2- Unfazed By It All

"Because if you do. I got this book from a very nice lady in front of the shopping center last month. Well, I've been reading it lately. The end of the world could actually happen?”

Calvin blinked, then snorted. “What kind of question is that? You’re seriously frightening me with these mental exercises,” he said, half-laughing. “What is this? Are these horror stories you're reading for philosophy class?”

She pressed her lips together, frustrated. “I’m serious, Calvin.”

He waved his hand, as if brushing off a stray thought. “Look, Autumn, the world isn’t ending. People have been saying that forever. There’s always some disaster, some new fear. But it’s just life. Things happen, and we keep going.”

His phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then at her. “I’ll think about your apocalypse theory after my graduation party Saturday night. At my house. Are you coming?”

Autumn sighed. “This isn’t about parties, Calvin. It’s about—”

He grinned, interrupting her. “You’re invited. And I expect you to dance at least once.”

She shook her head, but there was a smile hiding in her eyes. “You never take anything seriously.”

He leaned toward her, joking eyes softening. “I take you seriously. But you worry too much. My dad says if you worry about the end of the world, you’ll miss all the good stuff that leads to it.”

Autumn looked past him, watching the first stars flicker in the early evening. “Maybe I worry because someone has to.”

He reached for her hand, his grip warm and sure. “Why do you care so much about all this, anyway?”

She hesitated, looking for words she knew he might think sounded dramatic or childish. "Because sometimes I feel like everyone’s asleep. We just expect everything to stay the same—sunrise, blue skies, our routines. But what if it doesn’t? What if something happens and we’re not ready?"

Calvin shrugged. “Then we deal with it. Or, you know, we don’t. You can’t plan for the end of the world, Autumn.”

She watched him, searching his face for even a flicker of fear, of understanding. There was none. “Do you ever wonder if you’re too comfortable?”

He laughed. “Is that a crime?”

“Not a crime. Just… dangerous.”

He let her hand go, stood up, stretching. “I think you read too many books. Especially, this new one you’ve been reading lately. You need to relax. Come to the party. I’ll save you some cake. If the world ends, at least we’ll go out on a sugar high.”

Autumn stood, too, folding her arms. “You really think nothing could ever go wrong? That your life will always be this perfect?”

He looked at her for a long moment. “I don’t think about it. Why would I? My life’s good. Yours could be, too, if you stopped looking for things to be scared of. It’s all about mindset. My dad says—”

She cut him off. “Your dad doesn’t know everything.”

He grinned, undeterred. “He’s rich. That’s pretty close.”

She rolled her eyes. “Money isn’t magic, Calvin. It doesn’t protect you from everything.”

He shrugged, unfazed. “It helps.”

They walked back toward the house, the gravel crunching beneath their feet. Autumn’s heart was heavy, but she tried again. “Calvin, just promise me you’ll think about what I said. About how fast things could change.”

He tapped her shoulder playfully. “I’ll think about it. Right after I pick my outfit for the party.”

She stopped him at the door. “I’m not joking. I know I sound crazy, but I just… I have a bad feeling.”

He looked at her, really looked, and for a split second, she saw a shadow pass across his face. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

He sighed, pulling her into a quick, unexpected hug. “You worry too much, Autumn. But I like that about you. It keeps things interesting.”

She pressed her face onto his shoulder, feeling a strange mix of comfort and frustration. “One day, you’ll wish you’d listened.”

He squeezed her tighter. “If the world ends, I’ll want you by my side. Deal?”

“Deal,” she whispered, unsure if she believed it herself.

They went inside. Calvin's home was always lively and filled with laughter and music spilling from the open doors. His parents were throwing another function for the local dignitaries. Lately, it seemed to be meeting often under the guise of galas and parties. But Autumn lingered for a moment watching, wondering what they knew and were planning.

She chuckled to herself. “Maybe I do watch too many movies and read too many books.” As the darkness grew, she watched as the first clouds gathered, wondering if anyone else could feel the change in the air.

Calvin walked up behind her, planting a kiss on her neck. “Are you ready to go home?” 

She nodded yes, thinking about the warmth of his touch and his lips on her skin, and what kisses they were…Just thinking about them made Autumn’s body hum, forgetting all her thoughts. Kissing Calvin was heaven and hell all at the same time, enough to make her soul light up with joy and every cell in her body ache. Up until now, kissing and some light touching over the clothes had been all they had done thus far. The more time they spent together, she wanted to feel her bare skin pressed against him. She wanted to let him touch her wherever he wanted because she knew anything she did with Calvin would feel amazing, perfect, and so, so right. 

Despite how much he cared about her, something held her back. Autumn was waiting for the rug to be yanked from under her feet at any moment. And to be told this isn’t real, it's just a dream. She and Clavin hadn’t talked about anything long-term, but now it seemed like a no-brainer. Since their relationship has lasted almost a year. This summer will be a solid year. Sure, they lived different lives, and on opposite sides of town. Calvin was in a big house on a hill, Autumn was out in the boonies, in her aunt's two-story historical house, in need of repair, but there was no reason they couldn’t make a relationship work.