Memories of Autumn

Chapter 2

After a few hours, class started and Anne was kept busy with the children and their guardians and mothers. Everything was going well that day; Anne was happy to be with children. She loved children and the children loved her back. When school ended and the children left, Anne was alone in the classroom, cleaning the mess when suddenly a black car parked at the driveway. The man appeared on the classroom doorway. "Uhm, are you Miss Anne Richards?" He spoke in a deep, sultry voice. It was a tall man, with glasses, pale, in his late 20's, yet had a great shape which can be seen despite his grey suite. Anne was not looking at him, she was busy picking up crayons on the floor. "Yes, but class already ended, all the children had left." She replied, not looking at the man as she puts the crayons in the box. "Well what a great way to greet an old friend. I see you haven't changed a bit." The man replied which made Anne turn to him. She squints her eyes as she tried to figure out the familiar face. Her eyes widened as she realized who the man was. "N-nate?" She muttered. The man smiles "I never thought you'd remember me." He replied as he walked towards her. "How could I forget. How are you? What have you been doing during these last few years?" She replied, looking at him. "I'm doing fine. I'm a genetic scientist working as a researcher at Oxford University at the present." He replied as he fixed his glasses. "Well, that's good, uhm, what are you doing here?" She replied with a nervous tone. "Well I was wondering if we could talk it over a cup of tea." He said. "Alright, I'd be glad to. Let me just lock up first." Anne said as she got her things, locked the door behind them and the two left.

Because she had her car with her, Anne choose to drive it to the café to have some tea with her friend, Nate. As she follows Nate car, she couldn't help but remember their past.

' It was when I was a freshman and Nate was a junior when he gave me the first love letter. I was getting some books from my locker when a pink envelope slips down to my feet. It was addressed to me so I opened it. Back then I never knew Nate or John. The envelope had a letter inside. I read the letter and found that it was a beautiful poem of admiration. My suitor certainly knows that I was into romantic poems. So the night after that, I decided to write him back. I put it in a blue envelope and put it in my locker, the way that it was placed yesterday, with the edge peaking so someone can pull it out without opening my locker. It was a letter of who he was and how I appreciated his poem. So the letter giving was a form of communication between me and my admirer. I was secretly falling in love with him though I never knew who he was . One day, a cute, tall blond boy with blue eyes approached me, introduced himself and said that he really wanted to know more about me; well ofcourse I knew him already, he was a campus hotie. At first I doubt that he was my secret admirer but since he approached me, the letter has stopped so I presumed that John was the one sending the letters. So I gave John a chance for me to know him better. He was charming and sweet. But I soon realized that his personality and penmanship was not like my secret admirer. So I asked him if he ever sent me a letter, he told me he didn't so I was again intrigued of the mystery admirer. But it was too late, I was starting to fall in love with John.

One day, I was walking past John's classroom when I heard voices. I was supposed to stop by so I couldn't help but listen. "Dude, what's wrong?" A voice which I think was John's said. "Nothing.." Another voice replied. "Come on, tell me. Have I done something wrong?". "Well, unintentionally." "What are you talking about?" John said. "Well, Anne was the girl I was talking about...the one I sent letters to." The voice answered, my eyes widened then I heard John say "I-I'm so sorry, man. I-I didn't know." Then the door opened and that was when I saw Nate, fixing his glasses. He walks pass me, not even looking at me.

That day, john and I talked. "Why didn't you tell me you were sending letters to Nate?" He said soflty. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. Plus I thought you were the one that gave those letters." I replied. He took a deep breath and started "Nate has been my bestfriend for as long as I can remember. He is very important in my life...but you are more important than him. If you'll have me, I will be willing to fight for you." He took my hand and kissed it. And that started our relationship.'

Nate's car stopped near a small café so she followed it. There were only a few people around when they came in and sat at a table for two. They ordered some tea and some butter cookies. She began the conversation after a sip of her tea. "So, what did you want to talk about?". "Well..I don't know how to explain it to you." Nate replied with a little tension in his expression. She was puzzled at his expression. What could he be hiding? Why did he show up after all these years?