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Falling For Autumn 14
Autumn
Autumntuggedonher sleeve as she approached the quad. There was a large crowd in the yard. People were already starting to claim spots on the grass with either chairs or blankets. The sun was beginning to set, but there was still plenty of light. Autumn had her own blanket tucked under her arm. She didn’t know where Kolson wanted to sit. She let Berkley make her up again, but this time she didn’t go without the glasses. And this time Mom saw her walking out of the house. Berkley told her that Autumn was going on a date. Mom gushed and had to take a picture. Then she had a million and one questions, just as Autumn knew she would.
Here Autumn was wearing a crop top and make up for the second time in as many weeks. When Autumn told Berkley the date was outside and she’d get cold Berkley wiggled her eyebrows and said, “That’s the point.”
Finally, Autumn’s eyes found him. He was in a grey hoodie and jeans. At least he was going to be warm. He had a blanket him as well as a plastic bag. He was looking around the lawn when his eyes fell on her. A smile stretched across his face. It made her heart leap. Then he made his way to her.
“Hey, I didn’t know where you wanted to sit.” She motioned behind her.
“Anywhere is fine.” He nodded toward the blanket under her arm. “Looks like we had the same idea. We can sit on one and save the other if it gets cold.”
With as warm as her insides felt, she couldn’t imagine being cold near him, but she could picture herself cuddled against him under the blanket. “You better not try anything.” She smirked.
He laughed, then held up the bag, “I brought snacks.”
“I’m not feeling protein bars tonight.” She put a hand to her stomach.
His grin quirked sideways. “It’s popcorn and candy. You know, movie food.” He motioned to the screen where two guys were testing the projector. The picture was barely visible since the sun was still high enough to bathe everything in gold.
“Come on, let’s get a spot before they’re all taken.” Autumn turned toward the lawn. She didn’t know why she hadn’t expected it to be crowded. It was a free movie on a weekend, after all. Autumn had figured most college kids would be at parties, even if that wasn’t where she and Kolson were.
As they walked across the lawn, weaving through the chairs and dodging blankets they finally found a spot in front. It was off to the side, but they could still see alright. He spread out his blanket, then put the snacks in the middle. He sat, pulling one knee up and he put his arm around it. He patted the space beside him when Autumn didn’t move.
“Are you scared of me now?” He tilted his face toward her, squinting his brown eyes. His hair looked golden streaked in the setting sun.
“What do you mean, now? I’ve always feared you.” She sat beside him.
He chuckled and pulled Twizzlers out of his bag. She curled her nose.
“Want one?” He held out the package.
“No thanks, you’re basically eating plastic.”
“It’s good plastic.” He took another bite and his dimples appeared. “I think I have some chocolate here, unless you aren’t eating sugar.”
“Why wouldn’t I be eating sugar? I just don’t like Twizzlers.”
“Do you like candy corn?” Kolson gnawed on his candy.
“Absolutely not.” She grimaced. “Don’t tell me you do, because then we’re going to have some serious issues.”
“I don’t.” Then he reached into his bag and pulled out popcorn. It was a bloated microwave bag that had the words Movie Theater Butter on the front. “But I do like popcorn.”
“Me too.” Autumn shifted so she was closer to him. Where was she supposed to put her hands? How was she supposed to be sitting? She wished she could have brought Berkely along to help. Should she sit cross legged, or with them straight out? She looked at the couple behind them, that didn’t help because the girl was straddling the guy. Autumn was not doing that. At least not on this date. Then she thought about sitting like that with Kolson and her face warmed.
He opened the bag, then held it out to her. Autumn reached in and grabbed a handful. Her knuckles were covered in yellow grease from the bag. She didn’t know where to wipe them.
“Thanks.” The sky grew darker and the couple behind them were kissing loudly. Autumn tried to focus on the boy beside her and not the slurping sounds.
“I have a bad habit of eating all the popcorn before the movie begins,” he said.
“Same.” She smiled at him. He stared at her for a minute, his eyes glanced at her mouth. Wait? Didn’t Berkley say that if he looked at her lips, he wanted to kiss her? Or maybe she had popcorn in her teeth?
“Sorry I forgot napkins.”
“No problem.” Autumn bunched up her blanket between them, “We can use this.” Only then did she realize that she’d put a barrier between them. She wasn’t experienced in dating, but she was sure the first rule of a date was not to put something between you and that date if you wanted to kiss. She felt her cheeks warm. Did she want that? To kiss him? She definitely thought about it.
