twenty two

Autumn P.O.V

"Rickell Wright" a strong voice thundered over my body making me jump in my position and sit up slowly.

"Eye contact is necessary when talking to me" she says while getting comfortable in the seat across me.

It was hard to hold eye contact with her. Her beady black eyes pierces my soul. She rests her black suitcase bag on the table and leans back in her chair.

"Autumn.." I introduce myself.

"I'm well aware" she sneers while sitting back up.

I roll my eyes at her. This shit already tough but having an asshole of a lawyer is tougher. I'm going UNDER the jail.

"You court appointed or?" I ask her hoping she isn't so i could decline and get another one.

"I am not. Ty'Elle sent me"

I mentally palm my forehead. Fuck

"Can i get my one phone call?" I ask her. She nods, gets up, taps on the glass and whispers to the officer.

A few moments later, an officer uncuffs me and leads me to the area where i can call my people.

Looking at the three phone booths lined up against the wall, i pick the one in the middle hoping it has less germs. Picking it up, i dial my mom's number. She picks up on the second ring.

"Autumn, how you doing baby? They treating you good?" Ma bombards as soon as the line connects.

"Yes ma im good. Stop worrying"

"Ok baby. I love you. We got the gang here. Charlie and Je'Mari"

"And Ty?" I ask quietly.

"It's me baby" she answers bringing the phone close to her ear.

"Ty?"

"I'm right here. You good?"

"I'm fine" I answer and the line goes silent.

"Ty'Elle..?"

"I love you. You know I do but I don't want you involved in this" I tell her truthfully.

"Good thing it's not what you want" she retorts smartly. I bite the inside of my check rubbing my fingers.

"I want a new lawyer" I blurt out.

"What? Did Rickell come by?"

"Yes she's here but she's an asshole"

"Baby I trust Rickell. She'll get us through this, she's a tough lawyer. She just real sarcastic and upfront. That's just how she is. That's how she wins" Ty'Elle explains.

"Ty I don't know"

"Trust me baby" she says and I can see her pleading eyes over the phone.

"Autumn?"

"Tell my mom and Mari I love them and tell Charlie hi and thank you. I have to go. Promise me you'll shine bright tonight?"

There's silence on the line for a little while.

"Arayah?"

"Promise Aumani. I love you"

Before I could say I love you back, the phone disconnects. Times up.

Sitting back down in front of Ms. Wright, I decide im going to give her another chance. I sit back comfortably allowing our conversation to begin.

"Before we start and before I can help you. I just have one question" she starts and hurries her eyebrows confidently.

"Sure" I allow her to ask.

"Did you do it. Did you have anything to do with the house blowing up?" She asks sternly.

"No! I swear I didn't" I answer truthfully.

She's quiet, observing me for a while.

"So shall we get started" she says sitting up.

"You don't believe me?"

"No i believe you. That's why im still here" she answers frankly while opening her lawyer bag and pulling out papers.

This is going to be long..

Ty P.O.V

"So what are we gonna do about your show Ty'Elle?" Miriam asks impatiently bouncing her leg. I know she's been burning to ask this. It's been two days since Autumns been arrested. Two days since my show has been cancelled. Two days since I've issued a shitty ass apology.

"Mir, I got a lot going on right now" I tell her while packing a quick bag.

"So you're going to blow this off because of Autumn?"

"I'm not blowing it off, we'll do it another time. Can you write up another apology to the supporters? Tell them the show will still happen when this is all over?"

"No. And it's insane you're doing all this over one girl"

"Miriam please. You haven't even met her"

"I've heard enough" she shrugs.

"Yeah of the news. All that shit not true, she didn't kill anyone" I tell her straight up.

"I wasn't talking about from the news. From you"

"I'm not doing this Mir. I gotta go" i tell her and throw my small carryon bag over my shoulder.

Autumn was being transported back to Arizona last night. Her mom, her brother and I are on the way there now.

"Hey Hil, we just landed" I tell my accountant over the phone. I'm not 100% sure why someone who handles my money needs to know where I'm at but who knows?

I hang up the phone on her and stand up to unload my carry-on.

"Huh, let me" I assure Ms Tammy and reach over her to grab her carry-on.

Mari grabbed her bag out of my hand and waited for us to come out of the aisle before he proceeded behind us with Charlie beside him.

"I had Miriam book us a hotel room. Is that okay?" I inquire looking to a pale and ghost faced Ms Tammy.

"You good?" Je'Mari asks her shaking her slightly.

"Yeah, I'm fine babies. A hotel room is fine. We won't be here for long. In and out" she answers blinking away tears.

Charlie grabs her bags and we head towards the rental car.

Few hours later

"So what's they say?" I ask jumping, moving my knees to my elbow as Ms Tammy enters the lobby.

"Shit I'm sorry. Let me take your bag or something" I correct myself and get up to take her bag and follow her to her room.

"So..?" I ask searching her face.

"Ty'Elle.. it's bad baby" she begins crying.

I immediately grab her into my arms. The door opens and Je'Mari walks in eyeing the scene; his face full of terror.

"What ma? What is it?" He asks grabbing her from my arms and sitting her on the couch.

"Ya'll" she begins to talk but starts in tears again.

"How bad?" I ask her with my own heart shattering and eyes welling.

"We're looking at 30 years without parole. They saying first degree arson" Ms Tammy begins to explain as she rocks in the burgundy square designed couch.

"say she started the fire on purpose. That she had ill intent to kill the people in that house. And what makes it worse is that she was full out drunk. Drunk out her mind so she didn't fully remember any of it" she continues then starts crying again.

I stay silent, unable to speak.

I know I haven't known Autumn my whole life but I know like hell she didn't do this. She couldn't have.

"But Rickell?" I ask her hoping for better news by before and Tammy could answer, my phone vibrated.

Rickell Wright👩🏾‍💼🫡💼

|Sorry kid. My hands are tied.

read 7:16 pm

My heart shatters. This shit can't be.

•

So, y'all enjoying the story so far? Happy?

I be ready to post, just trying to see if y'all active or not. Comment or some shit. Let me know how y'all feeling

(about the story or y'all could tell me about y'all's day;)

sn, I seen this tweet and it was like "do you guys really be saying "yall"  and I was like 'yall don't?'😂

Like seriously, yall always say 'you all' ?😂