Page 2 of Autumn Skies & Pumpkin Pies

As I climb into my Jeep and start the engine, I rub my hands over the thighs of my jeans while taking a deep breath. There’s something different in the air today. The air is fresher and crisper. I decide to make a stop at the local bakery, June Bug’s. It’s a staple in Blue Ridge. Warbee, the owner June’s granddaughter, goes to school with me. I think she’s a grade level behind me. She’s a quiet one, cute and smart, but obviously doesn’t like attention. Her grandmother makes the best doughnuts and coffee I’ve ever had. Luckily, I got out of my house early enough to make a quick stop before practice and school.

I grab the first parking spot I can find and jog up the block to the bakery. As soon as I open the front door, the familiar scents of fall fill the air. Cinnamon and pumpkin make my empty stomach rumble. June Bug’s is decorated simply. A few small tables sit around the space with all the walls holding glass containers of baked goods. Behind the counter are all kinds of crazy gadgets and brewers for coffee and tea. The walls are painted a mild yellow, with dark wood tables and chairs sit around the cafe style building. It’s cheerful and welcoming. Bright and colorful paintings hang around the walls as well as few black and white photographs showing Blue Ridge throughout the years. The line isn’t too long, so I get my items pretty quickly. June appears at the counter. Her granddaughter resembles her. I remember as a child, June’s soft shade of red hair and hazel green eyes with freckles over the bridge of her nose. Her glasses were always either hanging around her neck or perched low on her nose. A few of those things I’ve noticed about Warbee, too. I’ve only seen her in passing, but she’s hard to miss even if she tries to blend in. “Well, well, if it isn’t the infamous Rocker Gordon?”

“Good morning, ma’am,” I reply.

She waves her hand in dismissal. “Ma’am makes me sound old and I may be a grandmother, but I am not old, you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I slap my free hand over my mouth after calling her ma’am again.

June cracks up laughing. “Always with the manners. You have a great first day of school.”

“Thank you. I’ll try.”

“Look out for my Bee, will you?” she asks.

I nod my head as I head for the door. “Yes, ma’am,” I call over my shoulder. In the reflection of the glass I see her shake her head at my response. On my way to school, I manage to devour the three doughnuts I purchased and drink my coffee. I park close to the field house and make my way through the gates.

The field house is humid as hell. It feels more like a sauna than anything else. The smell of sweat and dirty clothes hits me instantly. It’s a far cry from the smells of the bakery I just left. The team greets me as I enter. You’d think we hadn’t seen each other all summer by the way we holler at each other. We’ve spent most of the summer together either on the field, at football camp, or hanging out at the lake with what free time we have had. However, their excitement is contagious.

Coach Brime comes into the locker room and it grows quiet. “Everyone go change for a run. I don’t want y’all throwing up on your clothes the first day of school.” We all change into workout clothes and meet the Coach outside the field house. He gives us our directions for the path we will take for our run, before he blows his whistle and starts his timer. We take off. Some of the freshmen make the rookie mistake of starting out in a full out run. Rookie mistake. They’ll tire themselves out before they even get a fourth of the run done. You have to pace yourself with something like this. It’s something they’ll learn.

Mase, my best friend, and Keefer come up to join me as we jog. When we reach the outskirts of the courtyard, I notice a familiar head of red hair. Warbee Carter sits on a bench with Teaganne Voss. Warbee’s hair has grown out since she cut it last year. It looks good, really good. There’s something different about her besides her hair. It’s like she has this quiet confidence about her now. My eyes can’t seem to look away even if I know I should. Teaganne waves and at first, I think she’s waving at me, but then I remember that Keefer and Teaganne have a thing. Keefer apparently doesn’t get that, but everyone else can see it.

I try to listen to Mase and Keefer as we jog, but my mind keeps going back to Warbee. I’m trying to pinpoint what is so different about her, but I can’t. Even though I’ve seen her around school, I rarely see her outside of school unless she’s at the bakery with her grandmother. Warbee sticks with Keefer and Teaganne and she doesn’t come to the football games or the lake with the rest of us. Maybe this year she will since Keefer is on the team. A new spark of excitement sets off in my chest. I’m not sure why, but it has to do with Warbee.

After practice, I got through the motions of my classes. I take notes when I need to because I need decent grades in order to play football, as well as get into college. Chemistry is the subject I’m dreading the most. Science has never really been my thing, so when I take the seating chart from Mr. Cook and see my lab partner is Warbee Carter I’m excited for two reasons. One, everyone knows that Warbee is a tiny genius and two, I get to sit next to the girl who has my interest piqued. Maybe, senior year won’t be so bad after all.

THREE

Warbee

My body seems to be hyper aware of Rocker because the moment he steps into the classroom, my eyes zone in on him. My heart rate is crazy as he gets closer to me, which is silly, because I’m usually not affected by the jocks of our school. I’ve listened to Teaganne for years go on and on about this jock or that one, but I’ve never felt anything towards any of them. She even had a short-lived crush on my soon-to-be lab partner, so I spent a few weeks watching his every move with her, but even then, I didn’t feel that spark I’m always looking for. My heart definitely didn’t act like this. As he takes his seat next to me, I advert my eyes. I picked the seat closest to the window. I figured it’d be a good way to distract myself from the less than smart jock sitting beside me. Actually, Rocker could be smart, but I’m assuming he’s not. It’s a general stereotype, but he could prove me wrong.

There’s a large tree outside the window and I watch as the leaves start to turn slightly yellow in spots. A few of the leaves dance along the ground as they fall. Rocker pulls the stool out and takes a seat. His scent engulfs me for a moment. I expected an over-priced cologne scent, but instead, his scent is inviting. It’s fresh and clean almost like he just put on clothes that came straight out of the dryer. I turn my head involuntarily. His blue eyes lock with mine. Rocker smiles that signature smile that drives all of the female student body and half the town’s female citizens crazy. I’ve never understood it until now. Dimples appear and I swear, I feel my cheeks flush. “Looks like I’m going to be your lab partner.”

I bite down on my bottom lip before nodding. “Seems that way,” I reply.

He extends his hand to me. “I’m Rocker Gordon.”

The laugh that escapes me isn’t intentional, but I couldn’t silence it if I tried. Rocker’s face screws up in confusion. I wave my hand around trying to tell him I’m not actually laughing at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude, but the fact that you think it would be necessary to introduce yourself to anyone in the student body is hilarious. I mean, you’re Rocker Gordon. Everyone in town knows your name and probably your stats.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true. Everyone does know me in some way.”

I shake my head. “No, they don’t know you. They think they do, but in reality, they only know you as the town’s golden boy with good manners and looks. They know your stats because you’ll win us state, but I highly doubt many of them actually know you.”

Rocker’s head drifts to the side. His eyes make me want to fidget. The way he stares is so unwavering that it’s unnerving. “You’re not what I was expecting.”

I study him for a moment. Decision time Warbee. “That makes two of us.”

Rocker chuckles and the deep tone of it skates over my skin. Is this what a crush feels like? “Don’t set that bar too high. I’m not a dumb jock like most of everyone assumes, but science is not my subject.”

“Lucky for you. It’s mine.” I wink at him from behind my glasses. I mean, I actually wink. What in the actual hell am I doing? The reaction I have to Rocker is completely uncharted territory for me. I think I need a map. Rocker’s smile grows and his dimples deepen; and it’s like I can feel my insides melting. This moment reminds me of all my favorite books. Rocker leans towards me slightly, and I find my own body inching closer to his, involuntarily. I’m completely drawn to him.

“Then it’s my lucky day,” he tells me, just as Mr. Cook takes his place at the front of the class. He goes to the whiteboard and starts writing. Instantly, I’m in student mode. Rocker is forgotten, if that's possible, as I take my notes.

Mr. Cook checks the time on his watch. “Okay, I think that’s a good stopping point for today. The pack of papers I’m passing out now will have the class schedule as well as the supplies you will need for lab days. It’s just the basics, so don’t panic. Any questions?”

The students begin packing up their belongings. I skim over the schedule so when the bell rings, I start to scurry around to get everything in my backpack. My favorite pen goes flying off the lab table and rolling across the floor. I take off after it, but collide with someone’s butt. I cringe. I did not just run into someone’s ass! My cheeks flood with a blush. My eyes screw shut. “I’m so sorry! I was just trying to chase down my pen and obviously I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

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