some snicker and murmur words to each other at my hungover state. I should've worn a hoodie and sunglasses.

"Miss Mulven, I trust you have your lab report done?" Mr.Sandusky asked, wearing a tie with several ducks on skateboards.

"Yes, Professor," I hand him the laminated and stampled report done by Nate. Then I shuffle to the back of the lecture hall.

When I seat myself besides Hadley, I immediately wince and feel tears prick my eyes.

"Hey dude, you alright?" She murmurs worriedly in a hushed tone, looking at me with concerned eyes as the Professor begins teaching.

Sucking in a breath and adjusting myself, trying to ignore the pain, I nod.

"Yeah, I'm just hungover," I whisper.

She smirked at me.

"Someone must've had a fun birthday. I bet you and your man's had a looong night. You smell like him," she smirks at his profuse amount of cologne on me and pokes my side playfully.

I hated smelling like him, it felt like he was around even when he wasn't. It made me anxious.

"Yeah, it was fun," I force out in a little voice, my eyes lowering.

"Aww, poor thing," She rubs my arm and I flinch slightly. She hesitated, gave me a brief look of confusion and pulled away. "If I had to guess, it was your first alcohol experience. That's cute."

"Yeah, I don't think I'll be doing it again..."

"Nah, man, come on, the bonfire's this weekend! Beck kept asking me last night to ask you to come."

"He did?" I felt my soul rise with hopefulness, looking to her.

"I-I mean, he asked to come with the both of us, you know?" Hadley quickly clarified in a whisper. "It's every Fall, tons of food, music, beer, free T-shirts....typical college shit. Don't back out on me, Mulven. I've taken up a friendship with a freshman with the hope that you're not lame," She giggles. I laugh softly under my breath.

"I'll have to ask my, um...boyfriend. He drives me. But it does sound fun. "

I remember Arlan's orders earlier not to tell anyone I was kidnapped, but looking at Hadley, I desperately wanted to tell her. I wanted out, I wanted safety.

Then I remember his voice saying the word 'jail' in reference to me. So I say nothing else.

"Why do you need your man's permission to hang out with people? Beck and I will just drive you, he has a car."

"Uh, I just like to make sure it's okay with him," I stammer back, unsure of what to say since I can't say the truth. "You know?"

"I mean not really, I've never dated a guy, and I'm kinda glad about that...but I guess," she shrugs. "But anyway, before that, we should totally do our girls night."

"Ladies in the back, no talking!" Professor Sandusky exclaimed, making us look to each other and giggle.

THIRD PERSON POV-

Hadley and Aurora had met up for their usual lunch after class and were giggling about something on Hadley's phone, losing track of time. Aurora's head no longer pounded and she was thankful her hangover was essentially gone.

"No, I swear, and then when she cut her hair I was like girl, not the hair too!"

"Oh my god that's insane!" Aurora laughed.

"Yeah, I wish you had Instagram, I would just tag you. But we should totally do hair on our girls night. Maybe Friday before the bonfire?"

"Sure, but I mean, is my hair long enough to do?"

"Yeah, I'm sure we could braid it or something. I've got a curling iron too! Have you ever curled your hair?"

"No, actually. And...what about face masks? Do you have those, I've always wanted to try those!" Aurora squealed giddily.

"Yeah! Oh my gosh, I actually got Beck to try one on one time, funniest shit ever."

"Really? I never thought,"-

"Aurora, I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Aurora jumped frantically and turned, unexpectedly seeing Arlan out of his car. Her heart pounded at the fact that he was in front of Hadley. She did not want the two to ever meet.

Aurora realized she must have lost track of time and completely forgot to meet him in front of the Ariana Whitman building. She quickly scrambled up as Hadley awkwardly stood up. Arlan didn't even look to see Hadley there, just fuming at Aurora.

"I-i'm sorry, I was talking to Hadley. This is Hadley. Hadley, this is my boyfriend, Arlan," Aurora turned to Hadley and gestured.

Hadley smiled, extending a hand.

"Nice to"-

"I looped around five times, five fucking times! Next time be ready. I'm busy too, you know," Arlan snapped sharply at Aurora.

The wind blowing made Aurora's bangs softly blow around her face as she looked down in embarrassment. Hadley awkwardly pushed her own flying hair behind her ear.

"Right, I'm sorry," Aurora said quietly.

"Well, maybe Friday?" Hadley continued. "We could hang out?"

"Friday?" Aurora repeated excitedly.

"She's busy," Arlan snapped quickly.

Aurora looked at him with pleading, doe eyes, but he was on his phone, texting. Meeting Hadley's eyes, Aurora's lower in defeat and Hadley's chest blossomed with sadness as she now understood the toxic nature of Arlan, feeling uncomfortable.

"I-its ok," Hadley said softly, so as not to make Aurora feel more embarrassed. Nor did she want to anger Aurora's boyfriend by pressing it and have him take it out on poor, sweet Aurora. "Maybe we'll 'girls-night' another night."

Aurora smiled softly.

"Okay."

"Let's go," Arlan shoved a muscular arm around Aurora's shoulder, leading her away. Hadley noticed Aurora was so much tinier than him and grew worried, watching them go out of sight.

"What the fuck is up with that guy?" Hadley mumbled to herself incredulously. Then, she frowned; Aurora hadn't given Hadley any napkin notes today like she'd been doing at lunch before. She must have forgot.

"A-arlan?" Aurora asked softly in the car

"Hm," he says through a cigarette, on edge and still texting. Aurora hesitated, setting her backpack at her feet and putting her seatbelt on.

"I-I really want to hang out with Hadley. She's my first friend."

His brows furrow as he reads his phone, not looking at her.

"Please?"

He smushes his cigarette down.

"Give me another."

Aurora felt her heart twinge with sadness at his blatant ignoring of her request.

"I'm sorry I was late, I know how rude it looks when you're doing me s-such a nice favor. I promise it won't happen again, I'll be good."

She hoped he'd reply, but he was still texting, ignoring her. She hesitated and then sighed. Shakily she fumbled open the glove compartment and took out his pack of cigarettes. Opening the pack to hand him one, his rough fingers hastily try to take the pack impatiently. His rings scratched her delicate fingers and she flinched, the cigarettes going flying all over the car.

"Ow," she hissed softly.

"Fuck," he cursed glancing to the mess, her heart pounding. She whimpered biting her lip.

"S-sorry"-

"No more stupid requests," he yelled. "No frivolous little girl time sleepovers or or anything."

"B-but Arlan, I-I didn't mean to,"-

"Shut the hell up," He icily silenced her. "Clearly you haven't learned your lesson."

Her heart rapidly picked up pace and she felt a headache crawling back into her skull. She opened her backpack, needing some water. Only, her notebook and water bottle were gone.

"I left my water bottle in my lecture hall, I-I'm really sorry...can I go grab it?"

"Make it quick," he said with a cigarette between his teeth, typing quickly on his phone.

Sighing, she opened the door and made her way out, hugging her body in the cold air.

Why was he so cruel of her request? She just wanted to hang out with Hadley. He wouldn't even acknowledge Hadley or say hi and it was so embarrassing for her. Aurora did not want Hadley thinking Aurora was okay with this, nor that she was the kind of girl to actually want to date an "Arlan" in real life. She'd much rather be with Beck, someone sweet, someone so normal. She longed to date someone like that, someone who made her feel safe and happy. Someone she was always excited to see. She wished she saw him today.

"Oh, hi," A young man approached her, holding her belongings at the front of the science building. He had rugged facial hair, dark brows and a John Roberts Community College light blue hoodie on.

"Oh my gosh, hi! Thank you, that's mine. I-I must have left it earlier! Thank you so much for grabbing it, you didn't have to."

"No problem," He gave her the belongings with a friendly grin, and Aurora was relieved to have her water back.

She thought the color of her water seemed a little odd, slightly white, but she figured she was just tired. It had been a long day and she was dehydrated beyond belief, still probably hungover, and relieved to have her water bottle back.

"Seriously, thank you, you didn't have to do that. I really appreciate it. I'm Aurora," She extended out her hand.

Smiling warmly, he set his hand in hers, shaking it.

"I'm Santiago."