Autumn POV:

I backed away quickly as soon as he tucked the lock of hair behind my ear.

"What are you doing?" I said, annoyed that he interrupted me while I was clearly doing something. He shoves his hands in his hoodie pockets as he just smirks at me, amused.

"Just wondering why you are trying to hurt some innocent sea creatures" Before I can even get a word out, he cuts me off.

"Hell, you might even hit someone that's probably swimming out there, I saved a life tonight"

I scoffed, who does this person think he is?

"First of all, my throws only go as far to the shallow water and second, no one is out there swimming, unless they want to get lost in a pool of darkness," I said angrily, tilting my head to the side, waiting for what he's going to say next.

"Well" he chuckled "maybe you did it for them, knocking them into darkness"

I clicked my tongue, and turned my body towards the ocean, I will have to ignore him for now. I didn't come here to chat with random strangers.

I came here for an outlet.

I crossed my arms over my chest as I stared into the ocean, hearing the loud waves crash and wash up the shore. I took off my shoes a while ago, and felt the soft but dry sand underneath my feet.

My thoughts are interrupted by movement behind me, maybe that stranger got a hint and left. I sigh as I'm left alone again.

"So what are you doing exactly?" The stranger asked.

Are you kidding me?

I turn around and surprise to see him sitting down on the sand, normally people with pants on wouldn't risk getting sand on it. Maybe this person isn't normal, maybe an alien.

"What do you want? Like seriously, why are you bothering me" I said, frustrated.

"No need to be hostile, just wondering why you are out here in the middle of the night, throwing rocks into the shore" He says, raising his hands up in surrender.

"How about it's none of your business" I say.

"Fine, you are free to commit murder then" He says, trying to bring up the joke from earlier.

"So what? You're just going to sit there and creepily watch me?"

"You can go to the other side of the beach or go home" he smirks.

I sigh, clearly this guy is not going to leave me alone, my frustration is for his entertainment. So I gave in, walking over to him and taking a seat next to him.

For a while, we sat in silence, feeling the Texas air around us.

He finally breaks the silence, "So, I'm assuming your out here to clear your head?"

"Is it that obvious?" I ask, turning to face him.

Now that I'm up close to him, I can clearly see the dark eye bags under his eyes, his eyes seem to have little to no light in them, like he's a walking corpse.

"Yeah, lots of people do it" He continues "but I also assume that you are angry about something"

"Yeah" I say "but I'm not going to spill my life story to you"

He raises his left brow and narrows his eyes at me, then turns back to the ocean.

"I'm not asking you too, but if you are, I'm all ears, good distraction from my shitty day"

"So I'm just a distraction?"

He gave me a knowing look.

"Okay well" I start off "basically the reason I'm here is because my ex-fiancé canceled the wedding the day before I was supposed to walk"

"Damn that's tough" he said brutally.

"Thanks, I know" I said sadly.

"Sorry, it's just, why would some bimbo of a guy cancel a wedding with a beautiful future wife"

I felt my cheeks warm up, I just met this person like five minutes ago, and he's already complimenting me, like it's no big deal, which it probably wasn't but still.

"I mean, I get it, we were only senior when we met and in our early 20s, so I guess he felt hesitant about the whole marriage thing, plus his parents weren't really fond of the whole idea" I sigh, looking up at all the stars shining, remembering the day we announce to his family that we are getting married.

Flashback:
"Mom, dad" Matthew took a deep breath and continued "Me and Autumn are going to get married"

His parents looked at us in shock, deadly, uncomfortable silence filled the air. I knew they can be strict about certain things, I mean, when we first started dating, they asked me the most uncomfortable questions about me.

They end up telling Matthew after I left, that he shouldn't date me because of my beliefs, they want their son to date someone that will be a future stay at home mother and raise the children while the father is at work.

Believe me, there is nothing wrong with believing in a certain way of living, but I just believe in their way, so therefore, they didn't like me. So when we started dating, they allowed it, thinking we were just going to break up before college.

"Um wow, but are you guys sure about this, I mean, you are really young" his mother said, smiling hesitantly.

"Yes" he squeezed my hand, under the table, "this is the girl I wanna spend the rest of my life" he smiled.

"Well, I'm happy for you guys, congratulations son" his father commented.

"Yes, very excited, but we need to discuss something important" his mother say, she looked at her husband and they both nodded "after your honeymoon, we expect you to drop your career and have our grandchildren, we expect at least three"

"Mom-" Matthew started but I cut him off.

"What?! There is no way, I'm not ready for kids, and I'm not dropping my career" They truly lost their mind.

"We want grandchildren and to spend time with them before we pass" his mother say "It is our right"

"I will decide when I want children, but right now is not the time, I want to be able to enjoy my marriage"

"That is our only request" his father angrily said "If you don't want kids, then why get married?"

"Because I love your son, why else?"

"Then your marriage is pointless" the mother, slamming her fist on the table.

I got up, the wooden chair scraping against the floor, took the keys and walked out the front door.

Flashback ended

As I thought about that interaction with his parents, I felt my eyes growing glossy again, and the tears running down my face. Suddenly a thumb came up and wiped the tears from my face, I turned to him and he pulled me into his chest.

"Don't cry, that fucker doesn't deserve you"

I sniffed into his chest, clinging into his arms, feeling the hard muscles, he held me into a hug, and I guess I need a hug, because I found comfort in it, yet I don't know him.

"Damian" he said shortly.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"My name is Damian" he responded.

"Autumn" I replied, a small smile creeping on my face.

I'm currently back at home, I managed to not wake my parents up, considering it was one in the morning, I crawled into bed and only stared into the ceiling. I can't help but think about the comfort I found in Damian, crazy we just met, and I already told him what was wrong with my life currently.

I rolled over in my bed and tried to figure out what I needed to do next moving forward.

Yay, second chapter!

What do you think about Damian now?

What do you think about Matthew's parents?

-Summer Roe