Wasted

Gerard’s eyes scanned over Frank’s kitchen, his eyes resting on the back of Autumn’s head. Both her and Ray were talking about the newest video game out this weekend, leaning against the dining table. He smirked to himself for getting under his skin and felt a twinge of confidence at how easy he could get her angry. He wasn’t jealous of that guy that had hit on her. No way in hell was he jealous. He grumbled under his breath to himself, annoyed by the familiar thought of him.

“You alright there Gee?” Mikey asked, peeking up at him through his glasses. Gerard relaxed and leaned back against the counter next to him.

Gee nodded and smirked, “I’m fine Mikes.”

“Jesus, Frank’s taking forever getting our food.” Autumn spoke up, her back still to Gerard but her voice loud enough for the whole kitchen to hear.

“Someone’s a bit chubby and hungry,” Gerard sneered, letting out a low laugh.

Autumn spun around, glaring harshly at him and her lip turning up into a scowl. It amazed him how similar her and Frank were, especially when their temper got a hold of them.

“What the fuck Gerard,” he heard Mikey mumble next to him.

“If I do recall, Frank told me you were the one shoved against lockers for being the fat ass of the group Gerard.” She snarled, her lips turning upright into a smug smirk. That felt like a blow to his stomach. Weight was a giant insecurity on Gerard’s part and he felt his cheeks flush to a deep shade of pink.

“If you can’t take it, don’t dish it out.” Autumn smirked over at him, her eyes narrowed slightly.

“Um, what’s up with you two?” Ray asked, raising an eyebrow with a small frown.

Gerard looked away, biting away a sharp come back and frowned.

Autumn shrugged and turned back to Ray, “Nothing. He’s just being a pansy.”

Gerard didn’t stick around to hear whatever else she had to say. He dashed from the kitchen to the back door to smoke another cigarette outside.

He was used to getting picked on, that was normal for him. But it was normal five years ago, once high school had ended no one really cared. Occasionally he’d get a rude or snarky remark from someone at a show or at a club and he’d shrug it off with a quick swig of beer. But Autumn was different, she was doing it intentionally to piss him off.

A few minutes passed and Mikey stepped out, standing beside his brother with a small smile.

“You two are like a married couple.”

Gerard’s eyes widened and he let out a sharp scoff. “Not you too Mikey.”

Mikey raised his shoulders with a small grin etched on his face. “I can tell when you like a girl and Autumn’s a really nice one. She’s pretty too.”

Gerard groaned and inhaled the sweet nicotine.

“She’s not my type.”

“Autumn is anyone’s type. Don’t be a coward and tell her you like her.”

Gerard glared at his brother, the cigarette dangling from his lips loosely and he groaned.

“I don’t need this shit right now.”

“Hey, she might like you too. I’m not sure,” Mikey furrowed his eyebrows and rubbed his chin. “She seems kind of tricky to figure out.”

Gerard put out his cigarette and stomped it on the grass. “I don’t like her Mikey. She’s a brat.”

He didn’t realize Autumn had stepped out beside the backdoor to apologize for bringing up a tough subject with Gerard. Her eyes widened and she swallowed thickly, taking his comment in like fire.
Riley was wrong about his feelings towards her. She was obviously just a friend. She turned on her heel and walked back inside. She sighed to herself and ran a hand through her hair.

That was fine. She didn’t care if he didn’t see her that way. If anything, it would be a burden more than a blessing. He was Frank’s friend and she wouldn’t put a friendship on the line just to get a few hormones out in the air. It’s not like she had developed feelings for him or even wanted him in a romantic sense.

“Frank’s here! Finally!” She heard Ray exclaim and bolt from the table to help Frank set the food out.
“You alright there Autumn?” Frank asked, raising an eyebrow and setting the food on the table.
She looked up and smiled brightly, “Just peachy. You took forever, dick.”

“I paid for your food, watch it.”

She rolled her eyes and took a seat, grabbing the box of rice and teriyaki and digging in with a small smile.

Mikey and Gerard walked in, the smell of smoke rushing in behind them. She paid no attention to them while she ate her food quietly, silently laughing at the jokes and conversation around them.

“So what are you going to do about that kid’s mom?” Frank asked with a mouthful of food.
Autumn sighed and looked down at her food. She had almost forgotten the whole ordeal and thinking about it made her lose her appetite.

Mrs. Thompson made her skin crawl and she could feel the welt up anger from earlier building inside.

“I don’t know. I don’t want to deal with her,” her eyes glazed over the table, landing on Gerard’s for a second before she looked back towards Frank.

“What mom? What kid?” Mikey asked, looking between Autumn and Frank back and forth.

“One of her students has a bitch for a mom who was completely out of line with Autumn and accused her of seducing her way up to her job and even had the audacity to say she’s fooling around with her son.” Frank grumbled, crossing his arms over the table.

“What the fuck?” Ray asked, scowling at the thought.

Autumn sighed and pushed her food away. “I think I’m just going to quit.”

All eyes shot up back to her and the room became tense and quiet.

“Wait, what?” Gerard spoke up, his voice surprising Autumn but it was sincere.

She shrugged and closed her eyes with another sigh.

“It’s not like I enjoy waking up every day and going to work. I love my students but being a teacher really isn’t for me.”

“But…what are you going to do?” Mikey asked quietly, not wanting to stress her out more.

“I don’t know, write children’s books.” She mumbled and ran a hand through her hair.

She heard a small giggle and turned to the culprit. Gerard covered his mouth with his hands quickly and looked away, caught in the act.

“What’s so funny?” She snapped, her anger towards Gerard was starting to increase and everything he did was annoying her.

He shook his head quickly and swallowed back another giggle. “Nothing, nothing.”

“I think I’m just gonna go. Today’s been stressful and I need some sleep.” She stood up and looked over at the guys who all held solemn expressions and frowns for her.

She didn’t want sympathy, that was the last thing she would ever want.

She just wanted her bed and sleep to take her over for months until this giant ordeal passed on.

“I’ll walk you out,” Frank stood up and walked her over to the door. The rest of the guys shouted their goodbyes before they left the kitchen.

“You sure you want to quit?” Frank asked, handing Autumn her coat.

She shrugged and rubbed her face stressfully. “I don’t know Frank, shit’s kind of hitting the fan right now.”

He frowned and bit at his lip to resist blowing up ideas and stressing her out more.

“I’ll see you later,” she kissed his cheek quickly and headed outside to her car.

“I’ll call you!” Frank shouted back and waved goodbye.

-

“Are you fucking serious?” Taylor shouted as soon as Autumn finished telling her the situation with Ms. Thompson.

Autumn nodded, already used to the reaction she was getting from everyone she told. Taylor and Riley were no exception, their disbelief getting the better of them.

“Sue the bitch.” Riley spat and crossed her arms over her chest.

Autumn let out a light laugh, “Over what? Accusing me of bullshit?”

“She kind of did threaten you Autumn, I’m sure that counts as something.”

Autumn took a drink of the coffee in front of her and shrugged her shoulders for what felt like the millionth time today. It’s not that she was afraid of Mrs. Thompson or intimidated. She just didn’t see her job as worth the fight she would have to put up.

She wanted to write. She wanted to sit by her window and write out novels she had pictured in her head ever since she was a child. She wanted to publish her poetry. She wanted her words to affect people. Teaching was only getting her good pay and a good reputation.

“I think I’m going to become a substitute teacher. You know, work a few days out of the week but still be able to get by and have some money left over. I’d have time to work on my writings.” Her eyes lightened up at the thought and a small smile appeared on her lips.

Taylor and Riley perked up and each held a similar smile.

“That doesn’t sound bad at all,” Riley commented.

“Yeah and you know we support you no matter what.” Taylor patted Autumn’s hand across the kitchen table gently.

Autumn’s smile got bigger and her mood lightened. “I’ll send in my resignation on Monday then.”

She didn’t care that she would quit not even a month into the school year. She didn’t belong in the classroom, teaching words and literature to kids who were figuring it out for themselves. She wanted to be the work they read.

And for the first time in a while she believed she could do it.