Highschool Dropout [08][I Think I Love You]

"Autumn..." – I turned around to find that my sister had tiptoed into the room and was now standing at the door.
"I brought you a croissant." – She whispered conspiratorially.
"Thanks, Ashley" – I whispered back. She climbed onto the bed, handed me one of Louis’ delicious home-baked croissants and curled up cat-like next to me.
"Are you happier now?" – She asked me expectantly. I though how lucky I was to have such a sweet sister, but I knew there was hardly anything she could do to help me.
"Of course" – I said not quite truthfully. She beamed at this. We lay on the bed for a while, not talking. It was a comfortable, soothing silence.
I faintly heard the doorbell downstairs. I wondered who it could be... probably one of my Mum's numerous friends.
"Autumn!" – I heard my mother yell. – "Someone's here to see you."
That was kind of unexpected. I wasn't really in the mood to see anyone right now, but reluctantly got up. Ashley followed suit and galloped off down the stairs. She was always very curious; the knowledge that someone is here and she doesn't know who it was must have been unbearable for her. I rubbed my eyes as the bright light hit them, since I've grown accustomed to the darkness of my room. Everything outside it seemed too bright and too shiny.
Arthur Melkins was leaning on the door frame, looking a bit uncomfortable under my Mother's disapproving glare.
"Hey" – I said quietly, wondering why he was here. I have to admit I was very pleased to see him nonetheless.
"Hey yourself" – He replied. – "I wanted to talk to you."
"Sure, let's go to up my room." - I suggested and started walking upstairs, pretending to ignore my mother's glares.
We walked up to my lime green room, Arthur sat down on the bed and I rolled up my desk chair. He sat there looking at the abstract paintings on the walls, while I examined him inconspicuously from under my fringe. He looked pretty much the same as he did at school previously that day, but kind and shy as well. All traces of his harshness and jumpiness were gone, and I felt quite sure that he didn't come over to insult me.
"Hey, Autumn...about before...you know, when I got all weird at school..." – He started, speaking quickly and making large pauses after every few words. – "I'm not sure what came over me...Well, I can explain it, somehow, but it would take too long and you won't get it. But seriously... It won't happen again. I know I overreacted, but I guess I was kind of... Agggh. I don't know."
Well, that was an interesting explanation. Then I realised this was the chance to apologise I was looking for ever since I left school to go find Arthur and return the notebook. The notebook! Oh well, I'd better say sorry now anyway.
"I'm sorry -" I started, but realised that Arthur was saying the exact same phrase at the exact same moment. We started laughing at once too, and all the tension was dissolved instantly. Arthur's blue eyes were shining with positive energy and...some kind of nice emotion. So much unlike Matt's. And speaking of Matt...
"Matt said he didn't hit you before. I was kind of confused about that. He said you fell over a porch." – I said, realising that I was being tactless a bit too late.
"Oh...Well, you see, when he's drunk, he doesn't remember anything afterwards. So when Mum asked the next day what happened, I told her the porch story, and Matt heard it and believed it too, probably." – He explained simply. Well, it did kind of make sense.
"Did you believe him?" – He added as an afterthought, but I could sense he was just trying to disguise his serious tone.
Did I believe Matt when he said that? He sounded so sincere... Wait, he was sincere! He believed what he was saying! And so I decided to be honest.
"I wasn't sure. I thought he sounded truthful, but it kind of didn't make sense. So I asked you to clear it up. You know, you really should have told him. How could he get better, if he doesn't know what he's done?" – I really did have faith that Matt is a good person. Very deep down.
"Look, Matt just doesn't get better. He's been like that for a few years, ever since he dropped out of school." – Arthur said with an air that he doesn't want to continue on the topic of his brother. I cast my mind around at other things, and Arthur's sketch book caught my eye.
"Here, you left this behind" – I bent over to get it from my bedside table and handed it to Arthur. His eyes widened and he blushed profoundly...
Whoops. Did I manage to do something wrong yet again?
"Oh...did you look through it?" – He asked quietly.
"Yeah" – I replied. – "Wasn't I allowed to? I know it's personal and everything..."
Arthur didn't say anything for a while, and sat there looking down at the notebook. He was holding it tightly, vivid white and pink patches showing through on his knuckles. Nervous much?
"It's fine. I should have told you this a while ago anyway.... How I knew all about you from ages ago. You just seemed different from the rest of them, and very inspiring to draw." – He said quietly, but his voice was slowly growing stronger. I couldn't help but smile, not even sure of the reason. Suddenly nothing mattered much, and the world was all happy and shiny. Shiny?! OK, maybe that's not the best word to describe the light-headed fluffy feeling..
"This is random, but here goes nothing." – Arthur said bravely. – "Autumn?"
"Yeah?" – I asked with a stupid goofy smile plastered on my face.
"I think I love you."




Icon & Ramblings -->

I made the icon all by myself!! Can't say it's extremely relevant, but it's there.
Thank you very much for reading, I am so hyperly happy that I have more readers for this story now. And such wonderful readers, too!
Mwah! <3