(A/N: I don't own the song 'True' , it's written by Ryan Cabrera. I just really love the song and had to use it.)


Chapter 6

Don't ask me why I opened up to her. She was just another girl, right? I told her all about my past and who I was. She deserved to know in a sense. If I was going to date her, she might as well know what my family life was like.

So when I woke up this morning the most amazing thing popped into my head. I had something special to do. I looked over at my pleasantly beeping clock. Being with Autumn had changed my view of things. Nothing was dull and bothersome. Things were looking up. The clocked illuminated with red numbers said 6:15 a.m. I picked up my cell phone and found the number I was looking for. I pressed the little green phone and waited impatiently as I heard the phone ring. On the fourth ring there was a click and a voice, "Hello?"

"Sean, I need your help. I need you do something for me. Is Autumn any where near you right now?" I said hurriedly.

"No, she's in the shower. What's going on?" I could hear the sleep lingering on his voice as his eyelids hung heavy.

I took a breath of excitement, "There's something I want to do for her. In order to do it, I need you. Will you help?"

Half asleep and half unsure of what I was doing he agreed. "Sure, but what are you doing? Nothing I would do, right?"

"I don't do crazy; I do calm and collected. Anyway, this is my idea..."

I arrived to school at regular time. Homeroom had been a bore besides having Autumn there to make me smile. I couldn't wait to perform. She wanted it; now she was going to get it. I stood next to her in photography thinking about the look on her face. I wrapped my arms around her waist. I trailed little kisses down her neck to the tip of her shoulder. She shivered beneath my grasp pulling at her jacket. She turned around placing a gentle peck as Mr. Jansen turned to help another student.

I leaned close to her ear, "I have a surprise for you."

I watched as her hazel eyes lit up. "What kind of surprise?"

"You'll see." I looked out the door to see Sean walking toward me.

Sean knocked on the door pane, "Excuse me, Mr. Jansen. Craig Manning is needed in Mr. Raditch's office."

Mr. Jansen looked over at me. "Craig, take the pass."

Autumn looked at me glumly as I unwrapped myself from her and strode to the door. "I'll be right back. I met Sean a few feet away from the door. "She doesn't know anything, right?"

"I told you, she was in the shower. Come on, let's get this over with."

I grabbed my guitar from my locker as Sean distracted Mr. Raditch. "Sean, why are you out of class without a pass?"

"Mr. R, Melissa Sanders was taking too long in the bathroom, so Mr. Simpson let me go. If you don't believe me, go ask him."

"Come on, Mr. Cameron. Let's go talk to Mr. Simpson." Mr. Raditch wrapped his arm around Sean's shoulders. That was my cue.

I walked into the office to see Ms. Kopek sitting and humming at her desk. She looked up at me with a questioning glance. "May I help you?"

"Uh...Mr. Raditch asked me to put this in his office," I said thinking quickly. I hadn't expected her to be there.

"Okay," she smiled and went back to her work.

I finished my journey into Mr. Raditch's office. I took hold of the P.A. microphone where Mr. Raditch did the morning announcement placing it in front of the green leather chair. I grabbed the encyclopedia from the book case by the desk. I put the book on the top of the speak button, gripping my guitar and situated myself in the chair.

"I want to dedicate this song to a special girl in Mr. Jansen's photography class," I said into the microphone. I sat there and took a deep breath. I started playing the song I wrote about Autumn called 'True.' Everything was going good. The song was perfect. I could see Autumn in my mind: sitting on her stool next to my empty one leaning her elbows on the table top with her head in her hands. "I've waited all my life to cross this line; to the only thing that's true, so I will not hide, it's time to try anything to be with you, all my life I've waited; this is true," I finished up the song. Making sure every not was heard, I waited a few seconds before removing the book off the microphone. With my guitar still wrapped around my neck, I picked myself up and ran to my locker. It amazed me that Mr. Raditch didn't send anyone to come get the prankster in his office. I placed my guitar in my locker feeling someone come up behind me.

"That was beautiful," she said low as if it were a secret.

"I wrote it for you," I shut my locker and turned to see someone I wasn't expecting. "Manny? No, I didn't write it for you. I wrote it for..."

"Craig! I can't believe you!" Autumn yelled from down the hall. She ran to me and wrapped her arms around me. I stared at Manny as her gaze fell to the floor.

"Autumn. I guess you liked it. I wrote that for you."

"Craig? Can I call you later? I need to talk to you. Please?" Manny's eyes looked up at me pleadingly.

"Yeah, any time after 10, I'll be free." She nodded at me and left Autumn and me alone.

Autumn placed her hand on the back of my neck and started twirling my hair in her fingers. "Thank you. I've never would have thought you would do something like that for me. I'm nothing important."

I leaned in a kissed her lightly. "On the contrary, you're very special, at least to me." She kissed me gingerly making my body go numb. "Does this mean you're mine? She grinned at me evilly, kissing me again. I took it as a yes. I guess my idea worked.