Chapter 6

Vegas didn't go to the match. The moment he saw Autumn stand up from the table across the cafe, something clicked into place. A photo alongside too obvious information wasn’t enough. The boy who had been etched into his mind was right there, real and within reach. He wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip away.

He ignored the confused looks his friends gave him as he slipped out of the cafe, following them. The bright afternoon light hit him hard, forcing him to squint. He watched as Autumn and his loud friend walked side by side on the path back to campus, their voices mixing with the chatter from the crowd. He kept a small distance, blending into the sea of students who seemed to be in a rush to afternoon classes.

Vegas kept a careful distance, blending seamlessly into the crowd while his eyes stayed fixed on his target. The yellow sweater Autumn wore acted as a dead giveaway among the sea of grays and blacks.

He noticed how Autumn's back remained slightly hunched, as though in a bid to make himself look smaller, how he fiddled with his keys, and the way he smiled coyly whenever his friend teased him about something.

When they reached the main campus area, Allison eventually waved goodbye with exaggerated enthusiasm before disappearing into a group heading toward the science building. He stayed alert, following Autumn as he walked toward the Architecture building.

He sat on a shaded bench beside the entrance as Autumn walked in. Hopefully, he wouldn't be too long, but he was determined to find out everything he needed from him. The semester had just begun, and routines gave a lot away. He checked his watch constantly. Twenty, thirty, and in about forty minutes, he saw Autumn walk out of the building with a large sketchbook under his left arm.

Next, Autumn went into the convenience store near the dorm. He watched through the glass window as he smiled at the man who had attended to him, thanking him profusely as he handed him the orange juice and gum. Then he followed him into the library, carefully picking out some books, moving so precisely and quietly like he didn't want to disturb the silence that existed, all the while constantly looking over his shoulder. Vegas made sure to stand a few shelves away.

After picking out some books and packing them neatly into his backpack, he stepped out with Vegas on his trail. A small smirk lit across Vegas' face as he watched him, thinking of the power he discreetly wielded at the moment. Autumn was so soft and unsuspecting, and this made things much more fun than he could have imagined.

Autumn boarded a bus to a rather quiet neighborhood, with Vegas taking his car, following two cars behind. When Autumn stepped out, he watched as he walked toward a modest house with a fruit stall in front. This obviously was his mom's, as it fit the description Aaron had given perfectly.

He watched him hug a middle-aged woman who held out her hands in front of him, their laughter chiming as they walked into the house. Autumn stayed for dinner since his mom had insisted, filled with glee as she asked him how his day went.

Vegas killed the engine and decided to wait in his car, pulling out his phone to go through the information Aaron had sent once more, jotting down the things he had observed so far. He was just too easy, and he'd found out a couple of things in just one day. Information was everything, and that brought about control. He just had to be in control at all times.

Autumn watched his mom as she busied herself with the dishes, refusing any help in setting the table. He looked around their tiny apartment, a little bookshelf pushed against the wall in the corner, the worn-out wallpaper falling apart at the edges, one old couch, and the compact kitchen overlooking the living room with a staircase that led to the small bedroom and bathroom.

His mom always worked tirelessly, though the debts sadly just kept piling up. He'd noticed the heavy bags that rested on her face, but she always wore a smile, though it was obvious she did it so he wouldn't worry about her. “Eat up, sweetie,” she said to Autumn, who had been lost in his thoughts, the ache of their finances weighing heavily on him.

The air fell silent as they had dinner. He poked around his food, keeping his head down. They hadn't really had much to talk about lately, aside from the usual since the time they moved out here. He tried to shake off the feeling, determined that he'd choose this a million times over what their lives had been like previously.

After finishing the meal, he headed straight to the sink to help wash the dishes before she could disagree. It had gotten quite late, he noted as she handed him some groceries and leftovers. The sky had turned a deep indigo, and a gentle breeze blew by. He gave her a quick hug before turning to leave.

Vegas had been waiting patiently, staring straight at Autumn as he stood by the side of the road waiting for a bus that was headed to campus. One rolled by a few minutes later and he waited for him to get in before starting the engine of his car, following behind again, this time a bit more closely.

When Autumn got to the steps at the entrance of the dorm, he looked over his shoulder again, this time like he actually felt the weight of being watched. His eyes searched around fervently through the hazy lights, causing Vegas to move slightly in his car to avoid locking eyes directly with him.

He heard footsteps a bit later as Autumn disappeared into the building. He sat upright, watching a lit window on the third floor until bright lights flickered on. A pretty simple life, easy to infiltrate. Satisfaction spread across Vegas’s face as he leaned back in the driver’s seat. He already knew what tomorrow’s move would be. The game had officially begun, and he was going to enjoy every second of it.