Autumn Storm by Lizzy Ford Read Free Book Online Page B

her.
    “It’s a good school. We had a rough summer
but …” Biji’s gaze grew dark. “Anyway, who are you rooming
with?”
    “Dawn.”
    “Oh, god. I hate that girl! Why she hasn’t
crossed to the Dark yet, I don’t know. She’s a bitch.”
    Surprised by the vehemence, Autumn glanced
at her.
    “Happy thoughts, Biji,” Beck said. “You’re
too cute to be angry.”
    “I totally am, boss.” Biji rolled her
eyes.
    Autumn listened as the students talked
around her. She met Jenna’s gaze more than once. The bubbly
brunette smiled in response as she, too, absorbed the dynamics and
gossip that flew around them.
    “It seems like such a positive place,” Jenna
broke into the conversation at last. “I asked Amber, but she
wouldn’t tell me about the memorial.”
    Autumn looked at Biji as the whole group
fell silent. The Indian girl pursed her lips and stared at the
football field. Tension filled the air, and no one spoke. Jenna’s
face reddened as the silence lengthened.
    “How about some cocoa?” Autumn asked,
looking at Beck.
    “Great idea,” he said and stood. “How many
cocoas?”
    Everyone raised their hands.
    “C’mon.” Beck held out his hand to Autumn.
She took it, and he pulled her up.
    They made their way through the bleachers to
the concession stand and stood in line.
    “Good call,” Beck said, his smile back.
“Kind of a touchy subject.”
    “I noticed. Must’ve been tragic.” She wasn’t
sure she wanted to know, recalling the strange chill and how the
whispering elements fell silent.
    “Yeah.” His gaze was distant. “You want
anything else?”
    She shook her head. “I’m going to find the
bathrooms, though.”
    “I’ll probably still be right here,” he
said, lifting his chin to indicate the long line of students
between them and the stand. He released her arm.
    Autumn smiled at him again and shifted her
cane. She’d seen two small buildings between the bleachers. She
walked in the narrow walkway behind the stands, listening to the
marching band and cheering crowd.
    Being at a football game on a Friday night
on a date … This was how life should be. Except for the weird
superpowers the kids at their school had. She smiled to herself,
amused. It was so much better than sitting in a hospital bed
waiting for the last round of drugs before bedtime.
    Three guys who looked more like college
students than high school were walking towards her. Autumn pressed
herself against the wall as they passed, but her cane tripped one.
He stumbled then turned and stared at her.
    “What the hell! You tripped me?” he snapped.
His eyes were glazed, unfocused, and she saw one of them shove a
bag of what looked like weed into his pocket.
    “Sorry,” she murmured and hurried away.
    He snatched her before she’d gotten a few
steps.
    “Look, bitch, you don’t just go around
tripping people!” He shoved her against one of his friends as he
spoke.
    Autumn’s breath caught. They all had the
same glazed, drugged look she used to have after taking her pain
meds.
    “Look, I’m sorry I-“ she started.
    “Maybe you should teach her a little lesson,
Mark.” The next one shoved her.
    “I just might.” The original guy grabbed her
again.
    “Maybe you should let her go.” The fourth
voice was a low growl and came from behind her.
    “Look, Mark, someone thinks they’re gonna be
a hero.”
    The nearest lights on either side winked
out, leaving them in the dark.
    She heard a footfall a moment before the
sound of someone’s fist smashed into the face of another. Autumn
was flung against the wall, and she landed in a heap, unable to see
much of what happened in the dark of the walkway. There was a lot
of scuffling and cursing, the sound of flesh-on-flesh blows then
sudden silence.
    The light nearest her turned back on. A hand
was extended in front of her. Autumn stared at the dark jeans of
the teen, startled she didn’t see someone close enough to touch
her. She took his hand, and he pulled her up.