The seven-minute ride is going to be a bizarre moment for Aubrey. Not that her day can get any weirder than it already is. Despite her constant problem in making small talk around people she's not familiar with, she knows that it's rude not to engage in the conversation while she's sitting in the same car. At least, she should show them interest. Eye contact, a few nods, and a smile will suffice.

Staring at the downpour obscuring the sight of the forest, Aubrey is silently following the banter of the other three.

"Man, I still can't believe you punched Sebastian. You ruined his face royally, dude!" Roy chuckles at his friend while leaning back against the headrest.

"So? He deserved it. I should've shoved him to the lake after kicking his rotten balls."

"Woah, as much as I want him to pay for what he's done, I don't want you to get arrested, man. There were too many people at that stupid party last night. We can figure out something else, though." An ominous smile tugs on Roy's lips, prompting Aubrey to gulp.

"That guy is a prick. Britney will see it sooner or later, trust me," Tessa says, a slur in her voice. Then she grunts as she leans forward, pressing her forehead on the passenger's seat backrest. "This hangover is killing me. Do you have painkillers somewhere here in the car, Ash?"

"I guess so." Asher extends his hand to the glove compartment and pulls it open. While keeping his eyes on the road, he rummages through the cubby-hole but he can't find what he's looking for. He looks down to take a better look, causing his car to swerve into another lane line. Frantic honking and blazing headlights from the opposite direction prompt him to yank the steering wheel to the side. As the other car drives past them with blaring horns, Asher's truck slips completely off the road, earning a shriek of horror from his passengers. Asher skillfully swings it back to the road, making his truck go zigzagging for brief seconds until he finally gets full control of it.

"What the fuck, Asher!" Tessa bellows, followed by Roy roaring with laughter.

"That was hilarious, dude!"

Asher glances at Aubrey who is now sitting stiffly, eyes on the road. "Are you alright?" he asks but she's too stupefied to respond. Asher pokes her arm softly. "Hey, are you okay?"

Aubrey turns her head to him and forces a smile. "Oh yeah, I'm fine."

Asher keeps shifting his gaze between the road and Aubrey's face. He opens his mouth to ask further when Tessa groans again, complaining about her headache.

"Let me find it this time. Keep driving," says Aubrey before bending over to find the painkillers from the cubby-hole. Once she finds the yellow bottle, she hands it to Tessa.

Tessa takes it from her hand. "Thanks."

"No problem."

"Um, I don't wanna sound rude but I can't remember your name?" Asher asks, followed by a soft snort from the couple in the backseat.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"It's Aubrey."

"Aubrey. Nice name." Asher grins, showing his killer dimples. "I'm Asher."

"I know."

"You do?" Asher raises his eyebrows.

Tessa groans again, not from the headache this time. "Of course she does. Every girl at school knows you, dimwit."

Asher chuckles, a smug expression plastered on his face. "So, Aubrey, why did you walk alone in the woods this early? Don't you have a mass to attend?"

"I do." Aubrey tucks her rebellious bangs behind her ear. "But I'm not feeling well. So I thought I would just go home to have some rest."

"By going three miles on foot?"

"I'm used to it."

"Don't you find the woods creepy to walk in alone?"

"No, not at all."

Asher purses her lips. "Most girls do."

Aubrey plays with the hem of her green cardigan before saying. "I guess I'm not most girls then."

Asher doesn't push further but from the corners of her eyes, Aubrey can feel his blue eyes on him when he doesn't look at the street. For some reason, it causes her stomach to flutter. She turns her head to the passenger window, hiding from Asher's gaze while watching the rain thumping the glass furiously.

Tessa giggles and leans forward. Her stinky breath from last-night drinking evades Aubrey's nostrils while the girl's warm breath fanning her neck. "So, Aubrey, has anyone asked you to prom?"

Aubrey glances at her and shakes her head. "I don't go to prom."

"Why not?" Tessa grins from ear to ear. "You can go with that redhead with glasses, right? Isn't he your boyfriend?"

"No, Bob is not my boyfriend. And he's going with Lizzie."

"Naughty Bob. Abandoning his friend like that." Tessa clicks her tongue. "So, you're not going because no one is asking you or because you don't have the balls to ask someone?"

"Tess." Asher glares at his friend.

"What? I'm just asking. You don't mind me asking questions right, Aubrey?"

"No, of course not," Aubrey says. Noticing that they're about to get out of the forest road, Aubrey secretly sighs in relief. Soon, the small street to Lorraine's farmhouse will be in sight. She just wants to get out of this car as soon as possible. "Prom is just not my kind of thing."

"So, what is your kind of thing then?" Tessa presses her chin on the passenger's headrest, the smirk never leaving her lips. "Sitting on the rooftop and watching the stars?"

"Sort of."

"But if someone asked you, would you consider coming?"

The first answer in her head is "no". The school event never interests her since people at her school have never been her favorite, except Bob. But again, no one has ever asked her to go to prom. Would she even consider it if someone proposed?

"I wouldn't know. Maybe." Aubrey shrugs. "I'm not sure."

Tessa leans back, sneering. "You should. It would be awesome to bump into you on the dance floor."

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Once Aubrey manages to jump into her bedroom, drenched, she quickly undresses and throws her wet clothes into the laundry basket. After drying up, she walks to her wardrobe to grab something comfortable to wear. Her hand stops abruptly on the cupboard knob when she sees her reflection in the mirror.

She steps back, letting the mirror take in her whole figure. In front of her, stands a girl with pale skin and a curvy body. Her loose black hair that is still wet from the rain barely covers the swells of her breast. Her oval face frames her big charcoal brown eyes, straight nose, and wide lips perfectly. Her mother was a redhead with a slender body. She must have gotten this look from the father she never met.

Slowly, Aubrey runs her hands over her neck, down to her breast, then caresses her abdomen in a circular motion. A bizarre sensation courses her body as she recalls Asher's eyes roaming over her body. Her core is tightening, in need of something but she doesn't understand what.

A gem like you shouldn't be hidden under those hideous garments, says the voice inside her head. You should let the world see how special you are. Let that Asher boy know what real beauty is.

Aubrey's pupils dilate as her eyes glimmer in the amber shade. A sneer grows from the corners of her lips.

🔹🔹🔹