I looked at Darla as she left the room. Remind me to ask her brother as to why she's like that.

I picked up my bag and followed the little girl. I would have to remind her of the Summer Auditions next month. As soon as I opened the door, I collided with a hard chest that was clothed in a blue shirt, unlike the pink with teddy bears printed PJ's from earlier.

Finn held my sides, and I groaned at the impact. "Whoa there, Autumn. Slow down."

I mumbled an apology as I rubbed my sore nose. "You should stop going to the gym." He lifted an eyebrow as if questioning my sanity. "What?! You're so toned, it actually hurts when you hit me!"

Rolling his eyes, he crossed his arms in front of him. I could see how his muscles rippled under his shirt, and I quickly looked away so he wouldn't notice my stare. God knows he doesn't need an ego boost.

"First of all, you hit me, not the other way around. Second, it's not my problem if I'm fit, unlike you. And lastly, Mom's looking for you. Lunch is being served in the dining hall." He flicked a finger on my forehead with each point he made. As soon as he said the third point, my head went blank. I knew that he knew I was hesitant, so before I could even run away from him, he dragged me down the hall to where Darla and Claudia were sitting.

Claudia's smile was almost blinding as she pulled me to sit opposite her youngest kid who was glaring at me to death.

Finn sat beside me, while Claudia went back to her seat at the head of the table. Both of them started talking about everybody's whereabouts. I learnt that firstly, Alex, Finn and Darla's father, had already gone to work. Secondly, Claudia would be in her fashion boutique for the whole day. And lastly, Finn was as free as a bird for today.

"What about you, Darla?" I asked the girl who seemed so out of place. She only looked up at me and continued playing with her food. "Okay," I drawled out as I stared at my plate.

Claudia might have noticed since she asked me the next moment, "Autumn? Aren't you going to eat?"

"I'm not-"

I was cut off when Darla put bacon and eggs on my plate. Okay! What the hell is happening?

"Oh." I looked at her, and she rolled her eyes.

"Eat," she said, well, more like ordered me to. Then she continued eating her own.

I muttered a simple thanks and ate what she put. The three of the Anderson's continued their chat, asking me some questions along the way. It took us almost two hours to finally finish our food and to be honest, it made me a bit sleepy.

Finn and Claudia walked me out the door even after I refused a million times already. All they said was that it was no big deal, so I let it go and followed them as they indulged themselves into another conversation. I tried my best not to eavesdrop, but I could clearly hear what they were talking about, so I tried to distract myself by looking anywhere but them.

Which was a bad idea since I, for the second time today, bumped into Finn's hard chest.

"Ow," I said as I rubbed my nose.

"Seriously, Autumn? I swear, I'm almost considering that you might actually like me," he retorted which made his mom giggle like a schoolgirl.

Did I forget to mention that she had been shipping us since we were kids?

"Aw! Look at you, two! So cute! I can't wait for the chime of the bells on your..." I'm not even going to try to listen to that. Nope. Nah. Never.

Not wanting to be rude, I cut her off. "Well, thanks for the meal, but I really gotta go. I have to do my school work."

"Nerd," Finn commented.

"Lazy ass," I replied.

"It's only Saturday?" Claudia interrupted the banter, giving me an inquisitive look.

"I'm gonna play with Hunter tonight. I really can't afford any idle time," I said and hugged the woman. She embraced me, too, but with so much force that I was afraid I would not be able to breathe. I felt Finn tugging me away from the death trap, and her mom pouted at the two of us.

I waved them goodbye, but before I could even step foot on their lawn, my phone vibrated. Claudia, however, excused herself, so there was only Finn and me on their porch.

I opened the message and saw Hunter's name. His text made me roll my eyes involuntarily. Another passenger of the Ship FiTumn.

If you're still at the Anderson's residence, invite Finn to the gig tonight. Tell him that I don't take no for an answer. -H

I replied a simple "Whatever" and turned to Finn. "Hey, Hunter just texted me to invite you to tonight's gig."

"Really? Or is it just your way of asking me out?"

I stared at him. My face was showing no emotion as far as I was concerned. He had been making these subtle moves on me. No, I'm not trying to assume anything. It's just bloody obvious, and I'm not naive.

Finn Anderson was basically the epitome of a hot Greek God. With his brown hair, striking blue eyes, and his strong jaw, he could make almost everyone in our town fall down on their knees. The girls loved him, their mothers and fathers looked up to him; hell, even the grandparents wished that their granddaughters could take him home.

So I do not bloody understand why he was pinning for me. Maybe because I was hot as hell. Kidding.

"It was a joke. God, you shouldn't take everything so seriously," he said as he ran his hand through his hair.

"It's Autumn, not God. Anyway, are you going or what?" I asked as I opened the door to my jeep.

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he stared at me. His voice came out like a whisper that almost made me melt to my knees. "Yeah. I'm coming."

"Okay. See you later, Finn." I bid goodbye and drove out of their house.

I was humming together with the music from the stereo. The air was a bit humid, yet still cool. My hair was swaying along the sweep of the wind, and so I decided to stop and put it in a bun. I was on my way back to my house when I noticed the familiar building on my right.

I somehow stopped in front of the town's theatre as an asshole driving his pick-up suddenly swerved in front of me. A smile automatically made its way to my face even though in my head I wanted to stab the other driver to death. Sudden nostalgia made me want to visit the theatre where I used to practice the piano so I parked in the parking lot and got out of the car. I was walking passed the space when my foot hit something.

I looked down and saw a cassette tape. I frowned, curious as to why something as old my granddad was lying around. The theatre kids, maybe? I picked it up and saw something scribbled on it.

'O. C. M.
Deepest, darkest secret'

What the hell is this?

♬ ♫ ♪♬ ♫ ♪

Edited by iElzMC