Chapter Ninety Six - Two Scoops And A Glance

The late afternoon sun hung low and golden, casting long, soft shadows across the sprawling green of the park. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves of the towering oaks, whispering secrets through their branches. The air carried the faint scent of earth and freshly cut grass, mingling with the distant laughter and cheers of children playing nearby.

Aura dribbled the worn football between her feet, the leather scuffed and scratched from countless games. Her breath came steady, her movements fluid as she wove between scattered patches of sunlight and shade. Beside her, Leah's cheeks were flushed from the cool air and the effort of chasing the ball, her breath visible in small clouds as she called out.

"I'm going to grab us some ice cream — be right back!"

Aura nodded, eyes flicking toward the gravel path that curved gently through the park. Along it, two figures walked slowly, side by side — Camille and Josie. The soft crunch of their footsteps on the path was barely audible over the ambient sounds of the park, but Josie's eyes lifted and locked with Aura's for a brief moment.

Josie hesitated before stepping forward as Camille dashed to the restroom, her expression tentative, as if unsure whether to cross the invisible boundary between acquaintance and confidante.

"Hey, Aura." Josie's voice was low, careful, as if she didn't want to break the fragile stillness around them.

Aura's heart thudded in her chest, an odd mix of wariness and something else she couldn't quite name. 

"Hey, Josie."

Josie shifted awkwardly, her hands clasped loosely in front of her. "How are you doing? I mean, with everything."

Aura swallowed, the question weighing heavier than Josie might have realized. She looked down at the worn grass beneath her boots before meeting Josie's eyes again. "I'm... okay, I guess. Could be better, you know."

Josie nodded slowly, her gaze softening. "I heard about Harper. That she turned herself in. That must have taken a lot of courage."

Aura let out a short, humorless laugh, a slight crease forming between her brows. "You really underestimated her, Josie."

Josie bit her lip, eyes flicking away for a moment, then back. "Maybe I did. I... I loved her. I just got scared — everything was too much, you know?"

Aura nodded. "I believe you."

The words hung between them, fragile and raw. Aura's chest tightened as she struggled to hold back the flood of emotions—anger, sadness, confusion. Josie took a deep breath. 

"Where is she now? I mean, where did they take her?"

Aura's eyes darkened with a mixture of pain and resolve. "She's in juvenile detention at the moment. Juvie. But she won't stay there long. The court decided she's going to be moved to a secure therapeutic centre out of town next week."

Josie's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "A therapeutic centre? Like... for treatment?"

"Yeah." Aura replied quietly, voice almost a whisper. "They're going to evaluate her there. She'll get proper help, hopefully. They said she'll be there for at least a year. Maybe more but we will have to see."

Josie's lips parted slightly, absorbing the weight of the news. "A year... that's a long time."

Aura nodded slowly, the edges of her mouth tugging down. "Yeah well, It's necessary. She needs it — all the doctors and nurses who've worked with her at Warren agree. Her mental health stuff hasn't been managed well. This could be her chance at a proper recovery."

Josie's gaze softened, a faint flicker of hope breaking through the sorrow in her eyes. "I really hope she heals. She never deserved all the bad things that happened to her."

Aura's foot nudged the football lightly, watching it roll in a lazy circle on the grass. "Yeah. Me too."

"Aura..." Josie's voice wavered with something between guilt and apology. "That day I visited Harper at Warren... I really didn't mean to attack her. I know it came across that way — I just..." Her breath caught a little, and she looked away. "I was really scared. Not just for her, but for Camille too. She's one of my closest friends.."

Aura's brows knit together, but she didn't interrupt. Josie went on, the words tumbling now like they'd been sitting on her chest for weeks.

"Camille could've gotten in serious trouble for lying like that to the police. And I know she did it out of love, but I really panicked. I didn't know how far it had gone or what would happen next. I guess I just... said the wrong thing in the worst possible way."

Aura looked at her carefully, silently studying the girl who'd once meant everything to Harper. Josie looked smaller somehow — not physically, but emotionally. 

"I know." Aura said finally. Her tone wasn't cold — it wasn't overly warm either, but it held truth. "Harper knows that too. That's one of the reasons she went to the police. She didn't want Camille getting dragged into court or getting charged. She wanted to take responsibility, even if she didn't actually kill our grandmother.."

Josie nodded slowly, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. "That sounds like Harper. I think, deep down, I knew she'd do that. Even after everything."

Aura's lips lifted just slightly at the corner — not quite a smile, but something close. "I think she hoped you'd understand. Maybe not right away, but eventually."

Josie's gaze drifted toward the trees lining the park, where golden light filtered through the leaves. 

Aura said gently. "And Harper's not holding a grudge. She's hurt and grumpy, sure. But she's not angry anymore. She's had a lot of time to think in juvie, and she told me she doesn't blame you. Not really."

She shrugged, but it was a hopeful gesture, not a dismissive one. "And maybe one day. I hope you two can at least be friendly again — not like before, but enough that it doesn't hurt to be in the same room."

Josie nodded, blinking hard. "I hope so too."

Josie gave Aura a faint, almost grateful smile before turning away, heading back down the winding path where Camille was coming out from, pretending to scroll through her phone. As Josie walked, her pace slowed just enough to cast a quick glance over her shoulder—a last, fleeting look that lingered for a breath too long. Aura caught it and watched her go, heart caught in that strange in-between space where relief and melancholy blur together.

By the time she turned back, Leah was sprawled lazily across the park bench, one knee tucked up, the other leg stretched out in the warm grass. She perked up as soon as she saw Aura returning, holding out an ice cream cone with a soft smile.

 Leah smiled, tilting her head. "You okay? I got you chocolate, your favourite!"

"Yeah." Aura said, taking the cone and sitting beside her. "I'm good."

Leah narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion. "Was that girl trying to start something? 'Cause I can throw down."

Aura laughed, the sound bubbling out of her unexpectedly. "No, nothing like that. That was Josie."

Leah blinked. "Who? Josie?"

"Yup." Aura said, already smiling. "Harper's ex girlfriend."

Leah sat up straighter, eyes wide. "Dude. I knew I wasn't going crazy! I swear I saw them kissing on your doorstep months ago. I asked Harper about it and she said she had a boyfriend or something." 

Leah gave a look. "I was like, what?!"

Aura snorted. "Yeah, She had this whole fake relationship to keep Grandma off her back. She was dating Blake from school.."

Leah's jaw dropped. "Blake? Gay Blake? That's diabolical.. I wonder how much she paid him to agree to that."

"Oh my god!" She laughed, shaking her head. "She's so dramatic. I kind of love that for her."

"Same." Aura said softly, her smile turning fond, eyes drifting toward the tree-lined street beyond the park. "Josie just came over to ask how I was doing... and how Harper's doing."

Leah leaned in slightly, her voice quieter. "That was kind of sweet of her, actually."

"Yeah." Aura nodded. "It was."

A breeze swept through the park, carrying the smell of cut grass and heat-softened pavement. The sound of distant traffic mixed with the shrieks of kids on the climbing frames. Leah shifted a little closer on the bench, her thigh brushing gently against Aura's for a second—neither of them moved away.

"So..." Leah said, flicking a glance at Aura. "How is Harper? Like really?"

Aura hesitated, the question feeling heavier than she expected. "She's in juvie right now. But next week, she'll be transferred to a therapeutic centre outside of town. It's court-ordered. She'll be evaluated, go through this whole program... She might be there for a year. Maybe less if things go well. Maybe more but.. they said a year for now."

Leah blinked. "Wow. A year."

"I know." Aura said. "It sounds like a lot, but... honestly, I think she needs it. I think she wants it, even if she wouldn't say it out loud. She's not angry like before. She's just... tired."

Leah looked at her for a moment, soft and steady. "Do you think it'll help her?"

Aura turned to her, their faces a little closer than before. "I really hope so. She deserves a chance to get better... not just be punished."

There was a pause, long enough for a flutter to rise in Aura's chest. Leah's gaze lingered—not on her mouth, but not quite on her eyes either. Something unspoken passed between them.

"You're a really good sister, you know that?" Leah said softly.

Aura flushed and looked away, trying not to smile too hard. "You're kind of the only person who says that."

"Well.." Leah said, nudging her playfully. "Maybe I'm just really smart."

Aura gave her a sideways glance, biting back a grin. "Mm, maybe."

Leah gestured toward the melted mess of her own cone. "You want the rest of mine?"

Aura looked at the drippy scoop and wrinkled her nose, laughing. "You just don't want to finish it."

"Maybe I just like sharing with you." Leah said, light and teasing—but something in her voice made Aura's chest tighten, just slightly.

Aura took it with a mock sigh, their fingers brushing for a second too long. "Fine."

They sat like that for a while—bare knees touching, the warmth of the summer air curling around them. Aura leaned back a little, turning her face toward the sky.