Venna .....

Aurora.

School hours went by faster than expected, with all the classes finally over I was more than relieved to be out of the stress called high school for today. My mind skipping back to earlier in the janitor's closet my belly getting squeamish all of a sudden.

"Hey girl. What you doing?" I halted at the voice turning to see my best friend Venna. A black American with curves that made me jealous, I mean I had curves but the girl was just a different level. Her black hair styles to the side so it left one part of her face exposed. Dark eyes that always looked into souls, atleast that was how her eyes made me feel and full lips. She was an angel in her own way but sometimes I was pissed at her guts.

"Hey girl. You going home?" I asked tiredly but with a smile still on my face.

"Yep. Wanna come with?" She asked.

"Nah. Came with my car." I said nodding to my red Camaro.

"So uhm... Aurora, the girls were wondering and I was wondering too won't lie about that. Don't you think it's a little too... well, too quick?" She asked. I stared my confusion apparent while I pondered.

"Too quick?. What's a little too quick?". I asked when she refused to elaborate despite the confusion on my face.

"Well the new boy. I mean I'm not judging or anything you know I never would but it's been just a week." She deadpanned. Flustered I began waving both hands at her my cheeks getting hot again as I realized what she meant and my mouth opening and shutting like a fish.

"You're so flustered you can't even say a word " she accused with a knowing smile as her cheeks stretched out like a Cheshire.

"No. I mean we are not together. He's not... I'm not.."I tried again but my mouth didn't seem to want to say the words my brain were screaming.

"It's okay girl calm down . I ain't your mama, I'm just saying it'll look kinda bad for you, it's high school people talk. Plus forgetting them it still is not cool. For him actually he could feel like the rebound case and for you isn't it just to early." Venna lectured.

"It doesn't matter. I don't even see him that way, he's just a really good friend, plus I doubt he sees me that way either." I defended looking anywhere but her.

"Good friend since when? Aye have you been hiding him from us?"A stern look appeared on her face. My head began shaking in refusal yet again then stopped as my mind began processing at a not so fast pace.

"I don't think your face about now agrees with you. You know you still haven't explained how you got all pale like death. You sure you ain't sick, is it cancer tell me it's not cancer." A horrified expression came on her face as she looked me over worriedly.

I got a bit alarmed at this though, I'd never thought to explain my new look so at this I was in a spot. My mind tumbled around for a reply as I gazed around while she glanced me over.

"She's just been indoors much, that plus the flu she had when she was away." I turned to the new voice. He stood there like he hadn't just given a perfect lie his blue eyes twinkling in amusement, amusement that his expression didn't reflect.

"You didn't tell them you were sick on the cliff hike huh?" He continued completely ignorant of my agape look.

"Figures. I think she's forgetful. At times. " Venna spoke with a sweet smile. " Just like how she's forgetting to introduce me to her new boyfriend, I mean friend" she finished sending me a look that I replied with a glare.

"Venna meet Asher my new friend," I stressed the friend eyeing him from the corner of my vision to note his reaction. "Asher this is Venna my annoying talkative best friend." I glared back at her again.

"Who you love. You tots forgot to add that part" she stated smirking before going forward and extending a hand to a still bland looking Asher.

"Hi. Nice to meet you Asher. Thanks for totally making my girl seem cheerful again I bet it's been a tough past week and all with her issues with George and all." I hissed at her as she spewed everything out.

I snuck a glance at him as he stared back at Venna before extending a hand a smile lighting up his face. The smile felt fake like the kind of smiles you practice all your life to wear. It made me wonder about him for the first time. How was he that good at wearing such an its a beautiful day smile and yet not mean it.

"Nice to meet you Venna. I'm sure we can hang later but uhm Aurora and I got somewhere we need to be" He stated matter of factly and looked to me in confirmation.

"Yeah, right, I was waiting for him actually Venna. So uhm about the other stuff we were discussing, sleep over tomorrow?". I asked.

"Nah girl. Tomorrow is family night and I can't miss". She shrugged apologetically.

"Family night?. I thought your family were in Europe on business?". I asked.

"Yeah beats me. They all suddenly showed up and I mean all. I'm seeing cousins that I didn't know I had. Today is supposed to be a get together for us to bond then tomorrow we do a little family experiment." She stated her eyes lighting up with glee.

"Family experiment?. " I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Beats me. Got me and most of my younger cousins confused as shit." She rapped. She always had a way with sounding, well, fast.

"How about Friday night. We could go to the Whitmore party together. I love them parties and you know it." She suggested.

"Uhmm I don't know....." I looked over to Asher who tried to look like he wasn't listening.

"It'd be fun to have blue eyes here with us too. George would be there and I'd sure love to see the look on that whoring ass face of his when he spots you both together. Not like he hasn't noticed by now he'd have to be blind but ...."

"Okay. Okay. I get it. We'll..." I turned to him. " ... be there?".it was more like a question for him to confirm.

"I don't really do parties Venna. Sorry. " He said cracking another fake smile.

"Oh yeah not happening. You either come or you are expelled from attending Aurora high." She threatened jokingly. His brows creased at that but he played along nodding before his smiled stretched turning ...genuine?

"Alright. But we really need to go now so don't be mad." He added nodding to her. She just shrugged as a black Jeep pulled up to us.

"No biggie, my ride is here anyway." She smiled walking down the steps to meet the guy who got out the driver seat. He was young also black American in a Blazer and black jeans. He hugged Venna who quickly turned to introduce him to us.

"Aurora, Asher meet Vince my older brother. Vince my friends who's names I just said don't make me repeat." She glared at him.

Asher stiffled a chuckle while I smiled before extending a palm to the guy who eyed his sister with a glare before accessing me with a simple smile as he nodded and shook the extended hand. Turning to Asher he made a nod and extended his hand to shake, which Asher took promptly shaking it and letting go.

"Well later losers. Come on big loser. " Vince groaned out audibly as he walked around to the driver seat ignoring Venna's cackles of joy from his annoyance.

"And you think we're monsters" I muttered to Asher stepping back closer to him. He just chuckled his shoulder rumbling as we laughed.

We turned to go only to see Vince walk back around the car with a murderous glare on his face and pop into the passenger side. The car took off before he could shut the door and it was all I could to not fall down laughing.

"Did she enter the driver's seat from the passenger's side. ?" Asher asked an amused look on his face.

"Yup. That's Venna, devious creature that one." I muttered then looked at him as I realized I was now leaning on him. I quickly shifted already feeling the squeamishness in my belly.

"Well, shall we?. You said we had to go right.?." I asked avoiding eye contact.

"Yeah, I called my mum and subtly asked about the case. The scan was delayed due to some issues so they'll be expecting the results tomorrow. Which means tonight is our last chance to clear this out".

"What if we fail?." I asked worry seeping into my mind.

"Plan B. Tell my mum everything we know. And hope she understands" He reasoned. I mused over it for a while before nodding.

" Not much else we can do right.". I reasoned in a matter of fact tone to which he nodded.

"Well it's still a bit early unless you wanna get arrested. " She said looking at her time.

"Yeah. We're going to my place. We'll plan on the way and get things from my place. I'm going to give my mum food at the station, that's how I plan on entering. Today's her night station shift so I'll be returning to get the flask and give her another. That's where we get in." He stopped looking at me with a smirk like he'd just planned the world's grandest heist.

"Dumbass" I muttered with a shake of my head as I headed for my car while he got on his bike and followed behind him he as he drove to his house.