-Chapter 3-
School Can Wait
Day 3
I whistled merrily to myself on my out into the kitchen. Now I knew where the cooking supplies where so, like the amazing mutant I am, I started to fry some eggs for the two of us.
After a few minutes, footsteps ran into the room.
"JAMES? ARE YOU CRAZY?" Autumn shouted. I smiled and turned to her.
"Actually, I am a little crazy. And… my name's not James." I turned my attention happily back to the eggs, still whistling.
"I- it's not?"
"Nope~."
I heard her pull out a chair at the table and sit down. "Then… what is it?"
I slid two plates over to her and pushed the eggs onto them. "That's for you to figure out. And you better get going, school doesn't wait forever."
She sighed. "I wish it did- HEY! How do you know I had school! Or even what time it was?" I bet if I could see her now, she would be frozen, eyebrow raised, in her seat and a finger pointing at me.
"I overheard your phone call to your parents last night. Just because I'm blind, that doesn't mean I'm deaf too."
"Duh… but… okay." Autumn gave up, defeated.
She took her heavy backpack off of the ground and headed out, though I think she stopped at the door. "Keep the door unlocked… just- just in case…"
But before I could ask why, she was gone, closing the front door after her. My morning was quiet and peaceful, almost too much so. I ate away at my eggs slowly, savoring my own cooking. Sometimes, I wish I could see, even if it was just a moment.
A moment so I could see the girl I grew so fond of.
On the phone, with her parents, she spoke so proudly and special about me. No, she didn't mention I was hitching up at her place, but that she made a new friend at school… and that he was one of the few kids that taught her nicely. That he was blind, but he saw the wonder of life around him. No wasn't an answer for that boy, she said.
"A real special boy, mom." Autumn said several times, "A real kind boy."
I never thought I was THAT kind. Usually, along with the Flock, we tried to keep our distance. I learned of care and love of family, but did I ever dish that back to anyone BESIDES them? Did I?
And that was how I spent the rest of the morning. I washed my dish off, drank some milk, and wandered around the house. I ran my hand along the wall to make sure I don't hurt myself. That was when I came to an opening. Autumn's room. I couldn't see, so why shouldn't I? It's not like she'd know.
I went inside and looked blankly around the room. Every once in a while, I'd get a millisecond flash of white. Probably the paper that she draws on. I led myself to a window, a clothesline in front of it with more paper clipped onto it. I gently touched one.
It was charcoal. I could feel the indents on the paper. It was a small blue jay perched on a branch, with several leaves and brush around it. I closed my eyes and moved onto the next picture. Buildings with a bridge crossing over a river. And the next. A café with people sitting at tables with coffee.
I took a step back, amazing and scaring myself. It was almost like I could see the drawings, though not really.
"I should probably get 'outta here." I left out of her room and escaped to the living room. Though tempted, I refused my instincts to stretch out my wings, just for a little while. I didn't have anyone to tell me it was safe to unfold them. Yet judging by the pain, I think my wing began healing… slowly, I might add.
All of a sudden, the door burst open and shrills filled my ears. Shills that sounded almost like… Autumn? No, it couldn't be. It's only been a few hours since she left.
However, I followed the sound; the crying. And it led me to the porch. First, because life hates me, I tripped over something that wasn't-supposed-to-be-there in front of the door. After clutching onto the door frame for dear life, I walked out onto the porch. She was sniveling.
I sat down next to her, concern flooding me. "… Autumn?"
A muffled "Yes." can be heard. My heart dropped. I didn't want to hear that response.
"What happened?" I asked her.
She paused in her blubbering. "Well, whatever-your-name-is, I… I… the boys… they- they…!" She broke down crying.
"Autumn…" I pictured in my mind what she looked like at this moment, which only pained ME more.
I wrapped my arms around her. "My name's Iggy."
We just sat there, her body in my embrace. I've never done this sort of thing. I hope she doesn't think I'm trying to rape her or anything.
Gradually, she weaned off of the tears. "The boys from the store yesterday… well they're my classmates. And can bet that the news of you and me spread like glitter through the student body. All of the students had something rude to say. Usually… I'm so headstrong about their… bull… but today it… it was just too much,… Jame- Iggy."
After the conversation, I was able to get her to bed, let her take a nap to ease her mind of off today. I slammed on the front door's frame. Those boys are gonna pay… they will pay…
Two hours later, I wrapped my hand around my ear and smiled a devious and gleeful smile.
"Nnnngggg… Iggy…" Autumn said groggily and walked up to me.
"Three… two… one-"
BOOM!
"Ahhhh… I love the sound of bombs in the morning…" I leaned against the post and my smile grew.
"B- Bomb?" Autumn asked.
I turned to head back inside. "Oh yeah, I never thanked 'ya for leaving the address of your school on the answering machine. And I wouldn't go back to school today if I were you, the stink won't leave until tomorrow."
Author's Note: Man, I find myself writing this faster and faster with nothin' holdin' me back! I... well... THANKS FOR READIN'! PLEASE REVIEW! :)
