Chapter 21
Maura’s door was shut. A few crocodile tears had been shed, and the whole incident swept under the rug. No one blamed Moira; instead, they’d rallied to her, saying she knew she couldn’t swim and shouldn’t have gone to the pool party in the first place. Everyone had forgotten that Maura had practically dragged her there. Even if they did remember, it wouldn't have mattered. They would have made it out like it was her fault for not refusing harder, as if she had simply… been… there.
Aurora kicked her legs, her body finding a rhythm, dragging Maura along and slipping from Alison’s grasp with ease. The strange thing was, Aurora had Maura to thank for her swimming skills. If not for Maura's meddling, she never would have learned. Javon had forced Aurora to tag along to social events and even introduced her to those disgusting old men, one of whom was obsessed with—swimming. So, the fact that she could swim and hold Maura underwater today was entirely thanks to Maura.
Suddenly, Aurora’s legs stiffened for a moment; it felt like she’d hit something. She glanced down and caught a glimpse of Damon’s twisted face beneath the surface. Aurora thought, I might’ve kicked him in the face. Well, it serves him right.
Maura’s voice grew weaker, her struggles fading. With a smirk, Aurora decided it was time to stop. A dangerous glint shone in her eyes as she grabbed Maura by the collar, dragging her to the pool’s edge and onto the deck. Maura collapsed on the cold concrete like a fish out of water, completely drained; her pale face and heaving chest proved she’d barely made it. A puddle spread beneath her, soaking her clothes.
Aurora gave her face a few light pats, pretending concern. She even went through the motions of pressing on Maura’s chest, faking CPR. "Maura, what's wrong? Don't leave us."
Behind her, another splash. Alison scrambled out of the pool and rushed over, shoving Aurora aside while glaring with pure hatred. "Cut the crap, Aurora. You're the one who pushed her in! Who are you trying to fool with this fake act?"
Just then, Maura coughed up water and sputtered awake. She tried to speak, but only violent, hacking coughs emerged. Her lungs burned, her chest torn from the inside as the swallowed water ravaged her. Her ears rang, her brain throbbed, and sweat beaded on her forehead. Every part of her body ached, her vision swimming in and out of focus. She could barely speak.
Damon wiped the water from his face, his expression dark as he confronted Aurora. "Aurora, I know you've resented Maura ever since she gained my father's love and attention. You've been gunning for her since you returned, but I didn't think you'd go this far. This is murder."
He climbed from the pool, his wet clothes clinging to him, revealing faint outlines of abs and long legs, causing more than a few girls to blush and steal glances.
Alison gently patted Maura’s back, trying to help her breathe. But when she glanced up and saw Aurora’s smile, Alison lost it, yelling, "You evil witch! How could you be so heartless! Look what you've done to Maura, and you're standing there smiling like it's funny? You'll rot in hell!"
Her shrill voice echoed around the pool. The commotion had drawn a crowd. People gathered quickly, the scene painfully obvious: Aurora stood safe and sound, while Maura, pale as a ghost, crumpled in Alison’s arms. The winner was clear.
Naturally, Class A students defended their classmate, and accusations flew. "She's awful. No surprise she's from the sticks. She can't stand seeing anyone do better than her, so she pushes Maura in out of spite. Poor Maura," a girl said, glaring at Aurora. "Ugh, country bumpkin attitude, right? If you can't beat someone, just ruin them," another scoffed. "She's terrifying. I'm staying away from her. What if she gets jealous of me and pushes me in next?" commented another.
"What the hell are you all yapping about?" Erik had heard enough. He pushed through the crowd with the other Class F students and stood before Aurora.
Damon looked down at Erik with a smug, superior expression. "Erik, this isn't your business."
Damon and Erik were the same age, from similar backgrounds, their parents constantly comparing them. When younger, it hadn't mattered, but as they grew, Damon pulled ahead—better grades, representing Merrida High in competitions, always in the spotlight. Compared to Damon, Erik was unimpressive. Eventually, even Erik’s parents stopped comparing them.
Erik was furious at Damon’s condescending look. He straightened, standing toe-to-toe. "And this is your business, Damon." So what if he has better grades? Does that make him better? I might be a bit of a slacker, but at least I have a badass older brother looking out for me. Damon's an only child, the hope of his family, Erik thought.
"Aurora nearly killed Maura. Maura's in Class A, and I'm the class president. How is this not my business?" Damon snapped, trying to push Erik aside. But Erik didn't budge, catching Damon off guard. Usually, Erik would avoid Damon.
"Yeah! Well, Aurora's in my class, and I'm the class president. So, yeah, it is my business!" Erik stood firm. Their eyes locked, both filled with anger.
Damon took a deep breath, fists clenched, fighting the urge to punch. His voice was low and strained. "Aurora did this to Maura, and you're really planning to cover for her!"
The tension escalated, drawing attention. Finally, PE teacher Victor Olsen arrived. Class F didn’t even have their own gym teacher; it was obvious who Victor had come for.
"Mr. Olsen! Finally, you're here!" Alison practically raced to him, spinning her version of events. "Mr. Olsen, Aurora pushed Maura into the pool. If we'd been any later, she could have died."
Victor’s gaze snapped to the pale, weak Maura. Then, he looked at the Class F students, his face tightening with disgust. Why are these losers still at Merrida High? If I were one of them, I’d have shrunk away ages ago. They’re shameless, Victor thought.
Victor already disliked Class F, so deciding who was at fault was easy. With righteous indignation, he announced, "This behavior is completely unacceptable. I'll be reporting this incident to the principal. Whether you'll be expelled or face severe punishment is up to the school."
Hearing "expelled," Maura’s eyes widened, but she quickly recovered, seizing the opportunity—this could rid her of Aurora for good. A rat like Aurora belongs in the sewers, not in our elite world, she thought.
Maura weakly covered her chest, letting out a couple of delicate coughs. Once the attention shifted back to her, she said in a hoarse voice, "This is all my fault. I wasn't steady on my feet. Please, don't blame Aurora."