Chapter 88

' Why are we here again?." Aurora asks. ' Because according to tradition of our clan, I have to spend a night in the wood. If I can survive that, I am believed to be able to survive anything else." Paul replies. ' Weird though!." She responds. ' Someone tell me why we the non-Smiths are here too." She adds. ' Because we can't let Paul do this alone. He might faint plus he is our friend." Arianna replies. ' Nice!." Ian exclaims. ' Things we do for love." He adds. ' Guys!." Paul calls out softly. ' Come on. Just see this as a night picnic in the woods. Arianna and I packed enough food and anything we believe you both would love." He adds. ' Hmm hmm." Arianna hum in response. ' We brought your gifts as well." She adds. ' What gift?." Aurora asks. ' Oops! I ruined in the surprise." Arianna says. ' My Dad got you guys something as well." Paul discloses and turns to look at Arianna. ' Now I see why you never get invited to surprise parties. You would ruin it." He joked and laughs. All Arianna do is shrug in response. ' A night picnic in the woods. Nice!." Ian chirps in and walks forward with Aurora. ' Hmm hmm. I told you guys it would be interesting." Arianna chirps in then turns to Paul. ' You good?." She adds. ' Yea. I'm fine." He replies. ' I'm just scared. What if I can do it, I mean survive the woods this night. What if?." Paul responds. ' What if you don't?. You have us, Paul and we are here for you plus your parents are hanging around somewhere waiting to pop out to save us if the need be." Arianna assures. ' How can you be so sure?." He asks. ' Because they will never let us be here alone plus I might have overheard their conversation on my way back from going to pick the cake from the car." She replies, knowing fully well that she ruined in the surprise as well. ' That's just like them." Paul replies, a bit relieved. ' Thank you guys." He adds. ' You are welcome." Arianna replies and smile. Her eyes locked to his. He watches the reflection of the moon dance on her pupils and its beauty has his eyes gluing to hers. This is the first time he sees her this beautiful. ' We found a great place to lay." Aurora's voice says and they cut contacts to look at her. ' Oh okay!." Paul says and steps forward, away from them both. ' What's up?." Aurora asks with her brow raised. ' What do you mean?." Arianna questions. ' You and Paul. Are you guys like a thing?." She asks. ' Thing?. No. How?." Arianna stammers. ' I can see it, Ari. You like him. I am not that blind." Aurora says. ' I don't know what you think you saw but you are wrong girl. Nothing it such is happening." She replies and walks forward as well. They finally get the perfect spot to pinch their tents and do so. They make some fire with the sticks and sit out to roast some meats on it. ' This feels like camping." Aurora says. ' Hmm hmm. Only that it comes with an Orange Sun." Paul says sounding worried again. ' Are you good, Paul?. You sound like you found out a very bad thing." Aurora jokes. ' I did. Dad says I might have my first maturity hatch tonight." He responds. ' Awnn! That's cute actually." Aurora replies. ' Hmm hmm but I'm nervous." He confesses. ' We are here for you, Paul. We have got you." Ian says. ' Thank you guys, for all you do." He responds. ' It's fine." Aurora chirps in. They sit quietly and eat while staring at the sky, their backs soon laid on the blankets laid out on the grasses. ' It's beautiful." Arianna says. ' What is?." Aurora asks. ' The Sky. The moon. This. It has been a long time we had real fun." She responds. ' Hm hm. Any words from Aunt Fiona." Aurora asks. ' I don't want to talk about her now. I don't know. Sometimes I just feel like I made a big mistake and might have been clouded by my emotions rather than my thinking." Arianna explains and pauses to exhale deeply. ' What if she is right? What if she didn't kill them? What if she didn't get the case re-registered? What if there is a killer out there doing all this to take accusing fingers off him?." She adds. ' Could be but if so, what does my Dad have to do with it?." Paul asks, still finding it hard to understand. ' I don't know, Paul. Aunt Fiona is the only family I have and now it feels like I lost her, like I lost everything I have. The house. Everything." She explains, her voice shaken. ' We are family, Ari. You will always be part of our family. This family. Right, guys?." Aurora says. ' Of course, Aurora. We all are one big family and will always be." Paul replies. ' Yes." Ian says. ' It's changing." Arianna informs. ' What?." Aurora asks, her eyes on Arianna. ' The moon." She replies. ' Oh!. That means it's time." Paul says.