Aurora.
"MOM, I'M LEAVING." I TOSSED my backpack behind me and grabbed the burger on the table. Mom probably didn't hear me. I shrugged and dropped the burger after stocking two bites in my mouth. I rushed out and took the nearest bus. If I was a minute late, I would've had to jog down to school.
I arrived just in time before Mrs Hallowey got in. I think she is the worst and most imminent teacher in school and she doesn't like me. I sat down and glanced at Mike. He glanced at me and took his face off. I frowned and focused on Mrs Hallowey's teaching, detention is the last thing on my bucket list.
Immediately the bell rang, and I walked up to Mike. " Hey, wassup?"
"Hey," he said briefly and aimed outside the door. I blocked his way and folded my arms. I hate when he acts this way, he ruins my whole day. "Are you ignoring me? Again?" I settled my palm on the sides of my stomach before testing them on my hips. I tilted my head to the side and watched how he played with his cuticle. He does that when he has something uncomfortable to say.
"Aurora, I'm not ignoring you. It's just…"
"Just what? Mike, people are talking and I seem to be the only one who is not aware of the things going on with you."
He sighed and looked up. His Brown eyes braced up and his brows drew together. "You don't do things right anymore Aurora. I don't want to talk about it," he said and walked away, slightly hitting my shoulder. I clicked my tongue and watched him go down the stairs. I ran after him and met him outside.
"What's changed? Huh? You never complained about my behaviour or the things I do…we used to be perfect together. What happened? Do you have someone else? You know, you can just let me know and I will let you be. I—"
"I'm not in the mood to talk now, Aurora. Find some shit to do and let me be." he got into his Benz and drove off at the speed of light. All eyes were on me after he had disappeared. I sighed and walked the path that led to home. I've been the brighter student in school and Mike had to be one of the richest students. Being in the final year was tough, Mike changed and I do not know why.
I have no friends, there's no point keeping any. "Wait up!" Jasmine called out behind me. I turned my head to my shoulder and dropped my shoulder. Having no friends is better than having this young and rich lady following me around like a tail. She's a minor and she randomly saw me one day and started following me ever since.
"You should be heading home, Jaz. I told you not to take this route. Call your driver and have him pick you up." she shrugged and held by hand with both of hers. I ignored all her chit-chat and waved to her when the driver came around. To be honest, no one liked me in school and having Mike in my life changed everything. Being intelligent is an advantage.
I got home and plopped on the bed. Mom must have gone to work. Home again. I sat by my window and continued to watch the beauty of the Forest behind our house. A leafless tree with dry branches swayed and danced to the rhythm of the wind. It constantly tapped our roof like fingernails.
I looked deep into the woods, it made me remember Dad and how he used to take me down to the woods for some hunting lessons. Being the only child gave me the advantage of spending most of my time with him before he died without explanation.
I was about to stand up when I saw a sharp movement down the woods. At least I think I saw. It has now become so real that I do not know if it is a normal sight or not. I have been seeing these things since I was a child. It's either I see a Coyote or very sharp movements or something that looks like a ghost or a gathering of ghosts.
Mom had prohibited more from ever stepping into the woods, she told me my Father died in there but I didn't buy it. I could only sit and watch from the windows of my room here at the top, there is no way out the back door.
I woke up too early to school the next day and regretted it instantly. Mike's locker was next to mine and he stood there with another girl, kissing her like she was the only lady he had been here knew. "Mike…"
He stopped and looked at me. I looked from him to the lady. I recognize her, she's the dummy in our class, Valerie. I scoffed and held my chest, to see if that would cool the heartburn. I've never been so heartbroken to break into a laugh.
"Aurora, I—"
"Hell nah! Nah! You don't need to explain. I get it." I flipped my red hair and walked out like nothing was wrong with me. I got to the lady's room and cried in my palms. I had hoped it would work out, I had hoped we would talk it out and things would be alright. I always thought a heartbreak was nothing but the caught me off guard.
I spent my day in the library, going through kinds of stuff that meant nothing to me. I flipped Magazined unwittingly and dropped them off. He didn't come to find me and I went home with my heart in my hands.
I tried the back door, the woods would be the best place to seek comfort. I turned the knob and the door opened slowly with a creaking sound. I thought it used to be locked.
I tried harder and opened it wide enough for me to pass through. Stepping into the sand of the forest, I get a little at ease. If someone was out here, they would say hello. I traced the path father created when he used to bring me along and took his little knife along. I got all my movement on camera, holding my phone in front of me.
The forest was welcoming and the sounds were beautiful. I saw large claw scars in trees. It wouldn't have been a big cat, perhaps it's just a knife. Walking further, I saw a lot more of those scares on the trees and that's when I knew. This was no knife or big cat. This is something else.
A swift breeze ran behind me and a sharp sound of branches breaking on the ground. I turned around. "Who's there?"