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❪   CHAPTER SIX !   ❫
-ˏˋ BIG TIME WALK ˊˎ-

THE NEXT MORNING, KENDALL'S ALARM clock went off at exactly nine o'clock. The sound woke up Kendall from his sleep, and he groaned as he shifted slightly underneath his blue sheets. Disoriented and groggy, he peeled open his eyes. He was laying on his stomach and the side of his face was planted into his pillow. He turned to his right side to see that Aurora was in the same position he was previously in.

Kendall's eyelids drooped as he frowned. He had honestly hoped that he would wake up with Aurora somehow in his arms, just like how it happened in the movies. He let out a soft but sharp breath before turning to his other side to reach towards his night stand. His movements were slow and jaded since he was still tired. Kendall shut off his annoying alarm clock.

He flipped over and sat up with leisure. He glanced at Aurora once again to check if she was still asleep. She seemed to be, and Kendall wondered how she managed to sleep through his loud alarm. He noticed that the bun her hair was in was a bit messier now.

"Why do you have an alarm for this early in the morning on a Saturday?"

Aurora croaked, obviously awake. Her eyes were still shut.

Kendall smiled a bit. "Morning," He spoke, his voice deeper than usual which was the result of a good night's sleep. He rubbed his eye and said, "I have work on Saturday's. You know this."

Aurora's eyes fluttered open. "You have work at eleven. I know it's definitely not eleven right now."

"Yeah, it's eight-thirty." Kendall replied. "I like waking up a little bit earlier, it gives me more time to get ready."

"Cool." Aurora mumbled, "I don't."

Kendall's lips curled upwards even more. He peeled the blue bed sheets off of him. "Well, you're gonna have to get up soon if you're going to come with me."

Aurora whined, "Ten more minutes?"

Kendall opened his mouth and bit the tip of his tongue, trying not to laugh. "Okay, ten more minutes. I'm gonna go take a shower, and when I come back we'll go downstairs to eat whatever my mom made for us, alright?"

Aurora hummed, shutting her eyes again.

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KENDALL AND AURORA WALKED down their block. They had just left Kendall's house, and now they were heading straight to Aurora's. Kendall wore his gray jacket that had a fluffy collar just like Aurora's. Underneath that he had on a long sleeved gray t-shirt. His blue beanie sat on top of his head, some strands of his dark blonde hair visible. He held his bright red apron for work in his hand, along with a bottle of water.

Aurora still wore Ms. Knight's pajamas and her white combat boots, with her plaid pink jacket in her hand from yesterday. Her gloves were still in one of its pockets, and she didn't bother to take them out since she her house was only a few yards away. Her school bag was slung over her shoulder

The two teens walked up the three small steps in front of Aurora's house. Kendall huffed, stepping onto the porch. "You better not make me late." He looked down at his phone. "It's ten thirty-four."

Aurora smiled and turned to face him. "I'll be quick, I just need to change." She insisted. "Stay out here. I don't need my mom biting your head off this morning."

"Good." Kendall was relieved. He trailed over to the brown bench that sat on the porch next to a potted plant. "She scares me anyways." He plodded himself down.

Aurora turned away and extended her arm, pressing the doorbell. She could hear the bell echo inside the house. She stood in the chilly weather for a couple of seconds before pressing the bell again.

Impatient, Aurora reached to press the button a third time before the door opened, revealing a woman. She appeared to be in her late thirties, and resembled Aurora an awful lot. She had the same soft colored brown hair, except it was short and layered. She had the same chocolate brown eyes and smooth caramel skin, and even the same little nose.

The woman was still in her nightgown, but had a light pink fluffy robe covering it. She seemed tired, most likely woken up from her sleep by the doorbell. Her brows were raised and curved. She looked at Aurora, wide-eyed. "Oh," She spoke with realization and surprise, a hint of grogginess in her voice. "I didn't even realize you weren't at home."

Aurora gave her a fake tight-lipped smile. She walked right past her mother in the doorway and into the house. Not seeing Kendall sitting on the porch, Ms. Mendoza closed the front door.

"I was enjoying my sleep before you woke me up. ¿Dónde has estado?" The woman asked her daughter 'where she had been' as she turned around on her heels. She examined the loose pajamas that Aurora was wearing.

Aurora hung up her jacket and slipped her shoes off, not trying to make much conversation. She walked towards the stairs that led to the second floor of the house. She spoke without facing her mother, "La casa de Kendall."

Ms. Mendoza paused. She asked with inquisition, "You slept over there?"

"Sí." Aurora started to head upstairs.

The woman scrunched up her face before asking, "Ay, Mi'ja, did you sleep with him?"

Her mother's question surprised Aurora enough that she stopped in her tracks. She turned around on one of the steps. "Geez, no, mom! ¡Eso es asqueroso!" She scrunched up her nose, telling her mom 'that's gross.'

She continued, "I forgot my keys, so I slept over there."

Ms. Mendoza had a pronounced pursing lip. She spoke in Spanish once again, "Irresponable." She spat, "As always."

Aurora's jaw tightened, but she tried to ignore the remark. Before Aurora could turn around, her mother spoke again.

Ms. Mendoza crossed her arms and asked, "Are you positive that you did not—"

"Very positive." Aurora interrupted, not letting her mother finish. She narrowed her eyes into slits. "And frankly, if I did sleep with him, it wouldn't be any of your business."

Ms. Mendoza watched as her daughter turned back around and continued to walk up the stairs. She scoffed and took a step forward.

"Actually it would be." Ms. Mendoza spoke loud enough to regain Aurora's attention. She pointed out with her eyebrows raised, "I'm your mother."

Aurora stopped once again, now almost angry. She turned around to face her mother. "Well, you sure as hell don't act like one." She nearly yelled.

Ms. Mendoza's eyelids fluttered. She swallowed hard as her muscles got tense, and her chin was held close to her body.

Aurora shut her eyes, calming herself down. She did not feel like trying to get into an argument at this time in the morning. She shook her head. "I'm gonna go change. I'm going with Kendall to Fast 'N' Fresh."

On that note, Aurora turned back around once again and finally proceeding up the stairs to her bedroom. Ms. Mendoza followed behind her a few seconds after, heading to her own room to go back to sleep.

After washing her face, brushing her teeth, letting her hair down and putting on a little bit of make-up and some different clothes, Aurora went back downstairs. She was dressed in a white turtleneck top along with some black jeans, and also traded her large schoolbag for a much smaller black bag with a fur ball key-chain. She wore mascara and vaguely pigmented pink lipstick. She made sure she had her keys with her this time.

Aurora put on her jacket and pushed her shoes back on. Then, she walked out the door.

Kendall immediately turned his head to face the door once it opened. He got up from his spot on the bench and cracked his water bottle open.

Aurora smiled at him, shutting the door. "Told you I'd be quick." She chimed.

"Well, we better get going." Kendall looked down at his watch, holding the bottle cap in his palm. "It's ten forty-six."

Aurora chuckled and began to walk off of the porch. She remarked, "Alright, Speedy Gonzales."

Kendall followed behind his friend. "Was she mad?" He asked, referring to her mother. He took a swing from his water.

"Kind of." Aurora responded. She slipped her hands into her pockets and continued, "She thought I slept with you."

Kendall choked on his water. He brought the back of his hand up to his lips to stop any water from leaving his mouth. He gulped down the rest of it before asking. "You mean...romantically?"

Aurora gave a suppressed smile as she kept walking, struggling to not laugh.

"Yes." She confirmed, "...romantically."

Kendall said nothing. The top of his ears were red whilst the rest of his face paled. He sealed his water bottle shut.

The two continued to walk in silence. The sounds of moving vehicles and people talking around the town filled their ears.

Kendall's mind wandered into its own world, and Aurora began to think about the events that took place the day before. Aurora had almost forgotten about Kelly and Gustavo's deal with Kendall, and she took the silence as an opportunity to start her 'popstar' interrogation.

"So, you're really not going to do it?" Aurora questioned, breaking Kendall away from his thoughts.

Kendall pulled his brows together and pursed his lips in confusion. He glanced at his friend. "Do what, exactly?" He asked.

Aurora kicked a stone as she continued to walk. "Go to L.A." She shrugged, "Produce some tracks."

Kendall let out a soft laugh though he shook his head. "Nope." He deadpanned. He watched as his friend pouted. It was Aurora's turn to shake her head.

"Don't you wanna be 'molded and shaped into a big old star by the Gustavo Rocque?'" Aurora said in a persuading tone, quoting Gustavo's words from the night before.

Kendall stayed emotionless to the topic. He declined, "Going to L.A. with a thirty-year old turd is not exactly on my bucket list."

Aurora fluttered her eyes. She had an almost irritated expression on her face. She took a step in front of Kendall, stopping him from walking. He almost walked right into her, but he stopped and stood still before he could.

"So what if he's a turd?" Aurora spoke, "He could make you famous. You could be the next Justin Timberlake."

Kendall shook his head and looked away. "There's more to life than fame, Aurora Davis."

Aurora narrowed her eyes faintly as the corner of her lips curled upwards. "That's Aurora Luna Mendoza Davis to you." She spoke in a playful manner. She continued, "And since when did you start using mom lines?"

Kendall let out a dry chuckle. He faced his friend again and replied, "Very funny."

Aurora's small smirk faltered as she regained her seriousness. The girl proceeded, "Why won't you go? It's pretty much the American dream to be famous, but you won't even consider giving it a shot."

Kendall pressed his lips together. "I can't just leave Minnesota." He answered, hoping that was a good enough reply to end Aurora's interrogation. Though, he knew she how headstrong and stubborn she could be.

Aurora cocked her head to a side and parted her lips. "You can't, or you won't" She inquired.

Kendall stood quiet.

Aurora went on, "There's nothing exciting here. The most interesting thing about this town is that they sell some amazing chocolate covered pretzels." She said in a joking tone, though she was serious. Kendall's lips curled up a little.

"L.A. is probably one of the most exciting places in the states." Aurora continued, "And, if you become famous, you get to go on tour to thousands of other different cities. But you won't get to experience that, because you won't leave this boring town."

"I don't care about leaving the town." Kendall shut his eyes.

Aurora blinked rapidly. "...You just said that you don't wanna leave Minnesota."

The boy opened his eyes, annoyance visible on his face. "Yes, but it's not the town that I don't wanna leave."

Aurora stood quiet for a brief second. She scoffed and took her hand out of her pocket, pointing a finger at her friend. "Kendall, you are the most indecisive person I have ever met." She chuckled at her own remark. "Then what is it that you don't wanna leave if it's not the town?"

Kendall remained silent for a moment. He took his gaze off of Aurora and moved it onto the concreted ground.

He wished he had not spoken too much, he should not have poked the bear as his mother would describe it. But he did, and now Aurora was waiting for him to say something. His heart picked up and his palms started to feel clammy. There was no way for him to avoid the question, and the longer he stayed silent the more impatient Aurora grew. He rocked back and forth on the heels of his feet.

Kendall tried getting over his crush—he really did. Apparently, he did not try hard enough. Kendall tried to think of something else to say instead of confessing his feelings.

"Well?" Aurora spoke out, officially tired of waiting for an answer.

Other than the truth, which were the three words that had been flashing in his mind like a bright neon sign for the past three months, Kendall did not really have anything else to say.

So, the truth was exactly what he told her.

Kendall gulped and moved his gaze from the ground to look at his friend. He almost mumbled, "You."

Aurora pulled a face showing that she was confused. Her nose was wrinkled and a small line appeared between her brows. "Me?" She queried.

Kendall's face flushed so faintly that Aurora completely missed it. His body washed over with the feeling of regret, and all he could do was give her a vague nod.

Before Aurora could ask anything else, Kendall spoke again.

"And Logan of course." He gave a white lie and added suavely, although his body was shaking a bit. He continued, "And James, Carlos...you know."

Realization overtook Aurora's face. "Right," She nodded and gave a warm smile. She let out a soft laugh before saying, "You almost had me worried there for a second."

Kendall forced a fake laugh and a smile. "Yeah," His smile faded and vanished. "Right."

The blond stood quiet after that. He was afraid he would slip up and let his secret out by mistake.

Aurora pursed her lips and shook her head. She huffed, "I don't believe you."

Kendall's heart sped up again. He asked with caution, "What?"

"So, what you're telling me is that you don't wanna leave because your friends are here?" Aurora questioned. She folded her arms.

Kendall let out a relieved breath, realizing that Aurora had not picked up on the fact that he liked her. He answered, "Pretty much."

Aurora's brow elevated. "So if you got a call, right now, from the Montreal Canadiens or the Toronto Maple Leafs asking you to play center for them...you would say no? Because your friends are here?"

Kendall let out another breath, this time heavy of exasperation. He knew she had a point, and he did not like it.

"That's different." He insisted, "Playing hockey is my dream. Singing isn't."

"I think it's exactly the same." Aurora ensured. She tilted her head up with confidence. She took a step closer to Kendall, which made the boy's breath hitch. "You love playing hockey, and you also love to sing. There's no difference there."

Kendall opened his mouth to protest but Aurora stopped him before he could.

"Don't argue with me on this one," She asserted. "You know I'm right."

Kendall did not say a word.

Aurora continued, "And plus, opportunities like this come once in a lifetime." She concluded and mirrored her friend's famous words. Her eyes smiled for her.

Kendall's lips pursed as he tried not to smile. He knew Aurora would not give up until he gave in.

He turned away and smirked, continuing to walk to the grocery store. "Fine," He gave in. "I'll think about it. But that doesn't mean yes." Kendall's brows were raised and he pointed a finger at Aurora.

"Now, let's go before I age ten years with your talking." He teased.

Aurora gave a suppressed smile and followed behind him. She playfully shoved his shoulder with hers, Kendall stumbling from the impact. He laughed before shoving her right back.

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STARTED WRITING: May 24, 2019
PUBLISHED: July 23, 2019
WORD COUNT: 2793