Chapter 3 Ch - 3

Violin's steps halted before she went to prepare Betty's breakfast. She looked at her sister questingly. "Why? I thought you had a test today. How long will it take you to return home?"

"Not that long," Autumn took a spoonful of banana oatmeal and took that in her mouth.

"Okay," Violin sounded unsure. Then she shrugged her overthinking.

"Don't stress yourself for your tests," It was time for Autumn to leave for her school. Violin cheered her up, "No matter how it goes, you will get gooseberry from me. So, tension not. I know you will do well,"

Autumn just nodded. Her face was gloomy for some other reason that Violin couldn't anticipate. "Bye grandma, bye Vi." She tilted her head to Betty before turning back to Violin, "Lock the door, will you?"

"Ya, I will." Violin waved her hand to Autumn, smiled at her, "Good luck, Otter,"

~ ~ ~

"Ms. Bridger, what is this?"

Autumn nearly winced in the tone of the school headmaster. She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt listened to his scolding for five minutes what felt like hours to her. "You are giving up your studies after all the fight you..." He just couldn't believe a scholar like her would give up her dream just like that.

"I- " She tried to tell her problem, but she knew he was well aware of the situation she was dealing with.

"Violin didn't get the chance to complete graduation because your parents didn't allow her. She wanted you to study. And now you -" The headmaster placed the paper on his desk, pinched the bridge of his nose. He wished he could do something for her, but his hands were tied by rules. He looked at her, "I understand you are going through a tough time, but is this necessary to quit your schooling, Autumn?"

"I - " Autumn glanced at her side, gulped hard to see the annoyance of her uncle. She knew he was getting impatient to leave her school. She looked back to her headmaster and gave her documents, " - want a transfer certificate. Here is the letter with the signature of a Gazetted Officer and my uncle,"

"Mr. Bridger - " Her headmaster tried for the last time for her. He pleaded to Autumn's uncle, "- Please stop her. How can you allow it when you are in the ministry of education in our state, - "

Roger Bridger grunted in rage. He was in no mood to talk. If it wasn't for Autumn who blocked his way to ask a favor from him to come to her school only, he would have never taken that trouble on him to waste his time. He refused to check on Autumn's family, fearing the responsibilities that he didn't want to take.

"Sir, please." Autumn didn't let her uncle talk to her headmaster. She didn't want him to disrespect her teacher who doesn't deserve to get mistreated. She looked at her teacher pleadingly, told him, "Uncle is in hurry. If you don't mind, can I get my transfer certificate, please?"

Her eyes burned, and her chest tightened him signing on that paper.

She didn't want to do it, but how can she let Violin bear all expenses alone by herself?

~ ~ ~

"Franklin, it will hurt her when she comes to know you pretend to love her. You didn't even go to meet her for once. What must she be thinking after that phone call?" Malvin, one of the two friends, asked Franklin.

Outside the boy's playroom in school, Autumn watched three jocks, including her boyfriend was playing 8-ball. She silently heard them talking about her with Franklin who looked least affected for it.

"Her problem isn't my concern," She knew he didn't care, then why does it still hurt?

"Her problem! Are you - " Malvin looked at Franklin in disbelief. Why was that bully defending her?

Nicolas stood between unfazed Franklin and a very furious-looking Malvin. He looked like he didn't want them to fight. He sighed and told Malvin, "Calm down, dude. He was never serious about her."

"Shut your f.ucking mouth, Nicolas!" Malvin growled. A golden light flicked in his grey orbs that puzzled Autumn. She fixed her glass, blinked a couple of times to see if whatever she was seeing was right. "If it wasn't for you, things wouldn't be this complicated right now. Who told you to send your whore to his place?"

Nicolas glared at him, seethed, "This manw.hore sleeps with different girls every night. And you are blaming me because I left one girl in his place! That girl was my girlfriend for god's sake!"

Autumn swallowed her sobs. She... she couldn't believe Franklin will go this extent far to hurt her. She saw Franklin laughed, throwing his head behind. She loved to see his smile, especially that dimple on his left cheek. But that time, it gave bitterness instead. He's changed, or maybe that's how he was always.

Franklin smirked while saying, "Don't give me that look. She threw herself on me when you weren't there. How can you expect I will reject that temptress, Nic? I must say she is something else. Your girl is a whore. If anything, you should be thankful for saving you from that cunning bitch,"

"You - " Nicolas was lost of words.

Malvin demanded, "What about Autumn, Frank? Did you think of her for once?" He looked back to Nicholas, "And you! You were the one who made a bet with Franklin a year ago! Don't you remember it?"

Bet?

Autumn felt like the whole world stopped before her.

"A year! Are you fucking serious?" Nicholas sneered, "The girl has a crush on Frank before they went into a relationship. It didn't take three months for her to fall for him. Why didn't he break her heart as he has done to the rest of the girls before, Malvin? Have you ever think of the reasons behind it?"

She couldn't hear them anymore. Because all she could think was that bet. They bet on her. He faked his love for her, and she...She loved him. She was always there for him because has always cared about him.

Those copies which she was holding, slipped from her hand. It made the guys alerted, and their gazes turned to the door. Franklin's expression darkened instantly to see her.