Masquerade || A Marjumn Story

3 • Silence

The room was silent for most of the day. Normally Autumn liked quiet, she always had but she didn't like it today. Growing up in her family, her home was always filled with noise. Her first memories of her family home were her parents yelling at each other. Eventually that sound was replaced with crying when her father hit her mother for the first time. When her mother ran away from her father, leaving Autumn and her brother Reece behind, the yelling returned. Her father would scream at the two kids and then that anger turned into the same thing it had become with their mother. He punched Reece. Eventually their father kicked Reece out on his 16th birthday when he found out that his son had been in contact with his mother. Silence became comfort for Autumn. This was the first time that she could recall ever wanting to hear noise.

Marjorie had sat at her desk typing, the only sound leaving her mouth being sighs. She kept her eyes glued to her computer. Every once in a while, she would steal a glance at Autumn, looking away if Autumn looked back at her. "So... How have you been since our last encounter?" Autumn questioned, looking up from her computer at the woman opposite her. Marjorie sighed and looked up, avoiding eye contact. "I've been fine, you?" She replied, playing with her hair.

Autumn couldn't understand why Marjorie was acting like this. Everything had been fine between the two of them. Yes, she understood that it was a strange situation. They met at a masquerade ball, danced together, exchanged numbers and now they're sat in a stuffy nursery office together. But what she couldn't understand was why Marjorie couldn't even look at her.

"I've been alright. You have been very quiet, are you sure you're okay?" Autumn asked as she shuffled in her seat. She attempted to read the other woman's face as she waited for a response. "This is just weird. That's all." she said, looking down at her computer and dissolving back into silence.

Autumn restrained herself. She wanted to say something, anything, to make Marjorie look at her the way she did the night they met. Marjorie made Autumn feel alive. Since the first time she had seen her father hit her mum, Autumn felt like she was walking around in a body that was no longer alive but hadn't caught up with her mind. Ever since that day, she would find ways to make herself feel something, feel anything, again. From stealing clothes as a kid to driving well over the speed limit without a license as a teen and eventually drowning her sorrows in alcohol every chance she got. She needed danger to feel alive. Was being around Marjorie dangerous?

The next few hours passed in complete silence. Eventually a staff member with a very familiar face came in and sat opposite Marjorie's desk. "So how's... Mia?" Marjorie very clearly forced a smile. Autumn immediately realised where she knew the woman from. Her name was Charlotte. She was present at the last few Knight family parties as the date of Mia, Autumn's... Sister? That's the only thing Autumn could really refer to her as. Despite having dated her brother, Amelia Roberts was her family, whether they were blood-related or not.

"She's good," she replied and turned to face Autumn, "Hey Autumn. How's your first day going?" She smiled. Autumn placed her pen on the table and looked up at the woman. "It's been interesting." She replied. Marjorie looked back and forth between the two women. "Wait. Do you two know each other?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. Charlotte turned, looking back at Marjorie. "Yeah, Aut and Mia practically grew up together." Charlotte said. Autumn looked at the woman across the room and for the first time all day, Marjorie didn't look away from her. Autumn smiled. "God, when was the last time I smiled?" Autumn thought to herself.

The rest of the day went better than expected. Marjorie and Autumn engaged in idle conversation and laughed over how weird it was that they didn't realise who the other was until today. Eventually it hit 6:30 and the two women parted ways, heading home.

As Autumn walked through the door to her house, her phone buzzed. A smile spread across her lips.

M.V.G: It was interesting seeing you again, Autumn.

Autumn: Interesting? I hope you mean that in a good way.

Autumn chuckled to herself and went about changing Marjorie's contact name in her phone.

The two women spent the evening texting as if nothing had changed, other than some jokes here and there about how the both of them had mentioned hating Roger to each other without realising. Marjorie, talking about her entitled boss and Autumn, talking about the insane man who was unfortunately her father.

Autumn felt alive again.

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A/N

Sorry this chapter is short, I tried to lengthen it but there's not much I could do. Next chapter should be out straight after this!