Spring in September (Short Story)

Chapter Six

In the middle of the night Aaron woke up and saw Sydney sleeping somewhat on top of him on the couch, there wasn't a whole lot of room laying there so they were cuddled up next to each other so he didn't fall off the edge. She looked peaceful in the dark with her black hair flowing around her like calm water, and the blue moonlight made her glow as she held him close. Aaron blushed and pulled the light pink blanket over them and went back to bed.

Sydney woke up and saw she was laying on Aaron's chest, she quickly and quietly got up so she didn't wake him and went upstairs to her room and changed her clothes from a long sleeve black hoodie and pants to a tank top and shorts, her face was hot and red as she looked at the clock, 6:23AM. She went to the front porch and sat outside, the cool morning air smelled of morning dew and freshly cut grass. it was somewhat chilly as the sun had not yet risen but there was light coming over the horizon, the birds chirped and flew overhead as she breathed in the morning air.

After a few minutes a black impala with tinted windows pulled up to Sydney's house and out of it came his father wearing all black and a face mask. He walked up to Sydney who was sitting on the porch, "good morning young lady." he greeted her.

"morning." Sydney greeted him.

"have you by any chance seen my son? Aaron? i see you walking to and from school every day so i was just wondering if you know where he is" He put his hands in the pockets of his black sweater.

Sydney got a bad feeling in her stomach, she grew a little more panicked, she could tell there was something inside his pocket. "no i haven't sir."

Aaron's dad leaned against the railing of the porch and started taking something out of his pocket slowly. "are you sure? last i saw him he was over here."

Sydney's heart was racing and all she could think about was what was in this mans pocket and how she could defend herself from it. then the scariest thought entered her mind. "its the man from that day..." Sydney's heart skipped a beat and she stopped breathing as Carlos stood there ominously in the dim morning light.

Finally she mustered the courage to say something, "i- i have to g-go inside-..." Sydney got up and started walking towards the door but Carlos Grabbed her arm fast and tightly so she couldn't get away.

"you better not be lying to me girl. I will find out." He spoke quietly in her face as he pulled something out of his pocket, Sydney was too scared to look to see what it was so all she could do was stand there with tears in her eyes.

"excuse me sir, can i help you?" Lucy stood in the doorway with her arms crossed and a robe on over her pajamas. She had an angry look in her eyes as Carlos looked at her.

he let go of Sydney "i was just looking for my son."

"well he's not here so leave my property. now." Lucy pointed to his car and signaled for him to leave.

Carlos walked away and got back in his car he parked his car in his driveway and went inside. As soon as he left Lucy rushed Sydney inside and closed and locked the door.

"are you okay? did he hurt you?" Aaron asked her with panic in his eyes, Sydney's heart was still racing and tears were still streaming from her eyes.

"you two go to the living room, I'll make some breakfast." Lucy started walking to the kitchen.

Aaron looked at Sydney who was shaking with fear, he grabbed her hand and brought her to the living room and sat her on the couch next to him. "are you alright Sydney?" when she didn't respond to him he covered her with a blanket and turned on the TV.

she rested her head on his shoulder and Aaron smiled, "when i woke up i saw you weren't with me anymore, after that i heard you on the porch so i looked through the window with my dad, so i went to get Lucy" Aaron held her trying to comfort her as she was shaking.

After a few minutes Lucy walked in with plates of pancakes and gave one to Sydney and Aaron, "you alright Sydney?" she asked as she set the plate down and went upstairs.

"where is she going?" Aaron asked as he got up to follow her.

When he got up the stairs he looked down a hallway where he could see Sydney walking into the room at the end. he followed her and entered a room with black and dark pink wallpaper and black butterflies hanging from the ceiling, there was a window with gray curtains covering it and a bed in the corner of the room, the sheets were messy and the room itself had books and paper laying everywhere.

"Sydney?" Aaron looked around but he couldn't see her. he looked around and saw a picture of her as a kid, her black hair seemed brighter even though it was still the same shade of black it is now and she was smiling with the rest of her family, everything about her seemed more lively in the picture he was looking at. Aaron sighed and started walking out of the room, "if you need me ill be downstairs, you know I'm always here if you need someone to talk to."

"but i already said we weren't friends." Sydney mumbled from somewhere in her room.

Aaron laughed at that statement, "i don't care, even if you say you hate me, I'll always be here for you." and with that he left the room and closed the door behind him.

Aaron went back downstairs and got his shoes on. "where are you going Aaron?" Lucy asked as she sat in the chair of the living room.

Aaron looked at Lucy and smiled as he continued putting his shoes on, "i was just getting ready for school and i thought maybe i would go back home." he grabbed the doorknob and Lucy walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Aaron, your not going to school today." Lucy's eyes dulled and her face had pity on it as she looked at him, "your father will be looking for you there, Sydney isn't going today either."

Aaron looked at Lucy and unlocked the front door, "i cant not go to school though" He smiled as he lowered his hand to the doorknob.

"Aaron. you don't have to go back there, Sydney told me how you got that mark." Lucy placed her hand on his and locked the door. "give me a few days, ill make sure they cant hurt you."

Aaron smiled and though "no ones ever cared about me like this-" he chuckled, "i kinda like it."  he let go of the door and hugged Lucy. "thank you Lucy."

"don't worry kiddo, I've got your back." Lucy hugged him back and led him away from the door.

Sydney sat alone on her bed in the darkness of her room and listened in to what was happening downstairs, "alright then, i have to go out and find a job, it could take all day so don't hesitate to grab something to eat at any time if you get hungry. oh and its supposed to rain again today so take care of Sydney for me." Lucy's voice carried through the vents so Sydney could hear her.

"alright then, a whole day inside." Sydney thought to herself as she smiled slightly behind Aaron's light blue hoodie that she was cuddling. "and Aaron will be here all day too..."

Tune in next week for the next chapter of Spring in September.

And please like this week's episode and follow the story so you don't miss what happens next!