Chapter 5: Autumn and Asher

The sun had already set and the chill of the fall night was making Autumn’s teeth chatter. Asher took off his cardigan and draped it over her shoulders. She had on a long sleeve top but it was too thin to keep her warm. “Are you ready to go home?” He asked her. She slightly frowned not wanting to leave the beautiful view but smiled when she realized he referred to his place as their home “home” she repeated. They both got back on his motorcycle and started heading back in the direction of their house. It was nearing 9:30pm and the two of them were growing tired. They pulled up to the house and he helped her down off the bike and they both entered the house together hand in hand. She was still shivering from the chill of the night. He chuckled at how cute he thought she was. He scooped her up bridal style and carried her across the floor and into the bedroom where he laid her down on the bed. He picked up her foot unlacing and pulling off one shoe and then repeating with the other. She was too exhausted to say anything so she shut her eyes and he climbed in bed next to her and pulled the covers up over both of them and kissed her on the forehead “goodnight, princess” he whispered “mhm” she barely was able to make out a mumble.

It was the first night in ages she seemed to get a good nights rest. She enjoyed the comfort that sleeping next to another person brought her. She had woken up first and peeled her way out bed and headed towards the bathroom. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and took mental notice of how malnourished she was looking lately. Stress was causing her to hardly eat. As much as she was enjoying being around Asher, she missed her family, her dreams of becoming a child psychologist were more than likely over, and the reminder of why that was all happening was stuck on her brain. Asher Asher Asher, he was the reason why she had lost everything she worked so hard for. It’s been days since she’s saw her twin brother with whom she had shared an impeccable bond with, she had missed several classes, her mother and father wouldn’t return any of her calls. She turned on the shower faucet and let it get warm before undressing and stepping in. It’s been days since she’s had a proper shower where she’s been able to thoroughly wash her body, her hair, and shave. She lathered her body in a honey scented shower gel and rinsed off after feeling she was clean. She poured a good size amount of shampoo into her hands and rub them into her hair. It felt so good running her fingers through her hair. It had been greasy and weighed down due to not washing it days. She finished washing her hair and shaving and turning off the faucet before stepping out of the shower. It was for some reason freezing in the bathroom and she couldn’t wait to step out into the warmth. She dried her hair and wrapped a warm towel around her body and walked out of the bathroom where she nearly collided with Asher. “Good morning, how was your shower? I was just about to make some coffee” he asked through a yawn. “It was lovely” she smiled and he kissed her forehead before letting her walk by and go into the bedroom where she could dress herself. She settled for a pair of dark wash destructed skinny jeans and an oversized burnt orange chunky knit sweater and a pair of black ankle socks. When she left the bedroom Asher was sat at the dining table reading something on his phone with a cup of coffee. “You beautiful as always” he sat his phone down and smiled up at her. “What’s the plans for today?” She asked him as she took a seat across from him and took a sip from the coffee he had made and sat for her at her seat. “Well, I thought we’d try giving your family a visit. I know how much they mean to you. It wasn’t fair that I took them away from you.” You could hear how much he cared in the tone of his voice. “Thank you Ashe but I don’t think my family will be willing to see me.” She put her head down to hide the hurt expression on her face because she didn’t want him to feel bad. He got up from his seat and walked around the table to stand by her side “hey look at me” she looked up at him and he frowned wiping the tears from her eyes. “It’s going to be okay. I figure it’s pretty chilly today so we’ll take the car” he said to her. “Car?” She questioned not knowing that he owned anything other than his motorcycle. “Yes. I own a Mercedes. I just keep her in the garage” he stated.

They both walk out the door. It was down pouring and the chill of the rain was making it seem far much cooler than expected. They both hugged they’re bodies and ran to the garage. In the garage sat parked a barely driven black Mercedes. He opened her door for her “after you my lady” she smiled getting in the car and he shut the door after her. He got in himself and put the key in the ignition and backed out of the garage and began driving towards the direction of her parents house. They had no idea that Autumn and Asher were coming so it would be of great surprise to her family. She sat fiddling her thumbs. He knew she did this whenever she was anxious so he put a hand over hers and rubbed her fingers. They pulled up to a blue two story house with white shudders and a white front door and she knew they were at her parents. That is the house she grew up in and made so many memories in.

They both stepped out of the car and made their way up the front steps leading to the front door. Asher rung the doorbell and waited for someone to answer. In less than two minutes a middle aged man answered the door. When he opened it and noticed Autumn he grunted in disbelief that she even had the nerve to show her face there. He went to shut it without even saying a word but Asher grabbed if and said “no, you’re going to hear out your daughter.” “Asher?” The man questioned. “In the flesh”. “Honey, who is at the door?” Autumn’s mother was calling from another room in the house. “Don’t worry about it love, they were just leaving” Her father called back. “No we weren’t and aren’t until you have a conversation with your daughter. Autumn’s father raised an eyebrow “oh is that so” he said. “It is” Asher responded and started walking through the doorway with Autumn’s hand clutched tightly in his own. Before they made it to the dining table where her twin brother Alex was seated on his laptop, Autumn’s mother emerged from the kitchen with a hand towel in her hand drying them from doing the dishes. Her eyes widened a little when she saw her daughter and Asher but she dare not say a word. They all took a seat at the table and Alex removed his headphones and looked up from his laptop to join in on the conversation that was about to be had.

Autumn’s parents both took a seat and Autumn and Asher sat down across from them. Asher cleared his throat “let me start by saying it is very lovely to see the three of you. It’s been a very long time. Second off, I just want to make note that I believe it to be absolutely out of line that you have disowned Autumn. What do you truly have if not for family?” He gave them all a questionable look. Autumn’s father cleared his throat to speak up “do you have any idea what she has put us through? We’ve gone through so much with her since you left”. Asher put his head down taking partial blame for why Autumn acted out so badly. She was nothing without him and he had always kept her grounded and out of trouble. Autumn’s brother and mom were staying quiet but nodding in agreement with her father. “Sir listen, she was with me. She didn’t take a vacation or run away. We ran into each other and got caught up in the moment reminiscing on the past several years” Asher snuck a glance at silent Autumn and she stated “yes, I’m sorry I didn’t let ya’ll know but I was so lost in the moment”. “We forgive you.” Spoke Autumn’s mom for the first time since they arrived. Her father gave her a questioning look. “We forgive her” said her mother once again. That time in unison spoke both her father and her brother “we forgive you”.