Aloura West | ✓

Chapter Seven

Aloura placed her father's hot dinner on the table, before walking towards the fridge and grabbing a cold beer. She placed it beside his cutlery and walked towards the living room.

Her father was, as usual, sprawled on the coach engrossed in a loud game show displayed on the screen. He looked angry, he sounded angry too; yelling a string of curse words out at the competitor who'd lost out on some money. Aloura hesitated to call him, fearful his anger would become redirected at her, but if he didn't make it to his plate of food soon, it would go cold, which was a definite reason for him to beat her.

Aloura sighed sadly, knowing there was no good option. "Sir?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, and when he didn't reply, she moved father into the room, raising her voice slightly. His head snapped to her fearful figure angrily, if he wasn't so worked up about the money the man had just lost, he would have smirked at how much he scared her. "Your food" she continued, pointing to the kitchen.

Michael scowled but nodded, shooing the girl from his sight.

Aloura didn't have to be told to leave twice, she bolted out the room as fast as she could and ran towards her room. She picked up her first aid kit, and a large jumper and her phone before walking down the stairs and out the house.

It was her mother's death anniversary soon, and per tradition, Michael would force her out the house. He didn't want to see parts of the women he loved in his daughter. It was too much of a painful reminder. But that didn't bother Aloura, she enjoyed sitting on the rooftop and talking to her mother anyway.

Aloura made the trek journey towards the rooftop, her earphones blasting out music in an attempt to block out her own thoughts. When she'd arrived at the large apartment complex, she wasn't expecting to see Elias stood at the rooftop. It wasn't her's by any means, but it angered her that someone who spoke so cruelly to her had set foot on something so personal. She frowned at the sight of him leaning over her barrels. She scoffed and angrily made her way to the side of the building, marching up the stairs.

"What the fuck are you doing on my rooftop?" she called out as she entered the rooftop.

Elias turned around startled, he was already in a bad mood, and the whining brat was making his anger almost unbearable. He eyed her for a second, before placing his cigarette in between his lips, "Does your mummy and daddy own this apartment complex little girl?" he taunted. When he received no reply, he scoffed, "that's what I thought."

Aloura was taken back by his hostile words. She knew he was a dickhead, but the way he'd brazenly brought up her parents shocked her. But I guess it's not everyday someone with a perfect life runs into an almost orphan. Aloura decided not to give him the time of day, ignoring his harsh glare, she walked to the other end of the rooftop and leaned over the edge, watching the people below.

She silently prayed that he'd leave before the clock reached mid night, as she desperately needed to feel her heartbeat faster as she hung off the edge of the building. After a couple of moments of watching random strangers cross the streets below, Aloura turned to Elias and soaked in his features.

He was no longer in a suit, instead he wore a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a short sleeved black shirt. He looked somewhat sweaty, like he'd been on a run. His arms were muscular as they tensed on the railing, and bruises littered his knuckles. Elias felt the younger girls gaze on the side of his head, and he turned to her. Raising an eyebrow at her.

"You're hurt" she spoke after a moment of spotting the bruises and blood on his face. Elias fought the urge to scoff and sarcastically mention how observant she was. Aloura sighed before reaching into the small bag she'd discarded on the floor. She picked up the first aid kit and hesitantly walked closer towards him.

It was only when she was under the moons light did, he realises how beautiful she was. Her green eyes sparkled under his gaze, but he couldn't help but notice how dull she looked inside. "How about that pretty lady you were with this morning?" the boss' words replayed in his mind, taunting him. "Stay away from me."

"I'm just trying to help."

"I don't need your help." He growled, shifting his attention away from her and onto the street ahead of him. Aloura fidgeted with the first aid kit in her hand, and a frown on her face. What the hell was wrong with this guy?

"God you're such a pretentious, privileged arsehole" she growled back after a moment of studying him. She threw first aid kit to his feet before walking back towards her side of the rooftop.

Elias laughed bitterly, "I'm the pretentious privileged one?"

"Yes" she snapped back.

"So, you're so fucking privileged you don't even notice?"

"You have no idea what the fuck goes on in my life!" she reposited back, she dug out her phone from her pocket and looked at the time. 11:59. Elias knew he should have left it there, but his ego, and the fact he was already annoyed today pushed him to insult her more.

"What your mummy and daddy wont fucking buy you a pony?"

Aloura watched him for a moment, before she swallowed, "don't fucking talk about my parents." Her voice was low and hurt coated it. Elias knew he'd pushed it too far, but pride had made it impossible for him to apologise. Aloura watched the clock hit midnight, she closed her eyes sadly and turned to the city. Her mother's death anniversary wasn't meant to be a day of celebration- but she couldn't help but despise Elias for ruining the night.

Elias and Aloura settled in the silence, and after a few moments, Aloura started to swing her legs over the edge of the roof.

"Woah woah" Elias called out at the teenager, suddenly regretful for his words. He was only angry that he'd lost the fight and wouldn't get paid for another couple of days. He didn't want to be reason for someone taking their life. "Look I'm sorry- "

"I'm not going to jump, dickhead." She muttered the insult quieter than the rest of her sentence, but Elias still caught wind of it. He suppressed the urge to insult her back, reminding himself it was his tongue that got him in this predicament to begin with. "You just stand on the edge of the building and let go."

"And then you fall and die on impact."

"No-"

"You fall and you don't die, but you break your spine and you're forever paralysed" he cut her off again. "And then you're fucked because you can't even try again."

Aloura shot him a weird look before sighing at his dramatic antics. "No. you let go and the fear of falling reminds you how much you want to live." She swung her other leg over and looked down, Elias' heart beat in his ears watching her. "And for a moment, you pray. You promise whatever is up there that you'll stop complaining if you make it out alive." Aloura paused as she let go of the railing, "it reminds you how small your problems are."

Elias scoffed silently, how small do your problems have to be so hanging off the edge suddenly fixes them. "Look, little one." He sighed, "you need to find a better fix. What happens when one day this doesn't scare you anymore?"

"Then I jump" she joked, but she wasn't sure she was joking at all. She cleared her throat awkwardly, "I can handle myself. As you said, I don't need help."

Elias didn't reply, instead he watched her for a couple of moments, and she watched him. A brief moment of civilization between the pair. Elias walked to the discarded first aid kit and sat on his side of the roof and began tending to his wounds. Aloura watched him, unsure if this was his peace offering.

But she found herself fighting the urge to smile, accepting whatever peace offering it was.