Chapter 56

"Wake up sleepy-head". Ariana said, slightly shaking a sleeping Aurora. "Urrgh, why did you set an alarm when it's freaking weekends". Aurora says grudgingly opening her eyes. "Sleeping she's evening yesterday and I promised aunty, you'll be awake before her". Arianna replied with a wink. "Wait so I didn't eat dinner last night?" Aurora asked in a slight shock. Although she felt like she was just waking up after she drifted to wonderland late evening yesterday, Arianna confirming it was still weird. "That was how many f**king hours of sleep". She wondered in a shock. "You ate one, in your dreams..... of course you did not". Arianna replied wondering if her friend lost some memories from sleeping for so long. ".....and mum's aware?" Aurora asked even more shocked that her mum would let her sleep so long and without eating dinner. "Yeah, actually she wanted to come wake you up yesterday, but I disagreed. Told her to serve the food out and I'll bring it up to you when you wake up, so here you are". "So where's the food?" "In the water closet". "Did you flush down my mum's hard work?" "You weren't going to eat it and she wouldn't be happy to see the wasted food the next day so.......". " I have to say, I'm regrettably proud of you". "You can say that again". Arianna said beaming like a proud girl who had just been praised by her mother. "So then why did you wake me up early?" Aurora asked when it dawned on her, she could still we'll be in wonderland by now. "What do you mean why did I wake you early...... were you planning on sleeping the entire school year?" Arianna responded bewildered. "Well maybe". Aurora responds with a shrug. "Get up, you should be downstairs before Aunt". " I'm still tired". Aurora replies her, while stretching on the bed looking rather beaten. "Well then aunty can come get you by herself". "Your jokes can go too far at times, help me up". Aurora grunts before grudgingly pulling her body off the bed. "Pick a white wear for me". "Okay". "I'll go downstairs and see if auntie is up yet". "Here's a top and comfortable joggers for you". "You're the one who needs comfortable outfits. By the way can we talk?" "We were talking". Aurora replies giving her a pointed look while suspecting where the conversation was headed. "Yeah I know.....but a serious talk this time around". Arianna says before relaxing her body on the door. "What's it about?" Aurora asked carefully observing Arianna, she looked nervous as hell. " Yesterday". Arianna replied, exhaling deeply. She wasn't sure she was ready for this, but like Aurora would always say there's never actually a best time, there's only right now. "Did I hear mum's voice?" Aurora says in a clumsy attempt to change the topic, she'll be damned if they go down this lane. She ain't arguing sh*t so early. "No, you did not. Don't be trying to change the topic". "Okay, fine I won't, what you got to say?" "Don't be pulling that nonchalant attitude with me either". "Yesterday I was cranky and I'm sorry". Aurora said. " I'm not here to hear your lousy sorry, I'm here to give you my sorry ". Arianna says and walked slowly to stand face to face with Aurora. "What...?" Aurora asked rather shocked. "Yesterday spending two long hours by myself in the garden, I finally got a grasp of my thinking. I think yesterday was the first time since we were little that I spent all alone without you and Paul, or without butlers, nannies, maids, aunt and uncle's..... At the very least it was the first two straight long hours I spent as a result of an argument. No spoon feeding, no pampering, no buttering, for two long hours. Nobody offered to help me get the maid, nobody would like to assist me, nobody helped me pick my toast, or refill my glass and it was all just too funny and painful actually. It felt like my world is falling apart until, I realised that was how my life should have been". Arianna paused with a smile. Because I was so lucky I met two angels and they made me live the princess and they as my Knight. You both never argued with me like you were my subject. In school you both covered me up like bodyguards. You two treat me like an egg. I enjoyed too much comfort. It was beyond comfort, even though my parents were gone and I was out of the palace, you let me live royalty. So I became way too self centred, everything was at my beck and call. it was about me always, that's why I could have been so insensitive to Paul yesterday and I didn't have the sense to not tattletale on aunty". "Arianna.... We're not complaining honestly, we didn't want you to feel the gap at all and that was just how much we love you". Do you remember that time in grade 2, when I was friends with this girl Alice, she told me a secret and I accidentally snitched on her to another friend. The girl told everyone in class and she became too embarrassed to stay in class". "Yeah.... Alice later found out you didn't snitch on purpose and she apologized to you". "You wouldn't have made the mistake at all if you had been the one, and I still made Alice apologize to me then because I was used to being the boss". "Ari.... Don't be too hard on yourself". "It's fine. All this ....? it's my fault....and you both. You treated me like a princess like that, and didn't expect that the pamperings would get to my head? Of course it would. I asked aunt yesterday, if it was bad I told on her and she just smiled and went to fetch me the rice. That smile, I've seen you and Paul wear it dozens of time whenever we had an argument and still yet, you tell me how you're sorry and probably you should have understood me better, but now I know it is me who should have understood you both. So yesterday after the discussion I told aunty how sorry I was and I'm telling you the same. I'm really sorry". THE VEIL ON THE DARK