A/N: Heylo! Can you say 'forever'? Because that's how long it's been taking me to update. What can I say, applying to college is stressful and uber time-consuming. Anyways, not too much to say. I hope you guys are enjoying the story. Oh, I'm making this a bit more of a fun chapter - towards the end at least. I just want Colin's sense of humor to be displayed a little bit more and Aurora kind of needs to tone down her major obsession...just a little bit...or a lot of a bit. Happy New Years!

typicallyazngurl: Agreed, Aurora is kind...okay really obsessing over Colin and it's just not normal. Rebecca is bad enough! The mystery that is Colin will be revealed slowly, but not too much in this chapter. Thanks so much for reviewing!

Westley: Thanks for reviewing! Brady may or may not make an appearance later on in the story. I can't give out too much too soon! But there will be more than just Aurora's thoughts about him. But, understandably, she thinks about him a lot.

-

I don’t know what had gotten into me the next morning. I changed clothes six times before going downstairs. And I ended up back in the first thing I had on. Jeans, a fitted T-shirt, and plain white socks. I don’t know the hell was wrong with me when I thought about trying that dress on. Raking a hand through my hair, I finally threw open the door and forced myself to go downstairs; not turn around to check myself in the mirror again. I feared I was starting to turn into Rebecca, and that was scary.

Taking a breath, I rounded the corner and sauntered into the kitchen. Peeking out of the corners of my eyes, I took in the situation. Luella was seated at the island next to Rebecca. She was doing something with her palm pilot and Rebecca was reading Vogue. Nothing interesting or new there. Rebecca had a bowl of Cheerios in front of her. Okay, so far so good. Matt and Colin were sitting at our large, oak table. They were both reading the paper. Matt had a cup of coffee in his hand. So far, no one had even looked up to acknowledge my presence.

Going over to the refrigerator, I opened it and looked in. I had no idea what I was looking for. I’m not even hungry. Settling for a cup of coffee instead, I shut the door and made my way over to the coffee maker.

After stirring in the cream and sugar, I walked over to Rebecca and leaned onto the island, across from her. “What are you reading?”

“An article,” she said distractedly, not taking her eyes off of the magazine.

“About what?” I prodded, causing her to look up, annoyance flashing through her eyes.

“Heidi Klum,” she explained briefly.

“Sounds interesting.” I nodded slowly and took a gulp of coffee, daring to look over at Luella. She was still reading something on her palm pilot. Looking over at Colin, I saw that he was still reading the paper.

“Aurora.” The sharpness in Luella’s voice startled me, and I’m pretty sure it had the same effect on everyone else in the kitchen, because everyone’s head snapped up. “I need you to go and pick up my dry cleaning today.” I just stared at her. No nodding, or even letting her know I had heard what she said. Luella continued on anyway. “And then drop off some folders at your father’s office. He left them here this morning.” More staring. “And when you’re finished with that, there are applications for a summer job I want you to fill out. There’s an opening as a counselor for an expedition trip to Norway.” She said all of this straight-faced and I could barely believe that she was serious. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, but didn’t know how to respond.

“Are you serious?” It was the only response I could think of. I knew she was crazy, but why was she ordering me around in front of everyone else? And a job in Norway next summer? It was December for Christ’s sake, why did I have to do it now? What was going on?

“Does it look like I’m kidding?”

Anger was quickly rising inside of me, but I could not let it out. I couldn’t yell at her, no matter how much I wanted to. Tension was rising in the room. No one was reading anymore. They were all looking back and forth between me and my mother.

“Actually,” Matt spoke up, breaking the silence. “We were all going to drive into the city today.” He looked at Luella hopefully, but I knew it was all show. He wanted to make her think that he actually gave a damn what she wanted.

“The three of you are welcome to go.” Luella spoke flippantly, and turned back to her palm pilot. “Aurora has things to do here, though.”

“Mom, don’t you think you’re being a little unfair?” Rebecca said this calmly, but on the inside, I knew she was just as angry as I was. She could do something about it, though. I couldn’t.

Luella raised a challenging eyebrow and turned to face her. “In what way do you think I’m being unfair?”

“Well, you can get someone else to run those errands. And a summer job? It’s still December. Aurora has plenty of time to look into that later. Matt’s visiting right now. We all want to spend time with him and Colin while they’re here.” I silently thanked Rebecca for being so reasonable and doing so in a calm way, whereas all I wanted to do was scream.

“They’ll be here tomorrow. They’ll be here all week, there is no reason she can’t do these things today. Might as well get this application done while it’s fresh on her mind and not put it off.”

“Mom,” Matt’s voice was sharp, just as hers had been when she said my name. “You haven’t even asked Aurora if she wants to do it. There are plenty of summer jobs to be had, why does she have to go to Norway?” I had to give props to Matt. Hungover, yet he was still able to stand up for his little sister. I loved my siblings a lot right then. And I hated myself.

“She will do as she is told.” Luella’s voice was full of conclusiveness. I was really starting to get sick of everyone talking about me like I wasn’t standing right there. Looking up, I met Luella’s gaze. She was challenging me, and I knew it. ‘I dare you to say something.’ I couldn’t, though, and we both knew it. She had every right to tell me what to do, for she was the one who had given me a second chance. Granted, it had been for her own sake – her position in society. I had no leverage in this situation. There was no back-up plan. If my parents suddenly decided I was not welcome, I would have nowhere to go. I needed to have a future. I couldn’t let what had happened with Brady completely ruin my life. Without Luella, as much as I despised her, I would not be able to have the life that I wanted. Successful. I wanted to be successful to badly. If I could have that, then in a way I would win.

Success would show the world, my parents, and Brady, that I really was not weak. I could go on and live my life the way I wanted to, and no one would get in the way. I knew that I could and would, but success proved it to everyone else. More than anything, I just wanted to spit in the faces of my parents, but I couldn’t do that yet. For, as ironic as it sounds, I needed their help first.

Matt was about to speak up again, most likely more forcefully this time, but I cut him off. “Matt!” That got his attention. “It’s fine.” My voice was calmer that time. I turned back to Luella and repeated: “It’s fine. I’ll go get my shoes.” I eyed her wearily before turning on my heel and exiting the kitchen. I could feel Colin’s eyes on me, but didn’t dare look at him. No doubt he was confused about me again. Here was this girl that seemed to have no problem standing up for herself, but let her mother boss her around like Cinderella. Well, I guess that’s sort of mysterious. Okay, not really, more like spineless.

I ran up the stairs frowning, wishing that every stomp of my feet was directed at Luella’s face. Tearing into my room, I let out an aggravated growl and hunted through my closet for shoes. Pulling them on furiously, I tied the laces too tightly and had to stop and retie them so that blood could circulate through my feet. I grabbed my bag and coat before thundering down the stairs again.

“Good lord,” Luella said as I entered the kitchen, holding her hand over her heart melodramatically. “You sounded like a herd of thundering elephants coming down those stairs. Be somewhat more ladylike next time, Aurora.” My eyes widened at her, but I didn’t say anything. I finally looked over at Colin, and found him staring at me confusedly. I knew what he was trying to tell me something. ‘Why aren’t you doing anything?’

With a sigh, I forced myself to look away from Colin and walked over to my mother. I gazed at her resignedly. What now?

“Here is the ticket for my dry cleaning. The place on Park Boulevard. Your father’s files are on the table in the living room. You should do that first.” I nodded and took the ticket from her, wanting more than anything to rip it up and stomp on it. That would show her. I didn’t do that, though. I simply turned and walked into the living room to retrieve the books. The sound of a chair scraping against tiles sounded from behind me, but I didn’t turn around to see who it was.

Walking into the living room, I spied my father’s files and quickly walked over to retrieve them. I wanted to rip those up, too, but I didn’t. Upon turning around however, I found myself face-to-face with Colin Remington. Very face-to-face. So close that I was forced to take a step backwards in order to make it a more comfortable distance. “Can I help you?” I raised my eyebrows at him, pretending to have absolutely no idea what he wanted. It was obvious what he wanted, though. At least, to me it was. From the look on his face, I could tell that he wanted to know what was going on. Why was I letting her do this to me?

He was silent for a moment before speaking. “Why is she treating you like this? And more importantly, why aren’t you doing anything about it?” He whispered, but he might as well have yelled for how fierce it sounded. It was as if he was angry at me.

“There are certain things you don’t understand,” I replied, breaking off eye contact to stare at the floor.

“Then explain it to me.” Colin stood firmly, with his hands clenched at his sides.

“I don’t have time for this right now.” I tried to move past him, but he sidestepped so that he was blocking my path. “Colin,” I groaned. Just get away, Aurora. It’s none of his business. Tell him it’s none of his business!

“Aurora,” he said resolutely. I looked back up to find his eyes boring into mine.

“Please,” I begged him at length. My eyes said it all. ‘Don’t make me do this.’ He immediately stepped back, as if I had punched him. It surprised me even then how much I could convey to him without speaking, and vice versa.

“Aurora!” My mother’s voice rang from the kitchen. “What’s taking you so long? Your father is waiting for those files.”

“I’m coming,” I called back to her. With one last look at Colin, I brushed past him and quickly walked to the door, fishing car keys out of my coat pocket. Ripping the front door open, I slammed it behind me. The sound of it closing with a loud ‘bang’ pleased me. I even smiled. There were some ways that I could piss off Luella, but just enough. Not so much that she would ruin me, but just enough to get some satisfaction.

I got into the car and, after a moment of thinking, slammed that door shut as well. Once inside, I let out a ragged breath, and then screamed as loud as I could. Nice thing about luxury cars. They don’t let very much noise in or out. I knew that no one had heard me, and for that I was grateful.

God, why was everything so messed up? I hated my parents, but couldn’t let them know it. I hated Brady, but I couldn’t let him know it. More than anything, I wanted to get out of this situation, but I couldn’t. This was not one of those situations where the older, wiser person asks if it’s really ‘couldn’t’ or simply ‘wouldn’t’. Believe me, I would in a heartbeat – if I could. I breathed deeply and remembered what Matt had said yesterday. It’s only a few more months, then you’re off to college and out of here.

Have I mentioned that I’m not a patient person? At that particular moment in time, I was beginning to wonder if I could wait that long. It was only December, I still had a good many months before I could finally get out of that house. Well, I might be in Norway for three of them, so that would be lessening the blow. But then again, I didn’t want to go to Norway. Not one bit. Norway…how fucking random.

Regardless (did you know that irregardless isn’t a word?), I still had to put up with my parents – and I use that term lightly – for awhile, and I didn’t know if I could handle it. Rebecca wouldn’t be there for the whole time either, and that was scary. She’d be moving to New York City. And I’d be stuck. Stuck with them. I banged my head on the steering wheel, and the sound of the horn caused me to jump. I envisioned Luella fuming in the kitchen over the fact that I hadn’t left yet. Smiling to myself, I started up the car and quickly got myself out of the driveway before I attracted more attention.

-

“No, it’s for Luella Monaco.”

“I say already, no, no! Om hva snakker du?” (What are you talking about?)

I stared hopelessly at the man in front of me. What in the world was going on? What language was he speaking? I’d never heard it before in my life! I decided to try again, speaking very clearly. “The dry cleaning. It is for Luella Monaco. I have the ticket right here.” I pointed to the ticket, which was lying on the counter directly in front of him.

“Jeg ikke taler Spansk!” (I don’t speak Spanish!)

“What are you saying? I don’t speak that language!” I didn’t mean to yell, but this man was getting on my nerves. First of all, I wasn’t even sure if he could hear me. He was rather old, and I had to ring the bell five times when I first came in before he even came out! “The dry cleaning, I’m here to pick up the dry cleaning! We’re in a dry cleaners for Christ’s sake!”

He slammed his hands down on the counter, causing me to jump in surprise. This guy was pretty spry for his age. “Sokkene er i tørkeren.” (The socks are in the dryer.)

I slammed my hands down as well. Hey, I could be forceful, too. “Listen, buddy, all I want is my damn dry cleaning. Hell, it’s not even mine! My ticket is right here.” I picked up the ticket and waved it in his face violently. “You’re a dry cleaner, what else would I be here for!”

“Ikke skrik på meg, pike. Jeg vil ikke nøle til å slå du!” (Don't yell at me, girl. I will not hesitate to hit you!) He leaned forward menacingly, but I stood my ground. This crotchety old man would not get the best of me. And no, I’m not an ageist, but he was really pissing me off. Cherry on top of a fucking terrible day. And it wasn’t even noon yet!

“I can’t understand you! I just want to pick up some clothes!” I heard a bell ring somewhere behind me while I was yelling, and felt a rush of cool air as someone opened the door. I was too engaged in my argument to notice, though. I wouldn’t have turned around if I hadn’t heard a familiar voice.

“My, my, aren’t we violent this morning.”

“Du lager meg ønsker jeg hadde en geværtillatelse!” (You make me wish I had a gun license!). There was that damn old man again.

I spun around and saw Colin standing there with Matthew and Rebecca coming in after him. “Du vil måtte til å unnskylde henne, har hatt hun en ru morgen,” Colin said, looking past me, at the old man.

I stared at him incredulously. “You speak…what language is that? And you speak it?”

Colin began laughing as the door shut behind Rebecca. “It’s Norwegian, oddly enough, and yes, I speak it.”

“Om hva snakker denne piken ? Hun kjører meg gal!” (What is this girl talking about? She's driving me crazy!) It was the old man speaking again.

“Colin, what on earth is he talking about? I don’t speak Norwegian.”

“He doesn’t know what you’re talking about,” Colin informed me, walking over to stand next to me at the counter. “He says you’re driving him crazy.”

“He’s driving me crazy! Tell him he’s driving me crazy! Tell him right now.” I crossed my arms defiantly.

Colin turned to face the old man. “Hun sier at hun er meget trist for å kjøre du gal. Hun selv seg kjører gal av og til!” (She says that she's very sorry for driving you crazy. She even drives herself crazy sometimes!) The old man chuckled at that.

“Did you tell him? Why is he laughing?”

“I told him,” Colin assured me. “I don’t know why he’s laughing.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I think he might be a little insane.” His eyes widened dramatically as he said the word ‘insane’.

Smirking, I rolled my eyes at him. Wait, what were they all doing here? “What are you guys doing here?” My eyes furrowed in confusion as I turned to face Matthew and Rebecca.

“We’re kidnapping you,” Rebecca informed me with a large smile on her face.

“Kidnapping me,” I repeated dumbly.

“Yes.” Matt stepped in and placed a hand on my shoulder. “So forget about all the dry cleaning and let’s blow this joint.” He went to grab my hand, but I pulled it away from him.

“Matt,” I whined. “You know I can’t do that. I have to take all of this stuff home. She’ll kill me.”

“She won’t kill you,” Rebecca said exasperatedly. “She’ll be a little pissy and yeah, maybe she’ll yell at you, but Matt’s willing to take responsibility for interfering. And she won’t yell at him.”

I considered this for a minute. It was true, Luella wouldn’t yell at Matt. If she did, he’d yell right back. There was nothing she could do to him, really. And I had already delivered the files – that was the most important errand. Picking up the dry cleaning was a much prissier thing to make me do. It was also something that could wait until tomorrow. She didn’t have any social gatherings for the next few days, I was sure of that much.

“Are you sure?” I asked worriedly, but I had already made up my mind. I knew I would go with them, I just wanted to drag it out a little bit longer and make them make me.

“Yes,” Rebecca quickly assured me. “We’re positive. Now let’s go.”

“Okay,” I jumped in excitement, then turned back to the man at the counter, who was looking at us all like we were certifiably insane. “Umm…” I turned to Colin who was looking at me amusedly. “Can you tell him ‘never mind’ or something like that? Just get him to go away?”

He nodded and turned to face the man again. “Trist til å bry du. Vi vil dra nå.” (Sorry to bother you. We'll be going now.)

The old man waved us off in annoyance. “Jeg hater barn!” With that, he turned around and stomped off into the back room. Colin laughed and turned back to face all of us. (I hate kids!)

“What did he say?” I couldn’t keep the laughter out of my voice as I asked him.

Colin immediately composed himself before saying, with utmost sincerity, “He said it was wonderful to meet you, and have a nice day.”

“He did not!” My eyes widened incredulously and I hit him on the shoulder playfully.

“You’re right,” Colin confirmed with a grin. “He said he hopes you burn in hell.” With that, he began walking towards the door.

“Colin!” I called after him, failing at my attempt to hold back laughter. Matthew and Rebecca followed us; Rebecca was giggling uncontrollably, but Matt still looked slightly hung over.

“Hey, I still have my car parked here,” I informed them.

“We’ll stop back and get it later, we’re all taking my car.”

“Are you okay to drive?”

Matt laughed and turned to face me. “Trust me, Aurora, I’ve had much worse hangovers than this. I’m in college, remember?” He rustled my hair before continuing his trek to the car.

“Hey, Colin, where did you learn Norwegian?” I asked, once we had all buckled ourselves in.

He smirked before turning in his seat to look at me. “One of my father’s best friends was from Norway. He taught it to me when I was really little. Thanks to that kind man in there, I was able to brush up on it.”

I scoffed. “Kind my ass. What was he doing working there anyways?”

“That’s the owner’s father,” Rebecca informed us. “I’ve met him before when I went to pick up some things. He’s supposed to go and get her if anyone comes in because she can’t hear the bell sometimes. But, on occasion, he tries to handle customers himself.” Well, I guess that sort of made sense. It was still annoying though. “Hey, Colin, how do you say ‘Rebecca’ in Norwegian?”

“Rebecca,” he replied bluntly.

She frowned. “Well, that’s no fun.”

I laughed and poked her in the side. “That’s because Norway stinks and none of us should ever go there.”

“You’re certainly in a much better mood,” Matthew observed, catching my eye in the rearview mirror.

I shrugged. “Well, now that I’ve escaped the crutches of Cruella, I’m happy. Plus, today’s going to be fun. Hey, where are we going?”

“New York City!” Rebecca practically squealed. Excitement welled inside of me. An adventure with Matthew, Colin, and Rebecca. Despite a terrible morning, this was shaping up to be a pretty good day. All I wanted to do was just forget about my parents and Brady and everything that had been driving me crazy recently and have a good time with my friends. Finally, a semblance of normalcy. Sure, I would probably get screamed at by Luella, but sometimes you’ve just got to go with the flow; accepting, but not caring, that there will be consequences. And right now, I was flowing.

-

Thanks for reading! Please review and let me know how things are going!