Unexpected Visitors

Chapter Five: Forgotten Emotions

Vincent was following Aurora obediently as she entered the kitchen. He watched as she adjusted her hoodie nervously as she gazed around the kitchen. The young cat could almost hear her thoughts of relief that a certain ex-classmate of hers wasn’t in the room; only her mother was. For the life of him, Vincent couldn’t figure out why Aurora hated the boy. He had listened carefully the previous day to her story, but he didn’t think it was something to hate him for.

So Chris had embarrassed her one time, big deal, he thought sarcastically. In his opinion, his owner should just forget that the incident had ever happened and just get on with her life. But he knew Aurora was too stubborn for her own good, and it wasn’t likely that she’s forget something like that any time soon.

He rubbed up against Aurora’s leg, to remind her that he was still there, before he walked over and sat down beside his empty food dish. Taking the hint, Aurora followed her pet and briefly ran her hand over Vincent’s back and then began to fill up the food dish. “There you go Hun,” she said, softly rubbing behind his ears, just the way he liked it. “That should do you for the day.”

“Would you please set the table for me?” Lily asked her youngest daughter.

Aurora glanced up at her mother, who had her back turned and was busy frying bacon and eggs at the stove. The delicious smell of the food had spread throughout the entire kitchen. Aurora watched as her mother expertly flipped one of the eggs in the air.

“Wait, when did the power come back on?” Aurora asked. It should have clued in when Trevor told her that they were having eggs for breakfast.

“Sometime this morning,” Lily replied. “Or last night. I’m not really sure. And the table isn’t going to set itself, dear.”

“Yes Mom,” she replied, giving Vincent another quick stroke on the head before getting up to do what she was told. She had just opened the cupboard with the plates when her brother and sister came strolling into the kitchen. Aurora quickly pulled out the right number of plates and handed them to Trevor when he wandered close enough to her. “Here, you big jerk.” she said, turning him around and shoving him in the direction of the table. “Go make yourself useful and less of a jerk.”

Trevor just laughed at his little sister. “Aw, I love you too,” he replied as he set the plates down on the table and began putting them in the right spots.

“I hate you,” Aurora said, trying not to smile as she fished out utensils from the first drawer beside the stove.

“Aurora,” Lily warned lightly, while she made sure not to burn any of the eggs. “Stop fighting.” It was just that moment when Mr. Giovanni and his son decided to quietly enter the room. They both looked they were too amused by the display before them so they remained silent. So silent at Aurora didn’t even notice that they were there.

“We’re not fighting.” Trevor supplied.

“Yeah,” Aurora agreed. “And plus, he started it.” She stuck her tongue out at her big brother. “He made me fall out of bed again today, the big jerk.” Aurora turned around about to go put the utensils on the table when she spotted their guests and stopped dead in her tracks.

“You fell out of bed?” Chris asked, not even trying to hide the smirk on his face. “So that’s what that loud thud was.”

Aurora felt her cheeks burn up as she blushed furiously, and her gaze of shock quickly turned into a scowl. “Shut up,” she glared. “No one was talking to you.” She quickly busied herself with setting the table again.

He’s a big jerk too, She thought. If he really likes me he’s pretty damn good at hiding it.

“Aurora - ” Lily started.

“Such disrespect.” Mr. Giovanni interrupted, doing little to hide the disgust in his voice. “In my house we are never rude to a guest.”

“Funny,” Liz spoke up from her spot leaning against the counter. “Last time I checked this wasn’t your house.”

“Elizabeth!” Lily yelled, completely outraged at the display of behaviour her daughters were showing her guests. “Both of you apologize right now.”

“Why should I,” Liz asked as she glared daggers at Mr. Giovanni. “For telling the truth? Because this isn’t his house and we don’t have to listen to him.”

“No, but this is my house and you’re playing by my set of rules, young lady. Apologize, both of you.”

“No,” Liz and Aurora said in unison.

Trevor came up behind Aurora and poked her hard in the back. “Aurora,” he said quietly.

“No,” she repeated more quietly this time.

“You know, this is the kind of thing I expect from Liz,” Trevor said and poked her harder this time. Aurora was pushed forward, but made no indication that it had hurt her. “But you’re better than that. Don’t sink down to their level,” her brother continued.

Aurora sighed, rubbing the sore spot on her back; she knew it was already starting to bruise. “You’re right,” she said and turned to glare at Chris. “I’m sorry.” I have to say it, but I don’t have to mean it asshole, she added in her head then proceeded to take her place at the kitchen table for breakfast.

~*~

The rest of the morning had been very uneventful for Aurora and she found herself wasting time before lunch by sitting in front of her computer playing solitaire, while her left hand lazily stoked Vincent as he took a nap on her desk. After lunch Lily had kindly suggested that Aurora should be the one to clear the table and wash the dishes. Aurora knew that the task she had been given was a perfectly reasonable request, but she still didn’t want to do it because she had already planned on spending the rest of the day away from everyone else alone in her room.

Aurora had begun clearing the kitchen table and loading up the dishwasher only when everyone had room. She was thankful that most of the dirty dishes were able to fit in the dishwasher, only leaving a few of the larger dishes for her to wash by hand. She emptied the few dishes that lingered in the sink and began to fill it with water, adding a couple generous squirts of green pine scented dish soap into the mix. Aurora had always insisted that the sinks be dish-free before she started cleaning them. She despised sticking her fingers in soapy water, never knowing what lay beneath the mass of bubbles; the very idea was quite unsettling to her.

“Do you always do that?” Chris asked making Aurora jump slightly in surprise. She turned, even more surprised that he had been able to get so close to her, without her noticing.

“Get back,” she said, ignoring the question. Digging her elbow into his chest, and using her weight to shove him, she succeeded in forcing him back a few steps. Aurora never liked when people snuck up on her, and she like it even less when it was people she hated doing it.

“Ow,” Chris said, a mock hurt expression forming on his face as he rubbed at the bruise that was probably already forming on his chest. “Are you always this violent?”

Aurora huffed, rinsing the snowman-decorated mug in the sink and then placing it on the drain rack to dry. She paused in her cleaning to glare up at her foe. “Only when the situation calls for it,” she smirked. “And you were definitely asking for it.”

“I only asked a question,” Chris replied. He choose to stand back this time, leaning on the kitchen island while he studied her. “Which you didn’t answer by the way.”

“You snuck up behind me, asshole,” Aurora said, turning her head to glare at him. “And I don’t even have to talk to you at all.”

The corners of Chris’ mouth turned up in a slight smile. “You’re talking to me right now.”

Damn you. Aurora hated how he always seemed to be able to get on her nerves. Being attractive is his only good quality, she thought as she turned back to the dishes and submerged her hands into the soapy water to continue her task.

Chris let out a frustrated sigh. He tried to control his tongue but she just was too easy of a mark. But she was obviously too sensitive for his playful teasing. “For once can we just have a normal conversation?” he asked softly. “I’m tired of arguing with you. “It’s almost Christmas, can’t you at least pretend to enjoy my company?”

“No,” she automatically responded, forgetting that she wasn’t supposed to be talking to him. She retrieved the final dirty pot from the counter and began scrubbing away at it. After a quick inspection, she rinsed it and placed it with the other drying dishes on the rack to air dry.

“Then how many times do I have to apologize before you forgive me?” Chris asked as he watched Aurora drain the now dirty water and go over to dry her pruned fingers on the towel that hung on the handle of the stove.

She took her time in answering, waiting until her hands were dry. Aurora kept her gaze down and walked over until she was standing less than a foot in front of him. Finally she raised her ocean blue eyes to meet his. “I will never forgive you,” she said before she walked out of the kitchen, fully intending on spending as much of the day as she could in her bedroom.

“Aurora, wait,” Chris said. He walked after her, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling back so she would stop her dramatic exit.

Unfortunately, he is stronger than he though and used a little too much force on her arm and he succeeded in spinning her around, making her stumble off balance landing against his muscled chest. He automatically encircled his arms around her waist and back to keep her from falling over.

Aurora stood frozen for a second in shock, her head resting against his shoulder. A delicious scent seemed to radiate from Chris making Aurora’s heart beat even wildly in her chest as the adrenalin of the unexpected events slowly wore off. She relaxed at the feeling of being in his arms and old suppressed emotions took over.

“Are you okay?” Chris asked.

The deep sound of his voice quickly snapped Aurora back to her senses. She immediately tensed up in panic. Her arms, which had almost betrayed her to participate in the inappropriate embrace, now grabbed roughly at Chris’ shoulders in order to push some space in between her body and his.

Aurora successfully freed herself from his arms and he didn’t make any effort to keep her there. Too confused at the turn of events to get angry, she simply walked away without a word.

Out of nowhere, Vincent hopped into sight. He gave Chris a warning meow before he ran off to comfort his distressed owner.