Changing Colors

The leaves were changing colors once again, time leaving me. I closed the front door behind me as I stood on my front porch. The cooling breeze making its way to me playing with my dark hair. The crisp smell of fresh rain restarted my memory of a past that even I forgot. A sigh escaped my lips as I made my way to the car, my memory resurfacing as if it only just happened a few days ago.

“Reena, are you ready? We’re going to be late again!”

"In a minute mom!"

I ran around my room looking for my bookbag. Tossing my jackets and clothes around on the floor in hopes of finding it underneath.

"Mom?! Have you seen my bookbag? I can't find it anywhere!"

I was underneath my bed when my mom came into my room holding my bag in her hands. Her annoyed face looking at me in disbelief.

"Reena, get out from under the bed. What would your book bag be doing under there? Now let's go, you haven't had your breakfast yet and you're already running late."

I got up in time to follow her from my room, closing the door behind me. As we walked down the stairs I could see my dad in his office on the phone. His eyebrows bunched together as he yelled into it. He looked up at me, his face changing to a bright smile only to turn back to a frown when he closed the door.

"Is dad okay? He seems to be yelling a lot."

She placed a plate of pancakes in front of me with eggs and bacon on the side. She glanced at me, only shaking her head.

"Don't worry about him, just eat up so I can drop you off at school."

With that I knew she wasn't going to tell me. They never do. I finished eating and waited for her to give me the okay to leave. As I looked over to the window I could see the leaves falling to the ground one by one. Burnt reds, and golden yellows filling my vision. I got lost in my own mind, picturing myself being outside running around the yard playing with the leaves as my dad tried his best to rake every single one. I felt someone lean next to me and kiss my head. I looked over to see my dad with his same regular smile.

"Hi sweetie, what are you thinking about?"

I smiled not wanting to tell him what I was really thinking about. I glanced at his face briefly, only to see his cold smile permanent on his face.

"I was thinking about school, and how I can't wait to make friends."

His face was back to normal but I could still feel his eyes on me. I knew what he was going to say next. He always said the same thing,

"Friends are all good but I need you to focus on your studies so you can take over once you come of age."

I nodded like always but my heart always ended up heavy. My mom walked back in and scowled at him.

"Quit talking so much, let her live her own experiences. Now, Reena go wash up and let's go." I couldn't have ran away fast enough. He always scared me and I wasn't able to do a lot of things because of him. I had to always be the best. Always work hard and never rest.

"Reena, vamos. Ya es tarde." I grabbed my bag and ran out of the door waving to my dad as I passed him.

On the drive to school my mom kept talking about the Fall Festival that happens in town every year and how this year I should make friends to go with me. I just stayed quiet looking out of the window, the trees speeding away behind us. The school wasn't far from my house but it did seem like it was farther today.

"Okay, come on. Out you go. Have fun in school Sweetie, don' cause trouble." I nodded stepping out of the car. With a wave my mom was out of the drop off lane and on the road to her work. I took a deep breath and calmed my nerves before stepping inside of the school.

Kids were running up and down the hallways as I walked past them. Their laughs filled the school halls. I found my classroom and looked inside to see if anyone was inside. I was able to see a few kids sitting by their desks in the back corner of the room and a boy sitting by the window. I took my time to think before stepping into the room and going to my desk.

I noticed there were some desks with bags already in their seats. I walked further in towards the window. One step at a time, I thought, making my way to my new desk. There were a few desks available next to the window, the column in front of him. I took my seat far enough that I wasn't a bother. I looked over at the window letting my mind take over again.

A few minutes passed until I realized the teacher was in the classroom and the students had all taken their seats. "Good morning, my name is Ms. Hamilton, and I will be your Homeroom teacher as well as your Literature teacher. Don't get comfortable, I'll be assigning seats to everyone. If I can get everyone to stand up and stand at the back of the classroom."

Everyone got up with a groan and made their way to the back. The only quiet ones

were me and the boy that I had seen earlier. Ms. Hamilton looked over everyone's faces and smiled.

"Great, now let's begin. When I call out your name you will take the seat going up the column. Now, first up is Dereck Anderson. Take a seat at the first desk by the door. Next, Carter Andrews, Alina Bane, David Barns, and Carrie Blackburn you four will finish this column, now to the next."

As she called out names the desks kept filling up. Once she had gotten to the column of desks near the window only five of us were left, including the quiet guy.

"Okay so Reena Viloria and Bryan Wanders take your seats please."

I looked over at my desk and then at his. Guess it's unavoidable. I placed my things down and took a seat. I could feel his stare, not being able to concentrate as much because of my nerves. I guess he had realized because a couple days after he introduced himself to me and we started talking. Not long after we had become friends.

We were sitting on the rooftop eating our lunch like normal when he had laid down to look at the sky. There was a small silence between us, which felt like he was getting the courage to ask me something. a few minutes passed and I laid back copying him. He looked over to me with a smile as if he had made up his mind. 

"You know the festival right? The one that they have every year here for Fall?"

"Yea, what about it?"

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes looking into mine as if trying to find some answers, "Do you want to go with me? It's no fun going by yourself." 

I waited for a few minutes thinking how I was going to be able to go with him, with the way things are. 

"You don't need to go with me if you do---"

"I'll go. It's fun and it would be better if we went together too. Just let me know when." 

He smiled, giving me a nod and turning his head to the sky again. A nice quietness filled the air around us as we continued to look at the sky. My mind is spiraling with ideas on how to go without getting in trouble. The bell had rang signaling the end of lunch and the end of my thoughts until I had gotten home. Days would pass as I tried hard to come up with enough courage to ask.

The day came when we had set the day, time and how we were going to get there. He had asked his mom and she was willing to go with us since logically middle schoolers aren't considered reliable enough to be left alone. Which was understandable. The day before we were going to go I had waited for my mom to get home from work. Once she had stepped foot into the house I went to her to see if she needed anything before I asked. She looked at me with a skeptic look but allowed me to help either way. She sat down at the kitchen table and looked at me.

"Que? What did you want to ask?" I looked at her in surprise, I guess it's true what they say. You can never hide anything from your mom. I sat down across from her and looked at my hands rubbing them together in nervousness. She sighed and smiled just shaking her head slightly. 

"If you want to ask to go to the festival you can just ask. I don't know why you're so afraid. Your father is too busy right now to ask where you are. In any case I was thinking of going with your little brother. I'll just tag along with you and your friend. Lucia, Bryan's mom, is going as well right?"

"Si, she wasn't going to let us go by ourselves."

She nodded standing up from the table. "Okay, that's fine we can all go together. Now help me with dinner so it can be done in time for when your father gets home."

As soon as I got to school I ran to tell Bryan the good news. His head was resting on the desk and all I could see was his shoulders rising up and down with every breath he took. I slammed my books on my desk and he jumped scared looking around. He realized it was me and he smiled placing his head back on his arms.

"My mom is going with us too, with my brother of course."

"Cool, it'll be like a family outing."

"Yea, I can't wait. It'll be really fun."

He smiled trying to stay awake but failing. I giggled to myself as I turned around on my desk when I heard the teacher come in. Every class felt short as the day passed by quickly. By the time it was the end of the day I was excited for the weekend. 

Ringing woke me up from my sleep, glancing at my alarm clock I got up and went straight to the bathroom to get ready. Once I had changed to a tank top and denim skinny jeans I went downstairs to get something to eat. 

"Good morning, it seems you were able to get up early." My mom looked at me with a bright smile.

"Yea, I'm excited to go to the festival! When are we leaving?"

She placed a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of me with pieces of bacon. She had her plate in hand and placed it in front of herself to eat. 

"Soon, once we finish breakfast I'll go get Dillan ready and we can head out. Lucia said she was going to meet us there around noon. So we will make it in time. Now hurry and eat so you can help me with Dillan." I nodded and we finished our breakfast.

"Now let's go, we need to get him and ourselves ready to go."

Once we had everything in the car, we headed out to the festival. When we got there Bryan was waiting at the entrance with his mom. He smiled at me and ran to give me a hug, 

"Let's go! I heard we can go apple picking!"

We were so excited that we forgot to stick to our moms. We ran a good bit ahead of them when we heard them yell our name. We stopped and waited for them to catch up to us. We went straight to the orchard part of the festival, with our baskets ready to go pick some apples. We reached for the ones that were closer to our heights and for ones that were higher they had ladders we could climb. We took turns making sure neither of us fell when we climbed them. 

Soon the sun was lower in the sky and our stomachs were starting to growl. We had a picnic near the orchard and even ate the apples that we picked. Once we were done we packed everything away in Dillan's baby stroller and headed to the festival part where there were games and rides we could get on. The sun had started to set, making the sky glow in orange and pinks. The day had almost ended and we were heading home. Once everything was packed back in the car I looked over at Bryan with a huge smile on my face.

"It was so much fun today! Thanks for inviting me to go with you."

Bryan smiled brightly at me and I could see how shiny his blue eyes were. It was the first time I was seeing him in a different way. I thought maybe it was the way the sun and the sky looked but I liked it either way. 

"I had a lot of fun too. Thanks for coming with me, it was the best day ever."

"Reena, let's go mija. Time to head home and eat dinner with your father."

"Okay mom! Coming!" I turned back to him with a smile on my face only to be met with his lips on mine. I felt my heart race a hundred miles an hour. When we separated his eyes felt a feeling that I was sure mine had too. 

"I like you Reena, a lot. If you feel the same, want to go out?"

I was shocked but happy either way. I nodded quickly, "I would love to!" 

"Reena, love. Wake up. We're here."

I opened my eyes to see my husband and daughters in his arms standing beside me. My heart swelled with happiness and I smiled at them. 

"Did I ever tell you I love you?" He smiled with a slight chuckle

"All the time Mrs. Wanders, all the time. That's why I love you. Now let's go so we can get to the orchard soon."

I nodded, getting out of the car and reaching for Aria and Alicia to help him get the stroller ready. Placing the girls in, we made our way into the festival and towards the orchard. We grabbed our baskets and headed for the trees. We reached for the same apple and we looked at each other. His blue eyes shined just like before, making my heart race with happiness.

"Bryan, are you going to confess again?" with one eyebrow raised I smirked waiting for his response. He smirked, winking at me as he leaned closer to me "I love you Reena Wanders, how are you mine?" his lips touched mine, melting my mind of any doubts that I ever had. The fresh crisp fall air blowing around us intertwining our hearts again.