(aurora's outfit for the first part of the chapter)

The loud beeping noise from her phone had Aurora jumping out of her sleep. She let out a frustrated groan, grabbing her phone to shut off her alarm, her eyes barely open. The room was still dark, only a small stream of sunlight peaking through the curtains. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she looked over at her alarm clock. It was too early to be up. But it was a school day. The first day back to school since the summer when everything changed. She let out a sigh, her heart heavy. There was a lot she was going to miss about this summer. And she was dreading going back to school.

She flopped back down onto her pillow, staring up at the ceiling. Her ceiling had become the home for many of her stickers, a mish-mash of designs and shapes that reflected her personality. It was comforting, seeing the familiar designs and colors. They brought her comfort in a way that words couldn't, reminding her that she wasn't alone. That, even if things were hard, she would be okay.

As the sun slowly rose and the room became brighter, Aurora finally pushed herself out of bed. She dragged herself to the bathroom, going through her morning routine on autopilot. When she finally made it to the kitchen, she noticed her mom was already up and sipping her coffee. Her mom greeted her, a warm smile on her face.

"Hey, honey. Ready for your first day back to school?" She asked, her voice cheerful.

"No, not really." Aurora mutters, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Can I just stay home today? Say I'm sick?" She looked at her mom, giving her best attempt at puppy eyes.

Her mom chuckles, shaking her head. "Nice try, but no." She gave her a knowing look, her tone gentle. "I know you're worried, but everything will be fine."

Aurora lets out a heavy sigh, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. "Easy for you to say. You don't have to go through the stares and whispers from everyone. The gossip." She grumbles, her mood sour. She sighs, glancing around as she realized her dad wasn't there. "Dad already left for work?" She asked, trying to shift her focus away from the anxiety building in her chest.

"Mhm. He'l be gone for awhile for this case." Her mom replies, her voice calm and steady. "He left early this morning."

Aurora nods, moving to get herself a plate of the pancakes her mom had made for her. As she sat down at the table, her mom placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"Listen, Rory, I know it's not gonna be easy. But you have your friends, and they're gonna be there for you. Just like I am. Though really, if it gets too bad, feel free to come home for the day, but at least try, okay?" Farrah gave Aurora a soft, understanding smile, her hand lingering on her shoulder as if offering silent reassurance. Aurora's heart softened, and she managed a small, appreciative smile in return.

"I'll try." Aurora said quietly, though she wasn't sure she believed it herself. The thought of facing school again, after everything that had happened over the summer, made her feel like her anxiety was bubbling up inside her, ready to spill over.

Her mom's expression shifted, softening further. "You don't have to be perfect, Rory. You just need to show up, and that's enough. You''ll get through today, just like you always do. And I'm here, no matter what."

Aurora nodded, feeling comforted by her mom's words. She took a deep breath, trying to steady the nerves that were creeping up her spine.

"Okay. Okay, I can do this. Today is just like any other day." Aurora mumbled, taking a bite of her breakfast.

"That's the spirit. You got this, kiddo." Her mom squeezed her shoulder again, a proud look in her eyes.

The rest of the morning was spent with Aurora trying to psych herself up for school, while her mom helped her make sure she had everything. As Aurora was walking towards her car, her mom stopped her, holding a hand out.

"You almost forgot this." Her mom said, holding out a necklace that made a lump form in her throat. The necklace was a gold chain with a small charm, a tiny gold dolphin. One that had been given to her on a birthday from John B. It was a simple gift, but it held so much meaning.

"Mom..." Aurora whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

Her mom gave her a sad smile, gently placing the necklace around her neck. "He'd want you to wear it. To carry a piece of him with you, especially today."

Aurora blinked back tears, the weight of the necklace in her hand, and the memories that flooded her mind, made her chest tighten. She knew her mom was right. John B would want her to wear it, to keep him close. She swallowed the lump in her throat, the emotions too much for her. She took a deep breath, her eyes meeting her mom's.

"Thank you, mom." She pulled her into a tight hug, her voice thick with emotion. Her mom hugged her back, her embrace warm and comforting.

"I love you, sweetheart." Her mom said softly, pulling back slightly to cup her cheek.

"I love you too, mom." Aurora smiled, giving her a final squeeze before letting her go. She glanced down at the necklace, the dolphin charm glinting in the morning sunlight. As she climbed into her jeep and started the engine, her mom's words rang through her head, and she held onto them, hoping they would give her the strength she needed. She could do this. She could face today.

Aurora was the first one at school, as usual. She didn't mind it, especially on days like this. It gave her time to process and prepare for the chaos of the day ahead. Students scattered the front lawn, laughing and chatting, their energy buzzing in the air. The sight of them was both calming and overwhelming, her emotions a swirling mix of excitement and apprehension. She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders and steeling her resolve. Today would be a normal day.

But as soon as she left her car and started walking across the school's lawn, all eyes seemed to turn in her direction, the conversations around her suddenly becoming hushed. It was as if everyone was waiting for her to trip and fall, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. The attention made her cheeks flush and her palms sweaty, her body tensing as she tried not to panic. She kept her head down, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone, her gaze focused on her feet. This is what she was dreading, the stares, the whispers, the judgment. Her heart was racing, her mind racing with all the worst possible scenarios.

"Hey." She felt relief at hearing JJ's voice, feeling his arm wrap around her shoulders as he appeared at her side. "You okay?"

"I am now." She admitted, a small smile forming. His presence immediately calmed her, the pressure on her chest easing.

JJ's gaze went to the necklace, his eyes softening. He knew how much it meant to her. And the fact that she was wearing it, even on a day like today, made his heart ache. "We got this, Rory." JJ's voice was gentle, his expression full of understanding. "It's just another day."

"Yeah," She sighs, nodding. "Just another day."

They met up with Kiara and Pope, the two greeting her as they all walke over to a memorial for John B near the school. It was in front of a big rock, there was a sign with his name on it that had other notes from students and pictures of him and flowers. Aurora's heart ached at the sight, her chest tightening again. They stood there in silence for a moment, each of them lost in their own thoughts and feelings. Kiara broke the silence, her voice thick with emotion.

"I feel like people are staring at us."

Aurora felt her stomach twist, her anxiety growing. She kept her eyes down, not wanting to see the stares. Not wanting to acknowledge the truth of Kiara's words. JJ glances around, a scowl forming on his face as he saw people looking at them. "Oh, yeah."

"Guys, I can't be late." Pope murmured as he started walking to the school, but Kiara stopped him.

"Hey, hey. We gotta stick together." Kiara offered her hand to him with a hopeful expression, relieved when he paused and intertwined his fingers with hers.

"Stick together, yeah." JJ muttered, walking ahead of them only to get pulled back by Aurora, her grip on his hand tightening.

"Don't." She whispers, her eyes pleading. "Please."

JJ's expression softened, and he gave her a slight nod. "Okay." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she and Kiara linked their arms together. They walked into the school, a new sense of purpose and solidarity, and made their way to their first class.

The whispers and stares continued, and the tension in the air was so thick, it felt like the walls were closing in. But despite it all, the group stayed close, keeping each other grounded. Aurora had to separate from the group for their first class. She hated she didn't share with them, the three of them had the same first class, but she didn't. She would have to face it alone. Her hand reached up to the necklace, her fingers running over the dolphin charm. It felt heavy, as if the memories tied to it weighed more than the charm itself.

Aurora walked into the classroom, her anxiety heightened at the thought of being without her friends. The room was half full, students milling about and chatting with each other. Some glanced her way, the stares and whispers causing her to tense. She gripped her bag strap tighter, keeping her head down as she made her way to her seat. A few desks away, a group of students were laughing and joking, their voices carrying across the room.

"I mean, how much do you wanna bet she's the one who killed John B?" A girl snickers her tone laced with spite. "Kinda makes sense, right? The sweet, innocent onewho always stayed on the sidelines. Maybe she snapped, ya know?" The girl's words rang out, sharp and cruel, and Aurora froze, her breath catching in her throat. The laughter that followed felt like a slap, and her chest tightened, the sting of the accusation hitting harder than she expected.

Aurora felt her face flush, a wave of embarrassment and anger rising inside her. She wanted to shout, to defend herself, to make them understand how unfair and wrong they were. But the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she sank into her seat, hoping to disappear into the chair.

For a moment, the world felt like it was closing in on her, the stares of her classmates like a spotlight she couldn't escape. The whispers intensified, and all she could think about was the way they were turning something so personal, so tragic, into gossip for their amusement. But amidst the chaos of her mind, she felt a calming presence. She reached up to touch the dolphin charm, grounding herself in the memory of John B, of his friendship, of the good things that had come from knowing him. She didn't have to prove anything to these people. She didn't owe them an explanation. All she had to do was survive the next few hours.

And when she heard the teacher clear his throat and begin class, she breathed a sigh of relief, her shoulders finally relaxing. She took out her notebook and a pencil, pushing her hurt and anger to the side, determined not to let their words affect her. As the minutes ticked by, she focused on her work, the familiarity of the routine soothing her. But as she glanced around the room, her heart ached. It didn't feel the same without John B. The empty desk next to her where he would normally be sitting felt like a gaping hole in her heart.

She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts aside, her mind wandering to the others. How were they doing? Were the whispers and stares bothering them as much as they bothered her? Was the absence of their friend weighing on them like a physical ache? She was snapped out of her thoughts when she felt her phone buzz. She glanced at the teacher, noticing she was busy lecturing. She sneakily pulled out her phone and checked her messages. She got one from an unknown number. She furrowed her eyebrows but opened it up, her curiositiy getting the better of her.

She bit her lower lip to stop the gasp from escaping when she saw a picture of John B and Sarah, clearly alive and well. Tears stung her eyes and her heart thudded in her chest, a mix of emotions washing over her. Relief, happiness, confusion. Questions raced through her mind, a million thoughts running through her head. She then got another text, one from JJ asking if she had gotten the same thing. And if so for her to meet him and the others in the courtyard. She hesitated, not wanting to get in trouble, but she wanted to find out what the was going on. She shot him a quick text, letting him know she would.

She sneakily put her phone back, raising her hand to get the teacher's attention. "I, uh, need to go to the restroom." She said, hoping the excuse would work. "It's, uh, that time of the month." She lied, figuring that would be enough to convince the teacher.

The teacher nods, gesturing for her to leave. Aurora grabbed her stuff and hurried out, the whispers and stares once again making her feel uncomfortable. But she ignored them, making her way outside to the courtyard. There, she found her friends gathered around, all of them with their phones out and the same look of confusion and disbelief on their faces. They were talking amongst themselves, trying to figure out what was going on.

Aurora rushed over, her heart pounding. "Did you guys see the picture? Of John B and Sarah? That has to mean they're alive, right?" She asked, her voice rising in excitement.

"That's what we're trying to figure out." JJ says, looking over at her reassuringly. "We haven't been able to get a hold of them." Aurora nodded, chewing on her lower lip as she sat her bag down on one of the picnic tables. Kiara had texted 'WTF is this you?' to the unknown number. The response was 'is jj there'. It gave Auora hope that it was actually John B. It had to be. Unless it was someone faking, but why would they?

Aurora sat on top of the picnic table by Kiara while JJ typed back 'i'm here bree'. A few moments later the reply was 'did you pimp my short board'. Aurora's face brightened, realizing that it's him. John B was alive. She felt relief wash over her, the tension in her body fading. He was alive. Her mind was spinning, so many emotions flooding her. But her relief was quickly replaced by fear as her thoughts began to spiral. If he was alive, then where had he been all this time? What happened to him and Sarah?

"It's him." JJ chuckled, a relieved expression clear on his face.

"It's him." Kiara laughed in disbelief, smiling.

"It's definitely him." Pope nodded, looking just as relieved.

Aurora felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest, the knot in her stomach finally loosening. Her heart raced in a mixture of relief and excitement, but it was quickly overshadowed by the barrage of questions that flooded her mind. Where had they been? How were they alive? Why hadn't they reached out sooner? The last few weeks of uncertainty had been suffocating, and now, after seeing that picture, everything seemed a bit better. She hugged Kiara, pulling her into a tight embrace, overwhelmed by the feeling of relief. Kiara hugged her back, squeezing her tight. As they hugged, so did the boys, all of them celebrating the news. JJ hugged Kiara while Aurora hugged Pope before she and JJ finally embraced, his strong arms wrapping around her waist. He lifted her up, spinning her around, and she giggled, her cheeks flushed.

"Yeah!" He laughed, smiling wide.

Aurora giggled, her face glowing. "I can't believe it. He's alive, they both are!" She beamed, her voice rising with excitement.

"I know, it's crazy." JJ grins, setting her down gently. "But it's a good kind of crazy, right?"

Aurora nods, a soft smile on her face. "Definitely."

"'Laying super low in Nassau.'" Kiara reading off the next text from John B gained their attention. They both still had their arms around each other as they glanced at her.

"What?" Aurora asks, her eyebrows furrowed. "They're in Nassau?"

"How the h*** did they get to the Bahamas?" Kiara asked the question they were all thinking.

"That's a good question, Kie." Aurora murmured, a puzzled expression on her face. She had so many questions, but no answers. Though she was just glad that they were alive.

"You can't killa Pogue, dude." JJ grinned, nudging Aurora, and she nodded, smiling back at him. 

"Especially John B." Pope added, and Aurora hummed in agreement.

"'Can you clear my name? Wanna come home'." Aurora read off the next text from John B, her mind spinning. "Yeah, obviously we will." She replied as she continued reading the messages, her mind racing with the implications. The situation was overwhelming, the whirlwind of emotions too much to process all at once. But despite the confusion, the fear, and the unknowns, one thing was clear: John B and Sarah were alive, and they needed help. 

Aurora knew she and her friends would do everything they can to help them and bring them home. She knew eventually they would find the answers to the countless questions swirling in their minds, but for now, all they could focus on was the most important thing: their friends were alive. It was a glimmer of hope in the midst of everything else, and that hope felt like a lifeline.

"H***, yeah, we'll clear your name, boy." JJ chuckled, the relief evident on his face.

"'Be in touch, P4L.'" Kiara read off the last text, sniffling.

"P4L, man. That's what I'm talking about!" JJ cheers, pulling away from Aurora and out of excitement he climbs on top of a picnic table, excitedly shouting, "P4L, baby!"

Aurora couldn't help but laugh along with JJ's infectious energy. The familiar feeling of their bond, their shared history, and the pure excitement of knowing John B was alive brought a wave of warmth to her chest. She felt like she could breathe again.

"P4L!" She echoed, her laughter bubbling up, a bright smile on her face. She grinned as JJ stepped off the picnic table, the four of them pulling each other into a group hug. 

The embrace was full of joy, relief, and shared understanding, all of them basking in the overwhelming wave of emotions that came with the confirmation that John B and Sarah were alive. Aurora felt the familiar comfort of her friends around her, each of them as relieved and excited as she was. They had been through so much together, and now, this moment of hope was just what they needed.