Chapter 3: Edward

Chapter 3: Edward

I closed my car door with a little extra force. I started my car and carefully backed out of Abigail's driveway. I need some kind of hobby, I thought as I drove into town. I couldn't believe I actually agreed to tutor someone. I should've known that no one's parents would approve of Mazek's kid being in their home. Most people won't believe their kids are bad because they see 'bad' as one thing. Me, Edward Mazek.

A drink, that's what I needed. I made a sharp right turn upon making my decision. I wouldn't get drunk; I'd just have something to get me through the rest of today without biting everyone's head off. No matter how much I wanted to. I pulled onto the shoulder of the road in front of Freddie's. I'm only seventeen but Freddie's sells to everyone, even minors. And for some bizarre reason they get away with it.

I got out and went into the small liquor store. I looked for a small bottle of vodka and decided to just get whatever I saw first. I grabbed the whiskey and paid for it. Then I went back outside and got into my small black car. It was a nice day, sunny with a cool breeze, a good day to sit in the park. Instead of staying in front of Freddie's where my dad was sure to come sooner or later, I headed for the park. I got out and lit a cigarette. I spent the rest of the day walking in the park and drinking my whiskey, thinking.

Mostly I thought of my little stay at Miss Watson's house. At first it seemed like she was one person who wouldn't remind me of how terribly screwed up my life was. But as it turned out, her parents also dislike me. I figured that out when she panicked over the time. Obviously it had been a good idea to get out of there. I thought of how Mr. Burkes said she was struggling, man, was he right. She couldn't do much of anything that was taught so far. I felt bad because obviously she was trying her hardest, but it wasn't good enough. Her parent's would probably sue the school if she failed. Her parent's were the sort who doesn't believe that their child is less than perfect and innocent.

I laughed out loud at how people are so blind to what goes on around them. When it was getting dark, I headed back to my car; I tossed the half-empty bottle into the glove box. I'd finish it tomorrow or something. When I got home my step-mother wasn't there but good old Dad was sitting in the large den like a lion waiting to pounce on me.

"Where have you been?" He said quietly. He seemed calm enough but that could often be deceiving.

"I was at the park." I said shortly, I was still sore from this morning. In fact the headache was back again.

"All day after school? Or during school too?" Still calm, I didn't fall for it. He would probably start shouting any minute.

"Just after school, where's Debby?" I asked trying to cover the target. But he wasn't to be shaken.

"She's at a meeting. I don't want to hear of you drinking like that again, I found seven bottles in your room." He said. Now it was my turn to be angry. He went into my room after I left. I crossed my arms over my chest and straightened my back.

"You won't." I almost snarled. "I don't want to hear of you going in my room like that again." He must've caught my meaning, I meant he wouldn't hear of me drinking like that, I would just be more careful. He turned a little red around the face.

"I'll do whatever I want to do in my house. If you don't watch it you won't be in my house much longer." He said rising to his feet, I didn't flinch. He wouldn't throw me out and risk any more of his reputation. I dropped my arms and shrugged.

"Whatever." I turned and took the stairs two at a time leaving him in the den. I closed the door to my room and went into the bathroom for another shower. When I got out I didn't bother putting a shirt on. I went to my bed and threw myself down. Belatedly remembering my clock wasn't plugged in I sat up and reset it. I set the alarm and lay back down. I stared at the ceiling and continued my deep thinking.

Yes, I would continue tutoring this Abigail. As long as she needs me, unless she tells me to stay away, that is. I wished I hadn't been so angry with her earlier. Really, I hadn't meant to be like that, it was the hangover talking. I'd been suffering a bad headache and I couldn't stand to think about everything she brought to my mind. I fell asleep thinking about tomorrow and this Abigail Watson, who was terrible at trigonometry.

I awoke once again to the loud buzzing of my alarm, only today it didn't kill my poor head. I groped for the 'off'' button actually planning to get up. Once I had the stupid thing silenced, I stretched my legs and back. After my morning rituals were finished I headed out into the cool sunny day. I put on my sunglasses and got into my car, deciding to once again grab coffee before arriving at school. I got out of my car and leaned against the side of the warm steel.

While waiting for the first bell to ring I was approached by none other than Abigail Watson, who had just arrived. I felt a strange pang of fear but before I could wonder what it was for, she was standing in front of me. She was a pretty little thing. Well, little to me, she was only five foot three at the most. She had medium brown hair that reached the middle of her back, and very dark brown eyes that were almost black. She wore no makeup other than a little eyeliner and she really didn't need any. She looked fine without it. She cleared her throat and I roused myself, I had been staring and she had noticed. She didn't say anything so I made a decision to break the awkward silence.

"Let me guess. 'Keep yourself away from my house unless you want shot.'?" I asked with no expression on my face or in my voice. She smiled a little and I didn't know if that was good or not. I took a sip of my coffee to avoid looking into her entrancing eyes.

"No actually, I just wanted to tell you sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to offend you. But I really do need help and my parent's don't need to know." She said catching my attention, I lowered my coffee cup and scanned her face. If she wanted to be the one sorry for yesterday, I wouldn't stop her. But I felt a little guilty thinking that. I pushed the thoughts away and nodding letting her know I accept the apology.

"Same time?" I asked before draining the rest of my mocha latté. She looked at me carefully for a minute. As if gauging my reaction, she probably expected me to be joking, or mad. At last she nodded, at that time the bell rang and I tossed my empty Styrofoam cup into a bin. I headed into the school and noticed she was beside me until she headed to her non-honors classes.

By the end of the day I was anxious to get to her house, I told myself I was just eager to help. I walked slowly to my car, determined not to make her think I had nothing else I'd rather do, even if it were true. I drove slower than usual and even stopped to get another coffee. By the time I got to her house she was already there, parked in the same place she was yesterday. I parked next to her small white car and cut the engine. I put my cigarette out and got out of the car.

I walked up the few stairs to her large house, and rang the bell. She must've been changing or something because it took her a while to get to the door. I had almost decided to lean on the bell when the door opened to reveal the small frame of Abigail.

"Your savior has arrived, Abigail." I said bowing mockingly. I don't know what came over me; I don't remember consciously making a decision to be mocking. I could tell it irritated her, and when I felt a smile spread on my face, I knew that's why I did it.

"It's Abby." She said while opening the door wider to allow me to step inside. I did so taking my time to actually look around today. Her parents must have been well off because they had a house almost as large and fancy as my fathers'. I followed her to the dining room where we had been yesterday and waited patiently as she set up her arrangement of notebooks and pencils. She opened her book and pointed to where she was having trouble.

I began explaining everything in even greater detail than I had yesterday. My method was simple; first I took one of her neatly lined pencils and demonstrated exactly what should be done, while explaining what I was doing. Then I took one of the homework problems and told her to do it by herself, first guiding her through, and then I took another problem and told her to do it by herself without my help. When she got it wrong I would point out what she did wrong and then re-do the problem for her.

She was improving and she got excited, but when that happened she made more mistakes. I told her to calm down and go slower. All the sudden, she decided to make small talk.

"You look better than you did yesterday." She said in a conversational tone, as if she were merely commenting on the news. I looked at her curiously, and my earlier guilt got the better of me.

"I'm sorry about snapping at you. I had a hangover and I couldn't help it." I said trying to get her back to work. She shrugged and started another problem.

"I've never gotten drunk; I don't know what's so appealing about it anyways." She said carefully calculating her current problem. I looked at her curiously. Yes, I thought, definitely innocent. I was willing to bet she had never smoked either.

"It numbs you." I said simply, shrugging. I looked at the book, my brow furrowing. Come to think of it, I never really thought of why I got drunk. Mostly I did it just because it was there and I was bored. Plus, the buzz was pleasant most of the time.

"Sure, if you don't like thinking straight and having a healthy liver." Abby said scoffing almost. I couldn't help it, I laughed. She looked at me sharply. "What?"

"Nothing. You sounded like a health teacher that's all." I said still chuckling. "Next, you'll be telling me it's illegal."

Her eyebrows pulled together into a worried line. She thought for a minute before turning her face away. Looking at the book she mumbled something.

"Actually I was." At that I couldn't help laughing some more. It had been a while before I'd laughed that often, and it felt good. "Well it is! And you shouldn't drink so much."

"Hey, this really isn't your concern. I'm here to help you. Not the other way around." I said jokingly. We continued the session without further discussion about my habits.

Everyday after school was the same, I would go to her house and we would study the material together. I fine tuned my already-neat skills in the material. When it came to Friday I asked if she wanted to get together tomorrow so she didn't get to rusty.

"I don't know. I don't like using my car if I don't have to. But I really don't want to get bad again." Abby said thinking deeply. I thought for a second and then voiced my own idea.

"I can pick you up and we'll go to the library or something. It's a Saturday and no one will be there. It'll be quiet." I said hesitantly. I didn't want her to think I was asking her on a date or anything. It's not that she wasn't pretty or anything, but I don't date mostly because of the fact that everyone avoided me.

"My parents will be home, they'll play twenty questions about who picked me up and where I went." She said her brow furrowing in thought. She was struck with an idea and a smile spread across her face. Momentarily I was stunned; she really was pretty when she smiled like that.

"You can pick me up around the corner, they won't see you there. It'll be like in those romances the two lovers sneak out together." She said still smiling brilliantly. Even though I wasn't entirely comfortable with the words she used, I couldn't deny I felt a thrill of delight that shot through me. I simply couldn't help grinning back.

With that we agreed to meet halfway down and around the next corner. Saturday I had to remind myself a dozen times I wasn't going on a date, that there was no need to do anything special. So I threw on my dark sunglasses and left around noon to go wait for her where we agreed. Once I got there I killed the engine and only had to wait a few moments before I spotted her turning the corner. She was wearing a pair of snug-fitting jeans and a black silk blouse. Her hair was tossed into a messy ponytail as if making sure she didn't look too nice. She also had on dark sunglasses. She had her books propped on her right hip and her purse on her left shoulder.

I resisted the urge to get out and open the passenger door for her, but I did put out my cigarette. It was a warm day outside so the top to my car was down. She went around to the passenger side and opened the door. Carefully, she climbed into the low car. She set her books down on her lap and pulled her rubber band tighter around her hair. Then, as she snapped her seat belt into place she looked over at me, noticing that I was staring.

"Is something wrong?" She asked relaxing into the tan leather of the seat. I shook my head and started the engine.

"Where would you like to go?" I asked not moving the car yet. Myself, I could use caffeine but I'd leave that up to her. She thought a minute and then seemed to decide.

"We can go to a café or something first, get some lunch and then go to the library." She glanced at me and then continued hastily. "Unless that makes you uncomfortable, of course, if it's too much like a date."

I laughed quietly. "No, don't worry, I didn't eat this morning. We can go eat first." I put the car in gear and started toward the café near the library. While I was driving, Abby ran her hands over the smooth leather of my seats.

"This is a really nice car. My parents wouldn't ever get me this nice of a car. They would make me pay for it myself." She laughed, I laughed too, but a little awkwardly.

"My dad got it for me when I turned sixteen. I guess he hoped I'd be good if he got me whatever car I wanted." I said to make conversation. "And I was good for a while. I love this car, it's just about the only friend I have." I shut my mouth before I could say anything else. Abby didn't seem to notice and I was grateful. I drove swiftly around town taking shortcuts down side roads to get to our destination. The wind tossed our hair making hers' messier but not really affecting mine. Mine was always messy.

I turned into the parking lot and parked further away from the doors. Avoiding other cars in lots was a habit and I felt a little bad about making Abby walk further.

"Just put your books in the glove box. If I put the top up, it'll get hot in here." I reached over and opened the compartment. A whiskey bottle tumbled out into my hand. I hastily stuffed it under my seat glancing at Abby. She had a slight frown on her face, but she obediently put her books in the now-roomy compartment. I shut the glove box and opened my door.

We walked to the door of the little café and I held the door open for her without thinking. The little shop was a bit busy, so Abby told me what she wanted and tried to give me money for her order but I sent her to find a table without accepting the money. I paid for our food and searched the crowded eating area for Abby. I spotted her and headed to the table she was sitting at. As I neared her table I noticed two other girls sitting with her, chatting.

I groaned inwardly when I recognized the two sixteen year olds. Becky Sanford and Kara Paralle were two of the most active gossipers in the entire school. I cursed the rotten luck and headed to the table. I briefly considered waiting for them to leave but decided against it. It would probably be a while before they left and I was hungry.

I carried our food the rest of the way to where Abby and her guests were sitting. As I set the food down on the table, Abby looked up at me apologetically. I sat down at the last available chair as Becky and Kara gaped at me. Ignoring them, I started to eat my bagel. They eventually collected themselves enough to as questions.

"What are you two doing here?" Kara asked still gaping. Obviously she meant what we were doing there together but I decided to play dumb. I cleared my mouth before answering.

"Eating." I said and then continued doing so; now smirking a little. Abby wasn't being helpful in the situation, probably worrying about how her parents may find out. She sat there picking at her sandwich silently. This time, Becky took a shot.

"We can see that. Are you guys together? How long has that been going on?" She was practically bouncing in her seat as she waited for new gossip. I gave Abby time to respond but when she didn't, I answered.

"We're not." Kara and Becky glanced at each other smirking. I sighed and continued eating.

"Sure you're not. Well, we'd love to stay and chat but we've got places to go and calls to make. We'll see you in school Abby, and uh, Edward." Becky said standing up. We watched them leave in silence, once the door swung shut again we both groaned. Abby put down her sandwich and sat back in her chair.

"Great, by Monday the whole school will think we're together." She said sipping her cappuccino. I tried not to be hurt by the comment. I glanced at her debating what to say next.

"If we're lucky that's all they'll think." I said picking up the second half of my bagel. Abby looked at me, her brow puckered in confusion.

"Most likely those two will go around saying they spotted us together but they won't say anything about a café. They'll say you were on my lap and we were making out at the movies or in my car or something." I continued eating. She groaned again and this time I pretended to be hurt.

"Is it really that bad? Would it really kill you if people said you were seen kissing me?" I asked, pouting a little. Abby looked away from my face, but not before I could see the blush that stained her cheeks. That was all the answer I needed. Yes, she wanted to kiss me. I tried to pretend a thrill of happiness didn't rush through me. She answered anyway.

"No, not that bad. But my parents would have something colorful to say about it." She whispered. I grinned and finished off my bagel. I brushed off my hands and finished my coffee. Abby turned back to me and saw I was grinning.

"I bet it wouldn't bother you if people thought that. I mean people gossip about you all the time and you don't seem to mind." She said, watching me. The smile was wiped clear off my face.

"No, I don't mind what people say or think about me. In fact I couldn't care less." I said almost angrily. Abby smiled a little and shook her head.

"I think in bothers you more than you even know. Why not prove them wrong? They wouldn't think of you so badly if you didn't drink and smoke as much as you do. If you cared a little more." She picked up her sandwich and took a bite, giving me time to think of something to say.

"It wouldn't matter what I did. Didn't you hear my story? People will still say 'like father like son'." I said, trying to screen emotion from my voice. She cleared her throat before replying.

"No, they'll say 'why couldn't his father be like that?' You could do it if you really wanted to. Just quit drinking, show up at school more than once every few days. Make friends, get a steady girlfriend, just be your own person." She then went back to her sandwich while I tried not to explode.

"That'd be great. Except no one wants to be friends with a kid who their parents wont approve. No girl would go out with me because their fathers would murder them if they did." I said trying to stay calm.

Most of what I said was true, except I would be able to make friends; the only problem is I was mostly a loner. I could get a girlfriend if I tried but I don't go for the bad girl type. Abby nodded slowly, as if scared to agree.

"Maybe. But I think you should still try. You never know, maybe people will change their minds." She said finishing her sandwich. I shook my head.

"Do you still want to go to the library? You're parents might get wind of our lunch trip." I said, gathering my trash together.

"Yes, I really don't care about what my parents think right now." She said, also gathering her trash. I looked at her, surprised.

I took our trash to the garbage bins and we left the little shop. Once we were at the car without thinking I went to the passenger side and opened the door for her. She looked at me, puzzled. I shrugged and she climbed into the convertible. I walked around the nose to the drivers' side and got in. The Eclipse started with a low purr. I put it in gear and carefully maneuvered the car out of the parking lot. I made a left and we arrived at the library in only a few minutes. Once again, I parked away from all the other cars. This time I apologized out loud.

"Sorry about the long walk, I prefer to keep my car away from where everyone else parks." I said getting out and pocketing the keys. She didn't reply and we went inside. There weren't any incidents for the rest of the afternoon. I dropped her off at the corner and went home. On the way, I thought about everything she said to me.