AN Well, you all asked for it, so here it is. The eagerly (I hope) awaited second chapter! Much love!
DISCLAIMER Hmph. Not mine.
The wall of the bathroom prevented her from backing any futher, but she pressed herself against it as hard as she could, trying fruitlessly to disappear into the pale peach color. Oh, if only she were a chameleon. Not that it would matter much. It wasn't like Auggie could see her. He had to rely on his other senses to find her, and they weren't doing much for him at the moment. He still sat on the far side of the room, arms resting heavily on his knees. He was in shock, surely, cursing her for doing such a thing to him.
She stared as long as she dared, the tears blurring the perfect image that was him. She wanted one last look at him. This had to be the last time he would want to be near her. It was, after all, her fault. She had been the sober one the night they had went without protection. She should have been more responsible and resisted. But, damn, was he hard to resist. Her will had broken quickly and they had gone at it like a couple of animals. A blush rose to her cheeks as the images replayed themselves in her mind.
Using the wall for leverage, she rose from the cold tile, unsuccessfully stiffling a sob as she rushed for the door. She could have sworn she saw him reach for her, the movement caught forever in her periphial vision. The soft click of the bathroom door closing behind her seemed a thousand times louder than it was. As if by instinct, she grabbed the small blanket at the foot of their bed as she scurried to the front of the apartment. She wasn't sure if it was because the only sounds she heard were herself whimpering, but she hadn't heard the door open behind her. He wasn't following, was he?
She darted for the steps, choosing the less travelled path instead of the constantly used elevator. Plus, there was a chance that if he was following her, he would catch her before the doors closed. He would be delayed without her to guide him, so she had a fair start on him. It wasn't that she regretted being with him, she was just afraid of the things he would offer. She was suprised at how quickly she had grown to adore the thought of a child, even though she hadn't thought of it. Unconciously, her hand moved to her stomach as she bounced down the stairs, as though to protect the growing fetus. Deciding without deciding, she chose the lesser of two evils. If he suggested an abortion - as much as it would tear her apart - she would leave him in a heartbeat. The idea of murdering a little Auggie was unbearable to her.
It didn't take her long to reach the bottom floor, and she tossed the blanket over her bare arms before she took another step. Could the cold hurt her growing child? She wasn't taking the chance. Taking a deep breath to calm her raw nerves, she used the edge of the blanket to wipe the salty tears from her face, vigorously rubbing at her eyes with the cloth. Maybe, if she was lucky, anyone she passed would think she was just tired. Yeah, right.
She drew in a big breath while simutaneously pulling the quilt tighter around her, she used the small of her back to push the door open. She poked her head around the corners, checking for an all-clear, before she moved from the stair well. She was half-way down the hall when the lift dinged, the light above it flashing bright orange in the early morning darkness. Her breath caught in her throat as she picked up the pace, now running for the main doors to the building. She dared a look over her shoulder, long enough to see the doors sliding closed, the back of an aging man walking away from her. She let out the breath she had been holding.
The cold and the sudden rush of wind she her breath and nearly jerked her cover from her hands as soon as the building doors opened. Her sigh of relief was the only noise on the block; it was completely empty, save her. The concrete sidewalk sent a shock up her spine, freezing her in place for a moment. The chill of the night nearly sent her running back to his apartment. Until she remembered with another round of tears why she was here. Gritting her teeth and setting her jaw, she hurried into the blackness, the streetlights her only friends.
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It felt like she had been walking forever. Her feet were hurting, she was shivering, and she was hungry. People in warm looking coats were giving her pity filled looks. I must look ridiculous, she thought. Clad in nothing but panties, a man's shirt and a thin blanket, of course she looked ridiculous. This wasn't Strong Annie. No, this was Emotional Wreck Annie. This was the Annie that roamed streets at six in the morning, at the beginning of winter, barefoot, dressed like a bad whore.
Slowly, her surroundings began to come into focus. This street was familiar to her, she relized with a jolting step. Yes, there was Danielle's house! Her pace quickened. The big house looked so warm and inviting. Her breathing came in ragged gasps now, excitement lighting her movements. But something was up. The lights in every room in the guesthouse were on, brightening the dark street magnificantlly. Danielle sat the the table in the front room, her back to the big window in front. She moved to the shadows, her back pressing to the hedges. She craned her neck to see at a different angle. Danielle had no reason to be in the guesthouse, not with so much she needed to get ready for. It was a weekday, after all. She should be getting the kids ready for school.
But Auggie sat across from her. He looked the picture of anguish, his hands tangled in his hair, head hanging low. His normally messy hair was strewn in every direction, like he had ran his fingers through it many times. As she watched, one hand came down to slam against the already rickety table. Danielle jumped, but she reached out to close her hands over the one of his other arm dropped to the table, his head dropping to the crook of it. His shoulders started shaking almost as soon as Danielle touched him, but he paid her no mind.
Guilt rammed itself into Annie's chest, but she ignored it. It was only fitting that he feel some of what she had felt, right? No, Annie, that's mean. You're supposed to love that man. "I-I do..." The quiet words were whispered against the blanket covering her mouth. Fresh tears sprung to her eyes as she darted across the short driveway, to the other side of the house. Annie's eyes locked with those of her sister's as she turned at the disturbance in the night. She kicked the muscles of her legs into action as her sister stood quickly, the sound of a chair colliding with a wall following her as she set back off into the darkness.
