Autumn Powell is excited to help her cousin Lily by inviting her to stay with her and her boyfriend until she can get back on her feet. What is intended as an act of kindness, may turn into dangerous confrontations with the shadows from Lily's myste...
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Eli awoke slowly and felt the numbness of his arm right away. He blinked several times until he could see a little in the tiny room he had slept in with Autumn. He looked at her face which was pressed against his chest and on top of one of his arms. He felt her legs, which were tangled with his. He looked at her for a while and closed his eyes and let himself lay with her for a few more minutes.
She smelled odd, like perfume on a dirty shirt, which only made him smile. He reached his hand above his head where he'd left his glasses and watch the other night. When he saw the time he sighed quietly, he had to get up and leave her...
He kissed her forehead and then rose quietly and attempted not to wake her as he untangled himself from her. Once standing he did his best to at least slip his pajamas back on with his t-shirt.
He looked down at her one last time and watched her breathe for a moment...he liked the way her chest rose and fell subtly and how her eyes looked peaceful for once. She was so relaxed, unaffected and unguarded. He smiled and kept the image in his mind for the rest of the day until he'd be home that night.
Eli turned to leave and accidentally hit his head on a beam above him. He winced and rubbed his head hurriedly. He left the little space quietly and closed the door slowly so Autumn wouldn't wake up.
He turned to go to the kitchen and jumped when he saw someone in his apartment but quickly calmed himself when it was just Lily. He checked his watch again to see if he got the time wrong somehow but he noted that it was still seven a.m.
He walked to the kitchen in socked feet, towards Lily who had her back towards him as she sat at the table.
"Good morning," he whispered.
She didn't reply.
Eli walked around the table to get himself some Raisin Bran cereal and turned to see Lily. She had an empty cup in her hand and all of her attention seemed to be on it. he paused and stared at her for a moment. "Hey," he said quietly. "Did you want some coffee? I can make you some."
Her eyes shifted a little and she shook her head after a long pause with no answer.
He stared at her a little moment longer and then nodded. "Kay," he said quickly and moved to the fridge for some milk. He made his cereal and ate it as usual...only he was extremely aware of how each crunch of his eating sounded as it filled the space between him and Lily, who remained with her face at her cup.
"Did you sleep okay?" he asked quietly and then choked slightly on the cereal as he was attempting not to make so much noise with it.
"Yes," she said quickly and glanced at him but didn't meet his eyes.
He didn't mean to but he stared at her a long moment and he thought he could see that her quiet breathing was moving quicker. He forced himself to pay attention to his cereal once again. He swallowed and cleared his throat. "So, Autumn says that you guys grew up together..." he nodded but wasn't sure exactly where he was going with it.
She glanced at him. "Yeah," she said just as quietly as her other words.
He finished eating and then stood suddenly, unable to handle the awkwardness. Just as he stood though Lily jumped and her chair scooted out suddenly, causing her chair to scream with an ear-splitting sound, which also startled Eli. He paused and stared at Lily, he looked at her hands on the coffee cup and noticed how tense her hands looked. he slowly backed out of the table and quietly put the chair back.
"Sorry," he said quietly, hoping she knew he didn't mean to scare her suddenly...he quietly walked to the sink and cleaned his bowl out, he glanced at her and thought he could see her shaking slightly.
Lily's head had bent a little more and he couldn't see her face, only a bit of her nose. He looked at the cup and wondered if she'd even put anything in it all morning...or if it had been empty since she'd been holding for who knows how long.
Eli looked at his watch again, he needed to leave. He turned back to Lily. "If there's anything you want to eat, feel free...and Autumn can help you with the coffee." He did his best at a polite smile and this time she didn't respond at all.
He walked past her quickly and moved to the little closet with Autumn, he hated to but he knelt beside her and shook her awake.
"Whaaaa?" she moaned and kept her eyes closed. She looked less romantic now as her drool was all over the pillow.
"Hey," he whispered and checked to see if Lily was still in the kitchen and then hovered over Autumn. "Just in case anything weird happens today--I have my cell phone on me at all times...and, just, don't' go back to sleep, okay?"
She pulled her head up from her pillow and screwed her brows together. "What in fuck's sake are you getting at?"
He kissed her cheek. "I have to go to school--what time do you get back from work today? Maybe you can take Lily with you or something, get her a job..." he paused. "Maybe they'll give her a spot in the back room."
Autumn stared at him a moment and then her face dropped. "Oh yeah....my job. I guess I should do something about that."
He paused before slipping himself out of the little room. "About what?"
"Nothing," she rolled her eyes and pretended a smile. "You know how I say stupid shit--besides, you just woke me up."
He kissed her again and this time he moved to her lips and she kissed him back, then she shoved him away. "Go to school!"
"Love you," he stood and hit his head on the same beam as before.
"Hate you too." Autumn rolled over.
Eli was about to close the door but decided to leave it open as he saw Lily remaining at the table. He tried to bring himself to just leave but he couldn't help it, he leaned over Autumn one more time.
"Oh my god, what?" she said.
"Um...hey, do you know if your cousin's on any drugs?"
"I don't know, but I guess I'm about to find out. Just leave...we'll be fine..." Autumn closed her eyes and then let her head fall for a long moment and then she jumped up. "On second thought, I better get some breakfast."
"Alright, I've got to go--bye! I love you--ouch!" he hit his head once again.
"Get out of here already, I'm getting sick of your face!" she tried to keep a straight face but laughed at his pain instead. She shoved him out and then spanked him loudly. He jumped and twirled around, he gave her one more kiss and then quickly slipped his shoes on.
"Bye," he grabbed his backpack and took the keys off the hook by the door and slipped them into his pocket. "Bye Lily!" he said before shutting the door quickly behind him.
Autumn walked from the door to the little kitchen in her socked feet. She was wearing nothign but her t-shirt, socks and underwear. She itched her head and yawned loudly. "Good morning Lils...what are you eating?" she sat at the table next to her and paused. "Lils...why are you crying?"
