I'm currently in my first class of the day waiting for Sabrina. A week has passed since the mental breakdown I had in front of Logan. I've been trying to avoiding him lately.

I don't go to my favorite coffee shop anymore, knowing he will be there. I ignore his calls and text messages. And after classes are over I rush back to Sabrina's dorm in fear of finding him waiting for me at my dorm.

All in all, it was a rough week. Playing a secret spy while being on the same campus as your enemy is hard. I should've worked on my cardio, running took so much energy and stamina that I didn't have.

"Aurora, can we talk?" Hagen asks pulling me out of my scheming. I look up to see him standing before me, eyes determined. His upper half covered in a hunter green sweater making his green eyes look even more vibrant.

I've been trying to avoid Hagen lately as well. But it was much harder due to the fact he was in the same class as me. I couldn't stop thinking about his eyes on my lips and the way they lingered. His words from that day were stuck on replay, a whisper in my ear that wouldn't go away.

I gulp nervously, eyeing the exit. I could always slip out and miss class. But what would be my excuse? Was missing class really worth hiding away from him?

"Sure...how about after class?" I offer. I really didn't want to miss class. If I don't face him now it will only worsen my habit of running away from my problems and I already have done too much of that.

"Alright, we can head to the coffee shop."

"NO!" I shout forgetting I was in class. The few students in the room eye me, while some laugh at my embarrassment. Clearing my throat I answer in a lower voice, "I mean, no. I'm not really in the mood for coffee."

"Okay...are you feeling alright?" He asks.

"I'm feeling fine and dandy" I lie right through my teeth. My nerves were eating at my stomach. I felt like I was going to vomit every time I had to look at him because my eyes would involuntarily look at his lips.

"If you say so," he says unconvinced, "I'll see you after class." He states just as Sabrina walks in. He throws her a small smile when she passes him to sit next to me. She replies by throwing him a shy smile as well before he walks to where his friends are seated. The power a cute guy had over her, I wish I attained that kind of power.

I let out a breath of relief when I see he's gone.

"Spill" Sabrina whispers in my ear. I groan and lay my head between my arms, the rough surface of the desktop easing out the tension in my head. I could definitely feel a headache coming along.

"Not now," I tell her but that only gets me a slap on the head from her. My forehead makes contact with desktop and I let out another groan but this time from pain.

"Yes, right now. Because if I don't get it out of you now your going to forget later on." She says pointedly. Couldn't argue with that logic.

I lift my head to look at her, "he asked me to talk to him after class."

Her eyes grow small as a smile takes over face, "oh my goodness and you agreed right?"

I roll my eyes placing my head back between my arms. "Not like I had a choice"

I feel her pat the top of my head, "good girl. I'm so proud of you. Now lift your head, class is starting" she informs me as our professor comes in.

"Make sure you send in your assignments by Monday!" The professor announces as students begin to pack up their things and shuffle out. The class was finally over...sadly.

"Loverboy is on his way over here," Sabrina says nudging me. I pause my packing and look ahead of me to see Hagen on his way towards me, his eyes were latched on my form. I avert my gaze back down immediately and continue stuffing my textbook in my bag.

"Knock him dead babe" Sabrina whispers walking past me as soon as Hagen reaches me.

"Ready?" He asks.

I stand up from my seat nodding. We walk side by side as we step foot out of the building. The sun was hidden behind the clouds. Fall was slowly making its departure and soon winter would take its place.

We continue to walk in silence until we find a bench to sit on. It was made of grey stone and had something engraved in it. I don't make the effort to read what's on it, I wanted to get this conversation over and done with. His presence was making my brain hazy, his words from a week ago ringing louder inside of my ears the longer he looked at me.

"So what's up?" I ask getting straight to the point. My stomach clenches when I see his eyes fall on me.

"I don't know, you tell me. Why have you been avoiding me lately."

I try to feign confidence when I reply, "what do you mean I haven't been avoiding you. I've just been really busy."

His eyebrow shoots up as he gives me an unconvinced look. "Really too busy to even spare me a glance? Or even say hi?"

I grip my bag strap tautly, "I guess so. Is that all you wanted to talk about? Because if you're done I have to go." I state standing up but he quickly follows my suit, grabbing me by my wrist.

"No I have a lot to say actually but I'm having a hard time deciding on whether or not I should say it."

His voice sounds angry but I know it's not anger towards me. He was angry at himself.

"That's a you problem," I tell him not wanting to know what kind of thoughts we're going on in that mind of his. I've already dug my self too deep. Any deeper and I would be digging myself a tunnel to hell.

"No, it's not! It's an us problem" my heart leaps at the word "us". "It's your fault I'm having this problem. I'm so confused! My thoughts are so conflicting!" He shouts letting go of my wrist to run his fingers through his hair. He turns around his back now the only thing I can see.

"I want to be around you but at the same time, I can't stand it. Being around you excites me but it also makes me so mad." He turns around his gaze locked on mine. " you're driving me crazy, I want to get to know you so bad but I'm afraid if I do I'll end up hating you."

He takes a step closer to me. My body remains frozen, unable to move a muscle. I was glued to this spot, frozen in time as he placed his large hand on my cheek.

"Why do you have to look like her? Why do you have to remind me so much of her?" His hand drops and suddenly I feel like I can breathe again. He looks up at the sky and shouts, "dammit is this my punishment! You gave her the same name to torment me !"

Who was he talking to? I look around us to make sure no one is looking at us, thankfully not many people were in sight.

"Hagen" I call, getting his attention. "I'm sorry if me being around you is causing you this much angst. Maybe it's best if we just stop being friends." I admit. Seeing him tormented like this was only making me feel more guilty about my lie.

He doesn't answer right away. We stand there quietly, waiting for something to be said, for something to make sense.

Shaking his head he answers me with a sad smirk on his face, "did Logan tell you that?"

I give him a confused look, "what does Logan have to do with any of this?"

"Everything! Are you two dating?" He asks me seriously.

"What! No, of course, we're not." I admit, not seeing how it was any of his business.

"Then why are you saying things like that! Why have you been avoiding me! why did you sleep at his house! Why were you wearing his clothes!" I blush, so he did notice. "And why is he always around you... why does it make me so mad. This is driving me insane. Can I say something that will probably sound insane." I nod unable to verbally reply, my voice lost somewhere between my mind and soul.

"I feel like I'm naturally pulled to you...as if I know you. I don't know how to explain it but I feel like I'm connected to you somehow. You stayed in the back of mind ever since I saw you that day in the grocery store. And when I almost hurt you, you took up every thought...Do I sound crazy? I'm probably freaking you out. I'm not in love with you I swear it's just... there is something about you..." I try and swallow the knot of guilt forming in my throat as he stares deeper into my eyes.

If only he really knew that he wasn't crazy, that he knew me, that we were connected, and that he held a part of my life in the palm of his hand. But he won't know, I won't let him. That part of me is gone, that girl is gone. He can only have Aurora Taylor now.

"No" I reply my voice small, "you're not crazy"

"You feel it too?" He questions, eager to hear my answer.

I nod, answering honestly. I felt the connection that wasn't a lie. But I only felt it because I knew the reason behind it. The day he almost discovered me, the day I was forced to make up this lie is what brought us this close to one another.

"Aurora," I look up at him, his eyes soft as he takes a step closer to me. " I don't think I can be friends with you."

My heart drops but it shouldn't, I shouldn't be disappointed. It was my fault for thinking I could actually manage to be someone new for both of us. How could I even believe that he and I could be friends when it pained both of us to hear our names.

"I understand," I tell him, staring at the leaves beneath our feet.

"No, I don't think you do" I look back up curious to what was going to come out of his mouth next, "I can't deny that I'm attracted to you and that despite my conflicting thoughts I want to try and be something more with you. I know you have a bad idea of who I am, especially when it comes to girls. But let me prove you wrong, let me try and show you that I'm not as bad as you think."

My mind is still trying to process the words that have just fallen from his mouth. I felt like I was a book with no pages inside. I knew what I wanted to say but didn't know how to say it. I had a story within me, but a story I couldn't tell. I, myself couldn't read my pages.

Staring at him I see the boy I feel for, the boy I grew up with. He held me in his arms in secret countless of times. He made me laugh, he made me smile, and he made me feel like I mattered. Looking at it from this perspective I could easily say yes and jump into his arms. But, he was also the boy who brought me pain, the boy who broke my heart over and over again while looking into my eyes. He hated me, till this day he still hated me and from Aurora Johnson's perspective, I could easily jab the truth into his heart and tell him he wants to be with the girl he hated so much.

Yet, I keep telling myself to throw that part away. To abandon all the hurt and the pain and the girl I used to be. I needed to stop thinking about Aurora Johnson's feelings and think about how Aurora Taylor feels. And right now, Aurora Taylor melts into a puddle at the sight of his green eyes. She gets excited when she sees him look at her. She yearns to know what truly lies behind the wall Hagen Carter holds up so high.

I take a step closer to him so we are now face to face, barely any space between our bodies. Giving my self a pep talk one last time and convincing myself this is the best choice for both of us I reply with a smile on my face.

"Are you asking me out, Hagen Carter?"

His face glows at my words, a smile growing, showing his pearly whites.

"Yes, I am. So will you please go out with me?"

I have never been asked out before. Brandon was the only guy to ever admit his feelings for me and sadly I couldn't reciprocate his love. Brandon never made my heart swell or my mind race with a thousand questions. Because Brandon, who was always so good to me, was just my best friend. We started as friends and would continue as friends. But with Hagen, we never were just friends. Back then and even during our first encounter since I came back to Virginia, it felt different. It always felt different with Hagen and never friendly at all.

with having zero experience, and following my tarnished heart I answer him seriously. My voice timid, "you have this one chance okay, don't mess it up"

"You won't regret it," he says joyously.

"I hope not" I mutter to myself.

Suddenly we both begin to hear bells. I look down at my phone sheepishly, my ringtone was quite annoying. I pick it up quickly giving Hagen an apologetic smile.

"Hello?"

"Rora"

"Brandon?" My heart drops. What kind of sick joke was the world playing on me now?

Hagen seems to pay more attention when he hears me say Brandon's name out loud.

"Is everything alright? Are you okay?" I ask worriedly.

"I'm fine." He replies.

"Is it Tiana? Aunt May?"

"Everyone is fine, I just called to check up on you. You've been kind of quiet these days."

Oh, Brandon, you were the sweetest boy.

A smile makes its way to my face while Hagen's turns into a visible frown.

"I'm sorry, it's been a busy week," I admit, choosing my words carefully in front of Hagen.

"You want to talk about it? You know I'm always here if you want to listen." I feel myself choke on a sob. I really missed him, I missed everyone. I just really missed home.

"I know that, and I love you for that," I notice Hagen's face goes sour at my choice of words. I try to stifle my giggle. "Hey, Brandon I'll talk to you this weekend Alright, I have to get to class."

"Alright, promise me because I really miss you and so does Tiana."

"I promise." With that being said we end the call. When I look up I see Hagen, sour face still intact.

"What"

" I guess I have a lot of competition"

I laugh as I begin walking towards the science building. "Hardly"

"Then who is this Brandon guy?" He asks falling into step beside me.

"A friend back home," I admit.

"How good of a friend?" He pushes.

I stop in my tracks and look at him, "what are you some detective?"

"Call me detective carter ma'am, I'm at your service" he jokes tipping the brim of his imaginary hat. I roll my eyes and chuckle at his childish behavior.

Soon enough we make it to my building, not a second too late. As I'm about to head in Hagen grabs my hand forcing me back around.

"What is it?" I ask.

"I forgot to tell you something. Well, to be honest, I more so just didn't want to tell you but I don't want to start off my chance with you on a bad note."

"What is it?" I ask beginning to worry.

"Logan asked about you." My stomach churns at his words.

"What did he say?"

"He just asked me if I've seen you around. I told him we have a class together so he asked me to relay you a message. I guess he wants to talk to you about something" Hagen explains.

Could he want to see me because of the promise I made?

"A week," he said.

"Okay," I reply.

Or was it because of what I said to Katie, did she tell him?

"I change my mind, Logan's sweater is too comfortable to take off"

I shake my head trying to rid my mind of my behavior this last week. "I guess so," I say quietly.

"Aurora" Hagen calls, gripping my hand tighter. "Your sure there is nothing going on between you and Logan?"

My mind wanders back to the day Logan held me in his arms while I cried in front of my parent's doorstep, how I wore his clothes and slept in his bed, and how I asked him that question before I fell asleep.

"No" His answer beats like a drum in my heart.

"Yea, I'm sure," I tell him honestly.

Aurora Taylor was sure.

Authors note: TADAA! once again not my favorite chapter. It was sorta short, right? Forgive me I've been a tad busy. If you think I should make longer chapters let me know!