Abstract

Chapter 18

The sound of my phone blaring woke me up around two o' clock in the morning.

"Hello," I answered, my voice still full of sleep.

"Aura," Autumn's voice sounded frantic. "I need your help! Please, please help me!" She was barely audible over the phone as she breezed through her sentences, not pausing to allow me the time to process what she was saying.

"Autumn, calm down. Start over." I sat up in my bed and turned on my bedside lamp.

"I think I may have killed somebody." She cried.

"What?" My eyebrows knotted together in confusion. She couldn't be serious. "Autumn, if this is another one of your pranks, I swear--"

"THIS ISN'T A FREAKING JOKE, AURA." She screamed, her heavy breathing crackling through the phone.

I was already out of bed and putting on a pair of jeans and an oversized t shirt that once belonged to Zylen but I stole. "Where are you?" I asked when I was done dressing.

"At home. I'll text you the address." She breathed.

"Okay," I stepped on the gas and prayed that she was joking as I drove in apprehensive silence to the place she directed me too.

***
When I got there, I was both relieved and worried to see that everybody except Cole was there. I leaped into Zylen's arms first before turning to Autumn to find out what the hell was going on.

"What's going on?" I asked. Nabeela had her arm around a traumatised Autumn.

"I was upstairs in my room when I heard my mom screaming at my dad. She was yelling at him because he hadn't once talked to my brother ever since he had returned from the hospital. My dad told her that he doesn't have a son, that children with down syndrome aren't human beings." She broke down after saying the last part. Her brother, Jack, had Down Syndrome and had been in a coma for a while because of brain complications. Nabeela and Willow rubbed her back in comfort.

"I'm so sorry, Autumn." Jesse whispered. It was the first time I had ever seen him serious, and there were tears in his eyes. Qaahir looked like he wanted to say something, but just kept quiet instead. Even Derek was fuming at the hurtful words her father said about his own son.

"I was so angry. I still am. But I was livid. All I saw was red. And I grabbed the nearest object, which was a cricket bat, and whacked him on the head with all my might. For a split second, I hoped he was dead. And when he wasn't responding, my mom called the ambulance and I called you guys."

"Is he going to be okay?" Zylen asked.

"I think so. I heard the paramedic say it's just a mild concussion. They ran a few tests and he's out cold in his room."

"That's good. We don't want you to get in trouble."

We stayed with Autumn for hours, in her room filled with posters of metal bands and dark quotes. Nabeela finally left first at 5 am because she had an early class at 7. Derek and Jesse left shortly after. Rehana, Willow and Adam car pooled for their shift at their part - time job as servers at a restaurant. Finally, it was just me, Zylen, Qaahir and Autumn.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Zylen asked Autumn. He had to leave because he had a an important presentation for his biochemistry class. My smart, tattooed, beautiful boy.

"I'll be fine. Thanks, Zy. You're a good friend."

He gave her a hug. "I'll see you tommorow." He gave me a kiss on the cheek. "I'll call you later." He whispered in my ear. I nodded, and then he was gone. And me, Autumn and Qaahir were left alone.

"You guys don't have to stay, you know." Autumn said, after a while.
"I'm fine now."

Hugging her one last time, I asked Qaahir if he wanted me to give him a ride.

"No, I want to stay with Autumn. I brought my car." He told me. I smiled internally at his clear affection for her as I left.

"How is your friend?" Aunt Aura asked as I walked through the door. I just wish I could have seen her face when I texted her at 4am, telling her I snuck out of the house with her car.

"She's doing okay."

"That's good to hear." She said.

"Where's dad?"

She looked at me, perplexed. "Why would he be here?"

"You know," I paused. "Because you two are back together after eighteen years."

Her eyes widened at my bluntness. "And you're really okay with that."

I looked at her like she was bonkers. "You and him have history. I love you. I love him. So, what's there to not be okay about."

She exhaled a breath of relief. "We're taking things slow. So much has happened."

I nodded in understanding. "I get it. I'm really rooting for you two." I gave her a smile and made my way upstairs because I needed a long, hot shower. My mind drifted off to Autumn and what she must be battling in her head.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me. Biggest. Lie. Ever. Told.

And maybe I'm not the best spokesperson for what words can do to your feelings, but it was absolute bull crap to diminish the effect words have on a person. She was called a slut. He was called a fag. They were called Losers. Simple words can ruin someone's entire day. It isn't a matter of sensitivity, but the sheer knowledge that someone would think so little of you, that they would tarnish your name with bad words and vindictive statements.

The sticks and stones saying should be rewritten. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words rip the skin right off my flesh.
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