Starlight Key - Scene 11 Starlight Key (Aurora)

As Aurora went through the arch on Mal’s arm, a garden room came into view. It was alight with twinkle lights and candles and seemed to be in full bloom with flowers everywhere, pink blooms in the trees, pale orange ones on the hedges, roses in brick planters that separated where they stood from yet another garden. There was a bar to their left and a conversational area to the right. Jon Mc Laughlin’s, So Close, was playing. The music seemed to softly come from everywhere. It felt like the scene from a movie and, of all the men, Mal was the exact right fit for a moment she wished would last forever.

“Would you like to dance?” He asked quietly.

She was supposed to spread herself around and talk with all the smiling faces she saw now surrounding her in the garden, but she just wasn’t ready.

“Yes, please.”

He led her to a small dance floor set up on a stone patio near a hedge of pale orange flowers. The song was a waltz and luckily she knew that dance, because that’s what he immediately led her into.

His hand pressed firm into her back, her hand in his. She stared up into his eyes and couldn’t help but laugh with pure joy as he twirled them around the small space. It was like being a child again, carefree, dancing with her father. It was a moment and a memory she wanted to remember for the rest of her life. When the song ended, he pulled her close and smiled down at her like he knew everything about her and everywhere she’d ever been.

She felt like she’d known him all her life and if she had to guess, with how he was looking at her, he seemed to feel the same.

Was this that magic people spoke of?

It was crazy, right?

And even if it were, there were six other men and she had to give each a fair chance, but right that moment… she never wanted to leave Mal’s arms.

Camera Confessions ~ Mal

“It was perfection to be the first one to dance with Aurora. Walking into the garden with her on my arm was miraculous. There’s something special between us. I can already tell. I just hope I get more time with her so we can see where this goes.”

The small group of men crowded in, applauding, looking happy enough, but there was an air of alpha dog everywhere she looked and she knew then, the games had begun. Mal may have hit the first ball, but this game was far from over.

“Come get a drink with me, Aurora.” Rhys held a hand out to her.

She looked up at Mal, but the moment between them had passed. He was smiling down at her as if he knew it too.

“Thank you Rhys.” She took his hand and left the warmth of Mal’s side.

They made their way to the bar that was lodged partially into a stone planter filled with a large tree, roses and several flowering bushes.

The bartender smiled and handed them both some champagne then made himself scarce. Rhys helped her mount the bar stool, which was trickier than one might have thought, but she blamed the spike heels.

“You looked beautiful out on the dance floor. A fairy-tale come to life.” He sipped his champagne.

“It was exhilarating.” She remembered the moment and smiled again.

“Do you enjoy dancing?”

He casually put his glass on the bar beside hers, giving him a reason to brush his fingers alongside her hand. The slight touch sent tingles skating across her skin.

“Um, yes. It’s not something I do very often. I only know how to waltz because my sister was incredibly anal about her wedding. Everyone in the wedding party had to learn.”

“I have a mother like that.” He laughed.

She really didn’t want to get into talking about family just yet, so she tried to find anything else she could throw out there.

“Miniature golf. I like that.” She forced a smiled and took a gulp of champagne.

He looked at her strangely for only a moment, then laughed and said, “Good to know!”

“Sorry. I’m a little nervous.” She looked at the Spanish tile bar top as she ran her thumbnail through the grout lines.

He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

“Don’t be sorry and don’t be nervous. We’re all here to get to know you, Aurora. We’re all on your side.”

It was just like what Gabbie said to her earlier.

“Don’t get me wrong, we’ll turn on one another in a heartbeat, but you, you’re safe.”

Her eyes widened for a moment until she realized he was kidding and she joined him laughing.

“Time’s up Prince Charming.” Kieren pushed in. “Come sit with me?”

She smiled and then looked apologetically at Rhys.

Camera Confessions ~ Rhys

“I cannot believe I got like five minutes with her before the Irish moved in. I’m laughing I think just because my emotions are all over the place. I wasn’t kidding her when I told her I’ve been waiting for this forever, but the reality… wow! I’m gonna have to put my game in play and not let anyone run me off course. I don’t know if there’s anything there or not, but I’m not going to sit back, let other guys run off with her and end up sent home never knowing. I’ve got to get in the game here!”

Kieren led her to the far edge of the garden where a stone bench was nestled up against an enormous mock cherry tree.

“I wonder how they got this tree to bloom here and at this time of year.” She casually wondered aloud as she took a spot on the bench.

“I know nothing about gardens, but if there’s something about the ocean or boats you want to know, then I’m your man!”

He seemed in good spirits. He clinked his glass against hers before taking a sip of his champagne.

“I live in Santa Monica, I love boating!”

“Oh this is great. We’re kin, we both love the open sea. I’m telling you Aurora, we need to just sneak off together and call it a day.”

He waggled his brows at her and laughed.

“I think you may be more than I can handle.” She confessed, half kidding, but half serious.

“Oh Aurora, I think you could handle me just fine.” He wrapped his hand around hers, picking it up from where she had it sitting in her lap.

It wasn’t an unwelcome gesture, but it didn’t elicit the same response as Rhys’ light brush had moments before.

“All we were really told about you was life basics. Age, schooling, Harvard… I’m impressed.”

She inwardly groaned.

“Don’t be. I barely got through and it wasn’t really my choice to go there. I have an uncle, he half owns the school. I think he felt sorry for me, but let’s talk about something else, okay?”

Family was a very delicate subject for her and she just wasn’t ready to be that vulnerable with them yet.

“Sure thing. We can talk about anything you want.” He moved, let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulder while he leaned back in the bench.

“Time’s up, Whitey.” Aiden stepped up to where they were sitting and Aurora was pleased to see him.

“Don’t call me that.” Kieren snapped and sat up straight.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend.” He brushed off Kieren’s irritation without skipping a beat and turned to Aurora. “There’s a pond just outside the boundary of the hedge, you want to take a walk with me?”

Aurora had taken a jolt of Kieren’s sudden agitation and a walk sounded like just the thing. She stood and Kieren came off the bench beside her.

“I would, thanks.” She turned to Kieren. “Thank you for the chat. I’m sure we’ll get more time later.” She handed him her champagne flute.

“Of course we will. Enjoy your stroll.” He seemed to be gritting his teeth.

Camera Confessions ~ Kieren

“I was this close!” He laughs good naturedly. “Ah well, the luck of the Irish is with me for sure, we’re kin! How much better does it get than that? I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing and keep being me.”

Aiden placed his arm around her shoulder as they began to walk away.

“Some guys are strung just a little too tight. Although, it’s possible I’m not strung tight enough. Who knows?”

She giggled and leaned into him.

“I’m sure you’re strung just fine.”

“Why thank you Miss Aurora.” He smiled that wicked smile at her.

She felt her cheeks heat enormously, but rather than ramble over herself, she just let it sit.

“So how’s your night going so far?” He asked softly.

“Fast!” She pressed her hand against her stomach.

They walked past the hedge and just as Aiden promised, a pond came into view with a large rock waterfall and water lilies. There were floating candles on the surface of the water and off to one side, three strange tree looking things that she could not for the life of her figure out what they were for.

“I imagine so. You warm enough?” He asked as they arrived at a bench near the water.

It was a rather warm evening, but being they were on an island, there was enough moisture in the air that it felt cool, but certainly not cold.

“Oh yes, I’m great. I love hot summer nights.”

They sat side by side, he put his arm around her shoulder and she curled into him. For a time, they just sat, looking at the water, listening to it fall over the boulders. Some may have found it unbearably uncomfortable, but for her, the quiet was like a gift. He wasn’t expecting anything of her. She wasn’t forced to answer a ton of inane questions about her life, her family, her growing up. They were just two people sharing the space and nothing could have been lovelier.

Camera Confessions ~ Aiden

I just felt like what she needed more than anything was a few moments of quiet, so I tried to give her that. It’s who I am. I assess what my companion needs, and I give it to her. We’ll have time to get to know one another, but she’s under a ton of pressure tonight and I just wouldn’t have felt right adding to it.

After a time, they returned to the group, Kieren and Rhys both tried to steal her away again. Romeo asked if she was doing all right, Reggie was staring at her from a seat at the bar, Kai looked… intense, and Mal… every time she looked at him, he was looking back at her. It was like they shared a telepathic link, like they just knew the other was looking. That may have been absurd, but that’s what it felt like.

This night was going to go by much quicker than she’d thought originally and she needed a moment to breathe, called a time out, and went to Gabbie.

“Hey.” She grabbed Gabbie’s hand and pulled her away from the camera guy she was standing beside.

They went just around the hedge that outlined the area where the garden party was set up. Away from cameras, away from men, away from hidden mics, privacy… what a concept.

“What’s up?”

It was moving too fast, one moment with Mal, another with Rhys, then onto Kieren.

Would it always move this fast?

How did a girl date seven men simultaneously anyway?

“Well, it’s just I’m feeling a bit like the last bargain at a basement bargain sale, getting torn from one hand to the next and I’m not sure I like it, not sure I can handle it. It’s going so fast and I’m feeling all this pressure to say yes to each of them, but then all that does is leave me… I don’t know”

 “Honey, it’s your night, you tell them no if you need to. No one’s getting sent home tonight and you know you all are going on that trip to the library and nautical museum tomorrow, so there’s time.” She squeezed her hand. “Take a breath and get back in there. Don’t try to make any decisions tonight and stop over thinking it. Okay?”

She let all those words rattle around in her head.

“Right.” She shook her head as if that would somehow make the words sink in deeper. “Duh. I think I was thinking like I had to decide tonight which one I wanted. This is such a bizarre concept. You do know that, right?”

Gabbie hugged her.

“Yes. I know.”

Her nerves were back and now she was feeling rather chilled.

“Go in there, take the first guy you see and take him to the back garden.”

 “The back garden?” She was confused.

“They didn’t tell you?” Gabbie looked worried that she’d spilled the beans or some such. “Wait here for a sec.”

She stood there waiting… anxious… her heels sinking into the damp sod, wondering what these next few weeks would bring for her.

She’d spent too much time alone these last few years. She hadn’t really noticed, but now, being the center of attention, it brought home to her just how alone she really was in life and it was time to change that. She had to throw herself into this. There were already several of the men she felt a spark with, a connection. She would give herself to truly seeing if that was returned and if it could grow into something. She wouldn’t worry about heartbreak. She wouldn’t worry about the future.

She’d done enough of that already, hadn’t she?

She knew the producers were banking on an engagement at the end of all this, but she also knew that she had to be true to herself and her heart. She wouldn’t pretend to feel anything she didn’t and though she would very much like to be married and have a family again— her heart ached at the thought of it— she wouldn’t lose her common sense or her tenacious grasp on reality.

“I’m so sorry, hon. I spoke too soon. I’m such a dolt.” Gabbie walked across the lawn towards her and smacked her palm to her forehead. “But you tell me what you need so you feel more comfortable tonight, and I’ll do it.”

“I’m good.” She nodded in the affirmative, determined to be okay in this.

“You sure?” Gabbie looked uncertain.

“Yeah, I’m good.” Her emotions may have been all over the place, but it was the first night. That was bound to calm down soon.

“Okay, well remember, tonight’s just a mixer, you’ve only got another couple of hours before they wrap this thing up, but then, you guys are all living together here. Twenty four seven.” Gabbie smiled brightly.

Aurora’s stomach turned over and she groaned.

“Oh yeah.” She’d nearly forgotten.

This wasn’t like those other dating shows where they put everyone all up in separate manner homes. She’d be living with all of them, dormitory style… or maybe it was prison style, who knew?

“You’ll be fine.” Gabbie gave her a squeeze.

“Says the woman who’s staying up the road at the Ritz Carlton.” Aurora rolled her eyes.

“It’s not the Ritz. It’s a Hilton.” Gabbie stuck out her tongue. “Now get back in there and mingle!”

She closed her eyes.

She wouldn’t think about later tonight or the sleeping arrangements.

One step at a time.

One moment at a time.

It was the only way to survive it.