AURORA'S POV: 
    Arc's eyes narrow immediately, jaw clenching as he gestures to the two of them on the bed. "What’s going on? Where are you taking her?"
   Jon stiffens. "Relax. I’m just taking her to my mum’s place. For a meal. That’s all."
   Arc’s eyes flick to Aurora, then back to Jon. "You think dragging her all over town after last night is a good idea?"
   "It is not 'all over town', it is my house. She will basically just be sitting down and eating a meal. Quit the dramatics." 
   Oh shit. I need to stop this before things escalate.
    I quickly interject, stretching her arms and flashing a sheepish grin. "Okay, tension police. I’m craving apple pie, and I’m starving. Like… genuinely could eat a dragon."
   Arc crosses his arms. "She shouldn’t be moving around so much, especially not with you. I don’t trust you to take care of her."
Jon's face darkens immediately. This keeps getting worse. 
   Jon’s voice sharpens. "Excuse me? Just because you were able to help her just once doesn't make you some sort of hero. I was the one who helped you carry her here. I was here too, remember? I’m taking her. I don’t need your permission."
    They’re squaring off now, the air growing thick with hostility. I groan and throw my hands up.
    "Okay, enough with the macho nonsense. I literally just woke up and I'm not a morning person. Not enough strength for this guys." 
   I slide off the bed and stands between them, looking from one to the other. "Arc, if you don’t trust Jon, then come with us. You get apple pie. I get apple pie. Jon gets to prove he’s not an idiot. Win-win-win."
    Arc looks like he wants to argue, but then his eyes land on my hopeful expression. He exhales sharply and mutters, "Fine."
    I grin widely in triumph. Then, glancing down at my clothes, realization dawns. I resist the urge to sniff my armpit. I need to preserve some of my dignity while I'm still here.
   "Crap, I’m still in yesterday’s clothes. I need to change. I’ll be right back."
   Before either of them can say anything, I rush out of the room.
    I hurry down the hall, feet padding across the hotel carpet, heart thudding slightly. As soon as I reach the door to my room, I stop.
   Last night starts replaying like a movie in my head and my mood starts to sour all over again. I can't believe I let myself break down like that in front of that fake ass bitch. 
    I should have been banging her plastic head into the tiles not crying the bathroom like a fool. Ew. The image popped into my head.
   The mascara streak lines of my face must have been crazy ugly. That reminds me...
   My hand goes up to my face and I suddenly remember that I have not washed my face since last night...
 AHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Don't tell me I was being ugly and controlling in their room and about to enter my room where the fool that caused everything is looking like THIS?!
    Do I go in? Or should I just call Cali out and avoid dealing with... her?
    I stand there a moment, debating. Then I sigh and roll my eyes. I’m not going to let Celeste chase me out of my own space.
With a deep breath, I push the door open.
The first thing I hear is screaming. That sounds like...
"WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO MY FACE?!"
   I blink. Celeste is standing in front of the full-length mirror, hands clawing at her cheeks. Her face is…
Oh.
Blue.
Covered in large, angry boils.
    I blink again, resisting the urge to laugh. Karma has a funny sense of timing.
    Cali is lounging on her bed, arms folded behind her head like she’s watching Netflix. A sly, catlike smile curls her lips.
Oh, looks like Karma didn't have a hand in this one. I'm sat!!
    "Morning, sunshine," she says without even looking away from Celeste’s meltdown. "Sleep well? I came over to see you yesterday but you were already asleep. Hope you weren't disturbed."
   I walk over quickly, still half-stunned. "No...no. What the hell is happening to her?"
    Cali shrugs, eyes twinkling. "Just a little skin reaction. Maybe she pissed off the wrong person."
    I glance back at Celeste, who is now crying and muttering about hospitals and witchcraft.
  My jaw drops. "You… you did this?"
Keep behaving like you don't already know, sis.
   Shut up.
Cali finally looks at me, grin widening. "This? Oh, sweetie. This is just the beginning."
   For a moment, I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or run.
I do all three.
Internally.
   At that moment, Celeste turns back and the full view of her face makes me start to cackle with laughter. No jokes. I mean serious cackling. Like an hyena.
    Her face grows darker with each year that starts to roll down my cheeks. Cali is also laughing beside me whilst hitting my shoulder. 
   "You guys did this!! I'm very sure! You must have done something!" She screamed at us.
   "Girl please. I wasn't even in this room yesterday. I didn't sleep here, remember?" I ask her with a sly smile on my face. 
   "I know it's you!" She turns towards Cali. I try to stop myself from looking at her face because the more I stared at it, the more my stomach hurt from laughing. 
   "Can you shut up! Do you I look that jobless to you? Moreover, where is your proof? Defamation of character is actually a crime. I could sue you. Don't forget that you also harassed someone yesterday. You wouldn't want to sleep in Juvi now, would you?" Cali gives her a sinister smile.
   Everyone knows who Cali's god father is. He is the most influential judge in the state. No matter how rich Celeste claims she is, a case against Cali would wreck her.
   "I..I.." Celeste starts stammering.
"Yeah, I thought so." 
   "You guys will pay for this. I promise." Celeste storms out of the room. 
   We burst out in laughter while holding each other on the bed.
  "How did you even do that?" I ask her as our laughter starts to die down. 
   "Nothing much. Just mixed some chemicals with her face wash last night. I have not even started with her yet. She will regret trying shit with us by the time I am done." I am low-key scared of Cali's facial expression but my heart warms at the fact that someone is fighting for me.
   I give her a hug which she stiffens into.
"Thank you, C." I whisper into her ear.
   "Always." We let go of each other. A suggestive smile sits on her face as she stares at me.
    "What's that look for?" I ask her. 
"Well, you slept in a room full of sexy ass boys last night. Something must have happened. Spill." 
   "Sorry to disappoint you but nothing actually did. I woke up this morning and now I'm going to Jon's house for apple pie along with Arc."
  Help.
"Hold on. What do you mean by you are going to Jon's house?" She asks confused.
   "Jon is from Australia. We are going to have breakfast with his mum. Arc said he wants to go along. So here we are." 
  "Gurllllll!!! You are already meeting the parent? With the other man in the picture? Dramaaaaa!!!"
  She falls back into the bed. I laugh and stand up.
   "When you are done with your dramatics, you can help me pick out something to wear. I'm off to take my bath. I'm sticky as fuck."
   I skip away into the bathroom with a genuine smile on my face for the first time in a while.