Parisa kept her head down as she made her way through the hallway of Alcott Dorm, Greer’s room having been barricaded. Maybe I should get a hotel room, she thought, not hearing the familiar voice offering her a cookie. Shaking her head politely, the brunette offered an apologetic smile. “No thanks, I’m sure they’re delicious but I’m not very hungry right now.” Glancing back at her dorm room and then at Aurora with the container, Parisa seemed to reconsider for a moment. “Maybe I’ll take one to go, if you have a napkin I can wrap it in? I do love both pumpkin and cheesecake.”
“Of course, um just give me a second,” Aurora replies as she quickly closes the lid of the cookies. Reaching for her tote bag that she was carrying around, she fishes out a small amount of napkins for Parisa to take. Giving the other girl a cookie, she smiles. “How has your day been, considering y’know....everything going on,” she says in a low voice, not trying to sound too awkward in the moment.
“not bad at all,” parker assured, the small smile that’d occupied her face pulling down some. the presence of the FBI on campus had thrown unprecedented shockwaves throughout the student body. on more than one occasion she’d even found herself trying to avoid walking by what was once greer’s shared room. greer’s favorite spot in the commons. greer’s go-to place in the quad. her lack of presence had been predictable at best and strange at worst, but this? the opening of a case had swiftly steered things into the direction of CW-style mess.
“have you been questioned yet?” parked asked, voice going down a level or two. as though those that’d interviewed her would materialize at the mere mention. “the last couple things they’d asked me sort of threw me through a loop.”
“Yeah, they have. Just earlier today,” Aurora admited with a sigh. Everything was so serious and it was actually kind of scaring the blonde a bit. What exactly did happen to Greer? Where the heck is she and who knows something that clearly the police don’t? It sort of made her feel better knowing that everybody else was getting questioned and now just her. “They sure did, like - do they really think some of us really wanted her to just....dissapear? It’s so morbid.”
“I know your name, Aurora,” Paloma grumbled. “Did your parents name you after a Disney princess? That would be so fitting,” she looked at the blonde, grimacing momentarily. “It was going just fine,” she said with a faux smirk. “Until now.”
“No, I don’t think so?” Aurora can’t help but flash her a bit of a confused look. What was her deal? Some people were just naturally grumpy and there wasn’t going to be anything that was going to fix it. No matter how nice you could be to them. “Oh, really? What exactly happened? Did a rain cloud come over your head and start raining on you? Only asking because me offering free cookies doesn’t usually upset people.”
Sassa looked up when she heard Aurora’s voice, well aware of the blonde since they were on the cheerleading team together. A small smile curled across her lips, glancing at the cookies she was holding out with her eyebrows raising up. “Sure,” Sassa cooed, reaching out to take one with a smile. She had a soft spot for Aurora, having often seen the attempts she made to hang out with people like Greer, and understanding that desire all too well. Though Sassa mostly convinced herself she had grown out of it (not entirely true, but denial is a powerful thing). “What has you in the baking mood?” she asked through the full bite of cookie she had taken.. “This is amazing though.”
“I’m usually always in the baking mood, but the stress of the new semester has me sort of on edge,” The blonde can’t help but confess to her fellow cheerleader. It was her favorite past time and hobby in general and with everyone on their toes, she had to resort to having something to keep her mind off of it. “Thank you though! It’s an old receipe that I put a little updated twist on. If you ever find yourself in Georgia, these are at my mom’s cafe on our farm.”
“Yeah, I’ve been vegan for a few years ago. It’s all the rage in California. The only time I don’t is when my grandmother cooks. She makes the best authentic Mexican.” Julieta smiles, trying not to be judgmental because most people didn’t know, especially if they didn’t follow her. “That would be nice, in the future, but you don’t have to put in the effort if you don’t want to.” She smiled. “I’m Julieta.” She needed to make friends since she was here.
“I can’t really say I know a lot of vegans from back home. I’m from small town livin’ in Georgia, so,” Aurora lets out a giggle. If that didn’t tell others about her way of life, she didn’t know what else did. “My momma has made certain dishes that are allergy and vegan friendly, I would love to make whatever your favorite dessert it. I’d consider it a good challenge. I’m majoring in culinary arts anyways, so it’s almost like studying! I’m Aurora, by the way.”
This was supposed to be something simple and not something for to completly worry about. Everybody was getting questioned around campus regarding Greer and it was now Aurora’s turn. The blonde had seen enough FBI shows to know how these sort of things went so she hoped that she wouldn’t crack under pressure. It was supposed to be just a few brief questions, right?
“When did you last speak to Greer?”
“Right around before summer started, she texted me to tell me to have a nice summer and to let me know my classes for next semester.”
“When did you last actually see Greer?”
“I don’t remember the exact day, I think it was the end of last semester before summer break started?”
“How well did you know Greer?”
“I didn’t exactly know Greer that well. We had a class together last year and did some assignments together. We texted one another a handful of times, but it was mostly about school stuff.”
“What was your relationship with Greer like?”
”I guess you could consider us friends? Classmates? Like I said, I really didn’t know her much beyond having a class with her. I mean, we kind of hang around the same social circle and have some mutual friends, but that’s it.”
“Have you heard or seen anything about where she was this summer?”
“No, I haven’t. I didn’t see her post anything on Insta, which I thought it was a little odd but I didn’t think too much of it. I think that app is becoming outdated anyways - trust me. It’ll just be the new snapchat.”
“You wouldn’t have wanted Greer to disappear, would you?”
Aurora’s doe eyes become even wider at the question that’s been asked from her. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable in the chair she’s sitting in, she tries to quickly put together a response that doesn’t seem like she’s hiding something dirty. The air at campus had completely changed when the news of Greer’s disappearance had surfaced and now suddenly, everyone was being questioned. Did they think that she was behind it?
“No, I wouldn’t have,” she begins to speak, biting down on her bottom lip that had just been perfecly glossed. “I don’t really think anybody on campus wants her to be in this situation, honestly. I hope she knows that a lot of people are worried about her,” she adds on.
Julieta didn’t like the idea of people being in her business. She had already heard several rumors about herself—and the reason she had left her last school to transfer to Ogden—only a few of which she started herself. But the thing was that she wanted people to know a certain image of her, that’s the whole reason her instagram was curated the way it was. “Uh, no I don’t think…” she looked at the cookies. “Are they vegan?” Julieta was trying to be better about not eating animal products except when she was home and her grandmother made food. She didn’t trust the cute little southern charm vibe she was getting from the other student. Not that Julieta would ever let anyone know she didn’t trust them. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and looked at the blonde.
“Are they vegan?” Aurora raises one of her blonde brows at the other. Back home on the farm, they did offer some vegan options at the cafe, but not here. She didn’t really consider that factor when making the cookies this afternoon.”They aren’t, no. But, if you were interested in some vegan cookies, I can make them upon request!”
After finishing his second workout of the day he had two choices; either go back to his dorm and focus on finishing the homework that’s been sitting on his desk and to-do list for two days or soak in the nice weather and head down to the beach. Naturally, he chose the latter. Honestly, anything to avoid the FBI and dogs that were roaming the halls of Alcott seemingly nonstop throughout the day. He threw his gym bag over his shoulder and made his way to one of the best parts of campus, quite possibly his favorite. Once he arrived he placed his towel down into the sand, stripped off his shirt and basked in the glow of the sunlight.
Bedford certainly didn’t have anything like this. His teammates back home would surely be jealous if they could see him now. He stuck his headphones in his ears and turned on his summer vibes playlist. And just when he was nearly asleep he heard a familiar voice that sounded close to him. Through the bright rays of sun and the noise cancellation of his headphones he couldn’t hear much or see much, so he pulled one headphone out, opened one eye and replied, “What’s up?” in a confused tone.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to bother you roomie!” Aurora raises her hands up in defensive as she sat her beach bag down on the ground. Fall was just around the corner and there weren’t going to be that many days before it would be all cold and gloomy. So, she found herself down at the local beach wanting to get some sun and enjoy the cool salty waters. “I’m thinking I had the same exact idea as you, huh? If you want to move to a different spot, I can.”
“Pumpkin cheesecake?” Jessie eyed the cookies curiously, although she didn’t take one, merely stopping to chat to Aurora. “How do you make a cookie a cheesecake? Like, is there cheese in the cookie? Or would that make it a cheesecookie? When does a cookie become a cake, anyway?”
"Umm, it mostly has to do with using cream cheese as part of the base. It sort of gives it a more creamer texture, if you know what I mean? I promise they are super soft and like melt in your mouth, you won’t regret having one!” Aurora tried her best to sell her cookies for Jessie to try, considering she made well over a dozen.
parker approached with theatrical caution, steps having slowed once her eyes landed on the near-overflowing container. if there was one thing an abundance of baking from aurora signaled to, it was stress. not surprising, given the current state of… well, everything and everyone on campus. nonetheless, she offered the blonde a warm smile, stuffing her phone into her blazer pocket so that she could reach in for a single cookie. “you’re an angel, rory,” parker noted, going to take a bite. “you doing alright? given everything…”
“Oh, I am just trying to spread some cheer around campus,” Aurora shakes her head, letting out an awkward giggle. The tone on campus sure had changed quick and even if people didn’t want to admit it, it was a bit off putting. This school year was supposed to be different, but the blonde didn’t mean by a missing persons investigation unfolding in real time. “I’m okay, I think? Is it bad that I’m a little spooked seeming like, cops around here? Like, it feels like I’m in Pretty Little Liars or something.”
Paloma didn’t even bother to hide her eye roll, she grimaced at the sight of the pink Tupperware. Of course, it was pink. And of course, Aurora baked cookies. She was probably on the way to feed the homeless. “No, thank you.” Paloma was quick to answer. It’s not like she had anything against Aurora personally, she wasn’t a bad person but, that whole Southern Belle thing got on Paloma’s nerves. “Save the Southern charm for someone else, Scarlett.”
Aurora was immediately taken back by Paloma’s response to her. Of course, some people maybe weren’t going to be in the mood for a sweet treat, but did the other girl really need to insult her like that? It’s not like she could help that her accent was so clear when she spoke with people. “My name is actually Aurora, but it’s okay. How is your day going?” Kill them with kindness, that’s what her father always told her.
Nate just shrugged up his shoulders again, glowering still around at the event, determined to be irritated by the gala in general. “Yeah,” he said absentmindedly, not thinking about saying he had come with someone - especially when he hadn’t seen Rhia in a bit as it was - despite his continued flirtation with Aurora since last year. It was just flirting anyways. “Seem to have lost her, though,” he added, crinkling up his nose.
“Oh,” Aurora is quick to respond, but she tries her hardest not to have a look on her face that says otherwise. Most people came here with dates, whether it was with a friend or something more. Rhia was a good friends of her’s, so it really didn’t matter. “Well, I’m sure she’ll show up soon,” the blonde adds on, trying to figure out what she should say next. Boys weren’t exactly her forte, so she was most likely putting her foot in her mouth right now. “Do you want to maybe dance? Or is that not your thing?” Rora jokes, looking up at him once more.
“Hey there! Would you like a cookie? I made a bunch and I have a ton leftover,” Aurora confesses as she opens up the large pink tupperware container filled to the brim with the sweetreats. She was currently stading in an empty hall of her dorm complex, hoping that the people walking by would grab a few. If she was being honest with herself, she had been doing lots of stress baking today. The sight of the cops and FBI around campus had everyone on edge, herself included. One way to calm her nerves was being in the kitchen. “They’re pumpkin cheesecake. It’ll totally get you in the fall mood, just sayin’!”
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