Aurora's POV:

When the tyres of Mike's rental car pulled into the school's car park the next morning I can assure you I was less than excited. As I peered out of the glum passenger window into the darkness of hell I noticed Sabrina leaning against the school gates where we usually met before class started. She could try all she liked to pretend like nothing happened, which was her usual way of resolving any argument she has, but I wouldn't let it slide. Not this time. Mike pulled into a car park and leant over placing a kiss on my forehead to say goodbye. I didn't say anything as I slid out of the car but before I could walk any further Mike rolled down his window and whistled so to catch my attention.

"Don't forget we have to talk this afternoon," he reminded me.

"How could I forget," I smirked sarcastically whilst rolling my eyes before finally trudging away.

"Smile, it looks good on you," he yelled across the road as he pulled out of his park trying to cheer me up, lamely may I add.

I pulled at the hem of my sleeve to my horrible navy blue school uniform when I got closer to Sabrina. The awkwardness made me nervous and the silence was deafening. She didn't yell out my name nor did she come running towards me like she usually would but that only made it easier to continue ignoring her. As I got closer I pushed my eyes to the pebbled pathway avoiding her stare and pushed my earphones into my ears.

I'd known I had passed her when from the corner of my eyes I saw the admins office sign that was just past the gate. I lifted my head back up so that I was watching where I was going and instantly regretted it. Turns out I hadn't exactly walked straight passed her, rather so I had been followed by her and she was now walking backwards in front of me crashing into the people clumsily behind her but I guess that was expected by the two freaks of the school guessing by the looks on everyone's faces. She reached forward and painfully yanked the headphones from my ears taking away my precious 'Issues'.

"Come on you can't stay angry at me forever, I'm really fucking sorry," she was pleading with me giving me the puppy dog eyes but I wasn't giving in that easily. Without a response I leaned in for a forgiving hug and just when she bought it I jerked away from her and headed off in the opposite direction without a second glance back in her direction. I guess I was taking the long way to class today.

***

The final bell of the day rung at exactly two thirty-five excusing us from the hell hole for a further twelve hours before I had to come back. I shoved my books and pencil case into my backpack and rushed for the door but not before my name was called by Mr. Henderson, my phys ed teacher.

"Do you care to stay back for just a moment so we can have a chat please Aurora?" as much as the dirty blonde headed Mr. Henderson was attractive he was also annoying, it was his only flaw. All the other students snickered around me as they cleared out the class probably laughing about me being in trouble but it was quite the opposite. I was never in trouble at school, ever.

"Rory," I corrected but he just gave me a stern look, "Well to answer your question truthfully, not really I need to get home my Dad's visiting from America," he knew all about Mike and my real father that was never around after an embarrassing break down I had in class once. My comment left him looking surprised and confused.

"Your father?" I shook my head to answer his question.

"I call Mike 'Dad' now," he just 'uhhed' in understanding before continuing with what he wanted to say before I could object.

"I just wanted to congratulate you on getting a perfect score on your last assignment on bio mechanics," he showed me my graded paper with the little A+ stamped at the top left hand corner.

"Oh thanks, can I go now?" usually I'd be excited but I was always top of this class and it was no new news that I'd yet again passed with flying colours. Plus I really wanted to get home.

"Not quite yet," I began to object but he interrupted me, "How would you feel about presenting your speech in a national competition?" now I was interested. I'm an overly competitive person, another reason I wouldn't give in to Sab, I always won no matter what.

"When?" I queried genuinely interested. I wanted to kick some public speaking ass.

"Just a little over a week from now over the weekend. If you won you'd get a cash total of five hundred dollars," as tempting as the money sounds that weekend is the weekend of Of Mice and Men's concert and I sort of couldn't miss it, not for the life of me.

"Oh, Mr. Henderson I already had plans for that weekend," I was actually cut I couldn't attend the competition.

"Oh well maybe another time," I really hated disappointing Mr. Henderson because I knew he couldn't go back to his staff room and brag about how amazing his top student was and I liked that someone was proud of me, because Austin surely wasn't.

"Sometimes I just wish I had you around Dad," I sighed to myself as I kicked an empty coke bottle along the ground all the way to the now empty car park when Mike waited. I hoped in the car leaving the bottle outside and slumped into the leather seats of the Range Rover.

"What took so bloody long?" I couldn't tell if he was annoyed or not.

"Sorry my phys ed teacher wanted to talk to me about my grades," I liked tricking Mike, he fell for shit so easily.

"What about your grades are you failing? Do I need to move you to a different class? Would it help if I talked to your teacher? Is it because you can't participate in the sports because of your heart?" he was flipping shit it was hilarious. I couldn't contain my laughter any more. He just glanced at me quickly before averting his attention back to the road.

"I got an A+ calm down he just wanted to congratulate me that's all," Mike let out a breath of relief and the rest of the drive was spent in a comfortable silence as we both tapped our hands on our thigh in sync to the beat of Slipknot blasting through the stereo.

***

There were two blacked out Mercedes parked on the side of our street when Mike pulled into the drive way. It was strange, not because they were blacked out and it was like mobsters were taking over our quaint little street but because we didn't live in a posh, fancy car area.

"Who's cars?" Mike just shrugged his heavy shoulders.

"Don't know, been here all day must be the neighbours friends," I didn't reply I just hoped out of the car and went inside and sat directly at the dining table and started on my homework, waiting for my punishment.

Not long after both Mike and Mum sat across from me at the table. I pushed my math book aside and placed my chin in my hands as my elbows rested on the table waiting silently for my sentence.

"You can't scare us like that Aurora," Mum's tone was stern and motherly. At least she cared I couldn't complain about that.

"I know I'm sorry Mum," I really was but I didn't regret last night, it was the best night of my life.

"No matter what happens, if you're angry at us then tell us, shout at us, don't talk to us but do not runaway. Ever. You could have put yourself in a lot of danger," she should have been a fucking lawyer because she sure as hell was making me feel guilty as hell right now.

"I'm sorry, I really am. Not just to you Mum but to you too Mi- Dad," I had to correct myself but they didn't notice.

"You'll still be punished," it was Mike who spoke up now.

"Lay it down," I ushered for them to continue.

"I'm not just here to see you Rory," Mike explained, cautiously selecting his choice of words.

"Oh I knew that already," I blew it off, I don't think I cared if him and Mum were back together they kind of worked as I good team plus Mike's never here I could get used to it.

"How did you know I was here on tour?" both of them looked totally dumbfounded but I'm sure not as much as I did in that moment. What did he mean tour? He was here to get married to Mum?

"I didn't? I thought you were here because you and Mum got back together.." they laughed. They fucking laughed in my face like I was some comedian.

"Mike has a new girlfriend sweetheart, her name's Alysha," Mum explained, well tried to explain between laughing and gasping for air.

"Well how am I supposed to know that you guys tell me nothing!" I exclaimed in my defence.

"We were going to tell you all this yesterday before your tantrum," I shrugged my shoulders as if to say 'shit happens' but they didn't find it quite as amusing as I did.

"Anyway what does you touring have to do with my punishment?" I brushed off the whole dating subject, that could be discussed later.

"You know how it's pretty much an unspoken promise that I take you to all our gigs when I'm out here performing?" I nodded not understanding where he was going with this but then it all clicked.

"No! Don't say it! Please, please don't stop me from going to your show you know how much I love watching you guys play!" this was so not happening.

"I'm sorry but if you want to be a delinquent you have to suffer the consequences, no concerts this time around," I fell dramatically off my chair and onto my knees on the ground and literally sobbed like a fucking baby. This is so not fair.

"Way too harsh of a punishment ya fuckin' hardass! Don't worry love, Uncle Oli will take ya to the show. I'm not a grade A ass like ya parents over 'ere," my head snapped up from my soaked hands so fast that it could've been something from a movie when I heard my Uncle Oliver's familiar English accent from the doorway.

When I looked up at him he just smirked and held his arms out wide open welcoming me into one of his bear hugs. I lifted myself from the hard tiles and flung my body into his. Mike made some sort of "You would not dare" comment which hushed Oli but even without my uncles help I'd get to that concert. I had a funny feeling there was another band on tour and me being 'grounded' was just another reason to stop me from getting there but I kept quiet.

"Is that your car out the front?" I rushed out between, what were now, happy tears. I could feel him nod his head that confirmed my question.

"And ours too," the rest of Bring Me and Pierce The Veil cheered from the kitchen. Don't get me wrong I loved all my Uncles, that weren't really my Uncles but were, but Uncle Oliver was by far my favourite.

"This is like Christmas! All my favourite people are here just to see me," I spun in circles basking in the glory.

"Hate to burst ya bubble love but we do have to work too," Matt N spoke up cheerfully, joking of course. I used my finger to fix my smudged mascara and then snapped a selfie with all the guys including Mike and uploaded it to instagram, tagging all the guys as I did so.

@roryptv: with all my family once again <3 #family

My phone filled with notifications, it was known in the Pierce The Veil fanbase that I was Mike's step daughter sort of thing but no one knew Austin was my Dad. It only took five minutes for Sabrina to text me about the photo.

Sabrina: I know you hate me but you can not stop me from having band time, especially with THE OLIVER SYKES!

Me: Fine come over, need to tell you about my 'punishment' anyway.

Okay maybe I wasn't that competitive because that was me practically giving into Sabrina already. Who was I kidding anyway I couldn't stay mad at my best friend. She was my only chance to meeting Austin.

Notes

Okay no excuses, I was just lazy and lost motivation to writing this story for a while. BUT I'M BACK! Hope you enjoy this chapter. Not long until Austin (next chapter, hint hint) is introduced in the story! What do we think about the 'punishment' is there really another reason Rory isn't allowed to go to the concert, for all she knows she doesn't know what bands are supporting Of Mice and Men. Did we like having Oli in the story? P.S I'm trying to write this story with a more teenagey approach if that makes sense. Rory is only 16 and I want you guys to see it from that sort of perspective with the mindset of a young girl so there will be some jokes and random things here and there but I like that it's not so serious as Fresh Start Fever as Lani was much older in her story. Don't be silent readers, let me know you guys feel and if you're liking the story. Love yas!