As Autumn Leaves Read Online Free

Althea, and turned to leave the building. At the door, Althea called out, stopping her.
    “You were brilliant in there.”
    Kayla’s head tilted questioningly.
    “Dancing,” Althea clarified. Scuffing the ground with the toe of her shoe, she glanced up through her eyelashes. Her eye shadow was bright pink today. “I saw the last routine. You… I didn’t know you danced. You’re awesome.”
    “Thank you!” Kayla said, as enthusiastically as Althea when they’d been talking sports. “I love it, I really do.”
    “I can see why.”
    “You know, I have class Fridays. You should stop in any time you’re here for your brother. Maybe join in! It’s fun.”
    “Oh no.” Althea put up her hands defensively. “I might have some moves on the court, but I don’t dance. At all. Ever. But maybe… I mean, maybe I’ll watch. If that’s okay.”
    “Sure, if you want. I’d like that. Only if you want.”
    “Cool.”
    That seemed to be Althea’s indication that she was done talking about it, the simple cut-off word cool . A nice note to end on, simple and pleased and a mutual understanding, so Kayla didn’t mind.
    Kayla smiled wide. “I’ll see you later.”
    “For sure.”
    Kayla turned away again, adjusting her scarf and pulling on her bright orange mini gloves. Even though she stepped into the chilly autumn air, warmth radiated from inside her.
     
     
    “HI, MOM, I’m home,” Kayla called one evening as she opened the door to their apartment. She pulled the keys from the lock, closed the door behind her, and relocked it. “You here?”
    “Yes, honey,” her mom called back. With the confirmation, Kayla also slid in the chain-lock. They’d be settled in for the night. Kayla had gone to Hannah’s after school to study for an upcoming biology test and had eaten dinner with Hannah’s cute family. Her brother was hilarious. Kayla’s mother had been at a booster’s meeting anyway, but it would be nice to say hello to her before heading to bed.
    Kayla dropped her backpack on the floor by the door and hung her jacket. Slow in her movements, like trying to swim through molasses, she went into the kitchen. She was tired—not physically, though she was desperate for a decent sleep—but the school day had been rough. Jason and the others sought her out in the cafeteria and sat at the table near her, Hannah, and Ernie, being obnoxiously loud in their teasing. Of course, they fell into polite conversation when a teacher walked by, but it’d start as soon as any adult was out of earshot.
    Kayla did her best not to let her facade crack, not to let them get to her or let them know when they did. It would only fuel their fire, and it would show Hannah self-doubt too. Deleting her social media accounts over summer had been Kayla’s most brilliant idea because at least she didn’t get an onslaught by those means. With all the blocked numbers, only Hannah or Ernie texted her anyway.
    So at least the bullying happened while at school and not full-on in all aspects of her life, but it was hard to take. Some days, like today, it exhausted her.
    Opening the fridge door, she rummaged around for a light snack. “Hi,” she said when her mother came into the kitchen, leaning against the counter.
    “Can we talk?”
    Kayla pulled back from the fridge, taking an apple with her, and closed the door. “Sure. What’s up?”
    Her mother frowned and crossed her arms. “Kayla, I’m concerned. I heard…. Are you having trouble at school?”
    “I like my classes,” she said neutrally. “My marks are high.”
    “Excellent to hear, considering.”
    “Considering what?” Kayla crossed her arms, a mirror image of her mother, but tilted her chin defensively. “Spit it out, Mom, what’s going on?”
    “Don’t take that tone with me, young lady, I’m concerned for you.”
    “Why?”
    “I heard some things today, from other booster mothers.”
    “I’m not a cheerleader anymore!” Kayla said, throwing her hands up in