Behind Closed Doors: An Autorie Story

They've Left Us

*A/N- Wow. Two new stories in two days. I'm spoiling you guys. Or am I still hiding from Mialotte? Guess we'll never know. You guys will get just as much emotional damage from this as the others. I can't wait, can you? Happy reading! Enjoy!

(MARJORIE)
"You know, after we all swapped bodies and I was Winter, the last thing I expected was for Reece and Winter to get together..."

Autumn looked at me, slightly nauseous at the thought of her brother having her leftovers. "Yes, I don't think anyone would've guessed that would happen."

My mind started to wander and landed on how their dynamic would work. I was trying to be happy for them, but I won't lie, I felt a weird chill go down my spine just thinking about it.

I didn't want to think about anything anymore, and definitely not that. I needed a way to clear my mind of it all.

The best way to do that? Alcohol.

"Wanna get a drink tonight to forget about it?" I asked, praying she would say yes.

Her face changed, and she showed emotion, "Only one?" She joked, "I hope you mean several."

I laughed, and then we set our plans.

We decided to go as soon as we were off the clock. It wasn't going to be long. There was only one child left, so I sent all the other staff home. It was just Autumn and I in the building now.

"How long until this parent gets here?" Autumn said, coming in the room to sit with me.

I looked at my watch, "Um... not sure exactly. Poor Todd should've already been gone by now. Did mum or dad say they were going to be late?"

"No." She watched out the window for them, and when she saw the car pull into the car park, she set her things down and said, "They're here."

"Finally," I said under my breath.

"Do you want me to go and..."

She gestured out the door, and I knew where she was going. I still wanted to see how she would word it, so I played dumb and waited for her to reply.

"... have a 'conversation' with them?"

"Really? You want to just 'talk' to a parent?" I gave her the, "We both know that ain't happening" look and she rolled her eyes. 

"I'll try and be gentle. Not that they deserve it. They are an hour late from their scheduled pickup time." She mumbled something else, but I couldn't quite make it out.

I laughed, "Right, good luck with that. I won't say no if you want to handle it. Lord knows we both need to let off a little steam."

She nodded and headed out.

I watched as she walked up to Todd's father with her arms crossed. She practically towered over him, and even from how far away they were, I could see he was nervous.

She was so beautiful but terrifying at the same time. Her tall, thin stature and porcelain skin made her almost like a doll.

The way she had her red hair tied up should have made her look more inviting, and somehow, it gave the opposite effect. However, it did help show off her other features. With it up, the sun and the shadows hit her jawline perfectly. You could see how the light reflected in her eyes and the outline of her soft lips better.

Her silhouette was something that could be seen in an old movie. Her eyes were dark, but when she saw someone she cared for, you could see the subtle change to be more warm and inviting.

Not often would she smile, but when she did, it was soft, barely noticeable to those who did not know to look for it. Every time she did smirk or grin, it was almost like the world would stop. Everything would be quiet for just a moment until she would notice and hide her emotions again. She kept all of her feelings very close to her chest. Very rarely would she let anyone in and show them, and it took a long time for her to build up that level of trust with others.

But it wasn't like that with us.

With me, she had always been more vocal with things she liked or didn't, how she was feeling, the things she wanted to do. She never opened up much about her past or her home life before Reece came, but after the things I'd heard from him about their childhood... I couldn't blame her. My home life was messed up and dark, but hers was pitch black like the edges of the universe where stars hadn't formed yet to let off any light.

I could never understand how someone as beautiful as her would be treated as she was by her father. Who would want to cause harm to such a beautiful girl?

She was so gentle with the children, and so stern with the parents. She had definitely earned her nickname. I always saw her as the Knight in shining Armor of our nursery. Pun intended.

In the back of my mind, I wondered if she saw herself like that, too.

Since I am the manager of the small kingdom, which is the nursery and its staff, I always wondered: did she see me as the Queen or maybe, the princess? Her princess...

I was pulled back to the present when Autumn walked in with Todd's dad. He was practically in tears after talking to her.

"S- sorry, Marjorie. It won't happen again." He stuttered out.

"See that it doesn't," Autumn said darkly. "See you tomorrow, Todd. Your father is going to take you out for ice cream since he was late." She crouched down next to him to help him put on his jumper, "Make sure you get something with a lot of sugar."

I had to stifle a laugh while they walked out. I looked at her in amazement. "What did you say to make him like that?"

There, on the edges of her lips, was the tiniest smirk. "Are you sure you want to know?"

"Maybe it's best I don't. Plausible deniability is the only thing I have right now." I picked up my bag to leave. "Ready to go?"

She came over, standing only an inch away from me. My pulse started racing as she had mever been this close to me. She leaned in, and I felt myself getting nervous. Her arm reached up next to me, and I thought she was going to...

But then she turned off the light for the room.

And then it hit me. The switch was behind me. She was turning the light off. Marjorie, you pillock.

"Let's go," she said quietly. Autumn grabbed her things and held the door open for me. "Time for some fun," she winked.

I choked on the air for a second. Something came over me, and I didn’t know what it was. It was the same feeling I had when I'd first met Reece. Why did I...?

That's crazy talk from all the stress over the last few days. It couldn't be that... could it?

No. There's no way. She's Autumn. She's...

I need a drink.