Dedicated to queendomo25 and mandymo0

Aurora

Life was not so good after all.

She wish she had not accepted the invitation to go out with Matteo's sister so that this could be avoided. If only time machines were invented so that she would be able to say no to Cordelia.

Sitting next to her in the backseat was none other than the man who had driven off leaving her alone. He hadn't spoken to her yet but they were both equally as shocked to see that they were going out together. Cordelia had not informed her that her brother would he going with them, and all she wanted was to jump out of the car.

Cordelia was sitting like an innocent soul in the passenger seat while Aurora was biting her lip until it felt swollen against her tongue. The awkward silence that filled the car must have not been obvious to Cordelia as she chatted away with the driver. She hadn't spoken to her brother and not even to Aurora, which seemed like bad manners.

She wouldn't have felt so awkward if Cordelia could have just switched seats with her brother. She probably didn't know that the two of them were on bad terms and must have just really enjoyed being in the passenger seat.

Matteo hasn't even looked at her once. The only time he looked at her was when she had entered the car and his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. His face was turned to the window and she wish she could have known what he was thinking. Maybe he didn't want her here and that's why he was ignoring her.

Her eyes wondered down the length of his slouched body and drank in the sight of his formal attire. He didn't look like he was going out to the mall, instead he looked like he was dressed to attend a business meeting which was too formal. He had dark grey slacks on with a white dress shirt, the shirt had a few buttons open which exposed a bit of his collar bone.

A silver necklace had a sharp contrast to his olive skin tone, and he wore his usual set of rings on various fingers. She saw the veins on his arms as it flexed whenever he ruffled his hair a bit, making a bit more fluffy than it already was. He looked like he got a fresh cut, an undercut to be exact.

It was a drool worthy sight indeed. He was a very handsome man but he was mean. He was a handsome meanie, she internally giggled to herself.

At last they have arrived at their destination and Aurora was grateful that the painfully slow ride was over. She exited the car, realeasing a frustrated sigh and Cordelia grabbed hold of Aurora's arm.

"Let's have some fun." she said with a toothy grin.

Aurora nodded and they were off to the inside of the mall. Matteo was silent as he walked behind the two girls. Aurora didn't care about that anymore as her eyes drank in the sight of so many stores that it was impossible to count. She was amazed as if she had never step foot inside a mall before but to her it was like the first time.

Because she was out with actual people.

"Let's go inside this one first." Cordelia pointed to a random store that was on the opposite side of Aurora.

Cordelia led the two adults inside the store and immediately started browsing through the racks of clothes. Aurora felt out of place, knowing that this clothes must have cost a fortune and her zero budget won't cut for anything. She didn't know if she should join in and look through the different clothes, or just watch Cordelia do her shopping thing.

Cordelia eventually pulled Aurora's hand, not even sparing her brother a glance and started browsing with her through the different clothes. Eventually, joy flooded through her body as she continued to go through all sorts of clothes, mostly ones that she has never seen or even heard of before.

They made a few stops here and there. Cordelia occasionally slipping a few clothes and jewelry for Aurora without her noticing. Whatever Aurora looked at for a second too long, Cordelia would secretly take when she wasn't looking and add it to her pile. The girl was so lost in her own little world of fabric and gorgeous bands of bracelets, that she didn't notice the stares she got from the siblings. She could feel his stare on her back, but chose to ignore it as she continued looking.

She could get used to this feeling.

Aurora bit her lip for the umpteenth time.

She had no idea how the situation did a full on three sixty degree turn. Just minutes ago she was laughing with Cordelia, spouting nonsense about how Matteo didn't allow her to have free food anymore. Chowing down on their delicious meal as they sat in the food court, and were bursting out from laughing too much. It was just a few minutes ago that she felt good and happy, but that all vanished when Cordelia wondered off with the driver.

She said she forgot to go into one of the shoe stores and it was urgent that she left right away before someone buys the shoe that she wants. Aurora offered to go with her but Cordelia was persistent that she stays and she would go with the driver. It wasn't quite clear to her why Cordelia didn't want her with since she was shopping with her all day.

Why would she pick the driver over her?

She gnawed on her bottom lip as she tried to get lost in the movement of a thousand bodies wondering around the mall, hopefully to take her mind off the handsome man sitting next to her. It was like the car ride all over again, with none of them saying a word to each other and Aurora felt as if she was suffocating.

She hated how they didn't even bother to at least greet each other or make small talk, but she didn't want to say anything if he didn't want to talk to her. He has been ignoring her for the entire day, only speaking to his sister whenever she had addressed him. His responses were as usual, very short and dry but she enjoyed hearing his voice.

She really wanted to speak to him. She missed talking to him and hearing his voice.

Finally after having an internal battle with herself mustering up the courage she asked, "W-why are y-you ignoring me?"

That's not what she had intended to say. All she wanted was to say hi, or at least ask him how was he doing but the question that lingered on her mind fell from her lips.

From the corner of her eye she saw Matteo glance at her. His gaze never wavered as he just responded with, "I'm not."

She turned to him. "You are. Did I do something?"

"No."

"T-then what is it?"

He sighed. "Nothing." was all he said.

She hated his lack of words. "Are you mad at me?"

"No."

She chewed on her bottom lip as she watched her fingers interlock with each other. She felt as if she would get nowhere with him. He was so cold towards her when just the other day he was being nothing but kind.

"Y-you don't want to see me." she whispered.

She felt tears prick the back of her eyes as she said that. She wanted him to deny it, hoping that he said no. If he would tell her that is what he wanted, it would crush her. She hadn't even known him for that long, but it was enough time to know that she wanted to spend more time with him.

She felt like a pathetic child who clung to him.

She felt his fingers gently grip her chin as he lifted her head. Her watery eyes flitted to his dark ones, no ounce of emotion could be detected in those darkened eyes.

"Not true." he said firmly.

"W-why are you ignoring me, Matteo?" she asked shakily, on the verge of crying.

"Agnellino," he whispered, "Non rendermi morbido così, per favore." (Don't make me soft like this, please.)

She tilted her head to the side, giving him a confused look. "Hmm?"

His lips tugged slightly upwards at the corner, but he forced it down. "Nothing."

He started grazing his thumb along the smooth surface of her cheek, his slight touch making her heart race. She liked his touch a little too much, and internally whined at the little contact they made. She wanted more of him, so she leaned her face into his touch to feel more of him.

Matteo made her face feel all tingly.

"Y-you always talk alien." she said a bit in a daze as she was lost in the feeling of his fingers brushing against her face.

Matteo let out a light chuckle. "Alien?" he asked in amusement.

She nodded her head. "I don't understand what you're saying sometimes." she giggled.

"Aurora."

"Hmm?" she replied, her brain still mushy from his fingers on her face.

He hesitated before asking, "How's your health?"

Her eyes snapped open and her mouth went dry. She wished he wouldn't have engaged this topic since she didn't want to talk to him about it. It was a mistake to let him know what was wrong with her and she had hoped that he had forgotten about it but clearly he didn't.

Her eyes moved away from his. "F-fine."

"Really?"

"Really." she nodded.

"And treatment?"

Please stop.

She wanted to cry. "What a-about it?"

"Are you getting treatment?"

She nodded. She was afraid if she spoke, she would start crying.

She gulped as he inched his face closer to hers, feeling hit hot breath fanning against her already hot face. Her cheeks burned and her heart thumped loudly against her ribcage at how close he was to her. He was so close, so very close to her.

Her tears dried up as her face was now hot. The sadness long forgotten.

"Good girl." he said, his eyes flitting for a moment to her parted lips and then back to her eyes.

Aurora started breathing a bit too fast with their close proximity and it did not go unnoticed by Matteo. To her surprise and amazement, the corner of his lip inched a bit up, almost showcasing a smirk.

He moved his head a bit closer. "Am I making you nervous?" his voice was much deeper now.

Holy bubblegums.

She blushed at his words and how his voice had gotten all lower, making her feel tingly on the inside, by her tummy this time. Not too long ago they were ignoring each other but now his face was just a few inches away from hers, looking like he was about to kiss her.

Her insides turned as she thought about kissing Matteo.

No, bad girl.

He would never kiss her. Matteo would never do such a thing with her, he couldn't even talk to her properly.

"Matteo." she whimpered.

She was shocked when she heard the almost inaudible growl he had let out when she whispered his name. "Cosa mi stai facendo?" he muttered in a slight pained voice. (What are you doing to me?)

"And what is this?" she heard a familiar voice speak above the two of them.

She jumped away from Matteo when she saw the smug look Cordelia had on her face, as she held another two shopping bags in her hand. She was smirking at Aurora's flustered state and her eyes kept moving from her brother to Aurora. Aurora felt the need to just disappear from this place as she was embarrassed to see that his sister had caught them being that close to each other.

"C-Cordelia-"

"Let's go. You don't want to be late for your shift." was all she said and turned around to walk away.

Looks like Ms Cordelia had a plan set up, I smell something fishy. And it's not the fish and chips they had eaten.

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