Grand Theft Autumn

You Need Him, I Could Be Him.

"Happy birthday dear Autumn, Happy birthday to you!" The crowd around me sang and I was urged to blow out my candles. My best friend sat beside me and smiled a wide grin at me as I blew out my candles, the other kids and parents all cheered as I blew them out on the first try. The number on the cake said five. Presents began to float my way and I tore them open, each one more surprising than the last. I noticed an angry looking Hillary with her little arms crossed and a scowl on her face, I knew she didn't want to be there. After I opened all of my presents all the kids were released into my yard to play. I had my ninja turtles playing in the grass getting my birthday dress dirty when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up to see my curly haired best friend looking at me with his hands behind his back. I dropped my turtles and stood up.

"I was looking for you Peter Pan, I thought we were going to play ninja turtles together." I said to him.

"I know. I had to get my present for you from my mom." He said and took his hands from behind his back and produced a gold necklace in his hand. The sun danced off the heart pendant and I noticed there was writing on it.

"Can you read it to me?" I asked knowing he always read things to me because I couldn't yet.

"It sais Peter Pan and Autumn Jane. I asked my mom to have it written on it. Do you want to wear it?" He asked and I nodded. He went behind me and fastened it to my neck and I looked down at it.

"It's really pretty, thank you. It's my favorite present." I smiled at him and he kissed my cheek.

"Ewwww! Gross!" Hillary yelled at us.

"Shut up Hillary!" He yelled back louder. Pete and I herd snickering and turned around to see all of the parents watching Pete and I but we ignored them.

"You want to play ninja turtles now?" I asked.

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I was standing on my front porch looking sadly at the group of older boys riding their bikes around the block. I got the attention of one because he looked back and proceeded to get off his bike and put it down on my lawn and come over to me looking concerned. The other boys watched as Pete stopped in front of me.

"What's wrong Autumn?" Pete asked.

"Mom said were moving far away tomorrow." I said sadly and quietly. Pete's face had a hint of sadness in it now.

"Come on Pete why are you talking to that girl?!" One of the boys taunted.

"I bet he likes her!" Another taunted.

"Ewww Pete she looks like she's five!" The first boy shouted. Pete's face changed again.

"Good." He said to me in an angry tone that hurt me and made me clutch the necklace around my neck. "Cause girls are gross!" He said viciously. I stood up and tugged on the necklace around my neck until I felt it fall into my hand. I threw the necklace onto the ground at his feet and quickly went inside and slammed my front door behind me. I sat down in the living room and began to cry.

"What's wrong sweetie?" My mom asked concerned.

"Mommy, Pete doesn't love me and he said I was gross." I cried. My mom sat down with me on the floor and I crawled into her lap.

"Maybe he will someday Autumn." She said.

"No he won't because were moving far away." I snifled.

"I'm sorry honey." She cooed.

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I sat straight up I'm my bed and felt wetness on my face, I had been crying in my sleep. I felt this sort of hollowness somewhere in me and I began to cry again. I got out of bed and went over to my dresser until I found Pete's shirt. I changed into it and got back into bed. I began to bawl into my pillow. The hallow feeling was eating at me, I felt so alone. In a quick decision I got my phone out and called Patrick. It wrung enough for me to almost talk my self into hanging up before he answered.

"Hello?" He said sleepily.

"I'm sorry I'm calling so late." I said.

"No, it's fine A.J. Is there something wrong?" He asked.

"I don't know. I just feel alone" I began to cry again.

"You're not alone, I'm right here always just a phone call away." He said. "What made you feel like this?"

"I had this dream about when Pete and I were kids." I said.

"Is there anyway I can come over?" He asked.

"If you want, Dale and Peter won't be back until tomorrow sometime." I said.

" I really don't think they would care anyway. I'll be there in ten minutes, we'll have a sleep over, kay? He said reassuringly.

"Thanks Patrick." I said already feeling better.