Confessions

Alexander

Oakley and I are leaning up against our lockers, waiting for the bell to go so we can get out of here and go to rugby practice. I check my watch and it's 3:25. Just on time.

I look up from my watch and see... what's her name? Daisy's friend. I snap my fingers trying to recall the familiar face. My snapping catches Oakley's attention.

"Aurora." He pans, like he can read my mind.

"Ooooh, like the princess." I look back at Aurora who does not look good at all. Her makeup is minimal, probably just mascara, 30p bags are under her eyes. Her bags can carry groceries. Her entire face just looks gaunt.

My gaze lands on Oakley next and I think he's looking at her the same way I just did: concerned.

Aurora stops at a locker a few down from ours but on the other side of the hall. She drops her bag at her feet and lets out a sigh as she picks it back up and shoves it back in.

Why is she putting her bag away when the bell is about to go?

Just as she's about to close the door her fingers trace over a photo that is wedged in the grates of the locker door, and I swear I see her wipe away a tear that's escaped her eye.

The bell goes but instead of going straight to practise Oakley and I go straight to Aurora.

"You okay, Princess Aurora?" I ask. She turns around and her face instantly crumbles. Aurora hiccups and takes in a greedy gasp of air like her body depends on it. Oakley takes her in his arms and strokes her messy hair.

"What's wrong? You do know school ended, right?" Oakley tries to soothe but it makes Aurora pull back and look at both of us like we're crazy.

"Is it?" She sniffs. Aurora tries to pull her jumper sleeve up to look at her watch and gasps at the result.

Her outfit is another sign that something is off. Every time I've seen her in passing or in photos that Daisy has posted, Aurora always wears skirts and blazer, something smart but today her hair is in a messy bun that doesn't look washed and she's wearing leggings and a jumper.

She turns back around and opens back up her locker, taking her bag out and swinging it over her shoulder, "I'm sorry."

"Are you okay?" my brows knit together and I pout.

"No- it's just... I need to go." she looks taken aback as she pushes past us and into the crowd of people also trying to leave.

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Practise went good. Coach was on the war path today because we have a game soon against the Glacier Giants. Coach says they're barely beatable and that they've won every game they've played in the last three years.

Western Valley was my top pick of schools but they never accepted my application due to "previous reports" AKA the amount of times I've been suspended due to fighting on the pitch. Mord Valley was the only College to accept my offer. Lucky for me it was my second choice for their rugby programme.

Unlacing my studs, my head snaps up at Oakley leaving the showers, towel loosely wrapped around his waist and hair wet. I jump up and grab my towel and make my own way to the showers just as Coach Wilson barges through the doors. All heads turn to his attention and we all stop what we're doing.

"Right. Today we had a good game but it doesn't mean we're all set for play offs. Jackson, sort out your passes, they're sloppy and someone can steal that ball right from under you. Everton, you have zero spacial awareness, spread out. You can cover more ground, and for Gods sake, Hough, you and Padilla better sort your shit out. You act like a fucking giddy lovesick couple on that field. I'm splitting you two up."

My mouth drops open as the people around me laugh. I look at Oakley who is laughing his head off. We do not act like that. Don't we?

"Anything to say, Hough?" Coach Wilson points at me.

"Uhm... no coach."

"Good." And with that he turns around and leaves the changing room.

I turn to enter the showers and on my way the boys take the opportunity to chant and pat me on the back

Oakley and Alex sitting in a tree K I S S I NG!

When I leave the changing rooms not long after I go straight to the gardens where Daisy normally waits for me to take us home. But when I get to the flowery arches I stop short at Daisy and Florence hugging a sobbing girl.

"Hey, is everything okay?" I question. And when the tearful girl brings her head back to look at me I see that it's Aurora. Her eyes are bloodshot and mascara is running down my face. She swipes at her eyes and sniffles.

"Yeah- yeah. Everything fine." Daisy says softly. She gives Aurora and Florence a hug before etching around me and out of the gardens. I through Florence a sympathetic look as she consoles Princess Aurora and turn to catch up with my twin.

"What was that all about?" I tap Daisy on the shoulder.

"Nothing." She snaps. I'm taken aback by her moodiness because in all of the 18 years I've lived with Daisy, she has never snapped at me before.

Daisy sighs and takes her hands through her hair, "I'm sorry. It's just... I feel so bad."

"What happened?" I nag onto her a few more times after this, hoping I'd get the answer I'm looking for. First Aurora turns up to school just as it ends and then an hour and a half later she's crying to my twin and their friend. She looks like she got barely any sleep since I saw her last, and even though I don't know her as well as Daisy, she seems important to her enough for me to care.

When we reach the car I see Oakley a few spaces up leaning against his Mustang. He must of waited for us. Oakley lives on our street and we've been best friends since Nursery.

"You two okay? It looks like there's a stick up your ass, Daisy." Oakley chuckles and I think that was the last straw for her.

"Oh my god! If I tell you will the shut the hell up!?" She's now seething and I've never seen her like this before.

Oakley and I bob our heads, too scared to cross Daisy's path.

Daisy's voice is barely a whisper when she utters the four words that make my heart break for Aurora:

"Aurora's dad killed himself."