Chapter Text
What does it mean to be '13'?
Is it just a number that our society preordained to count the number of years of one's existence on this plane of existence?
Is it a rank that decides who's going to boss who?
Well, to a young, grey haired boy that lived in a place that is embraced by fall. It means nothing.
No matter how time passes, things will remain the same.
Some changes are bound to happen here and there; just like how there is a new family living on the neighboring cul-de-sac.
Sure, there's another little boy to count, but there is already a boy such as him, proving his point even further.
No matter how hard he hopes for a change, Baxter can only wait with bated breath as the thing he yearns for is simply out of reach.
Baxter was taking an uninspired walk, passing by the unchanging heart of the town proper when he came by something.
Something? More like someone—another person, a new face.
Franky—the new kid, was accompanied by someone else. Not by a cheery, orange haired girl nor a black haired boy with a constant notebook at hand, a company entirely new.
You seem close to the young boy attached to your hip, both sporting a warm smile clearly meant for the two of you.
Baxter didn't dare to move another step, for his eyes are only locked onto the stranger.
From afar, he could tell that you're taller than your company.
'Maybe, you're a bit older too.', Baxter murmured.
When he could no longer spot your silhouette from the display window, Baxter, although quietly sulking, picked up his previous pace and walked back to their estate.
Without any acknowledgement, Baxter simply scampered back to his room. It's not like his parents are around at this time, why should he greet an empty chair and a dead room?
He threw himself onto his bed, thoughts filled with what he witnessed earlier.
'That smile. Well, damn. I shouldn't be bothered by someone else smiling but, you—'.
Heat arose to his cheeks, making them flush uncontrollably.
In order to save some shame for himself, Baxter pushed his face onto his poor, unassuming pillow.
Gods, why must he act like a little boy getting his first crush for the first time?
'Focus, Baxter, focus! That's a stranger you barely even know! Have some restraints!', Baxter scolded to himself.
Time passed like a blur, Baxter couldn't even process what was happening, still in his mind about the 'encounter' he had with you.
Lo and behold, another dawn has greeted Golden Grove.
Lights pierced through the yellowed leaves of the trees, as it danced to the silent tune of the gentle morning breeze.
Shuffling on his sheets, Baxter nudged awake, yawning away his lethargy.
He wasted no time and got up in order to prepare for the day.
Baxter discarded his black-and-white sleepwear and replaced it with his usual get-up.
He left his house without any issues, it's not like his parents are there to put up a struggle.
He found himself waiting in front of the convenience store in town, courtesy of a group meeting called by Mr. Qiu Lin himself, leader of their rag-tag "Boy's Club".
After a few minutes of waiting, Darren has also arrived, whose presence he acknowledged immediately.
Then, the boy of the hour arrived, Qiu himself, graced the two of his presence.
Of course, much to Darren's dismay, he didn't come alone.
On his right stood their newest member, Franky Second. And, with what rotten luck Baxter got, the same mysterious stranger he's been obsessing about since yesterday.
Baxter immediately stared at you intently, as if judging your very soul, before plastering a smile on his face.
"You two! Tamarack couldn't make it so I brought another plus-one. Everyone, meet Mr. Jamie Last, Franky's cousin! He's just in town for the long weekend with his moms.", Qiu excitedly said with his hand gesturing to you.
"Hey. Hope you two don't mind. Franky insisted that I need to visit the 'special place' before we go back to our place.", you spoke.
Darren, like usual, didn't extend a greetings to you but only focused on Qiu. He really couldn't hold himself with strangers, especially girls.
Qiu noticed Darren's silence and decided to introduce his clubmates to you.
Qiu opened his arm and allowed it to rest on Darren's shoulder.
"This here is Mr. Darren Murray, please excuse him. He's not used to interacting with strangers. I'm sure that you'll get along in some way since you're the same age!"
'Same age? So you're '12' then.', Baxter added to his mental note.
His thought was interrupted when Qiu pulled Baxter to his side with his other arm.
"This one's Mr. Baxter Ward, he's the oldest of us with a year ahead of you. He's much 'mature', based on his own account."
Baxter was unimpressed with that end note that he freed himself from the young boy's constraints.
He walked forward in front of you and offered his hand which you took, leaving Baxter with a good impression of you.
"As much as Qiu's words are to be trusted, it would be nice to hear it from the man himself. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Last."
Darren drew the crowd's attention with a click from his tongue.
"Yeah, yeah, now we know each other. Can we buy snacks now? I'm not going to be the snack king this time so you lot fight it out."
"Good thinking. What do you say, Jamie?", Qiu asked.
You only offered a shrug as a reply, as if implying that you have no choice either way.
Qiu, Franky and Baxter balled their hand into a fist, with Jamie quickly following suit.
"I only play 'Rock', do what you must with that information.", Baxter said with a glint in his eyes.
Jamie was obviously baffled with what's been thrown at the table but it seems like the younger kids are used to this with their shared giggle filling the air.
One, two, then snap— Franky was out first, followed by Qiu, leaving you and Baxter to a stalemate.
"You know."
Jamie was caught off-guard when his opponent started to talk.
"I'm much willing to lose to you. It would be improper for a tourist to pay for the snacks the locals wanted, granted that one of the said locals was one of your own."
Baxter showed sincerity, albeit his signature smirk was plastered all over it, hiding his true intentions beneath.
Then, with what appears to be a blur, your open palm fought against Baxter's closed fist. You won!
Darren, who kept quiet the whole time, started cheering for the result of the match.
"What are we waiting for? Snacks are a-picking, courtesy of our very own. Sorry, Baxter, it was bound to happen one way or another."
The rag-tag troupe made their way inside the convenience store, rummaging through the aisles for something to chew on along the way.
Baxter noticed that you kept your distance from the others which piqued his curiosity.
He found himself walking towards the shelf next to where you're standing and decided to make small talk.
"Aren't you going to pick some chips or candies on your own? There's no need to worry. I am more than capable of purchasing whatever you desire."
"Is that so? What if I decided to buy an entire aisle worth of stock, could you still buy it for me?", Jamie scoffed.
"Is that a challenge, I hear? Well, here I thought you have a special spot for me. Are you willing to see my poor self run his wallet dry?"
The other could only scoff in amusement before delighting the request of the grey-haired boy. Baxter observed him before his silhouette faded into the frozen goods aisle.
"I think I want this.”, Jamie declared.
On his hand was an ice cream sandwich with a bright red circle with a note that read 'Cookies and Cream', a not-so-subtle nod to what the filling would taste like.
"Well, I hope you don't mind sharing that with everyone. When we get there, we munch on our snacks and share it with the others.", Baxter pointed out.
Jamie acknowledged his rambling with a hum.
After their shopping spree, Baxter, being the snack king he is, was obligated to carry the stash as they walk along the trail behind the local diner.
The ceiling of branches and leaves shaded the group as they navigated their way to their 'special place'.
"Do you need help with that?"
Baxter's thoughts were shattered by Jamie's sudden offer.
"No, it's alright. It's not like those three bought out the entire place.", Baxter hinted towards Qiu, Darren and Franky whose distance was much apart from the two of you.
"However, I appreciate the offer", he finished.
As they continued walking down the trail, Baxter spoke.
"Maybe you can help me with another task."
"That task being?", the other replied.
"Well, not a task necessarily but it seems like you're a total stranger to me. Whether that's your intention or not, how about telling something about yourself?", the grey haired boy replied.
"Hmm... Well, I suppose that too can be entertained. Go on, ask me anything."
Before Baxter could ask anything, Qiu's voice cut him out.
"We're here!"
Jamie deviated his attention away from the other to admire the scenery.
It was a stone bridge, it looked rather old and yet sturdy at the same time. Underneath was a bubbling river that stretched out onto the distance.
His younger cousin approached him and tugged on his arm, "Come on, Jamie, let's go down there."
With a nervous laugh, Jamie obliged to Franky's plea, leaving Baxter by himself.
Baxter could only watch as you're ultimately separated from him, bitterness bubbling on his throat and yet he can only swallow.
How dare he keep you for himself? Your attention is a huge ask already, why must he act so selfishly?
Baxter kept those thoughts to himself and joined the hubbub so that the others won't worry about him.
As he arrived at the stairwell that leads down to the riverbank, Baxter noticed that Qiu and Darren simply watched as you allowed yourself to be pulled around by your younger cousin, which is quite a hilarious spectacle.
After a few minutes, the Boy's Club rummaged through the bags that Baxter 'voluntarily' carried. Darren took the bag of candy while Qiu got his hand on the cheese curls.
Baxter's interest was placed on the beef jerky so that leaves a bag of nuts and an ice cream sandwich, which was claimed by their respective owners.
As the group ate their snacks, Baxter's brown eyes focused on you. He noticed that you let Franky have a bite before you took your own which made the younger really happy.
Jamie noticed that Baxter's staring right at him which prompted him to gesture his sandwich towards the other.
"You want some? It's really tasty, it's a bit melted but I think it's still good."
Baxter was half-surprised by your offer but he didn't shoot it down. Instead, he took a small bite before placing a distance between you and him once more.
Qiu and Darren were also offered with the sweet treat but they both declined, prompting Jamie to finish his cold treat on his own, with Franky sneaking a bite here and there.
With the sun close to setting, the club leader, Qiu, decided to adjourn their meeting which was agreed upon by its members.
Baxter stuck by your side as the group made their way back to the town proper, trying to bask in the ever-fleeting moment that you have with this place.
"Huh, I never noticed that your hair is grey, Baxter.", Jamie broke the silence between.
Like a code word, Baxter immediately put his defenses up.
"Yeah, is there a problem with it?", his tone laced with mild perturbance. He didn't like it when his hair was brought up as a topic.
"No, of course not. I think it suits you well."
Baxter didn't expect your kind retort, unexplained heat climbing their way up to his cheeks. He subconsciously turned away from you in order to save himself from embarrassment.
"Good. I thought you're going to say something other than that."
Jamie laughed, "What? Did you think I'm going to make fun of your hair? Of course not!".
"You know? You really belong here...".
'What? What's that supposed to mean?', Baxter thought to himself.
"Your eyes are the color of the trunk of the trees that surround us. Your hair reminds me of the clouds that carry a gentle shower of rain.".
Baxter didn't expect such profound comparison coming from you, making his stomach churn with an unknown feeling.
Baxter coughed before he spoke.
"Thank you, I guess. You don't look half-bad yourself.", he said straightforwardly which made you laugh.
"You're a man of few words, huh? But really, I mean it. It makes you stand out, makes you special."
Baxter needs to cut the conversation short before you kill him with your compliments. He simply didn't speak after that.
Before he knew it, your group had already made it to the town square, meaning that you're on your own separate paths from here on out.
Baxter could only watch as you paced yourself to be with Qiu and Franky, leaving him alone once more.
He couldn't decide whether to utter any words of goodbye nor to flee the scene immediately. Lost in thought, he didn't realize that Jamie approached him first.
"Well then, Mr. Ward, I believe that it's time to say goodbye. You've been a pleasant company for this short while. I hope that we meet again in the future.".
Shocked, Baxter couldn't muster to speak. He didn't even look up to you, as if the very notion of you leaving left a sting on him.
Then, he laughed, his signature smirk at display.
"Is that a promise? How wonderful. Well, if fate allows it, I, too, hope that we meet again such as this moment.".
Jamie joined the younger bunch once again but was interrupted halfway by the boy kissed by autumn.
"Hey! How can we meet when you haven't told me where you live?", Baxter shouted.
Once more, the sweet tolls of your laughter blessed his ears, maybe for the last time.
"That's a secret! You said if fate would allow it, right? It's no fun if I tell you know, isn't it?", Jamie replied.
"Hmm, maybe a clue perhaps? Come find me on the southern coast, where summer rests.".
Flabbergasted with your vague description, Baxter could only watch as you grouped up with Qiu and Franky once more, a wide smile plastered on your face.
Baxter turned to the direction of their abode, your words linger on his mind like a spell.
'A place where summer rests? I don't know if such a place exists, but I'll find you. I'm certain of it.", Baxter assured himself.
And so, that is how the 13 year old boy's purpose has changed, for he'd met his match that faithful day.
To find the warmth that the boy whose smile shone bright like the sun gave him.
To live in the silent hues of autumn with a promise whispered in the faint summer glow.