6. Routine

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Two weeks ago was the first time I walked home with Aurora. It should have been the only time I've walked home with Aurora. Because at the time, I had promised myself that this would not become a tradition in any way, sort, or form. Because I like my solo autumn afternoon walks. I like walking in silence underneath the swirling colored leaves. I feel like that peacefulness is gone when I'm awkwardly trying to keep up conversation with someone I don't know well.

Yet, nearly every Tuesday and Thursday I've been walking home with Aurora. It's not directly after school. We don't actively seek out each other. What's happened is that our Calculus class is near the end of the day, so we head to the library after school to work on problems together before heading home around the time the sun starts to go down.

My mother is used to me staying later at the library, so she does not question when I come home later than normal. I don't bring up the fact to my brother and sister either that I haven't been walking home in complete solitude anymore.

However, the fact that Aurora and I are spending more time together hasn't been a well-kept secret. It's a Tuesday, another day I plan to go to the library for a bit and walk home with Aurora, when Juliet asks a question a lunch.

"Who's that redhead you keep walking with?" Juliet asks.

I eye her. "Huh?"

"I like to hang out front while waiting for my parents to pick me up, and I noticed you walking out of the library with her for a few weeks now," Juliet explains.

"Oh, same. Sometimes I see you while driving home from soccer practice," Allison adds.

"Oh, um. That's Aurora," I explain.

My friends turn and stare at me oddly. I expect them to. Who asks for an opinion on a girl and then starts suspiciously hanging out with her shortly after? My heart seizes for a moment. Do they actually think something is going on between us? My friends don't even know I'm—

"She's been tutoring me in Calculus after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We just figured out that she lived a few blocks away from me, so we usually walk home the same way. That's all," I answer.

"You don't need a Calc tutor," Abigail teases.

"Sometimes I do," I murmur. It's true that most of the time I'm at the library with Aurora, she doesn't help me too much, save for word problems.

"Weren't you just asking about her a few weeks ago?" Hazel recalls.

Shit.

"Because she offered to tutor me, and I wasn't sure if she'd be of much help or not," I quickly fib. "But that's it. I'm just getting some extra Calculus help. Gotta polish those grades for college applications next year and hope for a good score on the AP exam. Why are you all looking at me like that? None of you live close to me, so it's nice having someone to talk to on the way home. Jeez."

"Aw, is Callie actually making another friend?" Hazel teases.

"I have plenty of friends!" I argue.

"Besides us four?" Allison counters.

"Well, a ton of acquaintances, then," I murmur, crossing my arms. I start going back to picking at my pasta salad while my friends giggle around at me. Well, at least they just suspect a friendship is forming, but Aurora's and mine's relationship is far removed from that. We're merely acquaintances, classmates, trying to survive this damn math class together. Sure, I'm slowly learning more about her, but I'm sure her schedule will pick up soon, and our time together will slowly drift apart, especially when she graduates.

It wouldn't be bad to have a senior friend, I think. Having someone show me the ropes of what it's like to survive senior year might be an advantage.

When the last school bell rings for the day, I make my way over to the library. Aurora has already gotten us a spot at my favorite table, which she now knows is my favorite after I accidentally slipped it once. She giggled at me at the time, telling me she thought that was cute, but now I'm worried I'll have competition for my favorite spot.

Aurora gives me a tiny wave with her thin, long fingers, and I throw my bag down next to hers, beginning to pull out the homework.

"Have you already started?" I ask, seeing she's already down to the end of the paper.

"I started during class. But don't tell," she says, holding her finger up to her lips. "Mrs. Hall would be furious if she knew I wasn't fully paying attention during class."

"Don't worry. I do the same," I promise, showing her my homework sheet with a few problems already filled in. "Sometimes, if I'm really speedy, I'll start working on another class's work."

"You could be expelled for that," Aurora teases.

"I know. I'm a risk taker," I joke before starting to get to work. We mostly work in silence, with the occasional comparison of answers. When my Calculus homework is done, I realize I don't have much else to do, so I start packing up my things.

"Leaving already?" Aurora asks.

"Yeah, I had a light load today. You should stay though if you still have homework. I'll get home okay," I promise.

"Oh, I was thinking of heading home early anyway," Aurora says, even though I see a clear stack of textbooks on her side of the table.

"Are you sure?" I ask. "If you have work to do, I don't want to make you leave."

"It's fine," Aurora assures me with the wave of her hand. Does she really have a light workload? Or am I just being egotistical thinking she's doing this for me?

Either way, I stand to the side, waiting for her, as she packs up her things. Since we're out earlier today, the sun is still brightly out, though there are some stormclouds lurking in the distance.

"I hope we get a good storm later," Aurora remarks.

"You like the rain?" I ask.

"It's good writing weather," Aurora answers as she stares upward at the clouds beginning to roll in.

"You like to write?"

"Yes. I am planning to be an English major in college after all," Aurora states.

"Oh! Um, nice."

"Aren't you going to ask me what I like to write?"

"Do you want me to?"

Aurora pauses for a moment. "No, I guess not. It always bothers me when people ask that, like I'm pitching my next idea to them. Writing is just something I like to do for fun for now. I haven't thought about anything getting published anywhere, not even in our school's literary magazine."

"Don't you have a few friends working as editors on that magazine?"

"Yes. I'm afraid they'd be biased towards me," Aurora answers.

Why does she have to be so humble all the time? It gets on my nerves. Sometimes I wonder if it's all just a façade, if she really feels any other emotions besides kindness. I don't think I've ever seen her without a smile on her face.

"Well, maybe you should try some time," I suggest.

"I don't know if I could. Not anytime soon. Would you ever be willing to read over a piece for me? I get antsy if people I'm really close to read my works, but since I just started getting to know you, I'd be okay if you look it over," Aurora says.

"Well, I guess so," I say, not really seeing any harm in reading over a piece of written work.

"Thanks, Callie! You're the best. I'll have to give you something to read soon," Aurora says. Her face twists into an even bigger smile. Maybe it's just the sunlight reflecting in her face, but her smile looks more genuine this time around.

"Well, don't expect great feedback. I'm doing well in my English classes, but I'm not the best critic," I answer.

"That's okay. Any feedback is helpful," Aurora states.

We're nearing the corner where we depart, I realize. If it really does rain for a few days, then I realize we won't be able to walk home on Thursday. This might be the only walk of the week.

"Well, see you tomorrow," I tell Aurora as we depart.

"Bye, Callie," Aurora says. She suddenly leans forward, engulfing me in a quick hug. I tense against her slightly, not expecting it. She pulls away and smiles, before heading off with a wave. I slowly compose myself, brushing off my sleeves quietly, even though I know she hasn't tainted them in any way. My friends and I don't hug much, save for events like dances where we all show up and hug each other and tell each other how pretty we are. I'm not much of a touchy person anyway. I must get that from my mother.

Strange. I can smell the scent of coconut in her hair even as I walk away.

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