Autumn Haze

27: 'The one where I'm glad I'm nothing like my mother...'

My heart was still heavy and aching despite knowing Lucas was breathing, I couldn't stop the longing, the longing of wanting him in my arms, of knowing he is safe.

My eyes have become permanently puffy over the past week, I just couldn't stop crying. I've been through a lot in my life but knowing someone is hurting the one person I love, is breaking me.

Even if he doesn't love me anymore.

Because Lucas Wilson simply isn't the sort of person, you can stop loving. He comes into your life like one of those joke candles, you can try and blow away your affection but it's no use, he's there to stay.

Olivia still wanted for me to get tested for bipolar but right now I couldn't face it, I can't handle anything right now other than him.

My eyebrows knit together when I hear small but aggressive knocks on my front door, my body tense before I edge forward and answer it.

I let out a sharp breath when I see my mother standing there, swaying slightly, her eyes narrow and her cheeks practically hallow.

'Autumn.'

My eyebrows knit together, 'How did you know where I was?'

'That doesn't matter, you need to come home.'

I shake my head, 'This is my home.'

'No it isn't, your home is with me.'

I scoff quietly, 'You've never made our house, a home.'

A shaky breath escapes from her lips, 'I need you.'

I shrug, 'I needed you. I needed you so bad it fucking hurt...I-I was attacked...I-I was assaulted and you sat there and made comments...comments about how men like my fucking hair.'

She pinches the bridge of her nose, 'I made a mistake.'

'No, forgetting to say goodbye when you leave the house is a mistake! Invalidating your daughters trauma isn't a fucking mistake, it's a choice and you made it.'

She rolls her eyes, 'If you want to talk about trauma Autumn, why don't we talk about the fact that you aren't the only person in this fucking world who has been assaulted! Just because it's happened to you, that doesn't mean the world stop spinning and everyone has to look after you.'

I falter, 'What?'

'You expect too much, always have and always will.'

'I just needed you to be my mom.'

'And right now, I need you to be my daughter.'

I shake my head, 'I have a family here, I'm not leaving them behind.'

'But you'll leave me behind?'

'I have a lot going on right now, I don't need this! I don't need you coming back into my life and trying to guilt trip me.'

'Is it that boy?'

I blink slowly, 'What?'

'Lucas? That was his name right?'

'That was his name yes.'

'Did he break up with you?'

'That's none of your business.'

'So, he did. I told you sweetheart, your looks only get you so far.'

'Shut up.'

'Don't speak to me like that.'

'I'll speak to you however, I want to speak to you. You aren't my mother anymore, you made that perfectly clear a long time ago.'

'You are so dramatic, that's probably why he left. You drag everyone into your problems constantly and then you blame them because they can't fix you.'

Hot tears burn my eyes as I swallow the lump in my throat, 'T-That's...that's not true.'

'You are the reason your father left and you're the reason this Lucas left as well.'

'Leave.'

'What?'

'Just leave and don't come back, I don't want to see you anymore.'

'You're being ridiculous, I was just trying to give you some tough love.'

I tense slightly when I feel a tall figure behind me, I turn my head to see Archer standing there with his arms crossed against his chest.

'Lydia, what are you doing here?'

She rolls her eyes, 'I'm not here to speak to you.'

'I'd appreciate it, if you got out of here and left my niece alone.'

I blink, this was the first time that he had ever directly called me his niece.

'Your hardly her uncle.'

He shakes his head, 'Hardly her uncle? I bet I know a lot more than you fucking do about her.'

'Go on then.'

'I bet you didn't know that she actually hates ice-cream but she'll pretend to enjoy it. She hates butter! I don't know why but she just does, she'd rather eat her toast plain. No one is allowed to go near her crystals, especially near a full moon because she thinks it'll effect the charging process. And she also hates people seeing her vunerable, so if she's been crying, you don't say anything even if you want too because it'll make her uncomfortable.'

My heart tugs at this tall man standing next to me, remember small details about me. I always felt as if he was pushed into having me in his life, like Olivia forced him to take care of Winter and I.

But maybe that wasn't true.

'Trust me, I'm her uncle. And I'll always be there to defend and protect her as if she was my own because that's how I see her. So get the fuck off my property.'

My mom blinks slowly before letting out a small sigh and turning on her heel, she walks away wordlessly, as if I wasn't worth the fight.

'Thank you.' I murmur weakly.

Archer shrugs, 'Don't thank me kid, have you ate yet?'

'No, not yet.'

'Come on, I'll fix you a plate before I get ready for work.'

'You don't have to do that.'

'I want too Autumn, I want to make sure that you've got something in your system.'

...

I wrap my arms around my little sister as she snuggles into my side, her soft snoring makes my heart squeeze tightly. I take my hand and slowly stroke down her wild, blonde curls.

My head snaps up when I see Olivia walking into the living room with an iced-coffee in her hands, 'I was making a coffee and I didn't know if you wanted one or not, but then I remembered you hate hot drinks, so I made you an iced-one.'

'Thank you.'

'It's okay honey.'

I shake my head, 'Thank you for everything...you've welcome me into your home, you've helped me without even batting an eyelid, you put food on the table, you look after me if I'm upset. And I don't think I thank you enough for that.'

Her eyebrows knit together, 'Autumn, I love you. Of course, I'm going to do that for you. You're my family.'

'I just want you to know that I appreciate you.'

'I know you do.'