Autumn Leaves & Pumpkins Please

three | daddy material

I don't exactly know where it went wrong. Where it really went wrong, like really wrong. I'm debating whether it was when Sadie and I tripped over each other's shoes, or when Lost in Japan started playing.

Wait, I remember it and it was way before that...

october 15th – 9:45 pm

london, england

Lily-Rose was stressed out in the limousine that her parents had arranged for us to get to the party, because we took some extra forty-five minutes to get ready. Or more specifically, I took some extra forty-five minutes. Back in the hotel when I tried to fit into my red, tight – really f*****g tight – off the shoulder dress, I forgot that I had gained some pounds. To me, this sister just got thicker, but my dress thought differently; it got ripped apart when I tried to get it over my booty. There we stood, Lily-Rose had her hands covering her mouth in total shock, while Sadie tried to hold her laughter, Valentina almost peed all over the floor, Fadoua tried to mend the split-in-half dress I more or less was wearing and Gwen was doubting if I got thicker or just fatter. Definitely the last one. Me, I wanted to cry honestly. Chris used to love me the way I was, so when we got serious I stopped keeping up my healthy lifestyle and ditched it for chocolate, fries, pizza – without pineapple of course, dis-f*****g-gusting – etcetera. I regretted it all.

"We need to get you a new one," Fadoua had informed.

I had looked at the dress and then started to make this sound which was basically a mix between laughing and crying.

"Oh no," Gwen had said, "three... two... one... And there she goes."

Tears were rolling down my face. Valentina and Sadie rushed up to me and dried them, trying to cool me down while Lily-Rose, Gwen and Fadoua searched for a new dress.

"I'm so sorry," I had sobbed, "now we're going to be late and it's all my fault."

Valentina and Sadie simultaneously had looked at each other in confusion. Then they realized the crying wasn't about being late nor about me gaining weight – well, maybe a bit –, it was a bit deeper than that.

"This is about Chris, isn't it?" Sadie had asked.

"Of course it is, dumb b***h," Valentina had said.

"No, it isn't!" I had lied, but only started crying harder.

"Sis, you're ruining your make-up. Are you really going to let that foolish boy ruin your make-up? Is he really going to ruin this amazing night for you? Is he really worth that?"

I shook my head.

"Then get your f*****g self together and f**k that hoe."

"Yeah, f**k that hoe!" Sadie had cheered.

"Mr. Montgomery, I'm so sorry about the delay, but we got stuck in British traffic. No, Mr. Montgomery, our apologies about the delay, no- f**k!" Lily-Rose had nervously paced up and down, while Gwen handed me the dress.

"Who are we f*****g?" she had asked.

"Chris, that motherfucker." Valentina had helped me getting out of the dress and into the new one. It was a beautiful, soft yellow color and the shape of the dress was quite revealing. I didn't mind, though, I liked it better than the ripped one.

"Figuratively, I hope." Gwen saw me crying, awe'd and then pulled me into a quick hug. "You were too good for him anyway."

I wiped the remained tears off my face and smiled.

Back to us in the limousine. The driver stopped and we got out of the car, Gwen and Valentina being forced to put away their champagne. Lily-Rose helped me out and seemed calm for a split second, then started stressing again when she saw the huge mansion.

"I can't believe we're at the Montgomery's mansion..." Sadie mumbled blown away by the sight. It sure was a beautiful mansion, but not more than I had been expecting.

"Me neither," Lily-Rose replied, "what am I going to tell Mr. Montgomery? My fat friend needed a new dress, so that's why were late?"

"Hey!" I said as we walked up the stairs towards the front door, "Not that's it not true, though."

"No fat-shaming allowed, skinny legend," Valentina said to Lily-Rose.

"No skinny-shaming allowed, thick b***h," Lily-Rose replied. She took a deep breath when we arrived at the front door and turned to us. "Now act natural, bitches. Or well- just act as if... you're normal."

I'm offended, Fadoua dramatically mouthed. We laughed, but got all silent when the door opened. A tall, broad man who looked like security opened the door and asked for our names. Lily-Rose took the lead and took care of it. As soon as we got in, everyone kept silent. Ladies in even fancier dresses than we had, men all suited up and of course the beautiful interior of the mansion. On our sides there were two stairs, leading to a sort of balcony inside of the house. In front of us, there was what seemed like a ballroom, filled with rich people who were exaggeratingly laughing and sipping wine and champagne.

I didn't particularly feel at home, but I needed to stay strong for Lily-Rose.

"Come on," she whispered and we followed her to the ballroom. "What the f**k am I going to tell him, ladies, help me!"

"What the f**k are you going to tell who?"

We all kept quiet.

"Mr. Montgomery, of course. I can't tell him that Autumn needed extra time, because she had a mental breakdown."

"But why not?"

Then she realized she wasn't talking to any of us, but to Mr. Montgomery himself.

"Oh my god," she said, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Montgomery."

Mr. Montgomery was way hotter than I expected. His age definitely did him very well and reminded me of Henry Cavill with some stubbles on his chin to gain masculinity. He was quite muscular and the lines of his biceps were drawn into his tight suit. I must've been drooling, because the second he looked at me he raised his thick brows. Those couldn't been so naturally perfectly shaped... Or could they?

"And you must be Autumn."

Oh, how my name rolled over his British tongue. His accent, his deep voice, everything.

God Autumn, he was wait too old, come on now.

Hold on a second, how exactly did he know my name?

"You look like autumn." He gently smiled at me. He must've been reading my mind.

"Thank you?" I said, a bit overwhelmed.

"You can take that as a compliment, Autumn. Now, hello ladies, I welcome you to my house. My name is Darius Montgomery, please call me Darius otherwise you would make me feel ancient. Please, get some drinks and suit yourself. Many superb people around here so you shouldn't get bored. Thank you."

The girls introduced themselves and he then left.

"Daddy. Material," Valentina whispered, "f**k. So many hot men around here, my ovaries are exploding."

Shit went down only half an hour later. It was common that people might become a bit tipsy after consuming some champagne and wine, but we were filling our stomachs with the drinks. There were all sorts of beverages varied from fancy, delicious cocktails to other mixed drinks and all that s**t. We hadn't eaten anything since the airport in London and weren't planning on eating the tapas they had served, although Valentina managed to sneak one into her body, because once we had started, we would never be able to stop.

Each of the girls was pretty drunk, except for Fadoua, and we just went with the flow. I found myself talking bullshit to the most famous people in London and I couldn't be stopped. The alcohol brought the social side I did not have sober up, which really wasn't a good thing.

"And then I told my teacher to shove it up his ass, all the formula's he had never told us about!"

Mr. Montgomery laughed again and had to wipe the tears off his cheeks.

"This girl's so funny," he told the woman beside him. The woman forced a smile and seemed quite jealous, but I mean, my stories were really good, so I'd be jealous too if I were her. Sike.

"So, Autumn, what do you aspire to become after university. You seem like a woman who has her life carefully planned out and put together."

"Actually, I'm not so sure about that. I hate having my life planned out, because what's the point of it then? I like being surprised with new challenges and all kinds of things which just happen to you in life!"

"I admire that style of thinking, quite airy. But do you have anything in mind, you could become a doctor for example."

"Hm, considering the subject I'm studying I'd choose to become a writer," I joked mockingly.

Mr. Montgomery laughed again.

"My son's a writer, actually. You might know him, Xavier. A lot of girls your age seem to like him."

"Xavier, yes, I'm reading one of his books. He's really f*****g hot."

I was shocked by what came out of my mouth, so I started giggling like a sheep as I turned red. Luckily, Mr. Montgomery was not so strict and laughed it off. Then I had no other choice than running off and disappearing for the rest of the night. How could I say something so inappropriate to his dad? His f*****g dad. I had made such a great impression and then I, of course, had to ruin it like that. Oh, how I hated myself. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I walked straight to the table where the drinks were served and looked around to find the girls. Lily-Rose was charmingly speaking to what seemed like a thriving man who also was very attractive, while Sadie was being her drunk, fun self and dancing to the jazz-music on her own. I didn't see the other girls. Sadie and I made eye contact and she started running up to me, barely keeping her equilibrium because of the high heels she was wearing.

Then suddenly Shawn Mendes' voice blasted through the speakers. My knees started trembling and I got weak. His voice sounded even better than it already was in my drunk state, there was no way proper way of describing it. I immediately started jamming to Lost in Japan, screaming the lyrics as Sadie came closer and closer. When she was close enough, I wanted to pull her into a hug – because why not? – but unfortunately I tripped over her shoes and she over mine. She managed to keep herself standing, but I lost the last tiny bit of balance – and dignity – I had, stumbled for a couple of seconds, but eventually ended up falling on the table of drinks. I closed my eyes as a reflex and listened to how the table broke, glass broke and people made a shocked sound.

There I was, laying in glass on top of a table which had lost its legs. I couldn't keep my laughter and burst out. Then I suddenly felt two big, warm arms around me that pulled me up and supported me standing on my own feet. When I opened my eyes, I got lost into the most beautiful, shining eyes I've ever seen.

"Chris?" I asked.

"Xavier," he replied, "and you must be... extremely drunk."