25. Gage

25

Isit in Aurora's car, my hands clenched tightly in my lap. The mask I usually wear lies on the seat between us, and I feel naked without it. My skin crawls at the thought of facing her friends, of having to speak and interact like a normal person.

"You okay?" Aurora asks, reaching over to squeeze my hand.

I grunt in response, unable to form words. My throat feels tight, constricted by anxiety. We discussed how this works going forward, and to my surprise, Aurora wants to leave this town with me and the carnival. She's warned her friends and now I'm meeting them for the first time for lunch.

She pulls into the diner's parking lot, and I spot two figures waiting by the entrance. Aurora's friends. My pulse quickens, and I resist the urge to bolt from the car.

"Remember, just be yourself," Aurora says softly. "They'll love you."

I doubt that, but I nod anyway. For her, I'll try.

We get out of the car and approach her friends, and I see their shock as they take in my appearance. I'm intimidating even without my mask at six foot six tall, muscle-bound, and covered in tattoos. Charlotte takes a step back. Dan moves protectively in front of her.

"Hey guys," Aurora says brightly, as if this is all perfectly normal. "This is Gage."

I manage a stiff nod, my eyes darting between them and the ground. The silence stretches uncomfortably until Aurora clears her throat.

"Shall we go in?"

We file into the diner, taking a booth near the back. I sit rigidly, hyper-aware of every movement around me. The server approaches, and I feel my chest tighten.

"Shall we get the burger? It's so good here," Aurora says, squeezing my hand under the table.

I nod in response. "Sounds good."

"So," Dan says, his voice tight. "Aurora tells us you two are... together?"

I look at Aurora, unsure how to respond. She smiles encouragingly.

"Yeah," I mumble, my voice rough from disuse. "We are."

Charlotte leans forward, her eyes narrowed. "And you're taking her away with the carnival?"

I nod, unable to meet her gaze. The woman who I attacked as part of my game with Aurora. I'm not used to speaking to my victims; normally, they're dead in a ditch.

"It's what I want," Aurora interjects. "Gage makes me happy."

I sit in silence, my eyes darting between Aurora's friends. Their concern is palpable, hanging thick in the air between us. Dan leans forward, his brow furrowed.

"Aurora, don't you think this is all moving too fast? You've only known Gage for a week."

"I know it seems sudden, but when you know, you know." Aurora squeezes my hand again.

Charlotte scoffs, her eyes never leaving my face. "And what exactly do you know about him? Where's he from? What's his family like?"

I tense, memories of my past threatening to surface at the mention of my family. Aurora senses my discomfort and jumps in.

"That's not important. What matters is how we feel about each other."

Dan shakes his head. "It is important, Aurora. We're just worried about you. This isn't like you, running off with someone you barely know."

I clear my throat, forcing myself to speak. "I understand your concern."

All eyes turn to me, and I fight the urge to shrink back.

"I care for Aurora," I continue, my voice low. "I won't hurt her."

Charlotte's eyes narrow. "That's not very reassuring coming from the guy who I'm going to assume assaulted me."

The table falls silent. I can feel the weight of their stares, judging me, seeing the monster beneath my skin. Aurora's grip on my hand tightens.

Aurora draws in a deep breath. "We already discussed this. That wasn't Gage."She lies easily, but we agreed that if her friends knew, they'd not let her go with me.

Charlotte's eyes narrow. "How can you be so sure?"

"Why would he assault you if he wanted to be in a relationship with me? It makes no sense," Aurora reasons.

Dan sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Aurora, please. Just think about this. You have a life here, friends, a job. Are you really ready to give all that up?"

Aurora's voice is steady when she replies. "I'm not giving anything up. I'm starting a new chapter of my life with Gage."

The conversation continues, but I retreat, letting Aurora's words wash over me. Her unwavering support should comfort me, but I feel a gnawing guilt. These people care about her, and I'm taking her away from them.

Charlotte claps her hands. "Enough. Aurora has decided, so it is what it is." She gives Dan a pointed look. "Let's enjoy this meal together since it'll be the last one we share for a while."

I sit silently, watching as the tension slowly ebbs from the table. Aurora's hand remains firmly clasped in mine, a lifeline in this unfamiliar situation.

Dan clears his throat, a hesitant smile playing on his lips. "So, Aurora, remember when you tried to juggle oranges in the break room?"

Aurora groans, her cheeks flushing. "Oh God, don't remind me. I thought I was going to be the next circus sensation."

Charlotte snorts, her earlier hostility melting away. "More like the next YouTube sensation. I still have that video, you know."

"You wouldn't dare," Aurora gasps in mock horror.

"I might," Charlotte teases, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Consider it insurance when you're off gallivanting with the carnival."

Dan chuckles, shaking his head. "Remember to send us postcards from all the exotic locations. Like... Glendale."

Aurora playfully swats at him. "Hey, every town has its charms!"

Despite my discomfort, a small smile tugs at my lips. Their easy banter washes over me, and I relax a touch.

"Speaking of charms," Charlotte pipes up, "Dan, why don't you tell Gage about your infamous karaoke night?"

Dan groans, burying his face in his hands. "Must we?"

Aurora laughs, sounding carefree. "Oh, we must. Gage, you haven't lived until you've heard about Dan's rendition of I Will Always Love You."

Charlotte digs out her phone to bring up a video, and Dan cringes as she plays it. I must admit, I've never heard such a bad version in my life, and it brings a slight smile to my face.

"I think Gage is warming to us. He actually cracked a smile then!" Charlotte points out.

I grind my teeth. "Who couldn't smile at hearing a song like that butchered?"

Charlotte and Aurora laugh while Dan groans. "I wish you would delete that video, Charlotte."

"No chance!" She replies.

Their shared history hangs in the air, a tangible reminder of the bonds Aurora is preparing to leave behind. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, acutely aware of the stark contrast between their lighthearted reminiscing and the dark connection Aurora and I share.

As the conversation continues, I notice the looks Charlotte and Dan exchange. A pang of guilt twists in my gut, surprising me with its intensity.

"We're really going to miss you, Aurora," Charlotte says softly, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand.

Dan nods in agreement. "Glendale won't be the same without you."

I watch Aurora's face carefully, searching for any sign of regret or hesitation. To my amazement, her eyes remain bright and determined as she smiles at her friends.

"I'll miss you guys too, but this is something I need to do," she says firmly.

I feel Dan's eyes boring into me, his gaze filled with suspicion. He leans forward, his jaw set in determination.

"Listen here, Gage," he says, his voice low and threatening. "If you hurt Aurora, I swear I'll-"

His words fade into the background as a familiar darkness surges within me. My muscles tense, and I imagine wrapping my hands around his throat, squeezing until the light fades from his eyes. I picture slamming his head against the table, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone beneath my fingers.

Suddenly, I feel a warm pressure on my hand. Aurora's fingers intertwine with mine, her touch gentle yet grounding. The violent thoughts dissipate like smoke, leaving me feeling oddly calm.

I meet Dan's gaze, surprised to find my anger has vanished. Instead, I feel a strange sense of understanding. He cares for Aurora, just as I do.

"I won't hurt her," I say, my voice rough but sincere. "I'll protect her with my life."

I glance at Aurora. The trust in her eyes is overwhelming. For the first time, I want to be worthy of someone's faith in me.

We finish our meals, and I feel relief wash over me. The constant chatter and expectant glances have been grating on my nerves, pushing me to the edge of my comfort zone. I'm not used to this kind of social interaction, and it left me feeling drained.

"Well, I guess we should get going," Aurora says, sensing my discomfort. "We've got a big day tomorrow."

Charlotte's face falls. "I can't believe you're really leaving."

"Yeah," Dan adds, his voice tinged with sadness. "It'll be weird at work without you."

"I'll visit for sure," Aurora says, smiling. "And in this day and age, we can talk daily!"

"True," Charlotte admits.

Dan sighs. "We'll come see you off tomorrow."

"What time are you leaving?" Charlotte asks.

"The carnival moves out at noon," I reply.

Dan nods, his eyes meeting mine briefly. There's still suspicion but also a grudging acceptance. "We'll be there."

The tension drains from my body as we stand to leave. I'm thankful the ordeal is almost over. Aurora hugs her friends goodbye, and I nod stiffly in their direction.

Once outside, I take a deep breath of the cool night air, feeling like I can finally breathe again. Aurora loops her arm through mine, leaning her head against my shoulder.

"Thank you for doing that," she breathes. "I know it wasn't easy for you."

I grunt in response, but I can feel a warmth spreading in my chest at her words. We return to her car, and I think about tomorrow when Aurora will leave her old life behind and join me in mine. I've been alone for so long that the thought is terrifying.