A Night without Stars Read online

  “Listen up. I’m with Rick and Nathaniel,” she gestured to them and saw with relief that they were on their way over. “So how about you and your buddies get lost.”

  Ben snickered. “You are with Rick Jacobs and Nathaniel Abrams?”

  Autumn glared openly at him now. It was one thing to piss her off but attack anyone she cared about, and she would defend them like a bear protecting its cubs.

  “Yes. Rick and Nathaniel are my friends,” Autumn said sharply. “Now get gone.”

  Ben leaned in, ignoring her scowl. “Just between you and me Autumn, those are not the people you want to be hanging out with. They are like the pariahs of Whitan High.”

  “Pariah? That’s an awfully big word for you to use Ben,” Autumn said. “Do you even know what it means?”

  Ben shrugged, ignoring her jab. “They are losers Autumn!”

  “Oh are they?” Autumn said cuttingly. “Funny that, I think you are a loser Ben.”

  Ben shifted uncomfortably, clearly taken aback.

  “I’m just saying you are judged by the company you keep,” he said.

  “If that’s the case, I sure as hell don’t want to be seen with you,” Autumn said, getting up. “Then people might think I’m an asshole too.”

  “Is everything okay Aut?” Rick asked, standing in front of her protectively. Autumn recognized this pose. It was Rick’s defensive stance, even when they were kids.

  “I’m fine Rick,” Autumn replied, shooting Ben a glare. “We can leave now.”

  “You might be hot,” Ben said to her, standing up. “But anyone who would associate with these two isn’t cool in my books.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you but I really don’t care what you think,” Autumn snapped.

  “Yeah well, come September you will regret that,” Ben shot back.

  “Don’t you threaten her Mills!” Rick said heatedly.

  As soon as Rick raised his voice, Ben’s gang began heading towards them. Autumn felt her whole body clench up as the tension in the air grew thicker.

  “Here come the cronies,” Nathaniel muttered.

  “You are pathetic Jacobs,” Ben went on. “You too Abrams.”

  “You are the one hitting on a girl who obviously has no interest in you,” Nathaniel piped up.

  “And you are the one that needs your lackeys to back you up,” Rick added in. “Can’t you fight your own battle’s Mills?”

  “Is there a problem here?” A guy with dark hair stood beside Ben, eyeballing Rick and Nathaniel menacingly.

  Ben’s other buddies flanked him, and though they were big, Autumn wasn’t worried. They had more brawn than brains. That much was evident.

  “Why do people always ask that?” Nathaniel said to Autumn and Rick. “Is there a problem here? Obviously, there is or you guys wouldn’t be rushing over!”

  Ben cracked his knuckles. “Nothing that a good old-fashioned beat down wouldn’t take care of Austin.”

  “Oh bring it on Mills!” Nathaniel shouted.

  Ben sneered. “You asked for it Abrams!” And he raised his arm, ready to punch him.

  “I wouldn’t,” Autumn warned.

  Ben lowered his arm, turning to her. “And why wouldn’t I sweetheart?”

  Autumn said nothing. Instead, she pointed at the mother with two young boys approaching the skate park.

  Ben saw them and rolled his eyes. He couldn’t fight with people watching.

  “This chick is a waste of my time,” he said coldly. “And as for you two,” he pointed at Rick and Nathaniel. “Your school year is going to be very long!” He turned to his friends.

  “Let’s jet.”

  Nathaniel snorted. “I am quaking in my sneakers.”

  Autumn shot daggers into their backs as they walked across the field, heading back the way they had come.

  Rick’s stance relaxed as they left. He looked at Autumn. “Are you alright?”

  She smiled gratefully.

  “I’m fine. Thanks for coming over guys. What an asshole he is.”

  “Yeah, and yet he’s still the most popular guy at Whitan,” Rick said disgusted. “When I saw him come up to you I knew it was trouble.”

  Nathaniel snorted. “Who wears their varsity jacket in this heat? What a bunch of jerks!”

  “Mills took Autumn’s hand!” Rick said through laughter. “He was courting her!”

  “He thinks he’s King freaking Arthur!” Nathaniel said between chuckles.

  “Leave it to me to make enemies after only one day of living here,” Autumn said, unable to hide her grin.

  “Trust me. It’s better to have Ben as an enemy then a friend,” Nathaniel said as they headed back towards the centre of the park. “Ben is the type of guy who shoves kids into lockers.”

  “Yeah man. I remember when he did that to you freshman year,” Rick said bitterly.

  “He was all shoving you in there and his friends were yucking it up,” Rick grimaced. “Losers.”

  Nathaniel’s face turned pink from embarrassment as he turned to Autumn.

  “Yeah. I was a lot smaller back then.”

  Autumn smiled, trying not to look at Nathaniel pityingly. “What a bully.”

  “Come to think of it Autumn, you might be the first girl to turn that sleaze down,” Rick said proudly. “I think this is a momentous occasion. You have made history here today.”

  “Here here!” Nathaniel chimed in.

  “I don’t date guys like that,” Autumn said. “He could never love someone else because he’s too in love with himself.”

  Rick looked thoughtful. “One time in the locker room he was like, flexing his muscles in the mirror and kissing them. I thought he looked pretty lame making out with his biceps.”

  The three of them spent a couple more uneventful hours at the skate park before it began getting crowded.

  True to his word, Rick helped Autumn learn to skateboard. It took many coaxing’s to get her on it, but once she did he wasn’t giving up on her.

  Rick instructed her to put both feet on the board and practice balancing. Autumn tried this and almost immediately began wobbling. Rick put his hands on her waist, holding her steady until she got used to the board, but it felt like gravity was fighting against her.

  Eventually, he began rolling the board, still holding on to her as he pushed it along. When he let her go, she coasted for a bit, actually managing not to fall.

  Autumn could feel the gentle breeze in her hair and her stomach fluttering with anticipation. “Use your foot to push off!” Rick called out when she began losing momentum.

  She did it and the skateboard moved smoothly and steadily along the pavement.

  She was doing it. Something new, something she hadn’t experienced before.

  She was living for the moment, not thinking through every second, not worrying about falling flat on her face.

  She had never felt freer in her life.

  3

  The weeks before school were generally relaxed and uneventful. Rick toured Autumn around Whitan, showing her different places to shop, eat and pick up her favorite books. There was a large chain bookstore that had just opened up and of course, the reliable public library. Most days, Nathaniel tagged along, attempting to work his magic on Autumn.

  As the end of summer drew nearer, Autumn prepped Rick for a new regime of studying. She warned him that she wouldn’t go easy on him just because they were friends.

  Somewhere between the nights growing cooler and the increasing foliage, fall arrived with a bang and so did the first day of school.

  Autumn spent a good part of her morning picking an outfit. Like most girls, she wanted to look put together and attractive on her first day.

  She opted for a grey V-neck sweater dress that accented her curves and black leggings. She did her makeup and
hair in a long braid and headed downstairs for breakfast.

  As she made her way down the stairs, she had a terrifying epiphany. She would be the new girl today. It was petrifying, but she did have Rick and Nathaniel. That was more than most people had on their first day.

  When she arrived downstairs, Rick was already seated at the kitchen table, eating like a ravenous animal.

  His plate had four boiled eggs, three sausages and a pile of bacon on it. Autumn couldn’t believe how much he ate and yet his body was still slim and toned.

  “Morning Autumn,” Uncle James said. He was dressed in a grey suit, looking rather dapper while reading a newspaper. He put it down and scanned her appraisingly.

  “You look beautiful,” he said. “You are going to knock ‘em dead today kiddo.”

  “Thank you,” Autumn said taking a seat at the table. “Morning Rick.”

  Rick looked up quickly from pigging out. “Hey Aut. Did you sleep okay?”

  Autumn shrugged. “As good as to be expected before my first day.”

  Autumn was perpetually nervous on the first day of school, even back home. Ever since she could remember, she tossed and turned the night before school began and in the morning she had that sick feeling in her stomach. The relief came when the day was finally over and done with. After that, school was smooth sailing for her.

  “Where’s Aunt Katherine?” Autumn asked as she grabbed a boiled egg and a few slices of bacon.

  “She had to leave early. She was behind on her paperwork,” Uncle James replied, taking a sip of his coffee. “Are you excited for your first day?”

  “I’m a little nervous,” Autumn admitted.

  Her uncle raised his hand as if to shoo away her fears. “Don’t be nervous,” he said. “You will love it there. Besides, you have Rick to help you out.”

  Rick nodded at her. “And Nathaniel.”

  After they finished eating breakfast, Autumn offered to drive Rick to school in her car. Her aunt and uncle were kind enough to lend her one of their four cars. It was older but it was well-kept, and as long as it got Autumn around, she wasn’t too picky.

  As they headed out the door, Autumn’s uncle called from the kitchen.

  “Have a good day you two!” he said. “And Rick, remember, if you need any help with school work ask Autumn.”

  “I hope we don’t get any work today! It’s the first day back,” Rick said, looking genuinely terrified.

  They loaded their backpacks into the backseat of the car and got inside.

  As Autumn started to drive, Rick began tinkering with the radio as he explained how the first day worked.

  “Our names are posted on a list on bulletin boards near the cafeteria. The list tells you where your homeroom is and that’s where you’ll get your full schedule.”

  “Do you think we’ll have homeroom together?” Autumn asked hopefully, as she stopped at a stop sign. She never even considered that her and Rick might not have any classes together.

  “I hope so,” Rick said.

  As they drove down the road, Autumn could see people filtering in. The clusters of teenagers walking and laughing, like an introduction scene for a teen movie. When she turned the corner, Rick pointed.

  “It’s up there.”

  In front of her eyes, was an average looking high school that was much smaller than her old one. She was first greeted by the side of the building. In front of it, people were congregated on the grass, talking and smoking cigarettes.

  “The parking lot entrance is over there,” Rick directed her.

  She nodded and turned quickly, smiling at him. “Thanks.”

  Rick looked back at her panicked. “Eyes on the road!”

  She sighed and turned into the parking lot, slowing her car to a crawl.

  Golden letters across a sea of tan brick’s spelt out the schools name: WHITAN HIGH SECONDARY SCHOOL. Underneath it was a white banner flapping in the wind: HOME OF THE HAWKS.

  With some effort, Autumn managed to find a parking spot around the back side of the building. From there she could see a large track surrounded by bleachers, a baseball diamond, and a forest that the school backed onto.

  Her nerves kicked in as she watched the flood of unfamiliar faces heading toward the school. Her stomach was doing summersaults.

  She took a deep breath, cutting the car’s engine.

  You can do this! She coaxed herself. Piece of cake.

  “Aut?” Rick broke into her thoughts. “Are you alright? You look a little pale.”

  Autumn caught her reflection in the rear-view mirror, and Rick was right. She was white as a ghost.

  “I’m just anxious,” she said quietly. “Everything here is new. I don’t know anyone.”

  “You know me and Nate. Don’t worry,” he said, squeezing her shoulder comfortingly. “Besides, walking in with me makes you instantly cool,” he grinned.

  Autumn felt better as they grabbed their bags and began walking towards the back door.

  She stepped inside a long hallway, and just as she suspected, people turned, looking at her.

  She was like a caged animal in the zoo, and everyone was watching her.

  She wished she didn’t have such acute hearing because even through the chaos and noise, she could hear the whispers.

  “Is she new?”

  “I’ve never seen her here before.”

  “She’s cute.”

  “I wonder how old she is.”

  “Is that Jacobs’s girlfriend?”

  “I doubt it. He could never get her.”

  As they made their way down the hall, Autumn felt hands grasp her waist from behind.

  “Guess who?” Nathaniel asked jovially.

  “Hey Nathaniel,” Autumn said, grateful he was there.

  “What gave me away?” Nathaniel asked, letting Autumn go as he followed her and Rick through the masses of people.

  “Um, maybe it was your voice dude?” Rick said sarcastically.

  “Good point. Next time, I’ll talk in my British accent.”

  “Now she’s definitely going to know it’s you lemon head!” Rick said exasperatedly.

  Autumn followed the boys down the hall as they headed towards the centre of the school where the cafeteria was.

  Next to it, stood bulletin boards where students were lined up. The three of them joined the long queue.

  “Man, I can’t believe we’re back here already,” Nathaniel said miserably. “Summer went by so fast.”

  “Yeah but just think dude, one more year, and we are done with this place,” Rick said happily. “Sweet freedom!”

  “Yeah. If I can pass,” Nathaniel said looking down at his shoes. “I’m not like you Rick. I don’t have a pretty girl to motivate me.”

  “You can borrow her if you want,” Rick offered. “I’m sure Autumn wouldn’t mind.” He looked over at Autumn and grinned.

  “I think I’ll have my hands full with you Ricky,” Autumn said. “But if you need a little extra help Nathaniel, I would be happy to oblige.”

  “Thanks Autumn,” Nathaniel said, looking pleased. “I just might take you up on that offer.”

  They stood in line for what seemed like ages. Every minute that passed, Autumn grew more anxious. The thought that she may not have any classes with Rick was unbearable.

  Finally, when it was her turn, Autumn found her name on the board labeled I J K. She traced her finger across the paper. Her homeroom teacher was Mr. Brown.

  Rick leaned over her shoulder anxiously looking for his own name.

  “Sweet! We are in the same homeroom. We should have most of our classes together.”

  Nathaniel, who was at the A B C board, walked towards them, sighing dejectedly.

  “I’m in Mrs. Parker’s class. I hate my last name!”

  “Well, we
will have the same lunch at least,” Rick said reassuringly.

  As they walked away from the bulletin boards, Nathaniel and Rick began chatting about skateboarding as Autumn looked at her cell. They were going to be late for orientation in homeroom. She tugged Rick’s arm.

  “We had better go. I don’t want to start the year off late.”

  Rick gave Autumn a nod and looked at Nathaniel. “See you at lunch dude.”

  “Bye Nathaniel,” Autumn gave him a wave.

  He waved back. “See you guys later.”

  As they walked through the clusters of students Autumn took everything in.

  In her mind, she was comparing everything to her old school. The smell, the floors, how the kids dressed. It was sensory overload.

  She took a deep breath and felt Rick’s hand grasp hers.

  Autumn looked at him, confused.

  “Rick?”

  “Sorry,” he said as he pulled her along, weaving through a crowd of rowdy kids.

  “You look nervous. When we were kids, when you were scared you liked it when I took your hand.”

  Autumn smiled. She couldn’t believe Rick remembered this.

  “Thanks,” she said simply as they made their way past lockers and the library towards a small classroom at the end of the hall. Rick relinquished her hand and held open the door for her as she stepped inside.

  As soon as she was in the room, everyone’s eyes were on her.

  Autumn looked at the sea of unfamiliar faces, and they all looked back at her.

  She imagined they were wondering who she was and the fact that they didn’t know, pleased her, just a bit.

  She smiled to herself. She was finally getting the fresh start her parents said she deserved.

  At the front of the room, a middle-aged man sat at a wooden desk, reading through paperwork. He was short and round with messy gray hair. His nameplate read: Mr. Brown.

  “Good morning,” he said as he looked down at his clipboard, scanning it.

  “Rick Jacobs. I know you already.” He looked to Autumn pleasantly.

  “Your name please dear.”

  Autumn stated her name and after scanning the class register, the teacher looked up at her.