Live Longer to Love

Chapter One: Normal is Obscure

A little introduction from your author here. You know those notes they put in here and there, usually before or after the story. My other stories started to fall apart in my mind and I wanted to connect more to this story. Something you could relate to or get emotional over. Let's just see what I got when I get this brain working. Don't blame me if it's bad.

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I roamed around the streets of Miami, Florida. Twenty years old and not a damn thing to do with my life. I should have just went straight into college. At least try to do something productive with my life. I thought to myself, "Autumn, what to do? Something new." I just lead myself straight to a Starbucks and ordered the usual. I thought to myself again, "This is what my life had become. Wandering around basically waiting to die." Hah. Not entirely true. I have the support of my best friend, Sarah. I've known her since we were little. But come to think of it, I haven't talked to her in, at least three weeks. "Maybe she's avoiding me." The Starbucks employee gives me an odd look. "Oh! Sorry about that." I realized that I was talking my thoughts aloud again.

I quickly left with my coffee and walked around some more. I read a few signs as I looked around. One caught my eye and it was all fancy looking. "BABYSITTER NEEDED. CPR CERTIFIED." It had the number, so I gave it a call, hoping this would be my chance to do something other than the usual. A man picked up and I asked about the job. "You have the wrong number, this is Asher." Looking at my phone, I completely typed the last two digits in wrong. I just happened to get too excited. Something about the person's voice stuck with me. I shook it away and called the correct number.

We talked a bit and I got the job! "Thank God I took that CPR class a while ago." Looking around to see if anybody just saw me talking to myself again. I think to myself, "People are going to get an idea that I'm insane. I have to watch what I say and where I am." I look at the time and it reads 3pm and the job is at 7:30pm. Four and a half hours and it's at my house.

I think about it, walking on my way to the bus stop when I get a call from an unknown number, "Who is this?" I ask. I hear talking in the background and then a familiar voice comes on. I don't remember who exactly this is, but I've heard his voice. "Hey, I was calling to let you know there'll be a party tonight at my place. You should get a text of the address." I look at my phone, "Excuse me?" He laughs a little and I could imagine him smirking, "You heard me."

And after that, he hung up. I looked in confusion at my phone and it went off a few seconds with an address. It read the time: 11pm to 9am. "I was only babysitting from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Maybe I could go." I shrug my shoulders, forgetting I was talking aloud again. The bus arrives and I pay my fees. The bus goes on for about a good twenty minutes until it reaches my stop, being a five minute walk. I walked and looked at the time: 4pm. Time is ticking! I sigh, unlocking my house and walking inside. "It's feels empty." I think to myself.

Taking a quick shower, picking an outfit, makeup, and hair took almost a good two hours, making it about 6:15pm. I took a quick look in the mirror before driving out to pick up the little girl I was watching. I was early, about 15, maybe 20 minutes early.

She looked about six years old. Her name was Lisa, she looked adorable. She had her little backpack and everything she needed for tonight. The father, who she lived with, looked like he was on his way to a formal event. "Thank you for being able to do the job on such short notice. I appreciate it! I'll be at your place, about 9:30pm." He kissed the little girl and I watched as he said, "I love you" so passionately to her. With that he left. "Hi Lisa, I'm Autumn and I'll be babysitting you while your father is out. Are you ready to go, sweetie?" I finished saying with a sweet and genuine smile. She smiled a toothy grin, "Yes." I picked up her stuff and brought it to the bus stop, waiting.