Title – What you leave behind
Rating - PG-13, just to be on the safe side.
Summary – Abby, John and Susan as teenagers. What happens when Abby moves.
Disclaimer – I don't own anyone
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"No mom, I don't want to leave!"
"You have no choice.. I don't want to live here anymore so we're moving. I took care of everything; we're leaving this afternoon"
"But what about my school? What about my friends?"
"I'm sure they have schools in Minnesota and you'll make new friends.."
"Mom, I don't want to go!"
"Too bad! I made up my mind. No discussion. And now go packing; you are giving me a headache."
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"I hate her" Abby said to her friend Susan. They were sitting in Susan room on her bed, and Abby had just told Susan that she was moving. To Minnesota none the less; not exactly around the corner.
"I don't get why you have to move" Susan said with a sad face. "Hey, maybe you can come live with me. I mean, I've known you since forever and it would be so great.."
"No, I can't leave Eric. My mom can't take care of him, so I'll just-" she took a breath "I'll just have to go"
"It's not fair" Susan said, with a pouting face.
"No, it's not. But luckily we have msn and cell phones, so we can talk every day. You probably won't even know I have left. Besides, you still have Sam, and John.." then she fell silent.
Susan looked at her understandingly. She knew Abby had liked John for a long time now and how excited Abby was for the school dance in two weeks. It was Abby's chance to dance with John and it was all she could talk about for the past 2 weeks. Susan knows John likes Abby too, but she was sworn to secrecy by both of them so she couldn't tell either of them.
"Are you going to tell him you're leaving in like, 2 hours?" Susan asked, as she checked her watch.
"I don't know. I don't know if I can.." Abby said, finding Susan's bed spray very interesting right now, tracing the pattern with her finger. "You think you can tell him for me?" She looked up at Susan and Susan saw a tear rolling from Abby's eyes down her cheek.
"Sure, I can tell him, but I think it'll be better coming from you, so you can say goodbye and –"
"No, that's the point; I don't think I can say goodbye to him-" and then she started sobbing. She put her head in her hands and let the tears fall freely. "I just don't want to go!" she sobbed.
Susan put an arm around Abby and Abby laid her head on her best friends shoulder. They've been best friends since kindergarten and Abby couldn't imagine her live without Susan in it. Susan always made her laugh, even if she felt bad about something at home, or when she felt very lonely when her mom had left again and Abby had to play mom for Eric. Susan then would come over and they took care of Eric together and watched a movie or something like that. Susan made her live bearable. But what should she do in Minnesota if something like that happened? She had no friends there. Her only company would be her 8 year old brother Eric, and that's not really fun for a 16 year old girl.
Abby was shaken out of her reverie when Susan started talking again.
"Do you need any help packing?"
"No, I think I can manage, but thanks." Abby smiled a sad smile at her friend and then left to go home. Susan walked her to the door.
"I'll come to say goodbye later. Are you sure you don't want to tell John yourself? I really think it would be better"
'I can't Susan. Please, can you do it for me?"
Susan nodded and squeezed Abby's hand before Abby walked home; ready to start packing
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"John, damn it John! Open up!" Susan was slamming against the wooden door of the mansion.
"Susan, what's the matter with you?"
"Stop talking and listen to me! You have to come with me, she's leaving!"
"Who's leaving? For the love of God, Susan, slow down!" he said as Susan took his arm and dragged him with her.
Finally Susan stopped and looked at John. John raised his eyebrow and looked at Susan.
"Are you okay?"
"John, Abby is leaving. Her mom went crazy again and decided she wants to move to Minnesota. She is packing right now. They leave in half an hour."
"Why are you telling me this now? Why isn't Abby telling me this?" he said with a sad look on his face. He couldn't believe that Abby wouldn't want to say goodbye to him. He'd liked her for a really long time and he obviously meant nothing to her.
"I can't tell you that, but-"
"Why can't you tell me that? What's going on?"
Susan took a deep breath. She had no choice but to break her promise to Abby. "Okay, remember when you said to me you liked Abby?"
"Yeah"
"And do you remember how you made me swear not to tell her?"
"Yeah"
Susan sighed. It didn't seam like he got her point. She looked at John and raised her eyebrows. John looked at her to finish the explanation, but then he got it.
"You mean.. are you saying.. I.. Abby.." He couldn't form a normal sentence anymore.
"Yes," said Susan. "Abby made me swear to secrecy also. She just told me she was leaving and she was afraid to tell you, so she asked if I could do it for her. She really wants to say goodbye to you, but she doesn't think she can. So maybe-" Susan didn't have time to finish her statement.
"Come on then. I can't let her go without saying goodbye" said John, and he grabbed Susan's arm and they started running towards Abby's house, Susan with a big smile on her face.
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In the mean time Abby was done packing and the movers were moving all the furniture from the house into the car. She looked around the nearly empty house with a sad face.
"Abby, why are we moving? I like it here"
"Me too Eric, I don't know why were moving. Mom thinks it's better for us to live there" Abby said, looking down at her little brother.
"But, what if mom leaves us alone again in a city where we don't know anyone?" Eric asked her with a scared face.
Abby's heart broke when she saw Eric's face. It's not normal for an eight year old boy to ask his sister for reassurances that everything is going to be okay, right?
"We're going to be fine there Eric" Abby said, although she didn't know what to do either. She gave her brother a hug. "You better go check if you have everything packed, so you don't forget anything"
"Okay!" and he was off to his room.
Abby looked around the house again and walked into her room. She really liked her room and was very sad about leaving it. All the fun moments she had with her friends in this room; she was really going to miss them. Then she saw something in the corner. She picked it up and saw it was a photo of her and her friends during a sleepover in her house. She hadn't seen that photo in ages. It's one of that weird photo's made from above, so that you only see a circle of heads. Everyone was on it; Susan, Sam, Luka, John and Abby. The more she looks at the photo the sadder she gets. She looks at John's head next to hers and her eyes become teary. She has to say goodbye to him! She gets her cell and tries to call him, but after 5 rings she gets his voicemail. She closes her phone and then, without thinking, runs out of the house. She keeps running and running until she can't feel her legs anymore, but she doesn't care. She has to say goodbye to John. She has to tell him that she's in love with him and that she can't miss him. Finally she gets to Johns house. She rings the bell and knocks the door and waits for an answer, while she's trying to get her breathing back to normal. After what seems like ages a butler opens the door. When he sees her he says: "Mister John is not here. I saw him running away with Miss Susan earlier"
"Susan?" And then it clicks in Abby's head. "Damn it! Thank you" she shouts at the butler as she chases down the street once again; back to her house.
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Meanwhile, Susan and John had reached Abby's house, both relieved to see the moving truck still standing in front of the house, meaning Abby hadn't have left yet. Susan runs into the garden immediately but then realizes that John isn't right behind her anymore. She stops and turns around. He's still standing at the gate to the garden, like he's afraid to move any further. Susan walks over to him and puts her hand on his arm.
"You know you have to move if you want to get in the house. I don't want to carry you. Even if I wanted to I probably couldn't, but still…"
"It's just- I don't know what to say to her. I don't want to make it harder than it already is. Maybe this was a bad idea, me coming here. I think I should just go. Can you tell her I'll call her or something? Thanks Susan" he says without taking a breath, and before Susan can stop him, he's gone.
"Idiot" Susan mumbles, but realizing there's nothing she can do about it she turns around and goes into the house to see Abby.
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"I really should exercise more" Abby says to herself as she takes a moment to catch her breath. First running to John's house and then back again is not as easy as it sounds. Taking a deep breath in she stands up straight and looks up at the sky. The sky is blue and the sun is shining. If she wasn't moving today and leaving her friends and her life behind this would be a perfect day. Okay, no time to think about that now. I really should get back to my house to catch John and Susan, or I'll just keep running back and forward between our houses for the rest of the day, and that's really not how I want to spent the rest of my time here.
Just as she's about to start running again, she sees a person moving her way. As she takes a closer look she recognizes him. It seems that he sees her too, because he looks like a deer caught in the headlights, his eyes are so big. He stops running and just stands there. Abby looks at him, a sad smile forming on her lips. She's happy to see him but she has this nagging feeling that this is the last time she sees him and that she has to say goodbye. She's the first who's able to move again. She takes a deep breath and walks towards him. It seems like he's nailed to the floor. He stands there like a statue. He was trying to avoid the 'saying goodbye' part, but now it seems like he doesn't have a choice. She reaches him and smiles shyly at him.
"Hi"
"Hi"
"I went over to your house, but you weren't there. I have to tell you something"
"I know. Susan told me" He looks at her with a sad face. Abby just nods.
"I'm sorry I wasn't the one to tell you. I wanted to, but I couldn't. So I asked Susan. I meant for her to tell you after I left to avoid, well… this" she says with a little smile, trying to make the conversation a little lighter. "But I guess I should've known she'd tell you right away"
"Yeah well, that's Susan for you"
"Yeah"
They both look at each other uneasily. Abby knows now is the time to say it. Now is the time to tell him how much he means to her and how much she was looking forward to the dance and how much she's going to miss him. But she just can't find the words to say all that. Finally she manages something.
"I just don't want to go John" she says, and then she can't control her tears anymore, as they start falling down her cheeks. "I don't want to move!" she cries, stamping her feet on the ground in frustration.
"And I don't want you to go" he says, and he reaches for her and pulls her into a hug.
This is the first time ever they've hugged like this. John feels how perfectly they fit together. Abby's arms tight around his waist as her head rest on his shoulder. He feels her tears as they soak his shirt. He rubs southing circles on her back, trying to calm her down a bit.
"Shh… It's going to be okay Abby. It's all going to be okay"
"No, it's not" she says as she pulls back and steps out of his embrace. "It's not going to be okay! I have to move to stupid Minnesota. I have no friends there, I have to go to a new school, I have to deal with my mother alone, I have to take care of my brother all by myself since Susan isn't around anymore and I just can't do it. I don't want to be all by myself"
"Abby, you-"
"No, I just can't do it. I had my life all in order here. I was doing well in school, Eric was dealing alright with everything, I had Susan when my mom was freaking out again, I had friends and I had you. Why do we need to move? It just makes no sense! Non what so ever!"
"Abby, believe me, I really don't want you to go"
"I know"
"Can't you just live with Susan or me or something?"
"That's what Susan said, but I can't leave Eric"
"He can live with me too. I have a very big house you know that. He can have his own room and you can have your own room and-"
"John" Abby said, looking at him with a sad face.
"Yeah, I know. It's stupid. It's just, I want you so badly to stay. I don't know what I'm going to do without you"
"Well, you'll always have Susan. And Sam, and Luka…"
"I don't want them" he said abruptly.
"What?" Abby said, looking surprised.
Taking a deep breath John steps closer to Abby. He then takes her hand in his and looks into her eyes.
"I only want you"
"You what?" Abby blurted out without thinking.
This brought a smile to John's lips.
"I don't care about them. I mean, I care about them, but not the way I care about you"
Abby just looks at him, her mouth hanging slightly open from surprise. She didn't see this one coming.
"Really?" she finally manages, still a little uncertain.
"Really" John says, looking into her eyes.
"I mean, are you saying that… you like me?"
"A lot" John says smiling. "I told Susan a long time ago, but I told her not to tell anyone. From what Susan just told me, it seems like you did the same. I know I should've told you sooner, but-"
He didn't get to finish that sentence, as Abby leant in and kissed him very softly on the lips. After a few seconds Abby pulled back, a little surprised by her own actions. She's never really kissed a guy, so she really didn't really know where she found the guts to do that. But before she could analyze it any further, she saw John leaning in again, this time kissing her. She could feel his arms sneak around her waist and she linked her hands behind his neck. The kiss became more intense and Abby totally forgot where she was. Kissing John was the greatest feeling in the world and she couldn't believe they'd never done this before. She feels one of his hands move up her back pulling her even closer as she hears a very familiar voice from what sounds like miles away.
"John, Abby there you are! Finally, I've been looking all over for you and, O My God I'm sorry!"
Abby and John quickly stepped away from each other, startled by hearing their names. Both looking to where the voice came from, they came face to face with Susan, who was standing there with her eyes wide open, but with a huge smile on her face.
"I can't say your timing isn't really, really bad, but I'm glad you finally did this"
"Ehmm... yeah… well…" John and Abby both stuttered at the same time.
"Owh, look how cute! You're both blushing!"
"Okay, you've had your fun for today. Stop it now" Abby says, still a bit flustered from what had just happened.
"I'm afraid I have to. I was looking for you. Your mother wants to leave…"
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"So, you'll call every day and I'll come by your house really soon to check it out" Susan says, trying to cheer Abby up a little bit.
It's not really working. Abby just nods at her best friend. She can't talk because of the huge lump in her throat.
"I'll see you real soon. Call me as soon as you get there" Susan says, as she reaches for Abby and gives her a massive hug.
"I'll miss you Suz" Abby whispers in Susan's ear.
"I'll miss you too"
Then Susan lets Abby go, giving her arm one last squeeze.
"Eric, come here and give me a hug!" she yells, as she walks to the other side of the truck to say goodbye to Eric.
John walks towards Abby, tucking a bang that has fallen in front of her eyes behind her ear. This little gesture makes Abby smile and cry at the same time. John takes her in his arms and strokes her hair.
"I'm really gonna miss you Ab. But I'll come visit you all the time, and you can come here"
"I love you" Abby whispers in his ear.
She then pulls back from the hug, looking at John, seeing he has tears in his eyes.
"Don't cry. Please don't cry for me, please" she asks, while tears stream down her own face again.
"I love you too" he says, as he leans in and kisses her.
As they pull back Abby smiles a bit.
"We should've done that sooner" she says. "I don't know why we've waited so long"
"Me neither" he says. "Come by soon so we can do it again" he teases.
"I'd like that"
They lean in for one last kiss when they hear Maggie's voice.
"Abby come on! We have to go! You've had more than enough time to say goodbye. We're leaving now!"
"This is gonna suck so much…" Abby mumbles, as she steps into the car and sits next to Eric, and with Susan and John waving at her, the car drives away…
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A/N: I know there are a lot of 'teenage fics' around now, but I was cleaning out my computer and found this story. I've written this about a year ago but never posted it so I've decided to post it now. If you like it I can continue... let me know review!
