Aurora adjusted the strap of her little white purse, nerves fluttering in her stomach as she stood in the shadow of her bedroom window. She had been texting Mia nonstop about how to sneak out without her parents noticing. When Mia said she was sending “someone,” Aurora expected another one of their girlfriends—not Jaden. The boy leaning casually against the fence, a cigarette glowing faintly in his hand, was the last person she thought would help her. Tattoos, oversized shirt, sharp smirk. He didn’t look like the type who cared whether she got in trouble. “Ready, princess?” Jaden drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he flicked the cigarette away. Aurora’s eyes narrowed, heat rushing to her cheeks as she carefully climbed over the fence. “Sneaking out with you was such a bad idea!” she hissed, tugging her skirt straight. Jaden stepped closer, catching her wrist before she could march past him. His smirk softened, just for a second. “Relax, Rory,” he murmured, his voice suddenly steadier, almost protective. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you.” Aurora blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity beneath the sarcasm. Her heart gave a little lurch, though she quickly scoffed to cover it. “That’s exactly what someone who causes chaos would say.” He chuckled lowly, shoving his hands into his oversized pockets as they started down the dim street. The distant thump of music from the party carried in the air. Her heels clicked against the pavement while his steps were lazy, careless—yet somehow, they moved in sync. For the first time that night, sneaking out felt a little less reckless.