Repeating History (History #1) by Hanleigh Bradley

She winks at me.
    I watch from one of the booths where I’m sat with Jacob while Aurora talks to Clara avidly. If nothing else happens tonight, Clara’s definitely made a new friend. “So that’s her?” Jacob asks.
    “Yeah,” I don’t want to say more. I’m a bit wary. Even though we’ve both grown up and he no longer teases me about girls, Clara’s different. If he was going to tease me about anyone, it would be Clara.
    “She’s pretty,” Jacob says. “I’ve got an idea.”
    “What idea?” I ask without taking my eyes off Clara.
    “Before you try talking to her,” he’s saying, “I could apologise to her... it’s kind of my fault you teased her.”
    “I don’t know if that would help.” I’m pretty sure it won’t.
    “Or we could have a conversation about it and she can overhear us,” he tries.
    “Or I could just be a grown up and accept responsibility for my actions.”
    “Where’s the fun in that?”
    “Spoken like a true lawyer. Besides I think Maya may have already told her about you teasing me.”
    “Shame. It sounded like a fine plan to me,” he smirks, “I could chat up one of her friends if that helps?”
    I laugh at that one, “going to pimp yourself out for the cause?”
    “If I need to,” he’s laughing too now.
    “Perhaps we should just get a drink.”
    “I like how your mind works little brother... the bar is right next to your little ray of sunshine after all.”
    “Can’t you take anything seriously?” I shake my head.
    “Little brother the only things I take seriously are sex, the law and Christmas.”
    His words almost make me laugh, except I know it’s the complete and utter truth.
     
    I do my best to keep my distance until I get the signal from Aurora and even then I go to walk passed them but Aurora calls me over just like we’d planned earlier in Aurora and Landon’s apartment. “Andrew!” Aurora is smiling at me, “you need to hear Clara’s story... it is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.”
    Clara is blushing now, “there’s no point. Andrew already knows the story.”
    “I do?” Oh shit. She’s probably been telling her about how I used to bully her. She really isn’t going to forgive me. I should probably just give up.
    “He does?” Aurora’s frowning now.
    “It was about him,” Clara is so quiet I’m not sure I heard her correctly over the sound of the music.
    “Now I definitely need to hear this story,” I say with a smirk, pretending to be unaffected.
    “I was telling Aurora about your penchant for apples.”
    I laugh, “It’s true I really do like apples.” And apple pie...
    Aurora smiles, “Clara was telling me about a time when you threw an apple at her accidentally. Apparently you were aiming for the bin.”
    I can remember that day. We’d just gotten back from Christmas break and my mother had just tried to kill herself. I’d been lashing out at everyone; Clara especially. “She threw it back at me,” I tell Aurora without looking at her. My eyes are completely focused on Clara, “it hit me square on the nose.”
    Aurora must catch the sad look on my face or something because she quickly asks why I did it. Clara answers before I can, “he did it because he loved to ridicule me. It was a game.”
    I close my eyes, “that’s not true. I threw that apple at you because I wanted your attention.”
    She shakes her head. She doesn’t believe me. “We’d just got back from Christmas break and my mother had just tried to kill herself with her razor blade. I needed you to notice me. I needed you to see me. Just you. Not anyone else.”
    I step back. I’ve said too much. I’ve said more than I’d planned. “I’m heading home, Aurora.” I sigh, “I just wanted to say congratulations again.” I pull her into a hug and whisper my thanks. I really am grateful for her effort, even if it is wasted. There is no world in which Clara Delos is ever going to forgive me for once being a child.
    I quickly say my goodbyes