Thank all those who were kind enough to send feed back email and otherwise. Long as their are request to continue I will finish the Saga. Thanks again.
Chapter 2: The Eclipse of Morals
Alisha had left after our brief shower and make out session under the constantly falling, warm cascade of water. We were more then satisfied with the session that had taken place earlier so the shower stayed only a shower. She was beautiful there under that water. Alisha watched me through her eye lashes as droplets of water clung to them. Teasing with a lush smile from time to time. When our shower was complete she kissed me goodbye then walked from my front door, down the path and to her small, sea green Sedan across the street. She wore a beige skirt, sandals and a white blouse as she walked along with her bright red umbrella. The world was a gray tranquility of peace and the air smelled of water and saturated vegetation. She stood there a moment at her car after opening the driver side door. Alisha turned looking at me one last time causing her umbrella to tilt to the left over her shoulder. There under the towering Acorn tree dripping with water, beside that car beaded by rain water upon the slick, black asphalt she was a spirit of perfect. Alisha smiled warmly then waved before climbing into her car. Even though we weren't in love I respected and cared about her deeply.
Autumn's, Brandon's and my own house had always been in close proximity of each others. It was an inaccurate triangle made up of scattered suburban neighborhoods, creeks and scatter groups of trees. I stepped outside closing and looking the front door behind me then doing the same to the, black security screen. Walking across the small cement path, I passed under several more large Acorn trees that dripped with rain water. I had dressed in my black, over sized sweater, jeans and my boots. Under the sweater was a simple gray t-shirt. I wasn't in the mood for a coat so I brought a black umbrella with me. As always it wasn't a long walk through the large, well groomed Town Houses of soft gray and browns.
I crossed the street and cut through a rather large park that was teaming with children on sunny days. It was vacant, wet and quiet on that particular afternoon. It was kind of a short cut that took me through the neighborhood a bit quicker, riding my Bike was out of the question. I wasn't the type to risk it during rain. Autumn's home was nestled in a neighborhood of large, expensive, two story homes nestled in the artificial tranquility of Suburbia. All the homes often looked exactly exactly alike. A row of uniformed clones with little bits and pieces making some sort of shy attempt for individuality. The Black Mercedes was absent and I knew it meant her Father was out either drinking with his Brother or working late. Mr. Sita was often a very nice, if even very curt and stern man I had come to respect and admire on some levels. I walked up the driveway to the large, gray two story home trimmed with white. Some where in the neighborhood the uninspired and badly choreographed song of a wind chime played in obscurity.
I pushed the small, white button framed by a gold circle and the sound of the bell inside was faint. "Come in!" A voice called out to me and I took hold of the brass handle, opening the door and walking in. I closed the door behind me and was greeted by the warmth of the house. It was something, large and spacious where large oil paints of seas, cliffs and skies hung on the walls. A light hung from a gold chain over the front door, surrounded by a crystal square. Weak, gray light seeped in past the slightly opened, heavy, maroon curtains about the living room. Near one of the windows Autumn sat at a circular, glass table framed by black wood. The chair looked victorian with a high, elaborately done legs, a high back and white cushion seat. A single black, thick, tall candle stood in the middle of the table on a silver, square shaped tray. Incense smoke rose and curled like an ash, gray serpent from a very simple, rectangular incense burning. Autumn's large yellow and brown tarot cards were sitting on the table as she cycled through them. It was all so elaborate and theatrical setting but I knew she was as real as hell.
Though they were Punjabi, her Father was a man assimilated by the Western World, thus so was his daughter and former wife. Mr. Sita did not mind Autumn's dabbling much, he believed it was just a phase anyway. The friends I sometimes spoke to with a more traditional Father would have probably tried to slap her head off her shoulders.
"Hello, hello." Autumn looked up from her Tarot cards and her full, black colored lips offered a musing sort of smile. She sat there in a deep red sweater and a flowing black skirt. Her thick, wavy, raven colored mane of hair hung about her shoulders. Her left sleeve was pulled up and I could see a large, silver bracelet with an oval shaped onyx crowning its center. Upon her index finger was a spider shaped, silver ring. Her boots sat near the front door because the carpet was a flawless white. When she smiled at me from where she sat I couldn't help but remember the little girl I had first met on Halloween. In my moment of nostalgia I had to wonder how she morphed from the sweet little girl to the devious, sly thing before me. It was akin to watching Dorothy suddenly terrorizing OZ and kidnapping Toto. "I take it you're ready, hmm?"
"Sure, I wasn't doing anything important or enjoyable anyway." I mumbled sarcastically.
"Aww, don't be upset with me my handsome little whore." Autumn laughed and I couldn't help but laugh with her.
"God, you can be such a heinous cunt sometimes." I smirked at her before pulling the front door open.
Autumn just grinned a moment before she rose from her chair then slid it back under the table. She walked with graceful steps, she had always been a very graceful girl and I wondered why she had never taken up some form of dancing. "Love me and despair." She quipped again. A favorite saying of her's for one reason or another. She stopped near me slipping on her boots then zipping them up.
"Do I need an umbrella?" She asked curiously.
"I would suggest one." I replied simply.
"Okay then." She opened the closet door by the front entrance and reached in before producing a large, gray umbrella with a long, metal tip. I pulled the door open for her then she walked out before I closed it behind us. Autumn turned using her keys to lock up the house then slipping them back into the inside pocket of her sweater.
"You seem like you are really looking forward to this." I mumbled to her before checking my watch. It was only 5:00 pm so we both had more then enough time to buy whatever the hell it was Brandon was trying to sell us. "What if he was just fuckin with you?"
"Then I am going to give him an atomic groin stomp." Autumn laughed before we walked down to the sidewalk and began our track to Brandon's house. "A little grumpy that I interrupted you're fucking of Alisha, huh?"
"We were done when you called." I smirked over at her.
"She is such a slut. I am going to tell her when I see her tomorrow before Math." Autumn poked my arm. "You should be ashamed of yourself!"
"Do I go bothering you when your off riding the Riley express?" I laughed a little. "No, I pack your bags and tell you to have a good time."
"What can I say? I'm a girl who likes to travel from time to time." Autumn winked completely unashamed. "Besides, me and Riley haven't done much of anything since he and that so called band started playing at some of the local clubs and practicing more."
"Ah, what do they call themselves again?" I asked curiously. We continued our track down the quiet, rain slicked streets.
"Rebel Rouser." She groaned as if it was a painful thing to say.
"What?" I couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah, next subject." Autumn rolled her eyes. "I know Brandon isn't joking about this. He knows how much I despise that little ass. Not much I wouldn't give to pay the little Princess back."
"You have got to be kidding me." I couldn't help but laugh before looking over at her. "Your still fuming about the 6th grade?"
"Hell fucking yes." Autumn frowned. "Natalie made me look stupid in front of the whole gym. That little bitch pants me. She made my life a living hell that entire year." There was a low distinctive bitterness in her tone.
"Remind me not to get on your bad side." I nudged her with my elbow. "Let it go. You decked her in 7th grade."
"No, I want to humiliate her like she did me all those times." Autumn shot me a look and it was times like that I could see something deep and fierce in those large, brown eyes. Autumn was a very spiteful soul when she felt wronged. I will never forget that about her. "And you promised me that night you would help me when the time came."
"Yeah. Yeah." I said nonchalantly as we continued walking on. It grew very quiet for a while before her voice came from far behind me.
"What? Have you changed your mind?" Autumn's tone had become stern.
I stopped sliding a hand in my pocket turning to face her. I was kind of surprised that she had stopped walking but I was feeling much to aloof suddenly to take it deadly serious. "I don't recall saying that."
"You swore!" Autumn stormed forward lowering her voice to a sharp whisper. "You going to play that numb shit and bail on me after having made a promise?"
"Don't go getting on your high horse with me. Also, I'm not playing anything. It is what it is." I tilted my head watching her. She stopped only a few feet away watching me with those intense brown eyes. "Have I ever left you high and dry before?"
"That doesn't answer my question, Zel." Autumn's frown grew and it made her lips a pensive, ebony line.
"Whatever." I said before turning and walking on. "You want to stand here and bitch or do you want to go to Brandon's house? I said I had your back then and it didn't have an expiration date. Chill." I didn't hear the click clacking of Autumn's boots so I turned again watching her. I was surprised when her eyes had taken that sadness, that soft veil that always filled them even when she smiled. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She began to walk again finally catching up with me. Sometimes I had to wonder if I was the only one with a problem that needed to be treated. I placed my arm over her shoulder and she sighed quietly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that."
"Its cool." I said with a sort of sincerity that surprised even me. I could feel the ice melting and there was a remote tingle but it could had been any emotion. An exuberant high or crippling low so I choose to continue feeling mostly numb then risking it. "You get this way while there are revolts in OZ."
"Shuddap, you can be such a bastard sometimes." Autumn shoved me away laughing and it did me good to hear it. To me she was still that little girl that I let no one hurt in grade school. Autumn and I continued walking for another 10 or so minutes before the large, brown, two story home came into view. It was in an expensive court near several, Spanish Moss trees that stood near the edge of the creek and field beyond the court's tall cement wall.
I somehow expected Brandon's parent's to be absent. Out of the three of us his were gone the most. I took comfort in the fact that my own Mother was home at the same time everyday and not missing quite often. I followed Autumn up the driveway before we closed our Umbrella's and rang the doorbell. We waited for a few moments before we heard rushing footsteps and the front door was yanked open. Before Autumn or I could say anything, Brandon reached out and snatched us into the house before closing the door quickly.
"What in hell was that all about?" Autumn asked after having stumbled in dropping her umbrella.
