Aurora’s PON

It felt strange, really, to have a day that didn’t leave me emotionally drained or biting back tears. I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first. Sitting in ssb, /bbI /bactually found myself paying attention for the first time in months. The lessons didn’t feel like a battle anymore, and the teachers weren’t shooting me those thinly veiled res. In fact, there were new faces at the front of every ssroom.

The whispers in the hallway confirmed it: the old teachers had been transferred to other schools. That had to be Caleb’s doing–or maybe his father’s. I didn’t feel bad about it, though. Not even a little. Those teachers made my life miserable, and honestly, it was a relief to see them gone.

Lunch was a minefield, and today, I felt like I was stepping right into the center of it. I had barely grabbed my tray and settled at Caleb’s table, my heart hammering in my chest as I dared to sit there with him and the others. The tension was palpable, but Caleb, with his calm yetmanding presence, gestured for me to take the seat next to him. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I might belong–or at least, like I wasn’t about to be shoved off a cliff.

“Hey, Aurora,” Jade leaned over the table, nudging my arm. His bright amber eyes were practically glowing with amusement. “You seem… less grumpy today. What’s up? The new teachers finally convincing you to actually try?”

1 rolled my eyes at him but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at my lips. “Maybe. It’s hard to focus when someone’s always being horrible to you, you know? But now it’s like… I can breathe. And I actually want to learn. Don’t make it a big deal.”

“Toote,” Caroline chimed in, plopping down beside me with her tray. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a neat bun, but a few strands escaped, framing her sharp face.

“It is a big deal. You looked like you were in the zone during math earlier. I almost fell out of my chair.”

“Don’t exaggerate,” bI /bmuttered, but I couldn’t fight the warm feeling spreading in my chest. I nced down at my untouched sandwich. “Anyway, I’ve got a lot to catch up on. The assignments I missed… it’s like a mountain. I don’t even know where to start.”

Caroline grinned, taking a bite of her apple. “That’s what we’re here for. Caleb and I already made a n.”

“You what?” I blinked at her, then turned to Caleb, who was grinning like he’d just won a prize. “You nned this without even asking me?”

“Someone’s gotta keep you on track,” Caleb said with a shrug, leaning back in his chair. “Look, I know you hate asking for help, but we’re not taking no for an answer. I’ll handle history and science, and Caroline’s got English and math. By the end of the week, you’ll be so caught up, you won’t even recognize your grade report.”

I sighed, shaking my head, but I couldn’t suppress the smallugh that bubbled up. “You two are ridiculous, you know that?”

“Yeah, but you love us,” Caroline said smugly, tossing a grape at me. It missed,nding on the floor with a quiet bounce. “Admit it, this new, improved Aurora is thanks to us.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourselves,” I said, though I couldn’t stop smiling. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I wasn’t alone. Maybe things were finally looking up.

That feeling didn’tst long.

Mia and her entourage entered the cafeteria, theirughter echoing off the walls, turning heads as usual. When they spotted me at the table, the shift in their demeanor was immediate. The smiles vanished, reced by expressions that could curdle milk. They marched over, trays in hand, heels clicking with purpose, like warriors ready to reim their throne.

“What is she doing here?” Mia asked, her voice sharp enough to slice through steel. Her perfectly manicured hand gestured toward me as though I were something unpleasant she’d stepped on.

1 stiffened, unsure whether to speak or stay quiet. Caleb didn’t even flinch.

“She’s sitting,” Caroline replied smoothly, her tone dripping with defiance, She was leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, looking as though she dared them to challenge her. “If you’ve got a problem with that, Mia, feel free to sit somewhere else.”

The table went silent, in fact, the whole cafeteria did. My stomach churned as I waited for Mia’s rebuttal. Caroline’s words hadnded like a bombshell, and the stunned look on Mia’s face made it clear she wasn’t used to being told off–especially not by someone she considered part of her group.

“This table has always been ours,” Mis snapped after a moment, her voice rising. She looked to Caleb, as though expecting him to back her up. “You’re really. going to let her sit here?”

Caleb’s gaze was steady, his expression unreadable, but when he spoke, his words wereced with steel.

“This table is mine, Mia. If you want to sit here, you’ll respect my mate. If that’s too much for you, find another table.”

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