Famous Last Words

It’s four in the morning when I get the call. My phone had been on its max volume for days now, waiting to hear something… anything. I hadn’t spoken to Hunter at all, even though I had his number now. I could call him or text him at any time, but I knew better than to bother him with my petty problems when his sister was on her deathbed.

Leda was quite possibly the best friend I have ever had, and that includes the guys back home. It wasn’t that knowing Leda made me love them any less than I already did. Meeting Leda was what made me realize how much I’m missing out on – how much I needed someone in my life who I could just… talk to. Sure, I had Gus. He and I told each other everything… well, almost everything.

But I couldn’t talk to Gus about my crushes. I couldn’t talk to Gus about my art, and have him completely understand. I couldn’t cry to Gus whenever something went wrong in my life. But I could do all that with Leda.

And who knew what the future would have held for us, had things been a little more… normal? Sleepovers, makeovers, staying up all night gossiping about our celebrity crushes… All the things “normal” girls are supposed to do.

Who knows, though? Maybe I’m perfectly fine with being abnormal.

Not without Leda, I’m not.

So as soon as I got that phone call, I didn’t hesitate to barge right into Matt’s room, begging him to take me straight to the hospital. The whole ride there, I was completely numb. He didn’t even bother turning on the radio; he seemed to know the silence was good for me. It was what I needed, right then.

Like when I we were last there, Hunter is waiting for us expectantly. He smiles when he sees us. He and Matt shake hands; he wraps his arms around my quivering body. Then Austin appears from behind him. He engulfs me in a hug I hadn’t expected to receive from him.

Matt and Austin begin to strike up a conversation. Once they’re distracted, Hunter pulls on my arm; I follow him outside. He sits on one of the benches, and I sit beside him. Our legs touch; there’s electricity there. I can feel it.

We have a perfect view of the early morning sunrise. He laces his fingers in mine and we just… watch. I rest my head on his shoulder, the lack of sleep finally beginning to catch up with me.

“Have the nightmares stopped?” he asks suddenly.

“More or less,” I shrug. “Sometimes they’re really horrible – I remember every moment in detail. Other times, they’re vague; almost like they’re not there. But I remind myself every time that it’s not real anymore – it’s in the past, and that’s where it belongs.” He nods and squeezes my hand gently in his.

“She’s been asking for you a lot, you know,” he whispers. “I know she’s barely been awake for an hour, but she really wants to see you. She even spent a good ten minutes yelling at one of the doctors to let you back there once you got here.”

“But no luck, I assume?” He shakes his head sadly.

“They’re being really persistent, and I don’t know why.”
“Do you think Anthony may have something to do with it?”

“Probably,” he scoffs. “Guy’s everywhere. Especially here – here, almost everyone seems to know his name. And that can have mixed outcomes.” We fall silent for a minute.

“What’s going to happen now?” I ask quietly.

“Austin’s already in the process of filing for her custody,” he tells me. “What with the new record sales at an all-time high, he has enough money to pay for a good lawyer to take Anthony down.”

“What about you?” I sit up now. The thought of Hunter having to continue to live with Anthony had crossed my mind once or twice since I had heard that Austin would be trying to take Leda from him. But now that it was becoming reality, I couldn’t help but grow worried at the idea.

“I could get emancipated,” he suggests. “I’m already a senior –”

“Wait.” I hold up a hand to stop him. “I thought you were only sixteen?” He laughs.

“I am. I just skipped a couple grades in elementary school.” I nod, and he continues. “Anyway, like I was saying, since I’m already enrolled in high school, I could probably find a way to get emancipated and still finish high school.”

“But what would you do? Where would you go?” He shrugs.

“’Dunno. I’d probably get in my truck and just… drive.”

“Follow whatever road it takes you,” I mutter, understanding what he means.

“You see, Autumn,” he says. “Some people worry too much about their future. They worry about what they’re going to do when they’re done with school. They worry about how they’re going to survive on their own. They worry about whether or not they’ll ever fall in love, or if anyone will ever fall in love with them. They worry about every little detail, instead of just… letting it happen.”

As he says this, I can’t help but wonder if I’m one of those people. If I always am constantly worrying about where the future is going to take me – I can’t make much of a living off of art, but what else am I good for? And what about love? I’ve never really truly loved someone before – maybe I love Hunter, but how am I supposed to know for sure, when I’m barely in high school?

“Sometimes,” he continues. “Sometimes, there are those people who need to take a break from it all. All the worrying. They take a year off of life to travel. Or to spend time with family. Or to do something they just love to do. Me? I love to drive.” I can’t help but giggle slightly. He sends me a playful glare. “I’m serious. I really hope one day, Autumn, that you find something that makes you feel as free as driving makes me feel. Something that can take you wherever you want to go. Because god only knows that everyone needs something like that in their lives.”

A comfortable silence falls between us once again. I replace my head on his shoulder. He strokes the back of my hand with his thumb.

“Art.”

“Hm?” He looks down at me expectantly.

“Art. That’s what makes me feel free. That’s what takes me places. It makes me feel like… I’m in control of my own life.” I take a deep breath. It had been ages since I’ve picked up a camera, or a pencil and just lost myself.

The camera Matt had bought for me was still back at Brian and Michelle’s guest room. I would have to make it a top priority of mine to go back there sometime within the next couple of days and get it back.

And thank Matt properly for it.

It was time to get my life back together.

“Could you do me a favor?” I raise an eyebrow at him. “Could you… Could you thank your friend for me? What was his name again – Dillon? Without him… Without him, Leda would’ve died, you know.” I nod.

After the discussion with Rhonda and Jim, Dillon had managed to confront me about what happened to Leda. And after I explained to him what happened, and that she needed oh-negative blood to save her, he announced that he just so happened to have that blood type – and that he would be more than willing to give her the transfusion she needed.

I owed him. A lot.

“Are you two…? You know…” I giggle at him. He turns slightly pink.

“No,” I reply. “I had a thing for him throughout most of middle school admittedly. But I’m over him now.”

“Pity.” He leans back, smirking slightly. “He seemed like a pretty nice guy. Attractive, too. If I were a girl, I’d probably go for him.” I roll my eyes at him.

“I see what you’re doing.” I wag a finger at him. He raises an eyebrow at me.

“Oh, really?” He leans towards me a little more. “And what am I doing, exactly?” Now it’s my turn to blush. He smirks again before pressing his lips to mine.

Instead of pushing him away this time, I allow myself to kiss him back. I have no idea what I’m doing – but I know that I must be doing it right, because I feel him smile. Tiny surges of electricity seem to shoot between our lips, and I have the sudden urge to stick my tongue out.

The thought causes me to snicker slightly and I am forced to pull away. He gives me an amused look.

“Am I missing something, here?”

“Sorry,” I say, covering my mouth with my sleeve. “I just… I’ve never really kissed a guy before… not like that, at least.”

“I can tell.” I hit his chest playfully.

“Asshole,” I mutter. He just snickers before kissing my cheek.

“C’mon; we should go back inside before they start wondering where we are.”

He laces his fingers through mine once again. I don’t care if this makes Matt angry – because Hunter makes me happy.

He makes me a lot happier than Dillon – or just the mere thought of him – ever has.

Notes