AUTUMN
There issomething majorly wrong with me. A stupid sadness has been hovering over me for the past five days. Ever since I left Noble standing in the stairwell of my dorm. I miss him. It’s crazy, and I know I shouldn’t, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling this way. I’m not sure how I can miss him with him still randomly texting me. I always seem to pass him on campus when I’m going from one class to another.
Have we always crossed paths and I’ve never noticed, or is he going out of his way to see me? I’m guessing the latter. Pretty sure I’d remember if I saw Noble before. Not only because he is ridiculously handsome, but he towers over everyone. There is no missing him. There is also no missing how girls always turn to stare his way when he passes by. It only brings all that anger back, and I remember why I’m not talking to him anymore.
“How long have you been waiting?” I look up to see a dark-haired boy. He screams freshman. I’d know because I am one.
“Twenty minutes.”
“Right.” He checks his watch.
“If you have a class or something you can go before me,” I offer. I’ve been waiting to talk to one of the work placement advisers. I don’t have a class to get to, and he might.
“Nah, it’s cool. Thanks, though. I’ll wait.” He drops down in the seat next to mine. “I’m Dax.” He gives me a chin nod.
“Autumn.” I give him a smile in return.
“You a freshman too?”
“Yeah.”
“Major?”
“I’m not sure yet, to be honest.” I’m doing my basics at the moment. I’d love to major in social work, but the pay is crap, and I hate that I have to factor that in. I can’t bust my ass through school and still struggle to make ends meet. What if I majored in something that would pay well and then I could volunteer or even foster?
“You have one?”
“Pre-law.”
My phone vibrates in my hand. I flip it over and see a text from Noble. Who else would it be? I suppose it could be my roommate telling me she needs the room to herself.
You think Jim should have gone for Pam even if she was with Roy?
I don’t know why out of all the texts he sent me that my fingers itch to respond to this one.
Probably wouldn’t make for good TV. They have to do the terrible tease. Guessing they’re the new Ross and Rachel?
Pretty much
Good thing it’s only fiction. In real life I wouldn’t want to see the person I end up with date other people. No thanks. I’ll pass on that.
Yeah, it’s a jab but I can’t help myself.
“Autumn.” I stand when Amy calls my name to come back to her tiny office. “What’s going on?”
“I think there is a glitch or something. I haven’t been cleaning the Sigma Theta house, but I’m still being paid.” I hate telling her that, but I have to if I want her to get me placed into a new job.
“Correct, you’re not cleaning the Sigma Theta house any longer.” She clicks away on her computer. “You’re responsible for Noble Patton-White’s rooms. That’s why you’re still getting paid.”
“Does it really say that?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve never cleaned his rooms.”
“Really?” Her brows pull together. “You must be doing something because a raise went into effect as of yesterday.” She leans forward and whispers, “Noble must have requested it.” Right, because he can do anything he wants. That’s what happens when you have money.
I want to be annoyed, but I honestly don’t know what I feel right now. “Do you know Noble?” If I recall, the last time I was in here during our small talk, she mentioned having worked here for over ten years.