And when Autumn gets to me

 

Vanna could hardly function during her last hour of work. Why had she looked at the text when she did? Suddenly, she felt a little faint as if this couldn't possibly be right. Her mother had COVID.

"Did you get the vaccine?"

Naturally, Vanna rolled her eyes at her mother's question. Of course, she had, months ago. She'd told her mother. 

"I wished I had," she just said in her text. It was such a mystery. Vanna texted back like a speed demon but heard nothing.

Finally, she handed over her cash register duties to the next person on shift and headed for the patio at the side of the store. Immediately, she took a whiff of cigarette smoke as she removed her mask, and it choked her in the cool autumn breeze. She frowned. Just when she needed space and air, somebody had already found it. Only, it was some guy with a heavy head of hair sitting on the picnic table.

She knew he didn't work here. 

"This is for employees only," she informed him, but he didn't budge. Just said he was sorry.

She couldn't help but look at him because after all, he was kind of a looker. Then he looked at her, but he was mute.

If only she could kick him off the table, but she did have a home. Maybe he didn't. Although, she hated to be wrong about him. She kept hugging herself, watching and waiting while he finished his cigarette.

"Where did you get that cigarette?" She was blunt.

"What are you? My mother?" He looked at her as if he knew she couldn't come back with nothing.

Vanna only sighed giving him a fretful glance.

"Thank God, I'm not her." She was straight-lipped as she looked away, thinking how mad she was at her mother. Probably fooling around, traveling god knows where. Actually, Vanna didn't know exactly where she was. They hadn't kept in contact for the last month or so. 

"You wouldn't know this guy.."

"I know a lot of guys," She was being gutsy and ready to beat some sense into him as she bounced back to their conversation.

He laughed slightly and gave her an open smile. Damn, if his teeth weren't perfect. "Well, then..you should know." Again he was back to being a smart mouth as he finished off the butt and flung it to the cement. They both watched it smolder in the sweet autumn air.

Vanna knew she shouldn't wait. She should walk away, but her feet weren't moving.

"There's this guy. Jay. I thought he might be here."

"Jay?" Of course, it could be anyone, but she only thought of who she knew.

"I got some news for him." He looked at her.

"What kind of news?" She wanted to know.

"Not so good news." He got off the table then.

"Look, I don't even know you."

"Well, you did ask." He put the tips of his fingers in the front pockets of his faded jeans.

"Why do you think I would know him?" She looked at him blankly.

"I saw you talking to someone earlier I used to know on the Rez."

"Rez?" She looked at him funny as if he was talking in code. And he shook his head with a smile.

"Just tell the dude, Lenny got out of prison. He'll know." The guy kept his eyes on her.

"Who are you? You mean, Slater?"

"No, this is for Jay. His friend can tell him this. It's that simple." He was as calm as the wind whipped his long hair back so she could get a good look at him.

"But.." Vanna felt light-headed. Not quite herself with him around.

"Just tell him you got news from Koda." He told her.

Vanna did her best to let this digest in her thoughts. "Koda?" She looked back. He was already gone.