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Aurora ☪︎
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Chapter 05: So Much More than Simply a Princess [Edited]

My heart seems to forget how to beat when the light from the streetlamp shines on a pair of familiar golden eyes. He stops, putting his hands up in front of him in a 'Chill, I won't do anything' way. I press my lips into a tight line, trying to figure out what I should do.

On one hand, he did kind of save me, you know with the whole calling the ambulance for me. But does that automatically make him a nice, safe, guy? I mean who the hell just randomly walks around campus at 3 in the morning?

Oh wait, I do.

Hesitantly I decide to speak. "Hi?"

"Hi." He lets out a slight chuckle that fills the entire atmosphere instead of the regular silence. He seems to think that me saying hello was a sign of trust so he begins to take a few more steps towards me.

Slowly but surely the blanket of darkness couldn't hide him anymore and instead the rays of artificial light from the street lamps shine onto him, revealing his full self.

The first thing that comes into mind is, wow. Not really a wow you look like a photoshopped out of this world supermodel, but more like wow you look so much more different when you don't have my blood all over your shirt while trying to save me.

He's dressed what I'd like to say is any other guy out there. Some black skinny jeans, ripped at the knees, pairing with a light grey long-sleeved shirt.  His charcoal dark hair seems to be the same as the last I've seen him three weeks ago. It's a bedhead style but in a really cute messy way.

His facial features are sharp and prominent which makes it stand out. Sharp jawline, high cheekbones, full pink lips. His light skin brings out more of his unnatural golden-colored eyes. Though he has smaller eyes and rather shorter lashes, his glasses enhance his looks. I don't remember him having glasses the first time I saw him. Then again, I was on the brink of death to notice any details.

I can't stop staring at his eyes, they're hypnotizing in a way. It's such a coppery, liquid gold shade but looks so clear at the same time. Though there's something so much more than just the color. Those eyes know something that I don't.

"It's a little late to be up and outside don't you think?" he asks, breaking the silence. I don't answer right away, so he takes this as the time to come up to where I was laying down and sits. His eyes never leave mine and stares at me with an expectant look to answer. "You know, I don't bite."

I blink a few times before slowly making my way to him, now standing a few steps in front of him. Not really confident that he's the safest guy, even after the 'Oh I don't bite' line.

"It depends on who you ask," I finally answer.

"Okay. So why are you up?"

"Why are you?" I retort.

His eyes widen slightly, tilting his head to the side as if he's thinking about what he's supposed to reply to me. For another moment, silence took over. It's as if we mutually agreed to wait it out until the other person responds, without us even talking about it. "I don't know." He shrugs.

"Then why would you ask a question that you wouldn't be able to answer yourself?" I snort, subconsciously walking closer to him.

"Well, you got me there." He cracks a smile, scooting to the left slightly. The next thing I know, I'm sitting right next to him with our bodies facing each other. I press the ice pack into my ribs, trying to pacify the stinging sensation.

"Aren't you cold?" I ask, gesturing at his attire. It must be at least the low sixties already and I'm bundled in a giant hoodie, whereas he has only a long sleeve shirt on.

"It's colder in Michigan." He replies with a chuckle. "Withstanding cold weather is practically in my DNA."

"Okay, wow. I'm from Washington." I blurt out, no idea why I just told a stranger where I'm from, and he didn't even ask. My cheeks start to feel warm so I place a hand on one of them, in an attempt to stop myself from blushing.

"Really?" He raises an eyebrow. "Where?"

I hesitate, but then thinking, I mean what do I have to lose? Seattle is a big city, it's not like he could stalk me even if he wanted to. "Seattle."

"Livonia." I was terrible at geography in high school, so right now I'm assuming he's telling me that's the city he's from and not some kind of word from another language. I nod at his response. I don't want another awkward silence so I speak up.

"Econ," I tell him, curious to see how he would respond. But I'm hoping he doesn't think I'm suddenly going insane and uttering out random words. If that's the case, I might as well start digging a six feet hole and put myself under.

"Pre-med." He says proudly, almost smirking about it. For some reason, this doesn't shock me, and I'm not sure why. Maybe because he seemed to understand all those medical terms the paramedics threw at him when they were rushing me to the hospital.

I try again with the one-word replies, seeing if he's going to copy me. "Blue."

"Yellow." Who even likes that color?

"18."

"19."

"Summer."

"Winter."

By now we're just playing some kind of game, like twenty questions without having to actually ask the questions.

"No siblings." It's only been me and my mom my whole life.

"Triplet sisters." Now that surprised me.

"Triplets? And they're all girls?" I ask in bewilderment. It's not every day that you hear about triplets. He nods his head. "Wow... I'm not sure if I feel jealous you have siblings or feel bad because you have three the same age."

"They aren't that bad." He chuckles, playing with some of the grass beside him. "A handful yes, but I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world." Oh man, that's so sweet. This guy who I barely even know is already stealing my heart. Okay over exaggerating but you get what I mean. It's cute when guys actually care about their siblings.

"Okay, that's sweet," I gush. "Now I'm completely jealous."

"Well if this night goes right, we have more nights that become a hit... you just might end up meeting them," He says cheekily which makes me heat up. I should have known he would pull out some kind of flirty joke on me.

"We'll see about that... what's your name?" I might as well learn the name of my 'savior' if he's going to be flirting.

Silence, but then, "Theo," He says. "Well actually, Theodore Su to be official."

"You're... Korean right?" I had a classmate with that last name and she was Korean. He nods at my assumption, confirming that it's right. "I'm Aurora, Aurora Castro if you care about the last name."

"Hey, like the-"

"Don't." I stop him before he can utter out another word. He seems like an actual decent person and he's going to completely ruin it if he says 'like the princess.' It gets old and quite annoying when you hear it a million times.

"Don't what?" He asks confused, his head tilts very slightly, easily missed if you don't pay attention.

"Say my name is like the princess who only sleeps for a century and wakes up because some guy randomly kisses her." I don't hate her story or anything, but out of all the princesses, she's rather boring.

"That wasn't what I was going to say, Aurora," he says my name teasingly, it almost makes me shudder.

"Oh really?" I ask, not believing him. Everyone and I mean everyone has always compared my name to the princess. I mean what else is there that people can compare it to?

"Yes really! I was going to say like the northern lights," he says. "You know, Aurora Borealis." He nudges me in a joking manner as if we're lifelong buddies. This apparently is some kind of trend now, seeing as all of a sudden the people who I barely even know have instantly become my best friends.

"Aurora Borealis," I repeat, a hazy mental image of the northern lights pops up into my mind. Though I can't seem to remember it fully. The only time I've seen them was from googling it a very long time ago for a school project, but I called it the Northern lights.

He nods, making an 'mhm' sound. "Yes your name does match with the princess who sleeps and it is rather ironic considering your situation but you are so much more, like the Northern lights."

Giving him a strange look I ask, "How so?" I mean I've only known him for a total of probably an hour, give or take. How could he possibly know me enough to compare me to natural lights in the sky?

"I know this sounds very superficial but for one, you match its beauty. I would be lying if I said I didn't notice how beautiful you are." I roll my eyes at this, of course, it's always looks. "But, it's also how we met each other. I mean it's not every day that you're saving some girl's life, the same thing as seeing northern lights, or an Aurora."

I open my mouth, despite not knowing what to say. Of course, nothing comes out. It's a little strange he's comparing a car accident to lights but no harm no foul. "Um, thank you? I think."

He chuckles lightly, shaking his head. "I hope you didn't take it the wrong way but trust me, Aurora" He smiles. "You are pretty extraordinary and much more than a sleeping princess."

I didn't realize I never put an author's note here

But anyways, how do you like Theo so far? What do you think he means by the whole northern lights comparison?

Vote and comment!

Much love

Jess