Photos [Luke Hemmings]

Chapter 9 - Vodka

Chapter 9—Vodka

{ a u t u m n }

          “You’re the most frustrating piece of shit ever, Autumn.”

          I shot my so-called best a friend a look. “Gee, thanks,” I replied dryly, shaking my head before returning my attention back to my homework.

          We were in my bedroom; with me lying on my stomach and supporting myself with my elbows as my books spread out in front of me. Danielle had claimed my study table to do her homework, and was currently wasting her time by spinning in my chair and scolding me on being the world’s biggest idiot.

          “Seriously,” she groaned in annoyance, halting her spinning actions to shoot me a look. “Why do you keep turning away from your feelings for Luke?”

          “I can’t turn away from something that doesn’t exist, Danielle,” I smartly replied.

          She looked at me for a moment, before chucking the pen she held in my direction. I ducked out of the way by bending my head, as the pen flew over my head and hit my bed’s headboard, and I looked back at my best friend with an amused expression. “Give me my pen back,” Danielle grumbled in irritation.

          I rolled my eyes, reaching back for the pen before throwing it back at her. “Shouldn’t have thrown it at me in the first place,” I chastised before returning to my previous laying down position. “Besides—why are you so worked up about this?”

          “Because you haven’t had a boyfriend in, like, fifty years!” Danielle burst out, throwing her hands up in frustration. “Not even a damn crush, Autumn. Seriously—are you even human?”

          “Life isn’t all about having boyfriends and crushes, Danielle,” I stated with a sigh, turning the page of my textbook as I read the next question I needed to answer.

          Of course, my boy-crazed best friend had a different opinion than I did. “Life is boring as fuck if you don’t have a boyfriend or crush,” Danielle retaliated, causing me to roll my eyes yet not look at her. “C’mon, Autumn,” she then sighed, standing up from the chair and walking over to me; crouching down in front of the end of the bed to look at me. “Don’t you want to be with someone who can make you laugh and tell you they love you and take you out on cute dates?”

          I lifted my head, shooting her a cheesy grin. “That’s what I have you for, silly.”

          Danielle dropped her head, resting her forehead on the edge of the bed as she let out a loud groan. “You’re impossible!” she exclaimed, lifting her head and letting out a huff.

          I chuckled; it wasn’t the first time she’s said this to me.

          Halloween was always a really fun time, in my opinion. You had the opportunity of completely transforming yourself into someone or something that you weren’t, and I always had fun doing that. Especially this year, since the girls and I were dressing up as characters from my favorite show.

          But instead of going trick-or-treating—even though we were seventeen years old and some might think we were too old to do that—we were going to a Halloween party. That had really deflated my mood, because I was looking forward to walking around our neighborhood and getting candy—especially since my neighbors are nice people who wouldn’t question my need for trick-or-treating.

          But no; freaking Calum Hood just had to throw a party and invite us.

          “Your boyfriend sucks ass, Erica,” I grumbled, arms folded over my chest as I stared out the window of the car.