Autumn Falls (17 page)

“So how are you going to do it?” Jenna asks.

That’s a good question. “I don’t know,” I admit, frowning. “I mean, right now I’ve got nothing even close to peace and harmony. My entire school except for Jack, J.J., and Amalita hates me.”

“So you’d have to change that, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Mom pulls up, so we click off.

“How’s Eddy?” Mom asks as I climb into the car.

I’d love to tell her everything, but I know how she feels
about Eddy’s supernatural ravings. Plus, I’m pretty sure the idea of Dad’s soul—even part of his soul—hiding out in a journal would upset her a lot. I use a sliver of my brain to carry on a happy conversation with her and keep the rest on the journal.

What should I wish?

My life would definitely be more peaceful and harmonious if people liked me, if I were popular … but that’s not really what I’m about. I don’t need everyone to think I’m amazing. I just want them to know I’m not what Reenzie’s made them believe.

That’s it. When we get home I run upstairs and throw open the journal.

Dear Dad,
I write, and go on to tell him all about my conversation with Eddy, and how I’ve been thinking about exactly the right wish.

So here’s the deal
, I continue writing.
Aventura High is a living land mine for me, and it’s going to stay that way unless I can prove the truth. So that’s what I want. I wish for justice. I wish that everyone at that school could find out exactly what Reenzie did to me, and see her for the person she really is
.

I head down to dinner completely satisfied.

Justice is on its way, and it’s gunning for Reenzie Tresca.

Justice may indeed be on its way, but it’s not moving fast. I keep expecting Mrs. Dorio to make an announcement that they’ve traced the website to Reenzie, or Reenzie herself to make a mistake and let the truth slip, but nothing like that happens. If anything, people’s Autumn-hate seems to grow. Reenzie on crutches was a one-day novelty; there’s enough dirt on
Winter of My Discontent
to keep everyone reading and furious for the rest of the school year.

It’s an ADAPT day, so I leave lunch early. I want to be the first one in the black box. That way I can grab a seat in a far corner and segregate myself before the rest of the group does it for me. I plug earbuds into my phone, close my eyes, and listen to music while I wait.

Someone pulls out the right earbud. I turn and see Sean next to me. He puts the bud in his own ear.

“I didn’t peg you as someone into Beethoven,” he says, nodding to the beat.

“Huh? This is—” I realize he’s joking and I yank the earbud back.

“You’re hilarious.” I turn off the music. “How’s Reenzie?”

“She’s okay. I’m doing what I can to make it easier for her.”

“You’re her angel,” I say, sounding more sarcastic than I intend to. “I mean, she’s lucky to have you,” I amend, shrugging.

Sean shrugs back. “She and Trevor broke up, so I’m her go-to guy. It’s good, though. She’d do the same for me.”

As always, I’m amazed that his Reenzie and my Reenzie are housed in the same body.

The seats are starting to fill. It’s almost time to start. Sean leans closer and asks if I’ll come watch track practice again, but I don’t want to sit in the middle of that many enemies. Especially not after what J.J. told me—that people think I used track practices to spy and get dirt.

“I can’t,” I say simply, and I can tell by the way his forehead creases that he thinks I’m upset. I guess I am, a little.

“Things have been kind of crazy the last couple of days,” he says, “but I want to apologize. I was a total jerk on Monday, about the website. I thought about it a lot and I know it wasn’t you.”

“Thanks … but it kind of sucks that you had to think about it a lot first. Especially after the Formal. I hoped you’d know me better than that.”

Sean doesn’t seem to know how to respond. Just as well.
ADAPT is starting. He snags me afterward and catches my arm before I can walk away. “Can I text you later?”

The minute he touches me, my heart starts jumping. I’m not happy he doubted me, but I’m not ready to give up on him either.

“That’d be great,” I say, smiling at him.

He does, and things with Sean and me get better. We text or talk every night. We just don’t hang out, because he’s busy with track and helping Reenzie and I like to stay as removed from her as possible so I’m not available for retaliation.

People are still talking trash about me, so clearly the journal hasn’t done its job yet. Maybe this is one of those wishes it doesn’t want to grant. I’d try something new, but even though Eddy didn’t say so, I get the idea the journal isn’t a multitasker. If I make another wish, I believe it’ll cancel the one still out there, which I don’t want to do.

One plus is that I’m drowning in schoolwork, including a paper on
Hamlet
due at the end of next week. That keeps me busy from the end of school till bedtime every night, and all through the weekend. On Monday, I’m still way behind on it, and at the end of the school day I tell Amalita I’ll probably be up all night to make a dent in it.

“But you’ll take a break at nine-fifty-five, right?” Amalita asks breathlessly.

“Why?”

“
Estas bromeando?
That’s when
Pop Star
is announcing
the winner of the Kyler Leeds contest! Don’t you want to hear them announce my name?”

“I’d love it,” I say brightly. “Not gonna happen.”

“You have no faith, Autumn,” Amalita says, making a
tsk-tsk
sound. “Watch and see. Plus, you want to watch anyway. He tweeted that he’s making a ‘surprise’ appearance on the show to announce the winner himself.”

Admittedly, that’s worth a homework break. I plan to go downstairs and turn on the TV right before he comes on, but at nine o’clock, Mom knocks on my door and peeks in.

“Aren’t you coming downstairs?” she asks hopefully. “
Pop Idol
is on. I heard the magnificent Kyler Leeds himself will be there.”

“Yeah, but not until the last five minutes,” I say, impressed that she knows this. “I’ll be down then.”

“Come on, Autumn. Erick and I are already down there. I made popcorn with extra butter, just how you like it.…”

I lean back in my desk chair and stretch my arms over my head. “I can’t believe you’re bribing me with buttered popcorn.” And it’s totally working. Now I totally have a popcorn craving.

“Just join us. Family time on the couch. It’ll be fun.”

I follow her downstairs and grab a spot at the end of the couch. Schmidt’s next to me and lays his head in my lap. Erick’s on the other side of the dog, and Mom has a spot next to him. She hands me a big bowl of popcorn before she sits down herself.

The show’s ridiculous. None of the five remaining contestants is any good, and the judges’ comments have nothing to do with the performances. It’s like they’re watching a totally different show. The three of us heckle back. We shout comments the entire time and make each other laugh so hard I nearly choke on my popcorn.

It feels good to sit together and be goofy. We used to do it all the time back in Stillwater. I don’t think we’ve had one evening like this since we moved here. I’m actually bummed when Kyler Leeds comes on, because it means the show’s almost over.

“And now it’s time for the moment we’ve all been waiting for,” the host announces.

“When Kyler Leeds admits he lip-synchs all his songs,” Erick says.

“You’re just jealous that he’s out of puberty,” I say.

“Shut up,” Erick says.

“Autumn, your brother is moving through puberty right on schedule.”

I laugh out loud. Erick sinks low in the couch.

On the TV, the host stands next to Kyler. There’s a giant screen behind them.

“We received millions of entries for the Night of Dreams contest,” he continues, “all of which have been entered into a computer randomizer.”

The screen bounces unintelligibly with snippets of print shuffling around lightning-fast.

“When Kyler presses this button,” the host hands Kyler
a small clicker, “the randomizer will stop on one lucky winner. That winner and the guest of their choice will spend a Night of Dreams with Kyler Leeds! Everyone who entered, good luck!”

“Yes, good luck, everyone,” Kyler agrees in his ridiculously cute British accent, “and thank you so much for all your entries. I’m truly honored by all the love and support.”

“And the money you spend on my boring music,” Erick adds.

“Shut up,” I hiss. “He’s honored by me.”

“Here we go.… ” Kyler holds up the button. “Even though you know I wish I could spend the night with each and every one of you, there can be only one lucky winner.”

Mom frowns. “I’m not sure that’s appropriate.”

“Three … two … one!” Kyler presses the button and a single name and place fills the screen behind him in huge block letters.

An instant later my cell phone starts ringing.

And it doesn’t stop.

“Our winner is Autumn Falls of Aventura, Florida!”

Kyler Leeds just said my name. In his adorable British accent. On television.

The camera comes in close on Kyler’s face. It’s like he’s speaking directly to me—mainly because he is. “Autumn,” he says, looking straight into my eyes via the television, “I’ll be seeing you this Saturday, just five days away. I can’t wait to meet you, and I know we’ll have a true Night of Dreams.”

I’m dying. Kyler Leeds is talking to me. Kyler Leeds is going to
come hang with
me.

“Autumn!” Mom screams. “You won!” She pulls me off the couch and into her arms. “I can’t believe it! You won!”

“I didn’t win,” I say, waves of astonishment pouring over me. “I mean, I couldn’t have. I didn’t
enter
.”

“I entered for you,” Mom admits excitedly. She fans herself with her hand. “I did it the night you went to see
Eddy. I knew you couldn’t possibly win out of all the millions of people who entered, but I had this strange feeling you would, and now you did! It’s so exciting! Aren’t you excited?” She takes a deep gulp of air. “I think I might faint!”

“Aren’t you going to answer your phone?” Erick asks. “It’s giving me a headache.”

I’m in such shock I barely noticed, but my phone hasn’t paused for more than a second since Kyler Leeds said my name.

Kyler. Leeds. Said. My. Name.

“Amalita?” I answer.

All I hear are screams in my ear. When she pauses for breath I try again.

“Ames?”

More screams.

This goes on for a good five minutes, and she’s so loud Mom and Erick can hear her. I put the phone on speaker, take it upstairs, shut the door, flop down on my bed, and wait until the screams meld into a tumble of Spanish, English, and possibly Dolphin.

“First of all,” she says when she can speak coherently, “you
lied
to me. You said you didn’t enter.”

“I didn’t lie. My mom entered for me.”

“Second of all, I will forgive you for that lie, but only if you bring me as your guest.”

“As my guest?”

“
Estúpida!
To the Night of Dreams! You and
the guest of your choice
won a Night of Dreams with Kyler Leeds!”

“Ohhhh, and you think I’m going to take you.”

“Don’t mess with me, Autumn,” she says semi-hysterically. “Your only other acceptable option would be Jenna, and you already told me she hates Kyler. Girlfriend has no taste, but I love her for it and will murder you in your sleep if you bring anyone else.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet.”

“I’m not kidding, Autumn. This is Kyler Leeds. No jury would convict me.”

“Ames, seriously—of course I’m bringing you.”

And the screams begin again.

The entire time we’ve been talking, my call waiting has been beeping in my ear. I’ve been ignoring it, but it’s finally so annoying that I check to see who it is.

“Ames, stop screaming, you need to hear this. You’ll never believe who’s on the other line.”

She gasps. “It’s Kyler Leeds, isn’t it?
Dios mío
, if you’re on with him, and I’m on with you, it’s like
I’m on with Kyler Leeds
!”