Hope Is The Last Thing We Have

"An"

          I walked out of my house that morning with a small frown on my face and a piping hot mocha coffee in my hand, almost burning my palm off.  But a smile still managed to curl up on my lips when I saw him standing there, waiting for me. He bright eyes turned around and smiled when they saw me. I ran down the steps and saw him. His dirty blonde hair was neatly piled on top of and his blue eyes almost manage to see inside me. To feel whatever I felt. To know whatever I know. Butterflies lifted in my stomach when his perfect pink lips smiled such a bright and optimistic smile.

         "Hey Autumn, are you okay?" I snapped out of my daze and looked up, to see him looking at me with concerned eyes. My face almost turned bright red, but I managed to hide it. I've pretty much become an expert at hiding things after the many times this happened. 

         "Oh yeah! Ready to walk to school, An?" I cooed, knowing he hated that nickname I gave him years ago in fifth grade. His face grew with annoyance and playfulness. He shoved me and I shoved him back, just barely since he was much taller and much stronger than me. 

        "You know I hate that name, right?" he asked, smiling. I nodded and took a sip of my coffee. Once I placed it in a coffee holder, I straightened my shirt from the recent shove and smirked.

           "Why do you think I said it?" I said, batting my eyelashes. He laughed a soft but certain scoff. God his laugh was everything I needed to make me smile. We continue on talking and laughing about stupid stories and making fun of different types of people. He always made me feel comfortable. Safe. And all the less, so outside, so lonely knowing I can't be with him.

              Suddenly a boy with dark brown hair and green eyes ran out of his house, carrying a bag that he flipped over his shoulder. "Hey doofuses," he managed to get out of his lips as he punched Andrew's arm playfully and smiled at me while holding his black t-shirt up to his mouth. Good old Payton. Afraid of the cold. Of course, he was. He moved from California to Chicago a few years ago. Finally, a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes that were framed with black glasses stepped out of her house and ran to us. And last but certainly not least, my best friend Lydia. 

            "Autumn, my bloody sister!" she screamed with her thick British accent, picking me up and twirling me around. I screamed and hugged her. We all picked up our bags and coffee that we put on a nearby rusty bench and head off to our 156th day of school. We've all been counting. Snow was falling and sticking to my dark red hair that was neatly placed on my pale shoulder that was covered with the sleeve of my navy sweater. My dark green eyes glanced around the familiar path in the woods we go down every single day on the way to school.

            I looked at Andrew who was staring into space. He always would get inside his own mind and soon he would be out of it, staring off into the nothingness of the entire world, in which he always tried to brighten up. It was something I loved about him. He always tried the find the good in the world and he never looked back. Never. He looked down at my petite body and I blushed. But I didn't hide it. He smiled sheepishly at me and looked forward. I looked forward too and pulled up my white scarf to my nose. I looked down to my black converse and got all of my embarrassment out.

             When we arrived at school, Lydia pulled me behind a marble pillar inside the High School. Her eyes showed utter excitement and it looked like she was about to scream. She grabbed onto my shoulders and I flinched at the sudden interaction. "HE TOTALLY LIKES YOU!!!" she screamed a little too loudly. I covered her mouth with my palm and put my finger to my rough lips.                                 "Who?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer. She smacked my head in reply and rolled her eyes. Her annoyance quickly turned into a sly smirk.                                                                                "You know who dummy," she got out in a giggle. I rolled my eyes and pulled her into the girl's bathroom. I remember when I accidentally went into the boy's bathroom on the first day of school.... but that's a whole other story. I smirked at her.                                                                                                   "Andrew doesn't love me... how many times do I have to tell you?" I sighed under my breath. I looked at my feet at nibbled on my lip. I sniffled and looked up. She rolled her eyes and walked out of the bathroom. What is that girl up to?