I started writing this second chapter months ago and finally got around to finishing it. please let me know what you think.
The recent episode of DOOL with this paring had me LMAS - guess i'm not the only crazy one who is intrigued by the idea of these two having a relationship ( and yes friends count as a relationship)
2
Chad is waiting. She stands at the edge of the square and watches as he takes a seat on the couch then rests his right leg on his left knee. He looks good and her heart pounds at the thought of being close to him. He makes her feel good and beautiful and sexy. EJ was right about Chad he maybe a Dimera but he is above all the deceit. Chad's eyes are dark because of their color, nothing else.
The reservations return with a bang and all her convictions disappear with the dreams she can't remember. Why was she scared? What was preventing her from making a decision and sticking to it? The steel that formed during her encounter with EJ is now completely gone from her back. And once again Abigail is the girl who can't make up her mind. The girl who is afraid but has no idea what she is afraid of.
Despite the fear she walks forward. The greeting is reserved and tinted with awkwardness but they manage to smile with the knowledge that they cared a lot about each other.
"Do you want to stay here or go for a walk or maybe we could go to the pub and grab dinner." The black pants and white T looks so good on him. His hair is longer than he has ever worn it before and it falls onto his forehead, making him look younger.
"A walk would be good." It is already getting dark and the traffic in the square is thinning out.
"Okay." They smile at each other then start walking.
The pain that grips her chest comes out in the form of a soft cry. The cry builds and soon tears are flowing down her cheeks and falling unto her lap. She tried to explain. Tried to make him understand what was going through her mind, but she only ended up hurting him.
It is too hard. Right now with everything going on with school and her parents she could really use easy. Chad didn't understand. All he heard was 'I can't be with you'. He failed to register her need for time to figure out her future and work on her for a change without a guy getting in the way. She told him she cared about him and he heard 'I just want to be friends'.
Abby grips tightly to the wrought iron bench feeling he coolness seep into her fingers. She didn't want to hurt anyone. The look on Chad's face made her cringe inside but there is no taking it back and she doesn't want to. This is the right decision for her so the reigns are cut loose and they are both free to find themselves. Gosh, she isn't even sure who she is.
"Abigail?"
She jumps at the sound of her name. "You need to stop doing that." the hand still grips the bench, this time more out of fright than sorrow. She looks up at the intruder, standing confidently in a charcoal suit and looking at her with worry. "I'm fine."
"Is this what fine looks like?" EJ squats down by the bench then takes her chin in his hand. Their skin touching feels awkward and forbidden and lovely. "Abigail did something happen?"
She shakes her head vigorously and pulls away from him touch. "I told you I'm fine. I'm a big girl EJ I can handle my own problems."
"I apologize, simply trying to help." He returns to standing position and looks down at the broken girl.
"I don't need your help." Abigail straightens her spine and finds the courage to meet his eyes despite the tears spilling down her own. She reminds herself to be strong. To be empowered by the conviction that she made the right choice. "I'm sorry. I just..."
"No need to apologize. It was not my place." EJ pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and hands it to her. The movement is so slow, as if he is afraid how the wounded animal might react. She smiles through the tears and accepts the offering. Finally freeing the grip on the bench
Abby wipes at her eyes, removing the last of her weakness. It was done, over, the tears now soaked up in a piece of cloth that would be laundered and pressed, erasing all evidence. She pulls a mirror from the bad and checks her appearance, making sure all is well.
"I hope you feel better." With those words he turns to walk away.
"EJ, did you figure it out yet?"
He doesn't turn around to look at her but he stops moving and just stands there. It's still there from the last time, the slight slump in his shoulders and a weight that pushed him just a little further into the ground. "There was something I needed to figure out?" A side profile is all she gets when he asks the question and she knows that unlike him. He is not a man to avoid a simple question from a silly young girl. What threat could there be in her words?
"The form your happiness will take?" Abby gets up from the bench and stands just an arm's length behind him. He looks vulnerable standing before her and she feels strong. "I broke things off with Chad. I'm sure he'll be telling you about it." She takes a deep breath. "I didn't want to fight anymore."
"It's insane to fight when all you are fighting for is dust." He slowly turns around. Every movement that leaves his body seems so calculated, like he never does anything without an ulterior move, not even breathe. "No Abigail." He looks directly at her. "I haven't figured it out yet."
He is so close. His heart, just a few inches from her face and she wonders if she puts her head to his chest if there will be a beat. No one in Salem would describe EJ as honest. Not this man, not the prince of darkness. Abigail, the naïve young girl fighting her way into womanhood recognizes the honesty of his words and she tries not to let them stain her.
"What are you waiting for?" She doesn't waiver in his presence. She is not afraid of what's before her. "What are you afraid of EJ?"
He takes a deep breath and it makes him appear even taller. "Are you challenging me?"
"No. Just curious." This time she is the one that turns to leave. But a swift hand around her waist reverses her movement and pulls her into his body. It frightens her but she doesn't show it. It's a day to be brave, to challenge monsters and win. Only, she is yet to encounter any monsters, just people covered in scars and scales who terrorize others so they can feel safe.
EJ's breathe is right at her ear, warming her skin. "Our biggest fears are the things we desire the most." The whispered words vibrate through her ear. The hand around her waist holds firm but not tight enough to hurt her or imprison her.
"You know us Dimeras, we love to punish ourselves." The words from their previous encounter echo. She felt almost sorry for him then and she feels it even more so now. Abigail chuckles at the absurdity of feeling sorry for a Dimera.
"What is so amusing my dear Abigail."
She turns her head slightly and his warm breath travels from her ear to her cheek. "I was feeling really lousy but then you showed up. When I'm around you I feel better about myself."
There is a sharp pull to his breath because he knows it's not a compliment. "I'm flattered.
"What do you desire EJ? You walk in as the big bad wolf but I get the feeling you are a scared little sheep just like the rest of us."
The hand lets go of her waist and his body moves away from hers. Abby uses the freedom to turn around and look directly into shadowed eyes. There is so much more to him than a bad reputation cloaked in expensive suits.
Their eyes lock on each other. Each trying to read what the other is thinking and both being completely off the mark.
"Why did you break things off with Chad?"
"Why do you chase after Sami?" He laughs and walks around the iron bench, Abby's eyes following his journey.
He stops in front of the bench, looks like he is thinking about sitting down but he doesn't. Instead he raises his eyes to meet her. "I love Samantha and we…suit each other. We have children."
"Then why are you here? Why do we keep running into each other in this place that seems to be for heavy hearts and worries?"
"Even in happiness there is worry." They both smile at his words and the heavy fog that surrounded them suddenly melts away.
Abby throws her bag over her shoulder and offers an apologetic "I'm sorry for interrogating you. I don't know… when I'm around you I get curious and foolishly brave."
He emits a deep rumbling laughter and it pulls her in. "I enjoy our exchange, no matter how wounding they may be." There is a sparkle in his eyes now, brightening the dark places and revealing specks of gold sown into the dark brown.
"Goodnight EJ."
"Goodnight Abigail." Just like the last time she leaves him standing there.
Abigail unlocks the door to her home and enters the brightly lit living area. It's still pretty early in the night so her mom should be up. As if hearing Abby's thoughts Jennifer emerges from the kitchen into the living area.
"Abby, honey. You're home. How did things go with Chad?"
"Fine. We called it quits and decided to move on with our lives."
"Oh honey." Jennifer hugs her daughter and walks them over to the couch to sit down. "You made the right decision."
"I know I did mom. I just need time to focus on school and home before I take on another relationship."
Later, when they are done talking and after a shower, Abigail stands before the mirror wrapped only in a towel, hair pinned high above her head. "Our biggest fears are the things we desire the most." It's time to figure out what she desires. To find the thing that scares her the most.
