- No One Compares To You; Jack & Jack -
- I Would; One Direction - 

Aurora Holland

"She said nothing at all? Not even about how the boys drove us back?" Paige asked, her voice blaring through the little speaker on my phone.

"No, but she hasn't really had a chance." I shrugged, shifting my position on my bed. "You stayed the night Friday night, and although she had Saturday and Sunday off my brother and father kept her busy the two days, and I just faked being asleep when they'd get home at night. Now she's back at work, and the only time I really see her or talk to her it's around other people."

"Well the only time people being there would stop her anyway is if it's someone who isn't family," Paige said.

This only reminded me more that she knew nothing about just how far my mother would go to go out of her way and say something to me. She thought that how she acted was the extent and that there was nothing more and nothing less. I had to remind myself that nobody really knew, besides that day that Logan had been hiding in my bathroom.

"So, I have news," Paige announced, changing the subject. I was glad she decided to talk about something else, not really wanting to continue talking about my mother.

"What's up?" I asked. I propped my phone up on a book that had been sitting at the foot of my bed, laying my chin on my arm as I looked at her through the little screen.

She sat at her pink vanity, brushing through her hair. I don't know why she decided to redo her hair considering the school day was already over and there weren't any events happening today, but this was Paige. She was constantly doing her hair and makeup to get practice in for when she had actual things to attend to.

It really paid off, considering she was basically a beauty artist already.

"Logan has a crush," She said.

"And you're upset because it's not you?" I asked, raising my brows. I moved my head into my hand, seeing her narrow her eyes at the camera. She had stopped her movements completely, and if I'm being honest looked kind of silly as her hair was only halfway done.

"Excuse me," She said, her voice cracking. "No thank you. I don't care that Logan doesn't like me."

"Okay, so what's the problem? It's a crush and he's one of the school's biggest guys." I blew a bubble with my gum, the pop echoing through my quiet room. "Besides, I thought you told me these guys were untouchable. They're not that untouchable to me."

"I'm going to be completely honest with you, Ror." Paige sighed, putting her full attention on me instead of her hair. "They are. Or they were... before you showed up."

"Okay..." I trailed, not understanding where she was heading with this.

"Now that you're here they're all over you!" She exclaimed, practically jumping in her seat. "I've been off and on trying to get close to the Carter Jackson for the entire year I've been here, and I've barely gotten the time of day. Not to mention I've seen many other girls who've known him for years fail at getting to know him."

"Okay," I said, beginning to twirl my ring.

"That being said, you've managed to get him to dance with you within your first week here!" She exclaimed with a squeak. "Like, I've never seen him dance with anyone like that before let alone attend a school dance."

"Well, you've only been here a year." I shrugged as if it were nothing, not letting her fill my head with crazy thoughts.

This was exactly what had happened with Asher. She put these thoughts in my head that he actually liked me, and that I had a chance despite the fact that he was the most popular guy at Point Prep. I listened to her and ended up looking like a complete fool.

Never again.

"Okay, but he wouldn't even go to these dances with Ashley Wilde. And that chick is crazy!" Paige exclaimed, "She had him wrapped around her pinky finger quicker than most girls are wrapped around his."

"That means nothing, he did it because he saw my mom getting onto me and it was the only way to save me. It's nothing compared to a school dance," I said. "What was the point of this conversation again?"

"Right," She said, seeming to remember this wasn't what we were originally talking about. "Cameron is Logan's best friend, right?"

"Right," I said.

"Meaning he knows basically everything about Logan Jackson. They've known each other for a very long time and know each other a lot like you and me." She continued, waving her hands around in exaggeration. "Well, he told Cameron who told Bailey who told me, he's crushing on you!"

"You can't just listen to what you hear from other people. If it didn't come from Logan directly, there's a chance all it is is rumors." I told her, rolling my eyes. "There were people supposedly hearing directly from me that I wanted to fuck half of the school within my first two days, that means nothing because it never came from me directly."

"Aurora, I saw the way Logan looked at you and Carter dancing. He was super jealous." She countered, "I know I've had poor judgment in the past with your love life--"

"Extremely poor judgment," I couldn't help but interrupt her with the comment.

She rolled her eyes and pursed her lips, "Right. Extremely poor judgment, whatever--" She waved her hand back and forth. "Either way, that being said -- I feel like I'm right about this."

"Just because you feel that you're right about it doesn't mean you are. I've been here a little over a week, there's no way someone's into me that fast. You've seen how the boys were at Point Prep, not even after getting to know the true me were any of them interested." I told her, feeling as if this conversation was pointless. "There's no way either Carter or Logan are interested in me. This isn't some fairytale story."

"But the boys at Point Prep were gremlins. You remember Jayce, right?" Paige asked. "He was the most annoying boy who managed to sleep with the majority of the girls at Point Prep to make a point."

"Majority, to which I'm not included." I pointed out, "Let's not forget to mention he'd do it with anything that moved, yet he wouldn't even do it with me."

"Take that as a blessing," Paige sent me a look. "He was awful at it given how many girls he managed to sleep with. I don't understand the hype."

"Either way, whether it's a blessing or not. He still wasn't interested. It's just super unrealistic that not even a month ago I was considered the vilest girl at Point Prep, yet I have two of the hottest guys at Riverway after me."

"So you think they're hot?" She asked, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Of course I find both Logan and Carter attractive, but there's a difference between finding someone attractive and actually wanting to be with them. Truthfully speaking I don't know either of them all that well. In my opinion, if I were to like anyone it'd most likely be I don't know-- Cameron or something." I threw out a random name.

"Cameron Letterman? Is that who you've found yourself into lately?" Paige wiggled her eyebrows, causing another eye roll from me.

"I was using an example. I'm just saying, I know more about him or Elijah than I do both Logan and Carter." This was a lie. I know some about Cameron, but not enough to actually find myself interested in him in any way.

I know Elijah as well, but I know him enough to know that I'm not interested in him in that way. Sure, he's attractive, sweet, and funny, but I see him as more of a close friend than anything else.

Besides, even if I were to get feelings I'd keep them lowkey because our blossoming friendship is too much to risk.

Thinking about it, I probably know more about Carter than anyone else. Sure, we haven't talked much, but that night I sat in his room during Logan's party we got to know each other well. We asked each other questions and answered them, meaning I know more random things about him than anyone else.

The things I know about Griffin, Cameron, and Elijah are mostly about school-related things or things we talked about during school, and with Logan, I find myself talking to him about me more than him.

Of course, I'm not going to tell Paige that. She still doesn't know about the night of Logan's party and I don't plan on telling her, either. As I said when it first happened, it's something I want to keep to myself for a while.

Plus, getting her off of my back about the Jackson brothers was all I cared about. Even if Logan liking me is true, it doesn't mean anything because I don't know him well enough to actually like him like that.

Not to mention, even if I did have a crush on one of them, telling Paige is the worst idea to exist.

"Hey, I'm just the messenger, Ror." Paige held her hands up in defense, moving her attention back to her hair. "I'm just saying what his best friend said."

"And if Cameron was Logan's best friend he wouldn't tell people his secrets," I muttered.

"Bailey and Logan are siblings, obviously he's going to tell her. But even despite that, it's still just a crush. Whether it's true or not it's not like Logan's professing his love for you. He's just interested in you, which is more than any bitch at Riverway can say." Paige explained.

I didn't say anything, knowing Paige's mind wasn't going to change. Simply because Bailey told her what she'd heard from her brother, it was now stuck in Paige's head that Logan liked me. I didn't know what to do, but I most certainly wasn't going to let her make me think delusional thoughts the way I did with Asher.

It was a rough time when I went through the heartbreak from Asher, and we didn't even officially date. It took weeks to finally get over him, and although I can still feel a bit of pain when thinking of the boy I'm much better off now. If I let Paige's little thoughts mess with me the way they had when I liked Asher, I was just putting myself in that position all over again.

"Either way, that's kind of a problem for you," Paige continued after I didn't respond.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, you've been around Logan lots, which part of that is my fault. But even then, you're into Carter." She pointed out, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Paige, I don't like--"

"Okay, okay!" She exclaimed, cutting me off. "Whether you admit it or not, you stare the way you did with Asher. And I know me bringing up Asher and the past is something you hate, but I gotta do it to get my point across. I see the similarities, and I know you better than anyone else." She finished touching up her hair, beginning to wipe her makeup for the day off.

"If you know I hate the past why constantly bring it up?" I couldn't help but ask, running my fingers through the soft material of my comforter.

"I'm just doing it to tell you that's how I know you like Carter without you needing to admit it to me. I know admitting stuff like that is rough for you, but I know you better than you realize. We're cousins, after all." She pointed out.

I stayed silent, knowing there was no point to repeat myself again. This was her cue to continue, and I just watched her work on her daily skincare routine as she spoke.

"Logan's a good guy, Ror. He's going to get hurt if you keep spending time with him and not being honest." She said, wiping some white moisturizer product on her cheeks.

"I'm not leading him on," I bluntly said, skipping straight to the point. "I've had a few conversations with him and hung out with him one time, if he gets the idea that I like him when I've made no point in showing it, then he's just as delusional as you."

"Didn't he bring you Starbucks the other day?" She asked.

"Yeah, because he heard about what I did to James Hanneman in PE." I sighed, "Paige, if he hasn't even advanced any type of moves on me there's no need to say anything. Why ruin an upcoming friendship when there's no need to? I'm sure that if this is the same guy you and everyone else talk about then he's not stupid enough to make a move on a girl he hasn't even known for a month."

"Well that's what I thought as well with Carter, but look at him now." She pointed out, "Look, I know the only type of experience you got in the romance department that doesn't include what happened with Asher is whatever romance movies you watch, but real life is nothing like that. One of those boys is going to get hurt if you're so back and forth with them."

"I'm not back and forth with them, Paige," I spoke with frustration, resting my hand on my forehead. "I never talk to them unless they talk to me first, I never compliment them, hug them, or anything. There's no leading anyone on, I'm simply being nice because they're actually nice to me for reasons more than to get with you."

I didn't mention my hug with Logan, but that was something completely different. She knew nothing about the day when he witnessed what my mother did, and he really only hugged me because he knew I needed a hug as I was breaking down. That has nothing to do romantically, and even then technically friends can hug friends.

Friends can hug friends, right?

Clearly so, considering Elijah has kissed me on the head each time he's greeted me, and we're not into each other like that. If anything, most would think Elijah has a crush on me, but because most people know the way that Elijah is, they know that he's just a touchy-feely person. Nobody's seen me get touchy-feely with both Logan and Carter, not including the awkward dance at the event the other night.

My mind hurt from Paige's constant jabs, and I felt the need to just forget about everything. It was Monday evening, and I had to finish the homework that I planned on working on before Paige Facetimed me.

"Look, I can't talk about this anymore. He doesn't like me, and if he does I'm not leading him on. I'm just trying to make friends, something I didn't have at Point Prep." I spoke, running my fingers through my hair. "I'll see you in the morning, okay?"

"Yeah, sure." She said, "Just a few words of advice if you really don't like Logan like that, don't accept to do anything with just him. You might not realize it, but that would be him asking you to go on a date."

"Yeah, sure," I repeated her words, simply to just get her off of the phone. She looked at me through the screen, seeming to try and find out if I was actually listening to her.

Thankfully, due to the way I was laying, she could only see part of my face. She sighed, shutting the cap on one of her items. "Okay. Maybe I'm wrong, although I doubt it." She finally spoke, "I just don't want Logan to get hurt."

"Okay," I said.

She quickly ended the call, realizing she was getting nowhere with me. I felt bad, but at the same time didn't. I understand she doesn't want Logan to get hurt, and I don't want that either, but she needs to be realistic. I've not known him long enough to catch any serious feelings, and after everything with Asher, I really don't want to.

I laid my head down on the bed and dropped my phone, my mind running with thoughts. I was finally glad that Paige and I were on good terms, and she was no longer pushing something on me that I didn't want. But now that she wasn't pushing Logan, she was beginning to push Carter.

Doesn't she realize that even if I were to have feelings for someone, the last thing she should do is try to force something to happen?

She wants me to forgive her so badly for what happened with Asher, but she doesn't realize she's trying to repeat it all over again. It's kind of ridiculous.

Deciding to ditch the homework since I was already caught up with it for the most part, I stood from my bed and stretched. I figure I might as well take a bath and watch something on my laptop while I bathe, hopefully getting my mind off of everything Paige tried to shove down my throat over the phone.

I gathered everything I'd need for my bath before making my way into my bathroom. I started the water at the temperature I wanted before turning my laptop on, scrolling to find something worth watching. It always takes me forever to find something I want to watch because I'm always in the mood to watch everything yet don't ever have enough time, so I get really indecisive when it comes to actually putting something on.

After finally making a decision on the movie Sleepless in Seattle, I paused it and put my attention back to my running bathwater. I put in some bubbles and other things to make it smell good. When I finished with that I put the toilet lid down and sat a clean folded towel on the top, resting my laptop on the top to where I could see it from where I'd be laying in the bath.

I shut the bathroom door and locked it in the off-chance someone decided to enter my room, and it was then that I finally undressed and got into the hot water.

I've always preferred to take hot showers and baths, simply because it makes my body feel better when it's aching. Sometimes I take colder showers, but that's only if it's extremely hot outside and I'm showering purely to cool myself down.

The movie started as I lay in the tub, my hair tied up into a messy bun to prevent it from falling into the bubbly water. It felt nice, and almost immediately I was caught up in the story of Sam and Annie instead of my own dramatic life. My arms rested on the edge of the tub, my head resting on the top as I watched the movie with heavy eyes. It wasn't one of my favorites, but still, a classic to watch.

"Aurora!" The sound of someone banging on the door caused me to shift up suddenly. I glanced around confused, then realized I was sitting in slightly lukewarm water.

Oh my god, I fell asleep in the bathtub!

"Y-yeah?!" I called out, gathering my thoughts. The bubbles had minimized quite a bit, and the hair sitting at the nape of my neck was filled with suds and water. I looked at my laptop to see the movie nearing its end, meaning I was asleep for the majority of the movie but not any longer than that.

"What are you doing in there? We've been calling you down to dinner for five minutes!" The sound of my mother on the other side of the door echoed through the bathroom.

"I-I'm sorry, I was watching a movie and didn't realize I was being called. I'll be out in a moment," I said. I immediately began to clean up, hating the fact I didn't have time to wash the bubbles out of the bottom of my hair.

"Don't be too long, dinner's already getting cold because of you!" She called out before I heard her footsteps fade away.

Thankful she left me alone for the time being, I grabbed a towel off of the towel rack. I wrapped it around my body, the bubbles immediately soaking into the soft cotton material. The bath began to drain and I exited all tabs before shutting my laptop lid, resting it on my bathroom counter to worry about later.

I dried myself off to the best of my abilities, throwing on some comfortable clothes. It was just a black tank top and a pair of gray sweatpants, something to wear to bed tonight. I plan on showering in the morning so I'm not too worried about the fact that I didn't get to rinse off, it just would've felt much nicer.

Slipping on some socks, I raced down the steps leading out of my room. I slipped on the hardwood floor a couple of times but quickly regained my stance, practically running into the dining room.

I was met with the smell of food, the smell of garlic overpowering anything else in the room. I pushed some loose strands of hair from my eyes as I stopped in the entryway of the dining room.

"Thank god, you took--" My mother stopped, her eyes wide in horror at what I was wearing. "Aurora, what--"

"It's fine, Vivienne." My father cut her off, touching his hand to her arm. "Thank you for hurrying, honey."

It was then I realized that there were extra seats at the table, ones that were occupied with bodies. I glanced around, feeling my heartbeat quickening as I realized why my mother was so upset at how underdressed I was.

The entire Jackson family was sitting at the table, staring at me.

++

Took me a minute to write this chapter lol writer's block kinda sucks sometimes

PLEASE READ!!!!

 I will not be very active this week. I'm not sure exactly what day I'll be back, I'm going on a short hiatus simply because my boyfriend's getting a week of PTO, and I want to spend that time with him, not to mention I've been active just about every day forcing myself to write at least one chapter a day despite how tired I am. My boyfriend and I also have very opposite schedules and rarely get to see each other, and so since he's got this week off I want to get that time together while I can before he goes back to work. It will also be very good for my mental so I'm not pushing myself over the edge trying to get this story written.

That being said, I have more than enough drafts to update each day. HOWEVER, I don't want to put myself behind and stress myself out more with trying to update, because after all I did just call this a 'hiatus'. So that being said, I'm posting this update, and I'll probably try to only post one or two more updates in the meantime. I'm not sure what days or timeframes, but a week is a really long time for me when I'm constantly posting an update a day so I'm sure I'll pop in post one or two times for surprise updates.

So, have a wonderful week, and I'll miss you guys tremendously. I'll definitely be back, and hopefully when I get back I'll have had some well-needed time away and any writer's block I've had recently will be gone :)

* This chapter is not edited *