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“I know, Lorenzo told me on the way here. But what are they not listening about?” she asks.
Lorenzo turns to her slightly. “Elias here doesn’t like celebrating his birthday, because Roland stressed him into thinking it’s insensitive.”he explains to her. For a second, I don’t think she’ll understand. That is until her reply.
“Because of yesterday? That’s dumb; it’s not even the same day,” she points out.
Aurora looks at her with confusion. “You know what we’re talking about?” she questions.
Violet nods her head, as if surprised she even got that question. “Yeah, it went all over the news. Plus, I lived in Portland, and it gets mentioned there almost every day,” she explains. I’m not surprised. The news was big for some reason, so anyone in the U.S would know.
“Anyway, it’s nothing that big. It’s not like I do it for my dad,” I clarify.
“Okay, you do you, I guess, but why is Roland so hurt by celebrating your birthday. It’s been eleven years, and you had nothing to do with it.”
I open my mouth to answer, but Lorenzo holds up his hands for a second. He moves a bit closer to Violet and mumbles something I can’t hear from here, but it shifts her expression. She’s slightly more serious now. I think even a bit angry.
She raises her eyebrows, telling me to continue, even though I don’t know if I should. “He was close to her, so it’s a hard time for him. It’s what he refers to as a grieving period, and he’d rather not celebrate at a time like that,” I confess.
Her eyes widen when I finish. “Wow, Roland’s a softie. He’s grieving a death after eleven years, and he’s pushing his miseryon everyone else. How sad,” she utters, a harsh tone in her voice. She is trying to insult him, without even trying to hide it.
“She’s going to say a lot of things, don’t take offense to them. I’m talking to you, too, Aurora, since you’re also included in this topic,” Lorenzo clarifies. Violet looks toward him, an angry look on her face.
“I won’t, don’t worry. I’m not with Roland on this one, either; he’s being dramatic,” she tells him.
“Whatever, not the point. I just don’t like celebrating, and I never really have. It’s not a big deal.”
“We’re celebrating,” Violet announces, even after my words.
“We are?” Aurora asks.
She nods her head with no hesitation. “Yeah. We’re all going to go out in honor of Elias’s birthday. Is that okay with everyone?” she states. Lorenzo shakes his head, and she turns to us.
Aurora hesitates, turning to me for an answer. I look at Violet, her eyes piercing through me as she waits for an answer. I don’t know why, but it does something to my body. Inside my chest.
“You want to celebrate? My birthday?” I inquire. It’s one thing to decide to celebrate, butmybirthday?
“Yes. In spite of the apparently extremely sensitive millionaire thinking he can stop us.” She grins. “And for you, obviously. No one should have to stop celebrating their birthday because of an arrogant asshole.”
Lorenzo coughs out a laugh but slowly brushes it off.
I continue to look at her, thinking of the idea. It’s not like I ever wanted to celebrate. I guess I have never actually experienced what it feels like. It’s why I don’t really care that my dad thinks of it like this. But it wouldn’t be the worst idea.
Even if it was, I don’t think I would be able to say no to her right now. Not with the sense she gives me. Since yesterday, Ihave figured out she does that to me. When she’s around me, it’s like I’m a different person. Like she’s the only one in the world.
And so, I accept. “Okay, sure. Let’s do it. But when would we?”
“Right now. I mean, otherwise Roland is going to be a problem. Does he check your attendance, or would he not notice if you skipped?” she proposes.
“I can do one day, sure. He wouldn’t notice,” I reply.
“Uh, actually, I would rather we don’t. I skipped half of class yesterday already. I don’t know, can’t we wait until after school?” Aurora stammers.
“I mean, Roland would start getting suspicious,” Lorenzo points out.
“But like…” She hesitates.
“Aurora, you’re smart. I’ve seen you. If you skip a day, nothing will happen. Just act as if it’s a sick day. Just this time, for Elias,” Violet tells her. For Elias. I know that most of it is to go against Roland, but still, hearing it makes my heart skip a beat.
Aurora hesitates for a second, pressing her lips together. “Okay, just this time. For Elias,” she finally answers. Violet smiles again, more genuinely now. A wave of heat hits me. She’s not doing this for me. She’s only saying this to be nice. Because of yesterday. But it still feels like she is, and it’s the best feeling ever.
