Something About Autumn

“…The Caramel Coconut Cacao and Maple Mocha Magic…The Cinnamon Chai And Chia With Chilli…The Perfect Pumpkin Puree And Perky Peanut Latte With Whipped And Dipped Coffee Cream…The Molten Marshmallow—”

“We’ll just get two of that pumpkin one,” Dunn said.

“Can you read it again?” I asked the waitress. “I thought I heard Maple—”

“Seriously?” he said. “Make up your mind. We don’t want to waste time.”

“I can read it again—”


“It’s fine,” I said, clicking my jaw. “That pumpkin one sounds good.”


“Of course,” she smiles. “I’ll be back right away.”


“Thanks,” I smile, dropping it as Dunn grunts.

Through the window, I see a queue stretching to the next street. Everyone wanted in on the new autumn drinks. A lot of them were steaming the windows with their faces pressed against it, drool escaping each time the door opened and let out that lovely waft.

 “Are you listening to me?” he tugs at my arm.


“What, Dunn?”

“You’re not even speaking to me.”

“About what?”

“Come on,” he takes my hands. “You can’t still be mad at me.”

“Dunn,” I say firmly as I slip my hands away. “You’re a cheater.”

The waitress stood dead in her tracks, her eyes wide. She put the drinks down and forced a smile. We smiled back as she slowly crept away.

“You can’t believe these girls, can you? They’re crazy.”

“You probably tell them the same thing about me,” I roll my eyes.

 The door opened, letting cool air sway with a girl with crystal-blue eyes and curly auburn hair, bouncing as she skipped to the counter. The waitress handed her two orange paper cups, matching her jeweled orange nails, blending with her red checkered sweater. She smiled at the waitress until her cheeks touched her lashes then turned—

 I quickly glanced away, watching from the corner of my eye as she walked out. I knew that face. It was Autumn. The girl next door. Literally.

 We went to the same school and often she’d sit close by in classes. Each time I tried to open my mouth to speak, only air came out or I’d curtain myself with my thick hair.

“I just hate this season, it’s a filler season,” Dunn rants on. “Just stalling between Summer and Winter. But anyway, as I was saying…”

I wonder what she ordered. Probably the maple one.

“Are you listening?” Dunn hit the table, loud enough for everyone to turn.

“Honestly? I’m not,” I take a sip of the drink, flinching. “I’m done, Dunn.”

“What do you mean you’re done?”

His eyes jumped open as he looked past me yet tried to play it off. I turned to where he looked and saw a girl, with a somewhat familiar face, waving at him.

 I raise my brows as he quiets. I then stand up, cup in hand.

“Hey,” I say to the waitress. “I’m leaving, so you can let that girl in. You might want to get her what he’s having, since you know, we don’t want to waste time.”

*

Victorian cast-iron lampposts lit the dimmed streets, with curbs covered in a delicious array of oranges, reds, yellows, and brown leaves, swaying along with the wind’s song. I trudged ahead, my boots crunching at each step.

 There weren’t many birds around as I passed through the park, only gloved and scarfed children scraping off crust tree-bark and throwing it at another. I dodged some bark thrown my way and stumbled into my street.

 Most of the homes here looked the same. They all had trimmed grass, brown terracotta hip roofs, and plate-sized windows spaced between beige walls. There was only one house that had maroon bricks and grass tall enough to lose your legs in.

 Strangely, this house now held tall-carved pumpkins leading all the way to the door. Each face looking wicked. I started to pass by until I felt eyes on me—

 Two glowing green eyes. It couldn’t be. I looked closer. This pumpkin was definitely glowing. I leaned closer and—

“Boo!”

“Ah!” I jumped back, dropping my cup on my chest. “Oh, no.”

I patted myself down then looked to a little freckled boy, chuckling and pointing at me.

“You think this is funny?” I fumed.

He ran into the house, laughing.

“It’s a little funny.”

I spun to the tall grass, seeing Autumn walk through it with a trash-bag of dead leaves.

“Sorry,” she said when she saw my sweater. “My brother’s a bit of an…entertainer.”

She tucked the bag into the bin and then looked at me, giving a Colgate smile.

“Come inside, I’ll get you a sweater and something to replace that drink.”

“You sure you want to invite a stranger into your house?”

“I know who you are.”

I felt my cheeks go scarlet as I trailed after her.

*

“Here,” she hands an orange cup over as I sink into her couch.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I got two. I usually do, just in case. And it seems like it’s good for this case.”

She smiled warmly.

“Oh,” she jumped up, removing her sweater to a slim black dress and handed it over.

“I can’t take your sweater—”

“It’s ok, my others are in the dryer, probably almost done anyway. Hope that’s ok.”

Unable to make words, I nod as I change sweaters. It was soothing and smelt of cinnamon.

“Do you want some pie?”

“What?”

“I made this pumpkin pie with a pecan crust. Oh, you have to try it. It’s a really good pie.”

“How can I say no?”

“Well, you can’t because I’ll keep offering,” she chuckles and starts cutting up a slice.

I take a big gulp from the cup, surprisingly delighted.

“Is this the maple one?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, it tastes a whole lot better than the one I had.”

“Let me guess, The Perfect Pumpkin Puree one?”

“How did you know?”

She shrugs.

“They always give the least favorite the most pepped up name with this fancy description so that people who don’t know any better, try it out.”

I looked down.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t know any better either until I tried it out.”

She brought over the pie and curled up beside me.

“I’ve seen you there a lot. With Dunn…”

“My boyfriend,” I said automatically.

“He’s your boyfriend?” she pinches her face, immediately pursing her lips. “Sorry—”

“It’s ok, I know,” I break up the pie. “He’s apparently every girl’s boyfriend. Not mine anymore though.”

Autumn bites her lip.

“You two didn’t—”

“No,” she said instantly. “He’s not my type.”

“Oh…then what’s your—”

“Try the pie.”

I nod and take a huge bite.

“Hmm,” I moan.

Her smile widens as I devour the rest in a few seconds, licking my lips.

“Wow, this is—”

She leans close and wipes at some crust and cream on my face. She traces my lips then leans closer, kissing me, as soft as the drop of a leaf, lingering, the world falling quiet.

“Hmm,” she licks her own lips. “That’s some really good pie.”

I open my mouth—

 Autumn’s brother runs in, pulling at her.

“Can we go? Can we go? Can we go?”

“Yes,” she nods to him. “Where’s your jacket?”

He runs away and right back with it.

“Now can we go?”

“Yes,” she gets up. “Sorry, but I have to go.”

“It’s ok,” I get up, shielding my hot cheeks in my hair. “Me too.”

I start taking off the sweater but she stops me.

“You can keep it,” she says. “Until next time.”

“Next time?”

“Next time.”

I hid my whole face in hair.

“I wanted to ask,” I said as we stepped out, eyeing the glowing pumpkin. “Do you guys really like pumpkins or do you just like to celebrate Halloween early?”

Autumn chuckled.

“A bit of both, I guess. We love this season.”

“You do?”

“Of course. It’s the season of change, don’t you think?”

She caught my eyes and lingered for a moment longer, the wind drawing us closer.

“Until next time,” she blew a kiss.

I watched as they faded away into the park, crisp leaves clothing my hair and my fingers touching my lips.

“She’s right,” I thought. “That was some really good pie.”