You and Me, Kid

○ Chapter 29 ○

Graduation day. A day of celebration. At least, that's what it should have been. Autumn's graduation day started with an argument between her and Pete about how the man didn't care as much as he used to anymore and it really hurt when she realised it was true – Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell had lost all care for her, and so had the team. All their care was pointed towards Harrison now. After the argument she and Pete had on her eighteenth birthday, he held it over her head that she was refusing to 'be an adult' and 'let go of the past' even if he had yet to do so.

"Get up. You'll miss Harrison's graduation," Pete said, not even entering her room. Tears gathered in her eyes as he didn't add her name or 'and your' to his sentence, it was just 'Harrison'. Grabbing her graduation robes, Autumn walked down the stairs and saw Harrison, Beth and Pete all sharing a hug with wide smiles on their faces that fell when she entered the room.

Glancing down at the ring on her finger, a decision was made in her head. This ring means nothing, she thought, fiddling with it before looking up at Harrison, meeting his green eyes. This ring never meant anything. "Harrison," she said, pulling the ring off her finger and grabbing his hand, holding it out flat, "this meant nothing. That promise you made broke, didn't it? Happy graduation day. I mean, according to Pete it's just your graduation day. I don't have one apparently. How does it feel to replace me?" Placing the ring in his hand, she turned on her heel only for Pete to stop her. "Get. Your. Hands. Off. Me."

"I am your father-"

"You are not my father!" Autumn shouted, turning to him with tears in her eyes, staring at him with pure hurt and betrayal in her eyes. "You got rid of that title the moment you chose him" pointing a finger at Harrison, the boy she considered a best friend, she almost sobbed when she saw Jake comforting him "over me. How would my dad feel about this, Maverick? You chose Harrison over your adopted daughter. Was I just a liability to you?"

"I never chose him over you," Pete argued.

"Oh really? When was the last time we spoke normally? When was the last time you asked how I was? When was the last time we had a decent conversation? When was the last time you considered me your daughter?" Pete didn't respond, everyone in the room freezing. "When was the last time you considered me a human being?"

Again he didn't respond.

"Exactly," she whispered, trying her hardest not to cry. "God, I wish it was you in place of my dad. Maybe then I'd be considered a human being. Maybe then I'd have a good relationship with a father." Leaving the room, Autumn was so close to breaking down but when she heard the conversation within the room, she finally broke.

"Good job, Mitchell," Natasha spat. "God, you're an idiot. Why can't you just love the kid? She's a child!"

"She's eighteen."

"So?!" It was Mickey who spoke up this time. "She's your child! Why does her age fucking matter? Ever since these two showed up, it's been all about them and not about your own fucking child. That's sick."

"Whatever," Pete sighed. "Harri, Beth, let's go." The trio walked past her, Harrison mouthing 'sorry' to her. Sorry wasn't going to fix this, sorry wasn't going to do anything. She just lost her father to her best friends...

Getting her helmet and her keys, Autumn hopped onto her motorcycle and drove to her high school, ignoring the shouts of her aunts and uncles as they watched her go. When she got there, Max immediately wrapped her in a hug, knowing she wasn't okay. "He fucked up again, didn't he?" Autumn just nodded. Walking into the auditorium, Autumn was met with paper in her face. "Hey! Why can't you just not be a dick?"

"Shut up, kid," Pete glared. "Letter." Nodding, Autumn picked it up and placed it in her pocket, trying to calm down. "Read it, idiot." With shaky hands, Autumn pulled it out and opened it, Max trying to get Pete to step away from her, Tyler immediately coming over to help when he saw how anxious Autumn looked.

My Little Rooster,
You did it, you made it through the hell that is high school! I am so goddamn proud of you, honey, and I know everyone you've surrounded yourself with is as well. I can't believe you're eighteen... it feels like yesterday I was cradling your little baby body in my arms while your mother slept (probably because it was last weekend for me).

I'm just so proud. Everything you've gone through, everything you've ever done has prepared you for your future, whatever path you decide to choose. Though, if you grew up with Pete as your guardian, I could imagine that it's becoming a pilot.

Remember, honey, I'll be with you every step of the way and I'm always with you. No matter what. Attached to the letter is a necklace for you, honey. Daddy's proud of you, little Rooster, and I always will be.

Love you loads, honey bug.
Daddy

After reading the letter, Autumn placed it in her pocket and walked to her seat with Max and Tyler in tow, Mia, Chloe, Johanna, and Aiden already sat there. Graduation soon ended, everyone receiving their diplomas and throwing their hats in the air. "Autumn, hun, if you want you can come to ours for a celebration," Elouise offered, Autumn gratefully accepting. That night was a night of celebration with people who Autumn always wanted to keep close to her, including Mickey and Natasha. It was a good end to a horrible start.