Aurora’s PO.V

I barely have a moment to catch my breath before I hear my name being called–sharp, insistent. My stomach tightens as I turn toward the familiar voices of Shane and Mia, their expressions expectant, their posture exuding entitlement. I know that tone all too well. It’s the one that says they’re going to enjoy tormenting me.

“Aurora,” Mia drawls, gesturingzily at their table. “You missed a spot. Clean it again.”

I nce at the table. It’s spotless. But that doesn’t matter to them. It never has. Before I can respond, Jade–usually the quietest of their group -shifts in his seat and mutters, “It’s already clean.” His voicecks conviction, though, and he doesn’t meet my eyes. He knows just as well as I do that his words won’t change anything.

Shane scoffs, shaking his head. “Nah, man. It’s not.” His smirk widens as he leans back in his chair, watching me like I’m some kind of entertainment. “She needs to do it again. It’s her job.”

I grip the edge of my tray, the cool metal grounding me, reminding me that I have to keep my face neutral, my voice steady. Reacting will only give them more totch onto. With slow, measured movements, I step forward, reaching for the cloth at my side.

That’s when Caroline speaks up. “Aurora?” Her voice carries genuine surprise, and when I nce at her, I see it reflected in her wide eyes. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

Her reaction stings more than it should. I don’t know what I expected–maybe for her to already know, maybe for it to matter less to her–but the way she says it, the way she looks at me like she’s seeing something new, something lesser, makes my throat tighten. Before bI /bcan say anything, she turns toward Caleb.

He doesn’t say a word. Don’t even look at me. His gaze shifts away, nonchnt, like I don’t exist, like my presence means nothing.

But I feel it.

I feel the weight of something unspoken in the way his fingers drum lightly against the table, in the slight tension in his shoulders before he forces himself to rx. He doesn’t need to say it aloud. I already know.

He chose this ce on purpose.

I don’t know what I did wrong. I swear, if someone asked me, I wouldn’t have a single answer. But every time Caleb looks at me, his eyes darken the moment theynd on me, and his entire demeanor shifts into something cold and distant, like I personally offended him in another life. It’s not just irritation–it’s outright disdain. And the worst part? I have no idea why.

Tonight is no different. He doesn’t even nce up as I wipe down the table once again, scrubbing carefully on the old polished wood to make sure it’s spotless.

Finally, I grab my notepad and give them my best customer service smile.

“What can I get you guys tonight?” I ask, keeping my voice steady.

Shane and Mia snigger, as if I’m part of some inside joke, but then, they quiet down and the orders start pouring in, almost too fast for me to keep up.

“I want a bacon mushroom burger with a side of fries, a separate order of hot wings and onion rings, beef nachos, and two cans of coke. Did you get that? You’d better. Get one thing wrong, and you’re dead.”

They order an ungodly amount of food, barely pausing between requests, as if they’re stocking up for the winter. I jot everything downb, /bnodding at the asional side nce from Caleb that makes my skin prickle. When I turn to leave, I swear I hear him scoff under his breath, but I ignore it,

I move fast, bringing their orders out in batches, dropping tes in front of them with just enough politeness to keep things professional but not enough to pretend I enjoy this. To my relief, they don’t bother me much. They’re too wrapped up in their conversation, speaking in hushed tones. I don’t mean to listen, but snippets of their words reach me as I set down thest te.

…hasn’t sensed it yet.”

“That’s impossible.”

“He has no idea.”

Their voices are low, serious, but it’s the next word that makes me pause.

“Mate.”

My fingers tighten around the tray. My head tilts slightly, just enough to nce at them from the corner of my eye. It’s such an odd choice of words. Who even talks like that? Mate. Like… animals? Or, I don’t know, people from another century?

Caleb’s eyes flicker to mine just as I realize I’ve been standing there too long. I straighten instantly, clearing my throat as I step back. Whatever they’re talking about, it’s none of my business.

“Enjoy your meal,” I mutter, turning on my heel before I can let my curiosity get the best of me.

But even as I walk away, something lingers. A feeling, a weight in my chest I can’t shake off. I don’t know what it is, but something tells me that whatever they’re talking about… it has something to do with me.

But I have no idea what to even make of it, or if I was just hearing things.

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