As Adam and his parents drove away from the hotel his mother made a phone call.
"Shelly, there's a little girl that needs your help. Her mother is desperate to be important...Yes. By all means blow it up as far as you can... I don't care, as long as you can get her safely from them...Thanks, I'll send you her contact."
"What are you doing?" Logan asked as Aurora hung up.
"Nothing."
Adam watched Aurora. He knew her to be nice and warm, everything about her had felt genuine. Sure he had seen her angry , but now, especially after her call, she seemed like a different person. There was a similar air of meanness about her that he'd felt from the group that had invited Logan over.
Who was Shelly and would she help Samantha just because Aurora asked? Blow what up? What was she going to do that made her feel so dangerous?
They drove in silence for a few minutes before Logan called Sophia.
"Sophia, where are you?... No, she's fine. Have you had dinner yet?... We'll meet at the Pizza Palace, order three medium pizzas when you get there. See you in a bit."
“We're having pizza?” Aurora asked surprised.
“Well, we walked out before dinner, Imran didn't cook and I'm just about starved. Pizza's the quickest, easiest thing I could think of. Any objections Adam?”
“None here”.
The family laughed and argued over toppings, crust, style and sauce as they drove to the restaurant. Several times during the trip, Aurora and Logan called Sophia to make specific requests. In retaliation she stopped answering their calls.
Adam smiled to himself as Aurora and Logan bickered. The scene in front of him was so joyous it felt like a dream.
"Adam and I have shared men's understanding."
"Do you now? I think he'd disagree. What say you Adam?"
Adam laughed and choked on tears.
"Adam?!" His parents called in panic.
"Are you okay?" Aurora leaned over in her seat. As the car slowed to a stop.
"Yeah I'm fine. "
"Why are you crying?"
"I'm just feeling really happy." He stuttered.
"Well pizza's guaranteed to make you happier." Logan declared.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAfs3GzOlZZo
At the restaurant's parking lot Aurora took off Adam's tie and let him unbutton his shirt. Logan too followed suit, draping his jacket over Aurora's shoulder.
Despite the family's happy mood, Sophia was upset when they walked into the restaurant.
"You two realise my phone is not for games. Don't you play with my line again!"
"Sorry" His parents said sheepishly.
The family sat down and discussed with Sophia everything that had happened with Aurora at the party.
Sophia slapped Adams back. "Good on you kid, you're more attentive than Logan when he started."
After the pizzas were delivered, Logan carried on with antics and jokes as he cut and shared them. The family ate with minimal conversation, enjoying the ambience of the restaurant.
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