𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐭𝐰𝐨

── gold and silver

          𝕬s had seemed to become a normal in Aurora's life, she had little time to focus on what was going on in her personal life because her work came first. It had been that way since she was a child, and even now, that hadn't stopped. When she had found out about Luke and Millie, her album had been coming out; when she first realised she had a crush on Luke, she had to think of concepts for the album and music videos soon after. 

Now, after the conversation with Millie, Aurora was set to find out award season nominations and whether any of her songs or her album were good enough to be compared against the titans of the industry.

To say her nerves were shot to pieces were an understatement.

"You're going to be fine." Aruna wrapped an arm around her sister's shoulders, all of the Apollo children gathering around the TV that had been borrowed (or possibly stolen) from the Big House by Chris and Mack. "It was a good album, we all thought that."

"Yeah, but these reviewers and judges aren't related to me." Aurora looked up as Luke came hurrying in, hair damp and shirt seemingly on back to front.

"I'm here, I'm here. Haven't missed it, have I?"

"No." People moved over as Luke dodged his brothers to find Aurora.

"You look stressed, Sunshine."

"No shit." Aurora hissed, trying to fight the urge to chew her nails as she clutched onto her phone. Aurora had faced rejection, that wasn't a new thing for her, but this was her first time even being considered for nomination and her first time thinking about going to one of these awards. She knew that she might not get it, but Aurora really wanted to go, even if it was a little selfish. "But it all depends on what they thought, what they thought of the concept and the music and-"

"Hey." Luke nudged her, lowering his voice below the sound of all the others that surrounded them. "Rory, you're gonna do great."

Aurora paused, her worrying stopping for a moment as she looked up at him, before he pressed a kiss to her head and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"And if they don't like it, we'll make them." Mack and Chris leant forward, both grinning in a mildly unsettling way as Aurora and Luke both took a second to process their words.

"What are you two on?" Luke shook his head, turning to stare at them. "How is that in any way legal?"

"This is what stops you from reaching your fully potential." Mack shook his head at his older brother, who seemed to be contemplating why he was related to them. "Abiding by the law."

"Idiot." Chris agreed, both of them laughing before Aruna turned to glare. 

"It's starting, shut up."

"Yes ma'am." Both chorused as the volume was turned up. Aurora's grip on her boyfriend's hand tightened, nails digging in and making crescent moon shapes on his tanned skin, as he tried his best to soothe her.

"You've got this." He muttered, tracing shapes on the skin of her waist. "You got this."

The show began, the categories starting to appear.

"Best New Artist nominations..." Aurora held her breath, looking up at the screen through one eye. What if it wasn't her? What if it wasn't good enough? What if she hadn't been good enough? "...Aurora Trueman."

Her siblings started to whistle, patting her on the back and the head as Luke grinned and shook her. She felt her phone ring, picking it up quickly and placing it to her ear as she laughed at the others.

"Hello?"

"Are you watching the show?" Kelly Parsons, her manager, was straight to the point as Aurora hummed. "I have your nominations."

"Yes?" Aurora was on her feet in an instance, starting to pace as she chewed her nails. Luke followed, looking a little concerned as his hand touched her waist. Luke seemed to be well in tune to her anxiety.

"Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album for the album as a whole. We're waiting to hear about individual songs but congratulations Aurora!" Aurora placed a hand over her mouth, feeling herself start to tear up as Luke looked panicked.

"Shit, Rory, good or bad news?" He pulled her in front of him, looking at her expression. "Sunshine?"

"Good." Aurora grinned, beaming as she wiped her tears. "Thanks Kelly. We'll get started on planning."

The others waited with baited breath for Aurora to say something and tell them what was going on.

"Nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album but they're waiting to hear about the individual songs." The cabin grew raucous, cheers echoing around her as Aurora was engulfed in a wave of love from her siblings, who dived on top of her.

She had got part of the way there.

∘☽༓☾∘

"I'm so sorry." Aurora turned to look up at Luke. Her boyfriend was meandering along next to her, grinning at Aurora's slightly wide eyed look. "I honestly told them to let me have today off. I really didn't know about the fitting."

"Sunshine, it's alright." Luke grinned, nudging her softly. "I don't mind. It's not like we're not going to be able to go out and eat. I'm just happy that I can finally take you on a date that's not at camp."

Aurora blushed, as she tried to hide it with her hands. The air bit at her cheeks, and Aurora could only hope that her blush could be mistaken for being cold. They entered into her stylist's store, being let straight through as Aurora smiled and transitioned into Aurora Trueman, the celebrity, instead of Aurora Trueman, the person.

"Good afternoon." Her stylist, Mara, was a smaller woman, with dark hair and a warm smile. She had always been kind to Aurora and made her look good on the red carpets, which took away half the stress of them. "I'm sorry for the call in. But we're almost done."

"It's alright. This is Luke." That was all Aurora offered up, not needing Luke's name being spread where it shouldn't need to be spread. She was aware that her personal life was a subject of great debate, and also, if her mother found out that she had been spotted with a boy, that would lead to many questions that Aurora did not wish to answer or need to answer. "So, what do you need me for?"

"Just some final alterations." Mara smiled, before Aurora was ushered away, getting changed into the dress. She was handed a pair of heels, stepping out and onto a stool of sorts as the woman got to work adding some pins and ensuring that it fit where it needed to.

"It looks great, Rory." Luke grinned, looking her up and down as Aurora rolled her eyes and blushed again. She couldn't even blame this on the cold anymore. "You look beautiful."

"Shut up."

"No." Luke shook his head, before leaning forward as he fiddled with the straps of Aurora's bag. "Are you excited?"

"Nervous more so." Aurora sighed, trying not to wipe her hands on the dress. "It's a huge ceremony and it's not like I'm the best artist there, so I doubt I'm going to win."

"I think you're the best artist there."

"Of course you do." Aurora shot her boyfriend a look as he winked, before grinning at her gently again. "What's that look for?"

"I just think you are the most beautiful woman in the world right now." 

"Only right now?"

"You can't get me with this." Luke warned, a cocky grin on his face. "I might have not been able to form words if you'd have done this any point earlier in our time of knowing each other, but I can now."

Aurora giggled, watching as her boyfriend's dark eyes glinted with mischief.

"You are the most beautiful woman in the world right now, but the most gorgeous, stunning, breath-taking, absolutely mesmerising woman at all times." Aurora blushed as Mara stifled a chuckle next to her. 

"Stop it, you flirt."

"Only for you."

"Sure." Aurora pulled a face. "Anyway, you picked where we're eating?"

"Yeah, thought about getting something unhealthy considering all we ever seem to eat are leafy greens and lean meat."

"You know they're big on making sure we're athletic."

"Tell me about it." Luke shook his head. "I don't know. I was going to ask you where you wanted to go."

"I'm indecisive."

"I know, that's why I scrapped the idea and have now picked from the recommendations that Aruna gave me." Luke leant back in the chair, still admiring her as Aurora tried not to blush continuously. "I'm smart like that."

Aurora hummed, grinning as Luke smiled.

"You're all done. It was just a quick thing." Mara patted Aurora's hand as she hurried off to get changed, shrugging her jeans and top back on. Luke had her coat and bag, holding it open for her to pull on as she appeared. 

"Thanks." Aurora patted his chest, before smiling and waving at Mara. "Thank you so much. I'll see you for the awards."

"Of course." Mara waved at her, before Aurora pulled Luke out of the building.

"Alright, Luke, surprise me."

"You know, considering I call you Sunshine, I feel like you should have a nickname for me. Something cute. Babe?"

"No." Aurora scowled. "I hate that. Some guy called me it once in an interview being like 'oh, Aurora, babe, hit me up' so I blocked him."

"Of course you did." Luke chuckled, wrapping an arm over Aurora's shoulders as he pressed a kiss to her head. "Come on, think of a nickname, any nickname."

"But, I just don't like them." Aurora shook her head. "I like your name, and you get songs, so I think that's enough."

"I have songs for me?"

"Now, don't go getting cocky. You did give me a speech every few minutes for three days and trip over your words for a month and a half, and there was that one time you face plan-"

"All right, Sunshine, I think that's enough reminiscing on the past, don't you?" Luke laughed nervously, as he looked away from her. "Oh look, the restaurant."

The restaurant was cute, hidden from the general public and not a place that she would normally go, but Aurora liked it. 

"The food looks good. It's like tapas style food." Luke explained, holding the door open for his girlfriend as she hummed. "It looks really good."

"It looks great, Luke. You've outdone yourself." 

"Not hard when our last few dates were walk around the lake of the camp we both spend most of our lives in." Luke pointed out, as he pulled his jacket off and slung it over the table that he was directed to. He was quick to pull out Aurora's chair, taking her jumper and hanging it up for her. "But, hopefully, this makes up for it."

"Luke, any time I spend with you is good." Aurora smiled, before squeezing his hand, aware that people were already looking at her, as if trying to work out who she was. She pushed her anxiety down, squeezing Luke's hand as he watched her.

"Come on, food, we forget that you're technically well known and then we can think about other things, like how I'm going to have to get rid of Mack and Chris soon." Aurora began to laugh as Luke relaxed, having picked up on her anxiety from across the table. "I swear, I have PTSD from those two. I honestly think they've got a tracker on me."

"You think they're going to turn up now?"

"Yes." Luke looked dead serious, as Aurora placed her hands over her mouth, hiding her giggles. "I'm traumatised, Rory. I really am."

"Poor baby." Aurora giggled. Luke hummed, before laughing as he pressed a kiss to her hand. 

"Right, food."

∘☽༓☾∘

Hiya,

So, I know it's been a while but here's Rory and Luke, finally out on a date in public, what could go wrong, and then also, Rory's been nominated for some stuff. No one look too closely at the timeline for the book, I am aware it makes no sense but we move. I love them, I'm excited.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx