CROSSING LINES |18+|✓

Chapter XII

                            •<Autumn>•

               Can't you see that I'm the one
                     Who understands you?
    Been here all along, so why can't you see?
                        You belong with me
                                          •
                               Taylor Swift
                           •<>•

                                •<<<>>>•

As I blend the sauce, I find myself revisiting the events from a few days ago. Contemplating the next question to ask him, a fog of uncertainty shrouds my thoughts. It's the final chance that I have to ask him anything and I'm still uncertain about the most important thing I want to know about him. Several questions are swirling within and I'm worried that they may come off as unnecessary and perhaps out of line.

The first question I can think of is if he likes me. I've noticed a slight difference in him these past couple of days. The way he looks at me or partially smiles at me, the way he speaks to me, and the twinkle in his eyes when he says my name. The change is quite subtle hence I can't jump to conclusions just yet.

"Okay, I'm done flattening out the dough," Keyara says as she walks over to the sink to rinse her hands.

When she returns, we both start spreading the sauce on the dough before adding some toppings to it.

"Can you imagine if we went on Masterchef?" she speaks enthusiastically, "We'd sweep the board."

"Yeah," I reply, "We'd be so good that Gordon Ramsay would be too stunned to speak."

"Most certainly." She chuckles, "We should apply for the next season."

"On it," I respond with a witty remark as I pull my lips into a smile.

Shortly after, the door opens and our jaws drop the moment we see Autumn walk in. She looks different than when she left and Keyara and I glance at each other before shifting our eyes back to her.

"You got bangs?" I raise an inquisitive eyebrow while keeping my bewildered gaze fixed on her.

"Mmm hmm." She responds and proceeds to take off her jacket and hangs it on the court rack.

When she said she was going to the hair salon, I didn't think she'd come back a different person, I mean not that she doesn't look good but she's never liked them as far I know.

"So...what do you think of my new hairstyle?" She grins, striking a pose that allows us to admire her beauty, and her smile radiates as brilliantly as her sterling gray eyes.

"You look gorgeous," Keyara replies, "However, you've taken us by surprise 'cause you've always voiced out how you don't like bangs."

"Well, surprise-surprise," she responds with great enthusiasm, punctuating her words with jazz hands and a beaming smile, "I told you I'm trying new things."

She then picks up her handbag from the couch and approaches us, "You guys are making pizza?! Wait for me, let me freshen up real quick." she says as she grabs a slice of pineapple and joyfully hurries off to her room.

Leaving us speechless, it takes us a while to recover from the big surprise that Autumn just threw on us.

"Is it just me, or is there something else going on with Autumn?" Keyara's forehead creases with furrows, her expression reflecting pure bewilderment. "At first it was the red lipstick, and now this. Not to mention her weight loss, have you noticed it too?"