Chapter 23: Sleepover Gone Wrong

Aurora's POV

I hopped inside the car and Dad started the car engine. I wave goodbye at Mom and Toby before Dad starts driving off. I told Dad the complete address and he nodded.

A few minutes passed and it's awfully quiet here. Dad kept his eyes on the road and just kept on fidgeting my fingers. We never had a conversation. Just small talks and that's it.

"So, how are you feeling these days?" He spoke all of the sudden.

"Um... I'm fine." I said. "Why do you ask though?"

"Oh nothing, it's just that... I'm worried about you." To be honest, I didn't expect that coming from him. "You don't eat much which resulted of you losing some weight, I noticed that your skin has gotten paler and you got some dark circles under your eyes which I assumed that you don't sleep much."

I look at him and blink my eyes several times. Even though he's not my real dad, I didn't expect him to be that worried about me.

"Oh, you noticed?" I asked.

"Yeah. This is not because of Steven, right? Does he make you feel uncomfortable in some ways?"

I wish I could tell him everything but there's just something that holds me back yet I don't know what it is.

"Um... no. " That's all I can say. And I can feel a heavy feeling on my chest. Am I going to cry again?

"Oh... okay. Well if he does, just tell me. I'll take care of it." He said.

"Thanks... I guess." I replied.

"I may be your step-dad Aurora, but... I do care for you and I treat you as my own." He looks at me and smiles as I return the gesture.

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An hour has passed and I saw Heather's house. Dad stopped right in front of the house and I unbuckle my seat before opening the car door.

"Thanks for the drive." I said.

"Sure, just call me and I'll be here as soon as possible. Have fun." He said and I nodded before heading out of the car.

I close the car door and he drives off. Turning around, I walk towards the door and text Heather that I've just arrived.

A few seconds later, the door swings open and Heather greeted me by giving me a teddybear hug.

"Hey Heather. " I hug her back as I giggle.

"So glad we're doing this, you're the first one to arrive." She said and we enter the house. She closes the door behind her and leads me to the living room. One of the couches was being moved to the side and there's a big space on the center of the living room and there are blankets and soft pillows everywhere.

"So just put your stuff down and also you can change into your pajamas if you want to. You know where the bathroom is located." Heather said and I nodded.

I put my bag down, unzip it and pull out my pajamas. I went towards the bathroom and close the door. The nostalgic scent of the peppermint bathroom freshener hits my nostrils. I then proceed to change into my pajamas.

After that, I head out and went back to the living room. Heather just went down the stairs and her hair became a bit messy and she seems to be panting.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Oh, it's just me and my brothers having the usual heated argument." She responded and then there's a knock on the door. Heather walk towards the door and opens it.

"Lisa! Sophie! You made it!" said Heather and she lets them in. As soon as they entered the house, Sophie spotted me and she just drops her stuff and ran towards me before wrapping her arms around me.

"Aurora! It's been a while!" She said and I hug back.

"Yeah, it has." I said. She broke the hug and she smiles ear to ear. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lisa walking towards us with both of her bag and Sophie's bag in her hands.

"Hey Ro, how are you?" Lisa asked as we do a fist bump.

"I'm good, thanks." I said.

Lisa and Sophie are polar opposites despite the fact that they are best friends since elementary. Lisa is more of a tomboy and she has shoulder length hair that is in the color of nightshade berries that you can find in a forest while Sophie has long hair that is bright as the sun and it is always tied up in a ponytail and she's known as one of the sweetest girl in the school although a lot of people took advantage of that. They're quite inseparable.

"Well, now that we're all here... let's just have fun and enjoy like we used to. Okay?" Heather said and we nodded as we get everything ready.

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"Which color do you want, Ro?" asked Sophie as she pulled out six nail polishes in different colors. It's not really hard to pick a color though. I've always picked a simple yet classy color.

"Easy. Black, please." I replied. Sophie frowned a bit but she proceeded picking up the black nail polish, shake it before twisting it open and then she starts to color my nails.

"Gosh, I'm bored. Anyone wanna play the old classic truth or dare?" suggested Lisa.

"I'm up for it." Heather said and Sophie and I nodded our heads in agreement.

"Okay, I'll start." said Lisa and she picked Heather first.

"Heather, you know the drill. Truth or dare?"

"Don't call me a chicken but truth." replied Heather.

"Oh okay," Lisa spoke and she doesn't think have to think of a question. "In your opinion, what are one of the pranks that you're most proud of?"

Heather's face brighten up. She loves to pull on pranks, especially on her brothers. "Easy. When I painted the soaps with clear nail polish, double the layer by the way, the night before and I ended up getting chased the next morning but it was worth it. I gotta say I'm so proud it. If you guys were there, you should have seen the looks on my brothers faces." Heather laughed. "Oh well, I guess it's my turn. Sophie, truth or dare?"

"Um... I really don't like the dares... " Sophie admitted. "I pick truth."

"Okay. Hmm... Is it true that you and Lisa have been secretly dating?"

Complete silence filled the atmosphere. Sophie froze while Lisa let out a nervous laugh. She moves a bit closer to Sophie before putting a hand on her shoulder and Sophie ended up being a stammering tomato.

"Y-Ye-Yeah... it's true." Sophie stammered.

"Congrats! When?" I asked.

"Before the Halloween party. " Lisa answered. "Don't tell anyone."

"We won't and congrats." Heather said and told Sophie to choose another person.

"W-Well, Aurora. Truth or dare?"

"Since my nails are still wet and doing a dare means you need to use your hands as well so truth."

Lisa whispers into Sophie ear and she nodded.

"Um... I don't want to ask this but I have to... Do you have any feelings or a crush on Edward?"

I don't know why but I can feel my cheeks heating up. The pacing of my breathing changed.

"W-Well, to be honest... Eddie is always a cool guy. He's nice, funny and he has a big heart which what I admire about him the most. I really like him but... I think it's more than that. I think I love him." I said honestly and thinking about Eddie makes me put a smile on my face.

"Ooh, looks like somebody has found her Prince Charming. " teased Heather. "When are you going to confess to him?"

"Soon." I said.

Stefan's POV

"I've been waiting and sitting right outside of Aurora's little friend's house for hours. Which one is, what's her name? Heather, right?" I talk to Steven on the phone, looking inside the window.

"Yes and she's the red haired girl. Just get rid of her." Steven replied and then I heard a loud thud at the front yard. I slowly and quietly walk over to the side and saw a basketball on the ground.

I look up and it looks like it was being thrown out of the room upstairs.

"Stephan, are you still there?" asked Steven on the phone.

"I'll call you back." I hang up the phone and an idea just popped into my head as I can feel a smirk plastered on my face.

Aurora's POV

"Yo Heather! Can you get my basketball ball from outside?" One of Heather's brothers shouted from upstairs.

"Why can't you just go and get it yourself?!" Heather shouted and she didn't get a response back.

She mumbled curse words through her gritted before getting up and walk out.

Stefan's POV

I saw the red haired girl walk out of the house as I quickly pull my hood over my head and as soon as she grabs the ball and about to walk back inside slowly walk towards her with a knife on one hand.

Once I'm close to her, I use the handle of the knife to knock her out.

"Ah!" She shouted and drop herself to the floor and she lays on her back. Without hesitation, I crouch down to her level, raising up my knife before aiming it on her chest. But then she wakes up and immediately punches me on the side of my face. Then instead of stabbing her on the chest, I miss and stab her on the shoulder.

"Ah!" She screams. I heard the front door being opened, so I look up and I saw Aurora standing with a scared look on her face.

Aurora's POV

I can't believe what I just saw. Heather is being stabbed!

"Heather!" I shouted. Then the figure quickly gets up and ran away. I run towards Heather and noticed that she got stabbed on the shoulder.

"Oh my God... Sophie! Lisa!" I shouted and I noticed some of the lights of other houses are being turned on and some neighbors walk towards the front yard with their faces full of shock. "Help us, please call 911! We need an ambulance quick!"

One of the neighbors pulled out their phone and calls 911.

"Heather just hang on." I said as I place a hand on her shoulder to stop the bleeding.

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The ambulance came and they put Heather inside. One of her brothers hopped in and they drove off.

I was being interviewed by Detective Brian, the same detective from the incident at school.

"And did you see the face of the culprit?" He asked.

"No but he's wearing black from head to toe and I was at the front porch then he ran off." I answered.

"Does Miss Heather have any enemies or is there anyone from your school has been holding a grudge perhaps?"

"No. I mean, she sure hates some people's guts but I don't think she will ever bully anyone or do anything bad to anyone. She's a good person."

"Do you think this is the same culprit who is responsible for the deaths of Mr. Davies, Mr. Lucas and Miss Tamara?"

"Well it's obvious that people who are killed and injured are from my school, so it's possible."

"And do you have any idea who could it be?"

"I'm not that certain but I'll figure it out."

He nodded and he proceed to interview the others. I let out a sigh and I saw a car pulled up from the corner of my eye. I look up and I saw Mom and Dad get off the car and run towards me. Mom wrap her arms around me and I hug back.

"Are you hurt?! Are you okay?!" asked Mom in a shaky voice. I shake my head and I burst into tears.

"No but Heather is hurt and I can't believe someone would do this to her!" I said and she just hug me as tight as she could.

'Why is everyone around me starts dying all of the sudden?'