intrepidity

Aurora had been minding her own business.

She had just been sitting in class, quietly chatting with Riley, when their teacher introduced a new student.

"This is Leonardo Morelli," the teacher announced. "He just transferred here. I expect you all to make him feel welcome."

Leonardo Morelli was standing there with a confident, easygoing smile, his brown curls slightly tousled, his uniform neat but slightly loosened like he didn't care much for rules.

And then, he looked right at her.

Aurora immediately tensed.

And then—it happened.

"Hello," he greeted smoothly as he walked past her. "You're very pretty."

Aurora completely malfunctioned.

Her brain stopped working. Her heart jumped. And worst of all—she felt the heat spread across her face before she could stop it.

"I—I—"

Riley let out the most evil cackle.

Leonardo just grinned like he didn't even realize the chaos he had caused. "What's your name?"

Aurora made a strange noise that wasn't quite a word, her entire face burning.

Leonardo tilted his head, amused, but before she could even think of an answer, the teacher ushered him to his seat.

Aurora immediately buried her face in her hands.

This was a disaster.

-

Lunch was peaceful. For about five minutes.

Then Jade leaned across the table, a wicked grin on her face. "So, Aurora had an interesting morning."

Atlas, who had been sipping his drink, raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

Jade's grin widened. "The new kid—Leonardo Morelli—called her pretty."

Atlas choked.

His drink went everywhere.

Aurora nearly died of embarrassment.

Jade laughed. "Oh, and she turned red."

Atlas turned to Aurora so fast she thought he might get whiplash. "You blushed?"

"I—I didn't—"

"She did," Riley confirmed, smirking.

Atlas groaned dramatically, leaning back in his chair like the weight of the world had just crushed him. "Oh, this is bad."

Aurora hid her face in her hands.

Jade looked far too amused. "You should tell the others."

Atlas immediately pulled out his phone.

Aurora lunged for it. "No—"

Too late. 

(Thank God Antonio didn't feel like coming today)

-

Atlas: Some kid called Aurora pretty.

Marcus: Who.

Alec: Excuse me?

Antonio: Fuck no.

Roman: ...Interesting.