Unraveled Threads

Chapter 19: Ambition.

As Autumn sat on her bed, she couldn't help but notice how empty her room felt. It was plain, lacking any personal touches. The walls were bare, the furniture minimal, and everything about it seemed cold and uninviting. The contrast between her room and Mia's was striking. Mia's space had been filled with decorations, posters, and little touches that made it feel warm and alive. Despite having so little, Mia had made her room a reflection of herself, something Autumn admired deeply.

Autumn wanted that for herself—a room that felt like more than just a place to sleep. She imagined having clothes that made her feel confident, and decor that brought warmth and personality to her space. But there was a problem: she had no money. Her father wasn't home, and he'd left barely enough for food, let alone anything extra like clothes or decorations.

She sighed, feeling frustrated. The desire to change her surroundings was strong, but the means to do so felt just out of reach.

As she sat in class, Autumn overheard two of her classmates talking. "I'm gonna fail! I wish there was some way to get someone to write the essay for me!"

Suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind. Autumn was a very smart girl, and she was surrounded by a building full of rich, lazy, entitled kids. She immediately thought of creating a business.

Her plan was simple: she would anonymously give students the code to her locker. They would leave money and a request inside, and she would do the work for them—no questions asked.

Now, she just needed to come up with a name. She began rearranging the letters of her name, until she got it: Aunt Muk. No one in this stupid school would ever figure it out.

She started the business for decor, but it continued because she enjoyed the power it gave her. Despite her dislike for it, like her father, she craved that control.

Autumn's admiration for Mia deepened as Mia helped her uncover her true potential and rise to prominence in school. Mia's guidance transformed Autumn into one of the most popular girls, and she treated Autumn like a cherished younger sister, which only increased Autumn's respect and affection for her.

Together, Autumn and Mia formed an influential duo, with Reece adding his own unique presence to the mix. Mia, like Autumn, had her own entrepreneurial venture. With a sharp wit and a talent for words, she expertly navigated trouble and began to profit from her ability to get others out of sticky situations. The only people she would assist for free were Reece and Autumn—though Autumn was the primary beneficiary. Reece rarely found himself in trouble, while Autumn, shaped by her past experiences, usually resorted to violence to address her issues. It was a difficult pattern to break, given that it was the only method she had ever known.

IK ITS RLLY SHORT IM KINDA STRUGGLING!!