“Eric has told me about you. You just met right?”
Autumn nodded. “Yes. In English class.”
“Well, you are every bit as gorgeous as Eric said,” the girl smiled warmly. “But watch out for this one. He is quite the heartbreaker,” she teased, nudging Eric in the side playfully.
“There isn’t a girl in this room he hasn’t been with.”
Autumn’s eyes went wide. Eric didn’t seem like the type to date a lot, but when it came down to it, she barely knew him.
“Whoa dude,” Rick said, in awe. “At school, you are like a total loser but outside of the halls you are like a scoring machine?”
“She is kidding!” Eric said, tugging at his sleeves uncomfortably. “Aren’t you Ara?” he gave her a warning look.
Arabella took one look at Eric’s annoyed expression and crumbled.
“I’m joking. I’m kidding. Really Autumn, he could use a girl in his life,” she said. “All he does is read books. He is really quite boring.”
“Ha!” Nathaniel chimed in.
“Sadly, that sounds more like me,” Eric said, as he grabbed Autumn’s hand again.
“Well Eric, if Autumn ever gets bored with you, as they say, there are plenty of fish in the sea,” Nathaniel said, smirking.
“How profound,” Arabella deadpanned.
She took a sip of her drink and began scanning the room. “Ah Eric. It looks like the same-old crowd here tonight. Mom and Dad would be proud.”
“I thought so,” Eric replied.
Autumn was relieved when the conversation with Eric’s sister flowed so naturally. Though Nathaniel had managed to annoy her, she was very friendly and talkative. The six of them all sat chatting for most of the night, with Eric and Arabella introducing them to many of their friends and family. Autumn was disappointed Eric’s parents weren’t anywhere to be found. She was dying to meet them.
It wasn’t until late into the evening that a couple arrived, that Arabella didn’t seem particularly pleased to see.
Eric was telling a story about him and his sister getting lost together at the mall when they were children when Arabella interrupted him.
“Great,” she said sarcastically.
Eric looked over at her, following her line of vision. Two people had just walked in. A girl, with blue eyes and long blonde hair. She wore red lipstick and a tight white evening gown. Escorting her was a guy with the same matching blonde hair, though his was cropped. He was guiding her through the throngs of people, dressed in a pair of tan slacks and a navy blue polo shirt with a matching blazer.
Arabella’s purple eyes flashed with rage when she looked at Eric.
“You invited Bonnie and Clyde?” she said sharply.
Mandy looked over at the couple who made their way towards them now.
“Bank robbers are they?” Mandy chuckled.
“No,” Eric replied. “Those are my cousins. I rarely see them, though they live fairly close.”
“I call them Bonnie and Clyde because they are always together,” Arabella said, eyebrows rising with meaning. “Partners in crime, if you get my drift.”
“Stop gossiping Ara. That is sick,” Eric said, admonishing his sister. “They aren’t actually together.”
“No, but it wouldn’t surprise me if one day I heard they had done the deed,” Arabella said flatly.
“And here they come!”
The boy was the first to speak, as he reached out and shook Eric’s hand.
“Eric,” he said. “It’s been awhile cuz.”
Eric shook his hand. “It’s been too long Caleb.”
Arabella, making no attempt at hiding her discontent, sighed exasperatedly while standing up from her seat.
“Renee,” she said, and the blonde girl grinned and pulled her into an embrace.
“Oh how I missed your suffocating bear hugs,” Arabella muttered and the blonde girl giggled raucously.
“You are my favorite cousin Bell,” she cooed.
Arabella pulled away abruptly. “Huh. I was almost certain I came in second to Caleb.”
Renee ignored Arabella’s jab. “And who might these people be? We saw you guys sitting together, looking thick as thieves.”
“Do people still say that?” Arabella chimed in.
Eric looked at his sister disapprovingly.
“They are friends from school,” Eric said, introducing them all.
“Well, it is a pleasure meeting you all,” Renee said as she and Caleb took a seat.
“Can I get you something Renee? Caleb?” Eric offered.
“No thanks,” Renee said. “But we do have some news.”
“Let me guess. You guys are having a kid?” Arabella said dryly.
Caleb looked at his cousin, his smile strained.
“Good to see you haven’t lost the King sense of humor,” he said.
“The truth is, we didn’t come here only for your party Eric.”
“An ulterior motive? Well color me surprised,” Arabella said. Eric shot her a daunting look.
“What Ara means is, you guys usually pass on my party invites,” Eric said, clearly trying to keep things light.
“I know Eric and we are truly sorry. We have been quite busy of late,” Renee said, crossing her legs.
“You guys get a lot of stupid homework too huh?” Rick asked between bites of pastries he snatched from a waiter.
“No, we travel frequently,” Caleb said, smiling. “We are rarely home.”
“Dude, that is pretty cool,” Nathaniel said, turning to Eric. “Is anyone in your family poor?”
Eric ignored Nathaniel and focused on Caleb.
“So what is the news buddy?”
Caleb and Renee exchanged glances. Autumn didn’t know why, but the way they looked at each other and the grimness in their eyes, set her on edge.
“Eric, we came to tell you we’re going to the caves,” Renee said finally.
“You can’t be serious,” Arabella said cuttingly.
Autumn looked at Eric. He hadn’t said a word but she could see the color had been drained from his face. She squeezed his hand, urging him back to her, but he had shut down.
The caves? She racked her brain. Had Rick mentioned them before? The better question was, why did talk of these caves send Arabella into defense mode and plunge Eric into silence?
She had a feeling she was about to find out.
“Eric, please let us explain.” Renee pleaded.
“What is there to explain?” Arabella asked, lips curled into a sneer. “You two are stupid. No explanation required!”
“Excuse me?” Renee shot back, but Arabella wasn’t backing down.
“Seriously! Do you two think anything through or do you make all your life-altering decisions by flipping a coin? Heads we live! Tails we die!”
“Whoa!” Caleb said defensively. “That isn’t fair Arabella! Are you two the only ones allowed to be the martyrs in this family?”
“How dare you!” Arabella said, standing up now, her voice rising with her. “How dare you come into our home, to Eric’s party and act like this is your God-given right Caleb!”
Autumn looked at Eric. He was still silent, his eyes saying something and nothing all at the same time.
“Should we leave?” Mandy whispered to Autumn, her shoulders rigid with tension.
“No!” Arabella barked, looking to Mandy. “You guys shouldn’t have to leave! It’s these two that should go!”
Renee stood up, her blue eyes stony. She stepped towards Arabella until their faces were inches apart.
“We just want to avenge them Bell. You know what they meant to our parents, to us.”
“Why the hell should you avenge anyone?” Arabella was shouting now. “You aren’t the ones that deserve the revenge or the closure
and you sure as hell aren’t strong enough to handle what lies inside those cave walls!”
Autumn looked around. Arabella was louder than the music, and almost everyone in the room was intently watching Arabella and Renee now.
“You have no idea what she is capable of!” Caleb said, fuming.
“Other than following you around like a flying monkey?” Arabella said. “You mean she can do something else?”
“You are a bitch Arabella you know that?” Caleb said, standing up. “So high and mighty because you are the most powerful right? You surpassed everyone else, and you think that makes you queen of the castle.”
“Dude, calm down!” Rick said, getting to his feet.
Nathaniel watched on helplessly as Mandy and Autumn exchanged troubled looks. They both knew this wasn’t going to end well.
Autumn felt Eric’s hand slip from hers. She watched as he stood up from his seat, his calmness being replaced by defiance.
“Rick, I got this,” he said, patting Rick’s shoulder. Rick nodded and sat back down, his jaw tight with agitation. Autumn smiled to herself. Rick was so loyal and protective of his friends. It was one of his best qualities.
“Caleb, watch the way you speak to my sister,” Eric warned him.
“So he finally speaks!” Caleb said, throwing his hands in the air. “I suppose you are going to warn us too? Tell us whatever tricks you two have up your sleeves so we won’t go.”
Eric eyes didn’t leave Caleb’s.
“I have no intention of putting a damper on your adventure. You know the implications of what you are doing, and you sure as hell don’t need me to remind you. So, if you two want to be the family heroes and go into those caves, I say, it is your heads on the chopping block, not ours.”
Autumn listened to Eric’s words trying to put everything together. Nothing sensible formed in her mind, no logical answers only questions. What were these caves? What revenge were they speaking of? This was all a puzzle to her, and she didn’t have all the pieces yet.
“We have been researching Eric,” Renee said, lowering her voice. It was obvious she didn’t like the attention they were garnering. “We have been practicing, honing our craft, and we are ready.”
“It doesn’t matter how ready you feel Ren,” Eric softened to her. “They exceled above us. They were so much more than I can even fathom being and yet here we are. Why risk your lives on a whim? Why not wait for us?”
“We aren’t waiting anymore!” Caleb snapped.
“Caleb please, calm down,” Renee pleaded.
“You know we have waited long enough! It has been years!” Caleb looked at Renee, rounding on her now. “What happened to them was an atrocity. The fact that no one has tried to even the score makes our family look pathetic and weak.”
Autumn noticed other members of Eric’s family were standing guard in case things escalated. Renee seemed to be trying to calm Caleb down and diffuse the hostility in the air.
“We have a plan in the works, a solid one. You just need to be patient and let it all play out,” Eric said firmly. “Don’t be so impulsive.”
Caleb took a long, deep breath before speaking again.
“Eric,” he said, appearing calmer now. “We aren’t budging on this. We didn’t come here to seek your approval. We just wanted to give you a heads up. This is our mission.”
“Yeah a suicidal one,” Arabella added in harshly. She stepped closer to Caleb, her face inches from his, her eyes menacing.
“You will be meeting your maker if you do this Caleb. Just don’t try to take me or Eric down with you.”
Before Caleb could respond, Arabella stormed off.
“Always with the theatrics that girl,” Caleb frowned before turning back to Eric.
“We are doing this Eric. There is no maybe, no possibility of us changing our minds. You have been informed.”
Caleb looked at the group of them.
“It was a pleasure meeting you all,” he said, and then he turned and began walking towards the exit door.
Renee watched him go, but she didn’t follow.
“Eric, please. Give us your blessing,” she said, touching his forearm. “It would mean so much to me.”
Eric’s face was stony but when she touched his arm, it softened. It was obvious to Autumn. He cared greatly for these two people, and he didn’t want to see either of them harmed.
“I can’t give you that Renee. I have known you since we were kids. I don’t want you to risk your life for revenge,” Eric said. “There is no glory in being a legend when you are dead. You are far too young to end up like them. You know this is dangerous.”
Renee’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I know,” she took a deep breath, wiping them away. “I just can’t let him go alone. You have to understand.”
Her head turned towards the ballroom’s exit door, where Caleb stood patiently awaiting her, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable.
Renee moved towards Eric and pulled him into a hug.
“Don’t Ren,” he whispered, hugging her back tightly.
“In case we don’t see each other again,” she said. Autumn watched as she reached into her purse and handed Eric something. Eric squeezed whatever it was tightly in his palm.
“Renee, I can’t,” Eric said.
“Just take it,” she said, placing her hand over his clenched fist. “Goodbye Eric.”
She looked at Autumn and the others, forcing a weak smile.
“It was nice meeting you all,” she said. “Sorry about the circumstances. Usually, we aren’t so dramatic.”
Renee headed towards the door, and Eric watched her go, still clenching whatever she had given him in his palm. His eyes filled with sorrow as her and Caleb disappeared from sight.
Autumn put her hand on Eric’s shoulder and leaned towards him.
“What did she give you?” she asked gently.
Eric opened his hand. In his palm was a small, shiny, silver talisman.
Eric chuckled lightly at the sight of it. “She gave me her good luck charm.”
7
It wasn’t long after the incident with his cousins that Eric announced the party was over. He told everyone he appreciated them attending, but he was no longer in the celebrating mood. No one questioned it. They all abided Eric’s wishes. They said their goodbyes, some commenting on the quarrel. Most were in favor of Eric.
“Caleb is making a huge mistake,” one tiny blonde girl said. “Renee should know better not to follow Caleb’s lead.”
“We all know what happened that night,” said one of Eric’s male cousins. “This isn’t history repeating. It is blatant ignorance.”
When everyone had filed out, Autumn asked the others to wait for her while she talked to Eric alone for a moment.
“Seriously, I think I might get lost on the way out,” Nathaniel admitted, looking embarrassed.
Mandy rolled her eyes. “Oh no. You are not stopping her goodnight kiss from happening!” She grabbed Nathaniel by the arm. “We are going! Now!”
“Night Eric!” she waved.
Eric waved back.
“Thanks for coming you guys!”
“Good luck,” Mandy said to Autumn. “Though I doubt you’ll need it.”
Then she pulled Nathaniel, practically kicking and screaming, towards the door.
“Let me go you little brute!” Autumn heard Nathaniel’s voice fading down the hall.
Rick approached Autumn. “I am going with them. We will be waiting for you, okay?”
Autumn nodded. “Thanks Ricky.”
Rick gave Eric a nod and headed out.
As soon as everyone was gone, Eric moved towards Autumn. She took a deep breath. She felt awkward, like she had just witnessed a very private moment she shouldn’t have seen with Eric and his family.
“Eric, I had so much fun tonight,” Autumn said as he approached and Eric smirked.
“You are a terrible liar Autumn,” he said. “You get this twitch in your left eye. Your own tell. It’s adorable.”
Autumn crossed her arms over her chest defensively.
“Sorry. What did you want me to say? It was an amazing party until your cousin went berserk over something I don’t even understand?”
“Fair enough,” Eric said. “I have to say, this is not the impression I wanted to make on you tonight.”
Autumn shrugged. “It wasn’t your fault Eric. Besides, I have seen people acting worse. Trust me.”
“Well, there is much more to the story than you heard,” Eric admitted, hands in his pockets.
Autumn frowned. She could tell by Eric’s tone he wasn’t going to tell her what the fight was really about.
“You aren’t going to explain it to me are you?” she asked.
“Not yet. I am going to let this one simmer,” he grinned. “Keep the air of mystery and all that.”
Autumn stepped closer to him, smiling.
“There is nothing more compelling,” she teased and Eric leaned into her.
“I thought so,” he said,and he touched her face with his hands. Gently he trailed his fingers along her jaw line, then her lips.
Autumn tilted her head up, beckoning him to kiss her. He didn’t disappoint as he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. Autumn was lightheaded, and she wrapped her arms around him to steady herself. He pulled her closer to him, his hands on her waist now as their lips moved in harmony.
Autumn’s heart raced as she breathed him in, his scent of cologne and soap. He moved his hands through her hair and down her back, and she sighed feeling his mouth open against her own.
Minutes passed before they finally pulled away. Both were breathless and Eric looked at her beaming.
“Wow,” Autumn managed. “That was …”
“Wow indeed,” Eric muttered. “So you are beautiful, smart and a great kisser. Remind me again why you are single?”
“I must have some horrible secret huh?” she joked.
A Night without Stars Page 10