Monday morning
I woke up, the room around me not mine.
I turned over and saw Ethan, his eyelashes fanning his cheeks so beautifully. He breathed softly. He looks so peaceful, like a beautiful angel.
Waking up next to him, not during vacation, felt good.
It felt natural.
I looked over and saw it was 6am. School today, I didn't want to.
My mind was still in California time, that vacation mindset.
I lightly nudged his shoulder. "Ethan love..." I smiled softly, his tongue lightly licking his soft pink lips, dried slightly from sleeping. "Wakey wakey!" I kissed his nose. "We have school."
"No." He groaned, his voice raspy from sleep. He wrapped his arm lazily around me, pulling me toward him. "Let's skip. Please?"
"Ethan." I giggled, kissing his chin. "We have to."
"What are you going to wear?" His hazel eyes looked up into mine, trying to pull me in- to want to skip.
No I must battle him.
He was right though. I had no idea what I'd wear.
"Oh..." I looked down. I had on Ethans t-shirt and athletic shorts. I could make this work, I guess. I had to win. We were going to school.
"This!" I got up and went to the mirror. The t-shirt was too big, but I pulled it around and tucked it up a little. It didn't look great, but it didn't look bad.
It was the day after spring break. It'd be fine.
I pulled my hair into a messy bun.
"This is the cutest I've seen you." He smiled, sitting up slightly on his elbow on his side. The sheets around his waist, he looked like a model. My model. "You look cuter in my shirt then I do."
I felt my cheeks pinken. "And you look perfect shirtless, but you need a shirt for school." I went into his closet, grabbing a red t-shirt. "Good?" I smiled. "You look good in red."
I went into his bathroom and brushed my teeth with my finger, which was nasty, but I didn't have a brush.
Ethan laughed coming up behind me, reaching around grabbing his toothbrush. "You'll have to keep one here." He grabbed the toothpaste.
I smiled and wiped my mouth on the towel. "Maybe." I went to step aside so he could be infront of the sink, but Ethan pressed his front up against my back and smirked as he put toothpaste on his brush. "Did you want out?" He looked at me in the mirror.
I blushed bright red, slightly affected. "Oh... I..." I moved my eyes to look down at the sink.
I wanted out, but not after that.
He smirked and stepped back. He sent me a wink before shoving the toothbrush into his mouth.
I stepped into his room as he finished up in the bathroom.
6:55.
"Ethan let's go!" I looked at the messages on my phone. My dad had texted me 6 times.
Dad: Autumn where are you
Dad: You have school
Dad: Autumn answer
Dad: Are you at Ethans
Dad: Autumn you need to say when you do this
Dad: I called Sean and he said you were. We'll talk.
I sighed and set my phone down. It was too early to argue and deal with those problems.
I didn't know if he'd be mad about me staying at Ethans, or not care and just be mad I didn't say anything about leaving.
I knew my mom wouldn't care. She used to care so much, now it's like I'm nothing.
"Ready?" Ethan stepped out of the bathroom and went to his door shoe hanger, grabbing a pair of black vans.
I nodded and got up.
Looking at him, I didn't care what my family said about me staying the night here.
Ethan was my everything. He's keeping me as positive as I can be during this time.
Thoughts, terrible thoughts that used to flow through my mind, gone. Ethan taught me love again, to love myself.
"Hey?" He came over and put his hands on my waist. "You okay? You're looking into space." He placed his forehead against mine, something he loved to do.
I loved it too. It was our little thing. Our small act of love.
I nodded and pressed my lips against his. "Ready for school?"
He groaned and shook his head. "Hell no." He walked downstairs, his hand in mine. "Grayson!" He yelled as he turned into the kitchen. "Get your ass- oh hey Gray!" He smiled at Grayson, who was sitting in the kitchen with peanut butter toast.
"You're so loud. Ethan it's seven am- oh shit!" He jumped up. "We gotta go bro!"
"I know. We got time." Ethan grabbed his keys. "I'll drive."
We all got into Ethans bmw and started the drive to school.
Cub Sport played through the speakers and we all talked about how much we missed spring break. It felt nice to have such a chill car ride, but I wasn't ready to go back to school.
Lucky for me, I didn't take any school things home with me over spring break or else it would've been awkward going home this morning for my bookbag then leaving.
Being at Ethans house just felt right though. It was like a second family to me.
Family dinners happened there.
A huge thing for me was that. If you had a family dinner, all was right. People were content with one another.
Once those stopped at my house, things got worse. Tensions built more. Arguements more frequent.
I didn't even realize I started crying until a tear rolled down my cheek.
"Autumn?" Ethan put his hand on my thigh. "Princess, what's going on love?" He pulled into the school and sped over to a parking space. He tossed the car into park quickly and looked at me. "Talk to me."
Grayson scooted and put his hand on my shoulder. "And me." He gave it a light squeeze.
"I was just thinking about my family. I'm okay." I gave them a small, somewhat fake smile, and unbuckled.
"I'm here." Ethan kissed my cheek before getting out of the car.
"Me too!" Grayson rubbed my arm before leaning back into the backseat and making his way out of the car. "Ugh!" He groaned as he shut the car door. "I don't want to school anymore." He dragged out the 'e.'
"Hey!" I nudged him. "We're almost done!"
Ethan came up to my side and intertwined my hand with his. "True. Then we have all summer to party together!" He grinned. "Celebrate before college."
I smiled and nodded.
I made a mental note to remember to talk to Ethan about college.
I want to do long distance with him if we don't end up in the same college.
Both of us applied to UCLA. Acceptance letters haven't come yet and I'm beyond nervous, and so is he.
Grayson applied there too.
As we started to walk into the school, Jules and Dylan were waiting by the doors.
"Hey!" Jules grinned and hugged me. "I've missed you! Seeing you everyday at vacation and then not was such a killer."
I laughed and nodded. "A mood."
"Guys!" Alice ran out of the doors to us.
"Hey Alice!" Graysons whole face lit up.
"I-I have to tell you who I saw." She said, her tone serious with the slightest bit of nervousness.
"What?" Grayson looked at her.
Ethans POV:
I kept my hand in Autumns hand.
Her hand holding mine, it fit perfectly together.
She was the missing piece to my broken pieces.
As she hugged Jules I saw Alice coming straight toward the doors from the little window.
"Guys!"
I looked over at Grayson as his whole face lit up. He was so into her and it was the cutest thing. I've never seen him so into a girl before.
He deserves so much happiness and Alice would provide him that.
"Hey Alice!"
"I-I have to tell you who I saw." She said, her tone changing from anxious to serious.
"What?" Grayson gave her an odd look. "What happened? Are you okay?"
"I saw that boy." She looked at Autumn. "That curly haired, skinny boy, from California."
My heart sank. My stomach falling right out of my ass.
I knew instantly who she was talking about.
"Jack." I breathed out, my hands instantly running through my hair.
I thought this shit was over. I should've known it would follow me.
My stupid past.
If he was here, Cassidy isn't far behind.