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| ❛ C H A P T E R F I V E ❜ |
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I walked into the school gates holding gently onto my father's arm. I wore a strapless pleated black mini dress paired with Prada heels, feeling both elegant and excited for the evening ahead.

The bright lights coming from the inside could be seen from afar, and the loud music could be heard as well, adding to the anticipation. Stepping into the room, everyone turned to greet my father and me. I excused myself, hoping to find Lydia or James amidst the crowd.

Neither James nor Lydia were nowhere to be seen. As I navigated through the throng of people, a familiar voice called out to me.

"Aurora!"

I turned around, searching the crowd, finally spotting the owner of the voice. Kieran. My heart fluttered as I saw him pushing his way through the sea of students to get to me.

I tried to inspect him secretly, hoping my excitement wasn't too obvious. Kieran's figure grew closer and closer until we were standing face to face.

I watched as he inhaled softly, sucking in his breath, 'secretly' inspecting my figure.

"Y-you look a-amazing," he managed to say, not meeting my gaze.

"You think?" I teased, twirling around to give him the full effect of my dress.

I laughed at his reaction, his face showing a slight hint of pink on his cheeks despite the colored lights surrounding the room.

"Well, you don't look so bad yourself, Mr. Rutherford," I grinned, taking in his sharp suit that made him look more confident than his usual shy self.

Kieran chuckled nervously, finally meeting my eyes. "Thanks, Aurora. I, um, didn't think I'd see you so soon. I mean, not that I'm not glad! Just surprised."

"Surprised in a good way, I hope," I said, enjoying his flustered demeanor.

"Definitely a good way," he confirmed, his smile growing a little more confident. "Are you looking for someone?"

"Yeah, I was hoping to find James or Lydia," I replied, glancing around the room again. "Have you seen them?"

"Oh, I saw James near the DJ table," Kieran said in a low tone, but I managed to hear it.

"Thank you, Kieran. I'll see you later!" I said, running off towards the DJ table where I spotted James and his friends joking about something.

"James!" I called out.

His head turned towards my direction, and he quickly walked down the stairs, enveloping me in a warm hug.

"I was wondering if you came. I didn't see you anywhere," he spoke, pulling away from the hug but still keeping both his hands on my shoulders.

"I was looking for you as well. I've been near the entrance this whole time," I smiled.

We walked back towards his friends; I greeted them all warmly, and they reciprocated. The atmosphere was lively, and I momentarily relaxed, enjoying the camaraderie.

Suddenly, there was a change in the air—flickering lights and some raunchy pop music blasting all over the hall. I looked at James with wide eyes, but he was too invested in laughing with his friends. 'Did he do this?' I wondered.

I quickly looked back at the group one last time before walking off to the scene. I watched as some girl danced on the principal's lap and a panicked Kieran stood nearby.

"Kieran," I whispered under my breath with a concerned expression.

I rushed towards him, pulling him with a gentle yet strong force away from the dancer. The dancer turned his attention to me, attempting to make me sit on the chair. I watched him in disgust, pushing her away.

"Non toccarmi, stronzo," I spat at him in my mother language, pulling Kieran away from the scene.

As he tried to pull us back into the circle, I pulled Kieran closer to me, my hands on both sides of his waist. Instantly, he wrapped his arms protectively around my shoulders, taking a step back from him.

My cheeks were probably hot pink by now, and I was glad the lighting hid some of it. I looked up at Kieran, who was already looking down at me. Though I was considered tall at 5'7", he was much taller, standing at six feet.

"Are you okay?" I asked, ignoring the fact we were so close together.

"Yes, t-thank you for helping me there," he said, his smile soft and appreciative.

'Cute,' I thought.

I grabbed his hand, leading him away from the crowd. "Let's go see if we can get the DJ to turn the music off," I said, looking over my shoulder at him. He hummed in response, letting me drag him through the crowd.

When we got there, Ruby had already managed to get the music turned off. Kieran and I watched as Mr. Sutton took James and Ruby away, probably to the principal's office. I couldn't believe James would take it this far just to keep Ruby from talking about the incident.

As the music died down, the atmosphere became tense and awkward. People started whispering and glancing around, unsure of what had just happened. Kieran and I stood there, processing everything.

"Let's get some fresh air," I suggested, feeling the need to escape the thick tension inside.

Kieran nodded, and we made our way to the school gardens. The cool night air was refreshing, and the soft glow of the garden lights created a peaceful contrast to the chaotic scene inside.

My face lit up watching as my father approached a nervous Kieran and I.

"Aurora!" he called out, spreading his arms for a hug. "Did you enjoy the party?"

"Yes, Babbo, it was... eventful," I replied, hugging him tightly. As I pulled away, I gestured towards Kieran, who was standing a little behind me. "Dad, this is Kieran. Kieran, this is my father, Lorenzo."

My father extended his hand with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, Kieran. I've heard quite a bit about you."

Kieran stepped forward and shook my father's hand, his grip firm but respectful. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bianchi."

"Please, call me Lorenzo," my father insisted, giving Kieran a friendly pat on the shoulder. "So, Kieran, what do you like to do in your free time?"

Kieran relaxed a bit under my father's genial demeanor. "I enjoy reading and designing posters for the school events, sir. I also like to spend time outdoors, hiking and exploring new places."

"Ah, an artist and an adventurer," my father said, clearly impressed.

"Well, I appreciate you keeping an eye on Aurora tonight," my father said warmly. "Why don't we give you a ride home? It's the least we can do."

Kieran looked at me, a bit hesitant. "I don't want to impose..."

"You're not imposing at all," I reassured him. "Come on, it'll be fun."

"Alright then," Kieran agreed with a nod.

We made our way to the car, my father chatting amicably with Kieran. As we settled into the back seat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. My father liked Kieran, and that meant a lot to me.

The ride home was filled with light conversation, my father asking Kieran about his favorite books and places he had hiked. Kieran answered thoughtfully, his confidence growing with each passing minute. I could tell my father was impressed, and it made me happy to see them getting along so well.

As we approached Kieran's house, my father turned to him. "Kieran, it was a pleasure meeting you. You're always welcome at our home."

"Thank you, Lorenzo," Kieran said sincerely. "And thank you for the ride."

"Anytime," my father replied with a smile.

Kieran and I exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between us. Tonight had been a whirlwind, but it had also brought us closer in unexpected ways.

"Goodnight, Aurora," Kieran said as he stepped out of the car. "I'll see you at school."

"Goodnight, Kieran," I replied, giving him a wave.

As we drove away, I leaned back in my seat, feeling content. My father glanced at me with a smile.

"He seems like a good kid," he said.

"He is," I agreed, my thoughts drifting back to the night's events. "He's a really good friend."

"Just a friend?" my father teased gently.

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "For now, Babbo. For now."

𖦹 !! ꒰ 05 ꒱ ᯓ 🌤️