A nice change

9

"Mooooooooom! We're taking your child!" That's not really what Alva meant by asking Shadow to tell Emerson they were leaving, but it was affective.

"Make sure they're back before dinner! And Alva you can text me for anything okay?"

"Sure thing Emerson."

"Bye, Emmy!"

"See ya bro."

And with that the Leiths took Alva out to the desert. After a car ride filled with Remington and Shadow trying to talk to each other and Alva over the angry sounds guitars coming from the radio, they arrived.

"Hey Leiths!" Shouted one of the two teenagers, presumably Autumn, who was sitting on a rock waiting for them to arrive.

"Hi, Autumn," Remington called back, "Alright, I'll see ya kids at around two."

"Bye, Rem." Shadow was already half way out of the car.

He chuckled before turning to the teen in the back seat, "And Alva? If you need anything at all you can text me or Emerson."

It was kinda nice for him to think about them, so they gave him noncommittal shrug and a mumbled "Okay," and walked over to the group.

"Hi! I'm Autumn." She addressed Alva in her usual assertiveness and offered her a handshake.

"I'm Alva." The introduction came out much more shyly then Autumn's as they accepted the handshake awkwardly.

"I'm Viola." said the other teen with a smile pointed towards Alva.

"Oh yeah and I'm Shadow." They said after remembering to introduce themself.

"Anyways let's head out." Autumn directed the group to "the Rocks".

"The Rocks" were apparently literally two large rocks that were Autumn's and Shadow's hang out spot. Immediately the two dropped their bags and sat down in the desert shrubbery, but the other two were more hesitant.

Aren't they going to get sand everywhere if they sit in it? Alva wanted to say but was interrupted before the words reached their tongue by Autumn ushering over the two standing teens and declaring that they ought to sit in the shade if they don't want to be burned alive.

"Alright, alright, before you two make jokes about being in a shadow like someone I have the promised stories." Shadow said, glaring at Autumn as they pulled a journal out of their backpack and handed it to Viola. Alva shared an amused look with a snickering Autumn before realizing "I didn't know you could write!"

"Obviously, why do think they use such big words?" Autumn teased.

"Or maybe I just feel like more intense descriptors allow me to be as emphatic as I wish while without getting in trouble." They defended, dramatically.

"Hey cursing is a valid form of communication!" Said Autumn, knowing exactly what incident Shadow was referring to.

"Yet my form of speech gives me praise from adults."

"Who needs adults, I vote for total anarchy."

"Honestly Autumn..." Shadow continued as Alva's mind drifted away from the friends' 'argument' and towards the forth teen who caught Alva's eye when she glanced up to smile and how ridiculous the conversation currently was. She looked over at Alva and they both rolled their eyes before she turned back to the book and Alva tried to tune back into the argument. They found it weird how they didn't feel so uncomfortable by these kids. She had to admit, it was kind of a nice change.