- After

Aurora and Hardin were stood on the pier in front of the lake with different expressions on their faces as the blonde sighed softly when Hardin had handed her - her dress before turning around so the two of them were back to back as she dropped her hand by her side as it slightly brushed against Hardin's before he entwined their fingers turning around fully so her back was pressed up against his chest.

Aurora gasped quietly as Hardin softly ran his fingers up her arm causing goosebumps to appear on her skin as he moved his hand over her shoulder pushing her wet blonde hair behind her ear as he then moved his hand down the valley of her breasts until he stopped at the hem of his black shirt that she was wearing. She couldn't help but bite her lip as he began to lift the shirt up slightly before pulling it off her body.

The blonde sucked in a sharp breathe as Hardin fingers brushed against her stomach causing butterflies to appear as she closed her eyes as he traced his fingers around the band of her underwear only for her to open her eyes when Hardin whispered in her ear, " have you never been touched before?" He curiously questioned pressing sensual kissing down her neck.

Aurora turned her head so she was staring into his green eyes and shook her head in response watching as he moved his hand back towards her stomach as she spun around aware of his eyes on her body as he had took the back shirt off her as she furrowed her brows in confusion as she began to put her red dress on and asked, " why did you stop?"

Hardin placed his hand against her cheek rubbing the pad of his thumb against her cheek as he smiled down at the blonde girl in his arms, " we've got time" Aurora wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him down slightly as she pressed a kiss against his lips before pulling away and leaning her head against his chest as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

❀❀❀❀

After getting themselves dressed, Aurora and Hardin entered a small diner to get some food taking a seat in a booth, " Okay, so why do you call them chips?" Aurora curiously questioned as she picked up a chip and began to eat the meal she had ordered causing Hardin to raise his brows as he placed his glass on water on the table and resorted, " why do you call them fries?"

Aurora scoffed in disbelief gesturing towards her plate with her hand with an amused grin on her lips and pointed out of the obvious, " because they're fried" Hardin rolled his eyes with an teasingly look as he stared at Aurora with a shrug of his shoulders and stated, " they're not French" the blonde smirked as she reached over biting her lip as she stole a couple of his fries causing him to roll his eyes but his lips lifted up slightly, " you've got plenty there"

The James teen couldn't help but giggle which made a smile appear on his face as her laugh so was contagious it made him join in but Aurora turned her attention to a waitress that was walking by as she called out, " Hey, I ordered mine without ketchup" the waitress picked up her plate sending an apologetic look and replied, " Oh, I'll be right back"

"Thank you" Aurora muttered watching the waitress walk away before turning her attention towards Hardin who leaned across the table slightly as he furrowed his brows and questioned, " No ketchup? That's very un-American" Aurora hummed folding her arms across her chest with a slight shrug, " I'm just full of surprises. So what's your story then?" She curiously questioned wanting to know more about the boy sitting on the opposite side of the booth.

Hardin let out a small sigh with a look of confusion on his face as he repeated, " My story?" Aurora nodded her head in confirmation as she continued speaking, " Yeah, like your family. How you ended up here" Hardin immediately shook his head as it was quite clear he didn't want to talk about his family and muttered, " I'll pass" he shifted his eyes towards Aurora who shot him a look to elaborate, " I just don't think asking a bunch of arbitrary questions about someone's past is gonna tell you who they are. I can find out who you are by sitting here and spending time with you"

Aurora nodded her head in acknowledgment as she leaned forward resting her hand against her face staring at Hardin across the table, " what?" He questioned with an puzzled look on his face causing Aurora to smile as she shrugged her shoulders with a smile on her face and repeated, " what?" Hardin chuckled at the blonde girl antics as he couldn't help the smile that appeared on his lips and asked, " what are you doing?"

"I'm just waiting for you to reveal your true self to me by just sitting here and spending time with you" Aurora teasingly commented making Hardin shake his head in amusement as the waitress set Aurora food back on the table, " here you go" she smiled with a grateful look on her face, " thank you" Hardin leaned back in his seat as he sighed in defeat, " Okay, fair enough. One question"

Aurora picked up a fry as she took a bite with a thoughtful expression on her face before looking up at Hardin with an curious look and questioned, " why do you have all those romance novels if you don't believe in love?" Hardin frown deepened at her words and resorted, " who says I don't believe in love?" The James teen scoffed in disbelief sending him a knowing look and told him, " you're kidding right? You did in Soto's class"

"True" Hardin stated with a nod of his head causing a smile to appear on Aurora lips as he chuckled and continued, " maybe don't believe everything I say" Aurora picked up another fry as she giggled making him shake his head but his smile soon faded when Zed and Molly walked over towards the two of them as the pink haired girl spoke up, " Oh, hey guys."

Aurora pushed her plate of food away narrowing her eyes at Molly as it didn't take a genus to figure out that the blonde girl didn't like her one bit, " Hey, Rory" Zed greeted the blonde girl with a wide smile causing her to smile back in response not noticing the way Hardin tensed when his friends had suddenly showed up ruining his time he had with Aurora.

"Guys, let's just hang out for a minute" Zed spoke up causing Aurora to move to the side allowing him to sit next to her as Molly slid into the seat next to Hardin as she looked between Hardin and Aurora with a smirk and inquired, " So what have you two been up to?" Aurora rolled her eyes in annoyance but send her a fake smile and started to say, " we were just..."

Hardin suddenly interrupted the blonde girl as he looked between Molly and Zed with an irritated look on his face and finished, " we were just getting some food" Molly began to steal some of Hardin's fries as she looked up at the blonde with fake curiosity and questioned, " how's the boyfriend, Rory?" Aurora turned her attention with Molly with an annoyed look and exclaimed, " I don't see how it's any of your business but I don't have a boyfriend"

"We're leaving" Hardin spoke up shooting Aurora a look as he let out a sigh as Molly sighed pushing Hardin plate forward with a smile, " perfect, I need a ride" Hardin shook his head in annoyance as he gestured over towards Zed with his hand and told her, " it's not a good time, ask Zed" Zed scoffed in disbelief as he shook his head and exclaimed, " Dude, we just got here"

Hardin ignored Zed as he turned to face Molly who was blocking his way off getting out of the booth, " excuse me" Molly smirked with an teasingly look on her face and muttered, " you're excused" Hardin narrowed his eyes at both Zed and Molly before turning his attention to Aurora, " Alright. Rory" he called out taking out his keys from his pocket handing it over to the blonde who looked at him in confusion.

"Really?" Aurora questioned raising her brows as she grabbed the keys from his hand as Hardin pushed Molly hand away as she was running her fingers through his hair as he nodded his head in confirmation and replied, " yeah, I won't be long" Aurora sighed as she scoffed in disbelief climbing out of the booth smiling gratefully at Zed as she then turned to face Hardin and informed, " I'll be at the bar"

"See you around" Zed called out as his eyes looked up and down her body watching Aurora walk away and make her way towards the bar as she had a look of confusion and suspicious on her face. Aurora waited at the bar for a couple of minutes until Hardin made his way over towards her as she stood up from the stool she was sat on and demanded, " what was that all about?"

Hardin leaned against the bar as he furrowed his brows staring at Aurora and questioned, " what was what?" Aurora rolled her eyes as she scoffed in disbelief, " are you being serious right now? We're you like embarrassed that they saw us together or something?" Hardin immediately shook his head in response as he glanced over at the table that Zed and Molly was sat by before turning his attention back to Aurora, " No"

"You know, I'm not going to tell anybody about us..." Aurora began to say only for Hardin to cut her off with an confused expression on his face as he leaned forward and repeated, " Us? What do you mean, us? Look, it was fun, but I don't date" Aurora stayed silent for a couple of moments as she couldn't believe what she was hearing from him, " are you actually kidding me?" She questioned waiting for Hardin to answer but he stayed quiet, " God, I am so stupid. I should of known that you were like every other guy. Do me a favour and stay the hell away from me"

Aurora grabbed his hand slamming his keys in them turning on her heel storming away from him and out of the diner leaving Hardin with his thoughts as he had a look of guilt and regret on his face as what he had with Aurora was a lot more than he had let on as she wasn't just any other girl she was somebody he was falling for even if he is too afraid to admit it to himself.

Aurora was making her way back to her dorm with an furious expression on her face as she knew something was off when she agreed to go to Hardin special place he wanted to show her but she just wanted to be wrong for once as one way or another she had been used by men and has had enough of letting people in who only end up disappointing her in the long run.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when the sound of her phone was ringing only to let out a heavy sigh when it was her brother causing her to answer the call, " Hey, Harry. What's up?" She curiously questioned causing him to frown at the sound of his sisters voice as she didn't sound like her normal bubbly self, " Rory, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

Aurora hummed as she ran her fingers through her hair and replied, " Yeah, I'm just stressed with College and all. Everything is just so different now. Can I ask you a question? Why are guys such assholes?" Harry couldn't help but chuckle at his sister as he raised his brows and replied, " I don't know how you want me to answer that. Wait, has someone actually caught the attention of Aurora James"

"Shut up. It's nothing... Okay, so there's this guy but things are just so complicated with him. It's like at times he can open up to me and then there are times we're he is so cold I have no idea where we are with one another you know" Aurora softly spoke with an frustrated look on her face. " Listen, Rory. Men are complete idiots and if he can't see what a great girl you are it's his loss"

" you know I miss you, mom and Taylor. I have to get going but I'll see you soon,okay?" Aurora replied with a smile on her lips causing Henry to hum in response, " Hmm, yeah we miss you too. Have fun alright Rory, don't do anything that I wouldn't do" Aurora rolled her eyes as he let out a giggle and replied, " have you met you? I don't think anyone would get up to half the things you get up to. I'll speak to you later, Harry"