"What's wrong?" Auralia asked, turning around to see what had gotten Madison all worked up.
The café was only had a few people around so it was easy to figure out that Madison had gotten upset over a small group of teenagers who had walked in. They were wearing a different uniform to Madison and gave off a troublemaker vibe.
Maybe it was because she had lived in a rough neighbour for a long time but Auralia knew instantly that the group of four were bad news. She didn't know how her cousin knew them and hoped it wasn't because they were friends.
Not that she believed that. Her cousin's face was telling a different story. One that didn't want to deal with them. And her cousin's actions soon confirmed Auralia's suspicions.
Madison quickly sat down and pulled Auralia closer to her, as if she was trying to hide behind Auralia.
"I…" Madison started before pausing and looking at Auralia with fear in her eyes. "Just pretend that we're not here."
"Alright…"
Auralia was confused but decided it was best to just listen to her cousin. She could always ask for an explanation later.
Turning her head to the side, Auralia spotted her helmet and suddenly had an idea. She picked it up, about to hand it to Madison so she could hide her face when a voice spoke.
"Well, if it isn't our missing errand girl." A blond haired girl with a nasty smirk snarled at Madison. "Where have you been, Geeky?"
Madison flinched and in an instant Auralia knew exactly what was going on. The four students at their table had bullied Madison.
Another girl with short brown hair suddenly grabbed Madison's hair. "Lia asked you a question. Did you forget everything we taught you?"
"No…I-" Madison cried out.
Auralia found her body moving quickly, grabbing the brown haired girl's arm and placing herself between the bullies and her cousin. She squeezed the girl's wrist until the girl cried out in pain.
"I think you four should get going." Auralia murmured softly. "Before you cause a bigger scene."
Auralia let go of the girl's arm and she stumbled backwards in shock. The blond haired girl, Lia, however kept smirking.
"I see Geeky heregot herself a bodyguard." Lia laughed, crossing her arms. "You think I'm scared of causing a scene here."
Auralia however was not going to back down. "I don't think you are but I have better things to do that waste my time on a pathetic person. Maddy, you mind grabbing my helmet."
"I've got it…" Madison murmured softly as Lia stared at Auralia in shock.
The younger girl had probably never been spoken to in such a horrible way before. And Auralia was glad, deciding to use this moment to leave. However, one of the other girls got in their way as Auralia and Madison moved to leave the café.
"Where do you think you're going." The girl snarled at Auralia and Madison. "Lia isn't done talking to you."
"Too bad because I am." Auralia muttered. "Now move before I move you."
"Sorry aunty but I really need to talk to Geeky over here." Lia smirked. "The two of us are old friends and I haven't seen Geeky in a long time. Her moving suddenly really bothered me you know."
"Well, that's such a shame. Sadly Madison and I have some engagements so we need to leave. Why not give me your number?" Auralia said, holding out her phone. "You guys can meet up on a later date."
Lia looked at Auralia a little confused but took the phone. "Alright.."
Lia quickly placed her number into Auralia's phone, not realizing that she had fallen right into Auralia's plan.
"Here you go." Lia said as she handed Auralia's phone back to her. "Please send me a message so Geeky and I can hang out some time. I really miss the old days."
"Thanks. I'll be sure to text you."
With that, Auralia quickly walked Madison out the café to the nearest restroom. When they got there and Auralia had made sure that the restroom was safe, Madison broke down in tears.
"What were they doing here?" Madison gasped as tears streamed down her face. "They normally hang out on the other side…How did they find me?"
Auralia bent down and pulled Madison into a hug wanting to comfort her younger cousin. She was glad that they could leave without her having to be physical with the girls. Now she had to just deal with them properly later.
Madison kept sobbing for a few more minutes before she finally looked at Auralia with puffy eyes.
"Sorry…I…" Madison sniffed.
"Don't worry. You're not hurt anyway?" Auralia stared at her cousin. "That girl didn't pull your hair too hard."
"No…" Madison murmured, wiping her tears. "I'm just shock…"
Auralia handed her some tissues and Madison used them to wipe her face. Madison then moved to the wash basin.
Auralia stood behind her, staring at Madison through the mirror as the younger girl washed her face and tried to calm herself.
After a few minutes of running water being the only noise in the restroom, Madison finally looked up into the mirror. She stared back at Auralia through the mirror with pain written all over her face.
"You won't…" Madison paused for a second, taking a deep breath. "You won't tell my parents what happened?"
Auralia knew she should say something to Madison's parents, Madison breaking down meant something serious had happened. But at the same time the look in her cousin's eyes told her something would break between them if she did.
Still she couldn't ignore what happened. She couldn't let things slide because they were bound to happen again. She wanted to help in some way but how was the question.
After a few moments of silence Auralia made her decision.
"I won't say anything…" Auralia sighed. "But you need to tell me what happened. And I mean everything that happened between you and those girls."