Five

AURORA'S POV

“It's you!" I said then mentally facepalmed. What the hell was that? Why would I say that?

He chuckled at that and I swear it sounded like he was a god or something, not that I knew what gods sounded like but I bet they'd sound like him.

He looked ethereal. He was dressed in straight leg dark wash jeans and a white tee. He had on a matching denim jacket over the look and on his feet were some black sneakers. He accessorized his look with a simple silver chain on his neck. He had on some matching silver bracelets on his wrist and he had on rings on his index and middle finger on one hand and the index finger of the other hand.

His dark hair fell messily in front of his face and I had to resist the intrusive thoughts that were telling me to run my fingers through it.

He was beautiful, a lot more beautiful than I remembered and he was sitting in front of me with a smile that made my stomach do summersaults.

“The name's Jared. Jared Grey. Third year student here at NorthVale," he said extending his hand to me.

I shook his hand and the weirdest thing happened. It was almost like electricity zapped me. I had read a bunch of novels always mention something like that but I didn't expect it to be so literal.

“Rory," I replied, “actually it's Aurora but everyone calls me Rory, you can call me Rory too.... sorry I'm rambling."

What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I acting like this is my first time face to face with an attractive guy? Then again, this guy was attractive in a way I had never seen before so I guess it was.

“Nice to meet you Rory. First year?" he asked, smiling at me.

I couldn't help but blush at that. I tucked my hair behind my hair and looked down, unable to withstand his gaze.

“Yeah. Is it that obvious?"

“I mean most people who are regulars at this cafe knows this is my table," he said laughing.

“No way," I said narrowing my eyes at him, “why would you have your own table here?"

“I'm a regular and I always sit here so after a while, it became mine," he answered, “but I'm happy to share. A beautiful girl isn't the worst person to partner with. This could become our table."

“Isn't it a bit too early to propose to me?" I asked, a teasing smile on my face.

There was something about him. I know we literally just met but it felt like... like I had known him forever. And yes, I know how crazy that sounds.

He laughed at that.

“Maybe so but something tells me you're going to say yes," he said, looking at me intensely.

I found myself staring back at him, lost in the emerald of his eyes. In the past, when I was asked what my favorite colour was, I didn't have a specific answer. I used to say I loved all colours for different reasons, never being able to pick one.

If someone asked me now, I would say green and not just any green, the specific shade of emerald green that was staring into my soul from Jared Grey's face.

The moment was broken when someone came to take Jared's order.

“Anything you'd like alpha?" the girl asked him.

I raised my eyebrow at that as he gave her his order.

“Alpha?" I asked, a little confused after she left. I knew what the world meant. It was related to wolves and dogs. They were like the leaders of the pack.

“A nickname of mine," he said brushing me off.

I laughed at that.

“How did you manage to get that nickname?" I took a sip of my drink.

“If you go out with me on a date, you could find out," he said, a smirk on his face.

I'm pretty sure my face turned beet red as I coughed while spitting out the drink.

“Bold much? We just met," I replied.

“So is that a no? Ouch Aurora. You're hurting my feelings," he teased.

Something about the way he said my name made me clench my legs together tightly.

Keep it together ! I told myself. I can't be here looking thirsty.

“I'm not saying no. I'm just saying maybe get to know me first before asking me on a date. For all you know, I might not even be single," I said jokingly.

I saw his countenance change at that and the smile immediately dropped from his face. I could have sworn I saw his eyes glow brighter for a second.

I was confused by that. Before I could say anything. The waitress from before came and dropped Jared's order in front of him.

Before she left she whispered something in his ear that seemed to calm him down a bit.

I don't know why but that act of closeness rubbed me the wrong way. Why did it annoy me that this girl was so close to Jared? I mean, he already said he was a regular here, it wouldn't be so far fetched to assume they were friends.

Yet I found myself fighting the urge to rip her off of him. Something was definitely up with this place. Ever since I got here, I had been battling strange feelings, strange voices. This was so unlike me. I wasn't usually a jealous person especially not for someone I just met.

When she left, I calmed down a bit.

“Are you?" Jared asked.

I was confused.

“Am I what?"

“Are you single? Do you have a boyfriend?"

Oh! Was he jealous?

I wanted to say yes and tease him, rile him up a bit since it clearly bothered him and I liked that it did but for some reason, I decided to be honest.

“No, I don't actually have one. But you didn't know that when you asked me out," I answered.

It was like I could see the tension visibly leave his body as I uttered those words.

“I guess it's because I knew that even if you had someone, you'd leave him for me. The universe told me we belong together and the universe is never wrong," he said with a straight face.

My mouth dropped open. Cocky much? Why did that sound so hot though? What was wrong with me?

I opened and closed my mouth unable to say anything and he just watched me as he took a bite out of his doughnut.

“Are you always this cocky?" I finally managed to ask.

“I prefer to think of it as confidence sunshine, not cockiness," he replied smoothly.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Sunshine?" I asked with a raised brow.

He just waved the question away, choosing not to answer.

“Alright fine, how about this? Not a date but a hang out between potential friends. The school's first game is this Friday. It's a warm up of sorts so it's not a real competition. Would you like to go with me?"

I thought about that. I was going to go to watch Finn play any way. This way, I wouldn't have to go alone.

“That actually doesn't sound half bad. A friend of mine will be playing and now I get to have company while I go cheer him on."

I noticed the smile twitch on his face as I mentioned that but he said nothing.

“So it's a date then?" he asked with a contagious smile on his face.

I couldn't help but smile back.

“No, not a date, a hangout between potential friends," I replied.

“I'll take that. Besides it won't be long before we move from potential friends to soulmates," he said shrugging like he was talking about the weather.

Again, my mouth dropped open. This time however, I recovered quicker.

“Boy, you sure aren't shy at all, are you Jared?" I asked.

“Being shy is for people who didn't hear from the universe."

“Oh but you did huh?"

“I did. And I'm glad I did."

He was staring at me intensely again, this time I looked away and took a sip out of my drink as a way to distract from the situation.

“You're really beautiful. You know that right?" he asked, his voice sounding very serious.

I once again, tucked my hair behind my ear and looked at him, ignoring the flush of red that I was sure was on my face.

“You keep talking like this and I just might fall in love with you," I said, only half joking which was weird because this was a stranger I had just met.

It was weird that I had to keep reminding myself that I had just met him because that was the only thing keeping me from throwing myself at him.

“That's the idea Aurora."

There he goes again. It should be illegal for him to say my name that way in public. I wiped a bead of sweat from my forehead and this entire place was fully air conditioned.

“You're impossible Jared," I said, a shy smile on my face.

I briefly wondered if a person's face could be dyed red if they blushed too many times to count within a short amount of time. If yes, I would have to start looking for foundations that would cover that up.

Just then he signalled the waitress and she came walking over. He whispered something in her ears and I once again had to battle the wave of annoyance at how close they were.

When she walked away, I couldn't help myself.

“You two seem pretty chummy. Something I should know before I go on a ‘not-date' with you?" I hoped I didn't sound as jealous as I felt. I didn't want to seem weird.

“Who, Terry?" he laughed like I said the most ridiculous thing. When he saw the embarrassed look on my face he stopped.

“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed. It's just Terry is like... she's like a little sister to me." He nodded to himself as he found the right words.

“She, like many others is someone I'm responsible for," he added.

I raised my eyebrow in confusion.

“What does that mean?" I asked.

“You'll come to understand in due time."

“Is this your way of being cryptic and mysterious?"

“Maybe it is. I hear girls like those kinds of guys."

I found myself giggling at that.

“You really are something Jared Grey," I said.

“And you are gorgeous, Aurora," he said.

I saw him look at his phone and somehow I knew what was coming and it made me sad.

He handed me his phone.

“What am I supposed to do with this?" I asked, a smirk on my face.

“Put your number in it. That way when I text you, it won't be because I creepily got it from someone who knows you."

“I get the feeling that wasn't a joke."

He just smiled in response. I put my number in it and handed the phone back to him.

“This has been the best lunch I've had in my 21 years of life," he said.

I scoffed. “I bet you say that to all the girls," I replied even though I felt the same.

“As you get to know me sunshine, you'll find out that I never say something if I don't mean it especially to you."

He stood up then and I felt bereft. Something about him made me feel so at ease and comfortable and I didn't want him to leave. What was wrong with me?

He took my hand in his, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Unfortunately, I have to leave you. It was a pleasure meeting you Aurora," he said as he turned my hand over and placed a kiss on the back. Then I felt him take a deep breath.

Normally, that would have creeped me out, instead it felt comforting. Yep, something was definitely wrong with me.

“It was nice meeting you too Jared," I replied as I watched him walk away.

I sat at the table a few minutes after he left, feeling a bit lonely. After a while, I walked to the counter to pay for my food.

The waitress who I now knew was named Terry smiled at me and told me the bill was taken care of.

I smiled, knowing who had done that. I thanked her and headed out. Just as I was leaving, my phone dinged. It was a text from an unknown number.

“Guess who?"