A Night without Stars Read online

  Not only was Rick the only younger guy at the station but he still looked exactly the same.

  Dressed in a T-shirt and ragged jeans, he was taller and more muscular, but he still had the brown ringlet curls and blue eyes she remembered from when they were kids. Rick, however, continued searching for Autumn in the crowd.

  She walked towards him apprehensively and waved at him. Rick saw her and waved back, looking surprised but happy.

  “Autumn?” he began unsurely, slowly walking towards her.

  “Hey, Rick,” she said, setting down her luggage to greet him. It took him a moment to react and for a split-second, he just gawked at her. Finally, he smiled at her, his familiar dimpled grin.

  “Aut!” he exclaimed, running at her, arms outstretched. He scooped her up without effort and spun her around.

  Autumn enjoyed this movie moment. She probably wouldn’t have many in her lifetime.

  “Ricky!” she squealed, sinking into him as he set her down. They hugged until Rick pulled back and began examining Autumn.

  “You look so different,” he said. “You don’t have chicken legs anymore!”

  “You look different too,” Autumn said, beaming. “Except for these,” she said, touching his ringlets playfully.

  Rick smiled at her. “You were always pretty Aut but you are just stunning now.”

  “You turned out pretty adorable yourself there Rick,” she said, blushing.

  “I’m just in shock,” Rick went on. “I’ve seen pictures of you, but it’s not like actually seeing you.”

  “The last time you saw me in person was years ago,” she pointed out. “I’ve grown up.”

  Rick nodded. “It’s a good change you know, the curves. Some of the girls at my school look like all they eat is lettuce and they are so bitchy. I think it’s because they’re starving.”

  “That is terrible,” Autumn said.

  “Personally, I don’t want to see my girlfriend’s ribs but that’s just me,” Rick said, grabbing Autumn’s luggage. “Follow me. I parked close.”

  When they got to Rick’s car, he loaded Autumn’s bags into the trunk as she hopped into the passenger seat. Autumn buckled up her seatbelt as Rick got in beside her.

  As they drove, Autumn took in her surroundings, trying her best to remember the town but the Whitan she had known as a little girl was no longer. The small sleepy town had grown into a city though not quite as big as she had imagined. There were fewer fields and trees and many more buildings and houses. The streets were filled with joggers and dog walkers, and the road was jam-packed with cars.

  “Welcome to suburbia,” Rick joked, catching Autumn’s expression of wonder.

  “I just can’t believe how many people live here now,” Autumn said.

  “The times they are a changing,” Rick mused.

  They had been driving for only a few minutes when Autumn noticed many other drivers were passing Rick.

  Most of them looked annoyed and glared at him but Rick didn’t take notice. Staring straight-ahead, with both hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel, he went about his merry way.

  Autumn looked from him to the speedometer which read, sixty.

  “Rick, what is the speed limit on this road?” she asked curiously.

  “Eighty,” Rick replied nonchalantly.

  “So, how was your train ride?” he asked, looking directly at her only because he stopped at a yellow light.

  “It was good,” Autumn said.

  She smiled to herself. She couldn’t resist a chance to tease Rick, for old time’s sake.

  “Ricky, you stopped at the yellow light?”

  “Yes. I drive with care always,” he said confidently.

  “Yellow means caution,” Autumn pointed out. “And while I think that safe driving is commendable, you could’ve gone through. The intersection was empty.”

  “Autumn, haven’t you heard all those safe driving slogans? Driving isn’t a race! I want to arrive alive!”

  Autumn giggled. “Sorry Rick. You wouldn’t have made it through the intersection before the light turned red anyhow.”

  Rick shot her a look. “Why not?”

  “Rick, you drive sixty clicks in an eighty zone,” she said. “Didn’t you notice the other drivers going past you? I’ve never seen such angry motorists. And I swear a guy on a bicycle passed you.”

  Rick rolled his eyes. “If they don’t like my driving they can go around me,” he said stubbornly. “It is their right.”

  Autumn already knew Rick had a penchant for overly safe driving. Uncle James told her dad Rick was so meticulous that driving with him had become an ordeal.

  Autumn chuckled. “You are like no teenage driver I’ve ever met.”

  “Why?” Rick asked, as the light turned green and the car began moving again.

  “Teenagers aren’t exactly known for their safe driving.”

  Rick shrugged. “That may be so but I don’t want us to end up dead. And you will thank me for that when you are alive and well.”

  Rick and Autumn continued chatting and it felt natural. It wasn’t like they hadn’t spoken in years.

  Autumn would call Rick at least once or twice a week and they emailed often.

  He would talk about skateboarding with his best friend Nathaniel, and she would tell him about school and cheerleading. Still, Autumn had to admit she enjoyed talking to Rick in person much more.

  Ten minutes passed before they finally arrived at Rick’s house and when Autumn first saw it, she hardly recognized it.

  It was very different from the house she had visited when she was a young girl.

  The house she was remembered was smaller, with old rustic details and a tiny garden out front.

  This house was huge, with a wraparound porch and an enormous garden encompassing it.

  “Wow,” Autumn managed as she was getting out of the car. “Did your parents do some remodeling?”

  Rick got out and opened the trunk, grabbing Autumn’s luggage.

  “Yeah. It took them years to get the house how they wanted it. Man, they are perfectionists if you ask me.”

  As they strolled up the cobblestone walkway, Autumn examined the house. The garden was filled with an array of beautiful flowers and plants and the house itself had bay windows and a huge old-fashioned wooden front door.

  Autumn heard the sound of the door opening and saw her Aunt Katherine standing there. She stepped out onto the front porch, smiling the familiar smile Autumn had grown to miss.

  Seeing her again reminded Autumn of being a little girl. She had always thought her Aunt Katherine was so pretty.

  Aunt Katherine was tall, with high cheekbones framed by a black bob. She always wore something classic like a pantsuit or an A-line skirt with a blouse. Today was no different. Though she was older and her skin crinkled when she smiled now, she was still beautiful.

  It’s so good to see you Autumn,” she said hugging her tightly. “Come inside sweetheart.”

  As they stepped inside, Autumn remembered the sweet scent of baking lingering in the air as her and Rick played board games in the kitchen. Aunt Katherine always made cookies, brownies and squares on weekends.

  “Aunt Katherine I missed you so much,” Autumn said. As tears of joy filled her eyes she felt foolish thinking she would feel like a stranger here. This was like another home to her as a child and she could never forget that.

  “You look so beautiful,” Aunt Katherine said, tearing up as well. “Pictures don’t do you any justice Autumn. You are just gorgeous.”

  “I don’t see it,” Autumn said modestly. “But thank you.”

  “Oh don’t give me that,” her aunt said in disbelief. “The boys must love you. You have an amazing figure.”

  “Mom!” Rick grumbled, rolling his eyes.

  “Rick,
what’s wrong honey?” Aunt Katherine asked.

  “Come on mom. You are embarrassing me!” Rick said, setting the luggage down in the front foyer.

  “Am I?” she asked, grinning slightly.

  “Yeah you are! Autumn is my best buddy and you are talking about her figure! It’s really weird!”

  “Well, you go ahead and take her bags up to her new room then,” Aunt Katherine said looking back at Autumn. “I want to give you the grand tour sweetie. Things have changed a lot since you were last here.”

  Rick heaved the luggage off the floor and started up the stairs as Aunt Katherine began showing Autumn around.

  She couldn’t believe how different the house was on the inside as well. The kitchen had been expanded and modernized, with beautiful tile flooring and new white cupboards. All the carpet had been torn up and replaced by hardwood in the dining and living room and in the backyard there was a pool and a hot tub. The best part was the added on library where Autumn was free to peruse books whenever she wanted. She was in heaven.

  After Autumn’s tour, Aunt Katherine began making dinner, chicken and potatoes, and Autumn headed for her room to unpack.

  When Autumn saw her new bedroom, she couldn’t believe her eyes. She blinked once, in utter disbelief, before walking into it.

  It was almost as big as her parent’s master bedroom back home.

  She sat her purse on the huge bed that was decorated with a white duvet and tons of fluffy pillows. The room smelt like a mix of vanilla and lavender and there was a window seat, a big bookshelf and a desk.

  Mounted on the wall, across from the bed, was a large flat-screen television. Autumn was also excited to discover she had a massive walk-in closet.

  She began taking her clothes out of her suitcase, eager to use her new closet, when she heard a tap on her open door. She looked up and saw Rick standing there.

  “Unpacking?” he asked and Autumn nodded. “Come in.”

  “Do you need any help?” he asked, making his way over to the suitcases.

  “I’m good, thanks.”

  “Oh, come on! I don’t mind.” Rick insisted.

  He reached into her luggage, blindly grabbing a few articles of clothing.

  “I’ll just put these away for you,” he began, but he stopped short.

  Autumn looked up and saw to her amusement that Rick had a pair of her lacy underwear in his hands.

  “I’m sorry,” Rick mumbled, his face red as he gently set them on the bed.

  “It’s okay,” she grinned. “They are just underwear.”

  “So you need help with school?” she changed the subject.

  “I don’t think so,” he said bluntly. “I pass and passing is all that matters.”

  “That’s what those drivers passing you said too,” Autumn cracked and Rick groaned.

  Autumn was already warned about Rick’s passé attitude towards school. Her aunt told her that rollerblading, skateboarding and tinkering with his sword collection, took precedence over his academics.

  “Well, according to your mom, you just barely passed last year, and if you fail this year you won’t be graduating,” she paused as she headed towards the mirrored dresser. “Hence, why I’m here.”

  Rick stared at her, puzzled. “Hence?”

  “Exactly,” she said.

  Rick shrugged, looking bored. “Either way, I don’t want to fail, so yeah, copying off you would be ideal.”

  Autumn chuckled as she put her shirts into the top drawer of her dresser.

  “Oh no, we aren’t going down that road Rick.”

  “Why?” he asked, pouting. “I’ll pay you Autumn.”

  “Money can’t buy me,” she said firmly. “You need to pass your classes honestly.”

  Rick rolled his eyes and slumped onto her bed, defeated. “Now you sound like mom.”

  “Sorry Ricky. Your mom and dad brought me here to help and if I let you cheat I wouldn’t be helping you would I?”

  “Is that a trick question?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

  A loud beeping sound came from Rick’s pocket as Autumn continued putting clothes away. He pulled out his cellphone and grinned broadly.

  “Sweet!”

  “What’s sweet?” she asked.

  “My buddy is here. We skate together. Wait until you meet him,” he said. “He’s a really nice guy. We have been friends since grade nine. I’m sure I mentioned him to you before. His name is Nathaniel.”

  Autumn arched an eyebrow at him not missing a beat. “Is this a setup Rick?”

  “No! Of course not! I wasn’t setting him up with you yet. We hadn’t seen each other in years. You could’ve been horrid in person,” Rick said as he began texting.

  Autumn looked at Rick incredulously.

  “Thanks,” she grumbled sarcastically.

  “What? I said could’ve been,” he said, looking up at her sweetly. “You actually turned out to be pretty.”

  “Wonderful,” Autumn muttered.

  Autumn had filled up two drawers in her dresser with clothes when a voice bellowed up the stairs.

  “Rick? Dude? I’m here!”

  “Dude, I’m in the guest room,” Rick replied.

  Minutes later, a guy about Rick’s height and build, with ginger hair and light freckling on his face walked into the room. When he saw Autumn, his eyes went wide.

  “Hello,” Autumn said as she picked up more clothes to sort. She introduced herself as Nathaniel continued staring at her, mesmerized.

  “I’ve talked about Autumn plenty. We grew up together. She is like family,” Rick said proudly. “Our parents are tight man.”

  Nathaniel nodded slowly, not even looking at Rick before offering Autumn his hand.

  “Nathaniel Abrams.”

  “Good to meet you Nathaniel,” she said shaking his hand.

  Autumn went back to sorting her clothes. Nathaniel studied her, his hand on his chin before turning to Rick.

  “Dude, you said she might be horrid,” he said loudly.

  “I did, but it turns out I was wrong dude,” Rick muttered.

  “Yeah, you were,” Nathaniel said, a grin on his face. “She is smoking hot.”

  Autumn felt her face growing hot. It was like she wasn’t even in the room.

  Nathaniel turned back to her. “So do you have a boyfriend back home Autumn?”

  Rick rolled his eyes. “Even if she did, he lives far away now dude.”

  “I still have to ask man. It’s procedure. Girls with boyfriends are off limits. You know that!” Nathaniel shot back.

  Autumn sat patiently on her bed as they went on conversing like she was invisible.

  “So do you?” Nathaniel asked again, shuffling his feet back and forth.

  She thought about Kyle for a split second, but didn’t let her mind delve too deep into the thought. She wasn’t reopening that wound today or tomorrow. After all, she had her whole life to pine.

  “Nope,” Autumn said. “I did but we broke up.”

  Nathaniel nodded approvingly. “Awesome. And let me just say, any guy that let you go, is a complete moron.”

  Autumn smiled. “Thanks.”

  “So, are you staying for dinner man?” Rick asked Nathaniel, taking a seat at the end of Autumn’s bed.

  Nathaniel nodded. “Yeah, your mom already invited me downstairs.”

  “Good,” Rick said. “You can ask Autumn all the questions you want instead of asking me.”

  Nathaniel smiled at Autumn sheepishly just as Aunt Katherine called them down for dinner.

  As they made their way down the wooden stairs, Autumn could smell a medley of vanilla candles, roasted chicken and homemade mashed potatoes. When they stepped into the large kitchen, the table was set for five with fine bone china and in the middle sat a bouquet of f
resh flowers.

  “Autumn! You made it!”

  Autumn was delighted to see her Uncle James by the fridge uncorking a bottle of white wine.

  He put the bottle down and rushed over to hug her.

  “Kiddo, you are a sight for sore eyes eh?” he said squeezing her tightly.

  “Uncle James, how are you?” Autumn squeezed back just as firmly.

  “Not bad for an old guy I guess,” he jested.

  Like her aunt, her uncle looked the same as he always had, albeit a little older.

  He was short and stocky, with dark hair and eyes that usually had a mischievous twinkle in them. The one thing she remembered about Uncle James was he was always smiling.

  Growing up, her father joked around with her but he was often somber. James, however, was always playing pranks on people.

  Autumn had many memories of her Uncle James placing whoopee cushions on her chair or jumping out from behind walls and scaring her senseless.

  As a child, he was heaven to be around because he was so silly and fun.

  Even now, it was hard for her to imagine him in a business suit talking maturely with his colleagues.

  “Katherine told me you were gorgeous, and she was right,” her uncle went on. “You’re smart and beautiful, so you obviously take after your mom and not your dad,” he joked of his old friend.

  When everyone finally sat down to eat, Autumn was famished. She hadn’t eaten since leaving home due to her frazzled nerves.

  After everyone was seated and situated, Katherine turned to Rick.

  “Alright Rick, start passing around the chicken,” she said.

  Nathaniel took the serving plate from Rick and began putting chicken on his plate.

  “Hey Nathaniel, do you like the breasts, legs or thighs?” Rick snickered.

  Autumn rolled her eyes at his immaturity as Aunt Katherine shot him a look that made him stop laughing instantly.

  “Rick,” she said sternly.

  “Sorry,” Rick mumbled.

  Nathaniel was trying his best not to crack up as he grabbed a piece of chicken.

  “Here you go Autumn,” he said handing her the serving plate.