An Autumn to Remember: A Novel (Elmtown Series Book 1) by Joy Galloway Page A
Authors: Joy Galloway
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math paper and slept peacefully two hours later with thoughts of her filling every fiber of his mind.
10
It was the last Saturday in September. John and Chelsea had spent most of their day at the college’s graduate students’ library but were now spending time together in her bedroom, just relaxing. She watched a women's soccer game between the US and China on her laptop while he texted on his phone at length. She’d previously complained about his obsessive phone use a couple of times but relented after she saw it was only causing friction between them and she didn’t want to be seen as a nagging girlfriend. But he was always texting one person or the other, always holding on to his phone as if he couldn't breathe without it. He would text while they were out at dinner and at the movies. He'd text while she talked to him about something important which meant she would usually have to repeat herself because he missed cogent details of their conversation.
“At least give me your attention when we are together or when I’m trying to tell you something important,“ she said the previous week but now she just gave up completely and put it on the list of things not to bother about anymore; it really wasn’t worth the hassle. When you’re in graduate school, the less disagreements you have the better, she thought. I don’t need all that distraction.
“Did you see that? Did you see that goal?“ she asked excitedly. “These girls are so skillful sometimes I think they could beat the men’s team. I think that’s something I’d like to see, just for fun.” The US team scored a spectacular goal to bring the scores level with the Chinese. She sat up halfway to watch the replay of the goal and then glanced at John. It looked to her like he didn’t hear a thing she said. She kept on watching her game by herself.
“Hey are you watching the game?” Tyler’s voice came from behind the door.
“Hey you. Yup, I’m watching. Tied with the Chinese. Second half,” Chelsea said to Tyler who opened the door and stood at the entrance to her room. A question was written all over his face. Chelsea could tell when her brother wanted something.
“You want something buddy?“
“Can I come watch the game with you guys?“ he asked, almost begging. Like his sister, he had their mother's eyes. He was however, tall and lanky like their father. Although he was always a child who concerned himself with his own thoughts more than what was going on around him, his new keeping-to-myself phase had become more pronounced.
“Sure,” Chelsea said looking at John for approval. “If John doesn’t mind.”
“Babe, this is supposed to be our little time together,” John said, not giving Tyler a mere glance.
“Right, but then you’ve been on your phone all day.”
“But I’m here,” he said still typing away.
“Guys, like, it’s OK, never mind. I’ll just go back downstairs,” Tyler didn’t wait for their response. He turned around and shut the door.
“You should have been nicer to him. And I don’t know how you think this is spending time together when you’re constantly...never mind,” Chelsea said.
“I don’t think I said anything wrong to him. You can spend enough time with him when I’m gone. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
She was quiet the rest of the evening. The game wasn't enjoyable anymore so she moved to the other side of the bed and started reading a textbook in preparation for her next class. Spending time together my foot, she thought. She remembered what Melanie Clark (the girl in high school who read books about dating) said many years ago about the honeymoon phase of relationships, how you start to know the real person after that phase. She wondered if she was just seeing the real John now.
After a few minutes, John looked at her and said, “Honestly babe, you are pissing me off right now. Do
10
It was the last Saturday in September. John and Chelsea had spent most of their day at the college’s graduate students’ library but were now spending time together in her bedroom, just relaxing. She watched a women's soccer game between the US and China on her laptop while he texted on his phone at length. She’d previously complained about his obsessive phone use a couple of times but relented after she saw it was only causing friction between them and she didn’t want to be seen as a nagging girlfriend. But he was always texting one person or the other, always holding on to his phone as if he couldn't breathe without it. He would text while they were out at dinner and at the movies. He'd text while she talked to him about something important which meant she would usually have to repeat herself because he missed cogent details of their conversation.
“At least give me your attention when we are together or when I’m trying to tell you something important,“ she said the previous week but now she just gave up completely and put it on the list of things not to bother about anymore; it really wasn’t worth the hassle. When you’re in graduate school, the less disagreements you have the better, she thought. I don’t need all that distraction.
“Did you see that? Did you see that goal?“ she asked excitedly. “These girls are so skillful sometimes I think they could beat the men’s team. I think that’s something I’d like to see, just for fun.” The US team scored a spectacular goal to bring the scores level with the Chinese. She sat up halfway to watch the replay of the goal and then glanced at John. It looked to her like he didn’t hear a thing she said. She kept on watching her game by herself.
“Hey are you watching the game?” Tyler’s voice came from behind the door.
“Hey you. Yup, I’m watching. Tied with the Chinese. Second half,” Chelsea said to Tyler who opened the door and stood at the entrance to her room. A question was written all over his face. Chelsea could tell when her brother wanted something.
“You want something buddy?“
“Can I come watch the game with you guys?“ he asked, almost begging. Like his sister, he had their mother's eyes. He was however, tall and lanky like their father. Although he was always a child who concerned himself with his own thoughts more than what was going on around him, his new keeping-to-myself phase had become more pronounced.
“Sure,” Chelsea said looking at John for approval. “If John doesn’t mind.”
“Babe, this is supposed to be our little time together,” John said, not giving Tyler a mere glance.
“Right, but then you’ve been on your phone all day.”
“But I’m here,” he said still typing away.
“Guys, like, it’s OK, never mind. I’ll just go back downstairs,” Tyler didn’t wait for their response. He turned around and shut the door.
“You should have been nicer to him. And I don’t know how you think this is spending time together when you’re constantly...never mind,” Chelsea said.
“I don’t think I said anything wrong to him. You can spend enough time with him when I’m gone. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
She was quiet the rest of the evening. The game wasn't enjoyable anymore so she moved to the other side of the bed and started reading a textbook in preparation for her next class. Spending time together my foot, she thought. She remembered what Melanie Clark (the girl in high school who read books about dating) said many years ago about the honeymoon phase of relationships, how you start to know the real person after that phase. She wondered if she was just seeing the real John now.
After a few minutes, John looked at her and said, “Honestly babe, you are pissing me off right now. Do
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