Our Last Moment

Chapter Two | Speechless

Before I begin, please take note that I probably will not have a 'set schedule' for a new chapter. For e.g. : Chapter 3 may take four days while 5: possibly a week. Also, I'd like to address a great big Thank You for all of you taking the time to read this far into the novel!

Oh and just for a heads up, most of the italicized phrases in this story refer to be Autumns' thoughts unless the word(s) are a books' title, quote, emphasized word, etc.

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C H A P T E R 2

The bell rang at exactly 7:30. People rushed out of the halls and into the classrooms as fast as they could, and it was me, only me. I figured I was already late, so I let a couple more minutes pass by taking a quick saunter around and slurped up a refreshing drink of water from the fountain towards the end of the hallway.

From around the corner, I heard someone say slowly, "This is library. And art room. And..." I moved on because I figured that it isn't my job to eavesdrop on someone else's gabfest, even though it was so tempting not to. I carried-on to class anyway, despite not knowing whom that woman was nor whom she was talking to.

I gazed through each class as I walked by. I saw tons of people that I knew. Well, I knew them, but they probably wouldn't have been able to even guess my first name. I moved on because I had enough looking through the classrooms' doors like a dumb-ass.

"Autumn Galloway, please report to room A-113. Again, please report to room A-113," the intercom shouted through each hall and classroom.

My stomach churned in embarrassment. Shit, how long was I gone for? I pulled out my phone, and it read 7:45. Fifteen minutes had passed already! I headed back to class.

"Look who decided to skip English class," Kathleen, accused. My face turned red as tomato paste while all the kids snickered. I despised her. I despised the fact that she enjoyed tormenting my life.

I already wasn't a devotee of English class, and the fact that the Bitch was in it didn't make it better.

The teacher ended the nonsense. "Enough! Why are you late? I heard you arrived to school on time, so I don't have an idea why you should have been late."

Shit. What do I say? I remained silent, hoping she'd forget that she had asked me a question. My plan seemed to succeed, and I was told to start my work. I was reading Hope, by Katherine Haskell. It was about a girl who felt alienated from her peers. No one payed attention to her until she developed true, loving friends who made her feel as if she had a reason to be on Earth. Towards the end of the novel, the girl finally accepted herself and found her true identity.

"The girl's name should have been Autumn" Kathleen went at it again. Fuck you was all that came to mind, and I ignored her.

I thought of my sister. Would she be in this class if she were still alive? Who would she talk to? Would she have a problem with Kathleen just as I did? Questions like these enter my mind on a daily basis, and the part that vexed myself was that I would never be able to know the answers to all of them.

Just as I was going to start writing my assignment which was due by the end of class, I heard a knock on the door and Ms. Hawek, our teacher, rushed over to answer it. It was a lady I had seen around the school a couple times. She was with four students who I never came across before.

"Questo è una classe di inglesse" she explained. What was she saying? "Hello students. I hope you're all having a sensational morning! Today I've brought a few students from our 'Study Abroad' program! Please allow yourselves to contribute in the lifestyles of our new students for the next four months. As she said that, the five of them started to move forward into the classroom.

That's when my eyes drew straight to him.

Tall.

Lean.

Sharp.

Definitely European.

"These group of teenagers are from Italy" the lady stated. Knew it. "Here we have Benedetta..." She had long, brown hair and looked like the ideal 'fashionista'. "...and Alessia & Daniele. They're siblings." The two of them were very similar: same nose, hair and eye color, height. etc. It made me think of my sister again, but I quickly I got her out of my mind, trying not to tear up. "... and our last guest staying in America is Michelangelo."

My mouth dropped in awe even more than it already was. That name. That boy. I knew my task: Get to know the new kid.

"Okay, well I'll leave your class be and hopefully we'll see you guys around" she said as a closure. By a blink of an eye. they all left the room, and it was me and my paper.

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I pulled out my keys to unlock the front door to my house. "Mom! Dad!" Dad? What was I thinking? He was in Seattle for business. If there was someone in my life that I hardly ever see, it would be my father. Because of his occupation, I rarely see him for at least one full week. My dad's a consultant which requires him to be on the road all day... everyday. Consultant's get hired by large companies to fix specific problems. I miss my dad, and I wish he wasn't constantly on the move, but that's life. And my life is definitely not perfect.

I ran upstairs, and my mom was in the bathroom. "Can I come in? Are you taking a shit?" I asked.

"Autumn! Language" She answered without actually answering my question. I walked in and she was wiping her make-up off.

"Guess what?" I asked. And she questioned back. "We have four new students staying here in the city, and they attend my school! They seem so well-educated, and I'm so thrilled to get to know them." All I thought about was him not them. Mother didn't seem to acknowledge the fact that they were studying abroad, but she was so glee to hear that I had an opportunity to make new friends.

I went on with my evening and before I knew it, the clock read 11:00 p.m.

"Mom, I'm heading in the shower and to bed. Night" I murmured.

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The water felt like an inferno, just how I preferred it. I don't do anything below 70 degrees. The hot water poured onto my back, and I recapped my day: I woke up, rode the quiet bus ride to school, missed the bell, and most importantly met the love of my life. I know it.