THE LAST LEAVES OF AUTUMN - (TNN - PROM NIGHT- AUTUMN/REECE/MIA)

CHAPTER NINE - SMASHED GLASS

"Just fuck off Mia. I'm so sick of you." Reece was sat on the sofa with his back to Mia. He heard her walk away and breathed a sigh of relief. This relationship had been toxic from the start but no matter what they did, they couldn't seem to shake each other. Just as he was contemplating his life choices, a glass smashed against the wall right next to head. As he turned around, he saw Mia storming towards him and holding a second glass.

"HOW FUCKING DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT." She was completely enraged and just as Reece stood up, she placed her hand on his chest and attempted to shove him backwards. He grabbed her wrists and threw her down onto the sofa, immediately wrestling the glass from her hands. Storming over and into the kitchen, he threw the glass against the cabinets and watched it shatter, breathing heavily.

"ITS OVER REECE, FUCK YOU." Mia stormed past him and moments later, he heard the front door slam shut. Throwing himself down into a dining chair, Reece groaned loudly. It wasn't over, it was never over. They'd fight, someone would storm off, then they'd ignore each other for two weeks until one of them gave in. Stuck in a vicious cycle, dragging each other down and developing more and more resentment every time.

Nobody was more sick of Reece and Mia's constant back and forth than Autumn. Every few weeks they'd have a blazing row, smashing plates and glasses while screaming insults. As much as Autumn hated her brother, she couldn't stop her heart from calling out to him. Every time she heard him pacing around his room after another argument, all she wanted to do was knock on his door. She missed her big brother, but she had to keep reminding herself that the Reece she thought she'd known had never existed at all. That Reece would never have betrayed her or been so cruel.

Autumn listened carefully as her brother stormed upstairs and into his room. Immediately, he started pacing and as Autumn stared at the ceiling, she felt that familiar pain in her chest. Turning over onto her side she grabbed a pillow and placed it over her head, hoping to muffle the sound of Reece's footsteps. She quickly realised that it was useless, so she threw the pillow down onto the floor in frustration. Pushing herself up and onto her feet, she stormed out into the hallway and over to Reece's door.

Raising her hand to knock, she hesitated, deciding instead to place her ear against the door. Reece was clearly sniffling and crying as he paced back and forth. He'd always been so sensitive and as far as Autumn could tell, he still was, so why had he gone out of his way to hurt her? As she listened to him clear his throat, she thought of Mia. The girl she'd once considered so perfect had become someone Autumn genuinely despised. All she'd done since prom night was torment Reece, as well as suddenly treating Autumn like she was beneath her. Once upon a time, she never would have questioned what her brother saw in Mia, now she couldn't fathom his attraction at all.

Reece coughing pulled her from her thoughts and prompted her to finally knock. Once Reece had opened the door, his eyes widened in shock. Autumn had been ignoring him for months and he was overjoyed to see her stood there waiting for him. She looked him up and down, taking in the bags under his eyes and his dejected posture. As she opened her mouth to speak, the hopeful look in his eyes caused several thoughts to cross her mind.

"Ask him if he's ok."
"Tell him he needs to stop taking Mia back."
"Forgive him."
"No."

"Can you shut up?  Nobody cares about your pathetic relationship problems, I'm trying to sleep." Just before Autumn turned on her heel, she saw the pain behind Reece's eyes and just for a moment, she wished that she could hug him.

She missed their hugs.