struggle ↠ mgc [on hold]

6

autumn

Autumn quickly pulled back after she comprehended what she had just done.

"Oh my god, I'm sorry. Why did I do that? I've only known you for a day. I don't even like you like that. That was a mistake. I'm so stupid. I'm sorry." All these words came tumbling out of Autumn's mouth so fast she didn't even know what she was saying.

She quickly opened the car door and got out.

"Wai-" Michael's voice wasn't heard over the sound of the car door slam.

Her head was spinning and all she wanted to do is burst into tears in.

She sprinted to her house and closed the front door behind her.

In the next few seconds, she was clambering the stairs and heading towards her bedroom.

After shutting her bedroom door, she made her way over to her bed, tossing her belongings aside.

Her shaky body collapsed onto her bed and tears began to spill.

-

"I've messed things up," was the first thing Autumn told Charlie when she got to her session the next day.

Charlie frowned and asked, "What did you do?"

So, Autumn told her about seeing Ashton and meeting the guy that had spilt a drink on her and pretty much everything that had occurred in the past 24 hours.

Throughout Autumn's account, Charlie nodded and smiled insouciantly, trying to show her sympathy and that she was listening and understanding.

After about thirty seconds of silence, Charlie gave Autumn some advice.
"I think you should stay away from them. You are strong, remember that. Don't risk becoming weak."

If only Autumn had listened.

michael

"Ashton, can you tell me now?" Michael beseeched.

Ashton and Michael were at McDonald's eating breakfast and Michael found this a good opportunity to get some information on Ashton's friendship with Autumn.

Of course Michael didn't like prying and he could tell Ashton didn't want to discuss it but he couldn't help his curiosity.

"We were best friends up until two years ago. I met her when I was eleven and we stayed best friends until she was seventeen. Shit happened and we haven't spoken to each other since," Ashton sighed, fiddling with his straw and looking down at the table.

"What happened?"

He obviously wanted to know what happened between them but doubted that Ashton would tell him.

"I don't think it's really for me to say," Ashton told Michael solemnly. "Look, Michael."

"Yeah?"

Michael took a bite of his food and thought of questions he wanted to ask Ashton but knew he probably wouldn't get any answers.

"She's uh kind of...complicated. Just be careful," Ashton said, gazing down at his lap and pressing his lips into a thin line.

Although Michael didn't fully understand what Ashton was telling him, he nodded and finished his meal.

This didn't help with his vehement curiosity, it just made it worse.

autumn

Later that day, Autumn returned home and after much contemplation, decided to call Michael.

Lethargic, she sat down on her couch and rested her head back.

She grabbed her phone from her bag, unlocked it and sought Michael in her contacts.

How to start the conversation was what she was most anxious about as she lifted her phone to her ear.

"Hello, Michael's phone."

It was Luke who had picked up and she was slightly relieved. She had no idea what she was going to say to Michael and she worried that he wouldn't want to speak to her anyway.

"Oh uh it's Autumn," She said tremulously.

"Hey! How are you?"

Absolutely terrible, Autumn said to herself.

"I'm fine thanks," Autumn lied.

"Did you want me to pass on a message?"

There was a lot of shuffling down the line and several voices.

"Can you just tell him to ring me back?"

She didn't know what to she wanted to say to Michael.

"Sure," Luke chirped.

She thanked him and expected him to hang up but he didn't. "Autumn," Luke said.

"Yeah."

"Do you uh- want to go out tonight, like together?" Luke asked, his voice sounded slightly nervous.

"Like...on a date?"

"Yes."

Why did Luke want to go out with me, Autumn asked herself.

At that moment she didn't know what she wanted but she needed a distraction and maybe this could help her.

"I'd love to."

//

idk why i changed the title but i just didn't want it to be called video games anymore it's still the same plot though just a better title i guess