CH 4: Marissa's Party

When Abigail slowly came to consciousness, she felt pleasantly warm. With a soft, kittenish sigh, she burrowed into Steve's arms and held him around the waist, her cheek edging into his chest while his heart beat steadily against her ear. She found it oddly soothing. After helping her father take a life, it was nice to be around another living, breathing human being.

A soft kiss pressed to her forehead, and blearily, Abigail opened her eyes.

Steve smiled sleepily at her from across the pillow. "Morning," he mumbled. "I'd make you pancakes, but this isn't my house."

Abigail instantly became alert. In a panic, she shot upright and looked around her, checking her clock to find that it was 7:30 a.m. "You can't stay here," she hissed. Ripping the covers off her legs, she staggered out of bed and reached for the six pack on the windowsill. "My parents are early risers, and we always have breakfast together on the weekends."

"Abigail?"

She froze. Looking fearfully to Steve, she mouthed, "It's my mom…"

"Abby, honey? Are you awake? I thought I heard you get up…"

In spite of the direness of their situation, Steve had to laugh. "Wow, is she a cyborg or something? She's got great ears!"

"Get out," Abigail hissed. Handing him the beer, she opened the window and began fiercely pointing in a sharp, comical fashion, causing Steve to laugh even harder.

"Will you call me later, at least?"

"Yes, okay? Just go!"

"I'm holding you to that." Straddling the windowsill, Steve leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Come to Marissa's party with me tonight, maybe? Since you bailed on mine?"

Flustered, Abigail's face turned a brilliant scarlet. "W-well, I…"

"Abby?" Her mother was just down the hall now.

"Shit," Steve swore. "I'll, um…how 'bout I call you instead?"

"No, no, I'll call you," Abigail promised. She knew her dad couldn't find out, lest he ban her from even breathing in Steve's vicinity.

With a lopsided grin, he nodded and slipped down the drain pipe, and not a moment too soon. Louise Hobbs entered a second after, frowning with her hands on her hips. "I heard voices…"

"Sounds like a personal problem, mom."

"I'm serious! Do you have a friend with you?"

Sweeping her arm to show off that no, nobody was around, Abigail managed to smile reassuringly. "As if I'd have someone over now – that'd mean sharing your awesome pancakes!"

"Brown noser." With a fond smile, Louise wrapped an arm around Abigail's shoulders and began leading her into the hall. "Your father should be joining us soon, so in the meantime, please help me set the table."

"Dad's up, too?"

"Last time I checked, he was tinkering with something in the garage…putting tools away, I believe."

Abigail's stomach flipped. The girls were kept at her father's cabin in Duluth, but he often brought their remains home to be used creatively.

"Did he seem okay?"

Louise eyed her daughter strangely. "Now why wouldn't he be okay?"

"No reason, he just…he told me he hasn't been sleeping well lately."

"Well now that you mention it, he did seem a little tired, but-"

"Hey there, puffin!"

Abigail practically halted in her tracks. If it weren't for her mother's arm around her, she would've refused to keep walking.

"How's my special girl today, huh?"

Abigail's mouth worked, but no sound came out.

"That tired, eh? That's alright, I'm fine with doing most of the talking." With a grin, Hobbs began regaling Louise with how well their hunt had gone, and that they now had a ton of deer meat in the garage freezer.

Abigail's stomach flipped.

Louise, however, seemed absolutely ecstatic. "Oh, that's wonderful, honey! I always enjoy this time of year, 'cause I barely even have to do any cooking!"

Abigail pressed her lips together in a tight, trembling line. It was true that Hobbs had always cooked during hunting season, but this time around, he undoubtedly didn't want Louise messing with the evidence.

"How about some deer sausage for our pancakes?" Hobbs offered. "I can go get some right now."

Louise moved to agree, but Abigail quickly shook her head. "No, um…no thank you."

Hobbs spared her a cold look. "Now what have I told you about letting the deer go to waste?"

Abigail looked uncomfortably toward Louise, then recited, "Eating her is honoring her. Otherwise, it's just…i-it's just murder."

"That's right. So let's not let that doe go to waste."

As Hobbs walked off, Abigail released the breath she hadn't been aware of holding.

Abigail sat out in the garage, knowing that this particular phone would be the most private. Her parents were currently listening to records in the living room, so she knew she had a little time until they were done – specifically, until her dad's Jim Croce album ended. That was always the one they played last.

Anxiously twisting the phone cord around her finger, Abigail nearly chickened out when she heard a chipper, "Hello?" on the other end.

"Um…Steve? It's…i-it's Abigail."

"Calling as promised, I see! Uh…hear?"

With a wry smile, she rolled her eyes and agreed, "Yes, as promised. I wasn't really sure what you wanted, but I figured it'd be rude if I didn't follow up."

"Well, an account of the breakfast I missed might be nice."

Glancing toward the freezer of deer meat – no, Jessica – Abigail felt a queasy wave rush over her and she shuddered. "Don't worry, it was nothing special. Oatmeal was the primary offender."

Steve made a gagging noise. "Yeah, you're right – my dry toast was far preferable."

With a soft laugh, Abigail began to anxiously shift on the garage steps. "So were you serious about that party tonight?"

Steve chuckled. "Now I know I may be new here and all, but parties are something I never joke about. And besides, it might be nice to go out and forget your problems, y'know? 'Cause clearly, there's a lot that's wrong in your life right now, and you deserve to just forget for a while."

Abigail exhaled slowly. "Yeah…I guess you're right."

"Pick you up at eight?"

Abigail chewed her lip. "In a car, or?"

"Yeah, of course a car! It'd be a little hard to escort you on a bike," Steve teased.

Nervously glancing over her shoulder, Abigail shook her head. "That won't work…my parents would notice."

"Oh, but-"

"Marissa's my neighbor, so I'll just sneak out and meet you at the party. Go ahead and bring that six pack that we didn't drink, too."

Steve grinned. "Man, have I truly corrupted you, or have you always been this rebellious?"

Abigail had to smile. "Tell yourself whatever your ego needs to hear. I'll see you at eight."

Hanging the phone up on the wall, she spared the freezer one last glance before rushing back into the house.

Sitting by Marissa, Abigail's features were lit by a bonfire that she and several other classmates gathered around. Things were mostly subdued for now, but a few teenagers were already tipsy. At least nobody would notice how much she very much did not want to be there.

Swallowing past the dryness of her throat, Abigail sipped her beer without truly tasting. As far as she was concerned, she needed something a lot stronger.

"Ugh, ex alert," Marissa complained. "You would think he wouldn't be so quick to show off. After all, I know his actual dick size, and trust me – it is not worth bragging about."

Abigail could only nod. Prior to her leaving the house, Jessica's disappearance had been plastered all over the news, and now Abigail found that she couldn't overcome the sinking feeling in her stomach. This was her first kill. No…her first assisted kill, but the blood was still on her hands all the same, wasn't it?

A new presence came upon the circle then, and Marissa looked up when Steve appeared with a grin and a wave. And, Abigail noticed, the promised six pack. "Friends in need?" he asked, picking off one of the beers and waving it by his cheek.

Abigail plastered on a smile and motioned to the fold-out chair beside her.

"What took you so long?" Marissa prompted. "I mean, I totally came for Troy, but after a while, his testosterone starts to bore me."

Troy hooted from across the bonfire, proving her statement while Marissa rolled her eyes.

"See what I mean? He can't carry on a normal conversation when he's with his friends."

"I can't speak for Steve, but I needed to wait for my parents to drive me here," one of the girls spoke up. "All these abductions have them really freaked out."

Marissa rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. We can't get abducted in a group like this. You're just being paranoid. Isn't that right, Steve?" Her cat-like gaze gleamed, as it often did while talking to boys. "My house seems plenty safe to me."

Abigail's lips spread into a nervous little smile. "No offense, Rissa, but I really don't think anyone wants to talk about this right now."

"Yeah," Steve agreed, smiling as he sat down alongside her. "I think they'd much rather keep talking about me. Besides, I won't let anything happen to you lovely ladies."

Marissa's expression grew wolfish. "I think you're right," she cooed. "So if we're allowed to talk about you, what size is your-?"

"Easy for you to say," one of the other girls said to Steve. "You're a guy – this nutjob's clearly targeting girls."

"We're safe," Abigail gritted, trying to keep the irritation and nerves from her voice. "The news said he always abducts on Fridays – it's Saturday, so whoever he chose is already gone."

Marissa scoffed. "Wow, obsessed much? Even I didn't know all that, and I make sure that everyone's business is my own – including creepy, perverted old psychopaths."

"He's not…" Trailing off, Abigail grimly pressed her lips together. "He's not a pervert, the news has already said he doesn't do anything weird to the bodies."

"Well how do they know? None of the girls have been found yet!"

Stomach churning, Abigail knew all too well that her father had to be doing something with the bodies, but she just wasn't sure what. Hobbs refused to let her in on the final steps. "Look, can we just like…play a game, or something? I'm tired of talking about this."

Marissa's eyes gleamed. "What, like truth or dare? Spin the bottle? Seven minutes in heaven?"

"There isn't a closet out here."

"So what? I'm content to make-out on a bed of leaves!"

"So am I," Steve interjected, hoping to at least return some of Abigail's good humor.

It worked. She laughed softly, though it never quite reached her eyes. "I'm not so sure everyone else wants twigs in their hair, but to each their own."

Wiggling her brows, Marissa announced, "Well, I know how to use a beer bottle in more ways than one, so I think just about anything will help as a much-needed distraction. Steve, since you're the cute one – well, Abby is too, but whatever – you can pick what we do."

Steve arched a brow. "Uhh, truth or dare...though I somehow have a feeling I'll regret that decision."

"Truth or dare, you say? My specialty!"

While the two bantered back and forth, Abigail's stomach continued to churn and flop. Despite the conversation finally returning to more normal, mindless topics, the height of her adrenaline had officially caused her to feel lightheaded. Shooting up from her seat, she drew in a sharp breath and said, "I...I-I need some air. Excuse me for a minute."

Before anyone could argue, Abigail had already begun walking off toward the driveway with brisk, shaking steps. It didn't take long for Steve to pursue.

"Hey!" he called, jogging until he was at her side. "Are you alright?"

His voice dripped with concern, and it killed Abigail that he cared. You shouldn't, she bitterly thought. I'm a monster.

"I'm okay," she mumbled instead. "I just feel a little dizzy from the beer, that's all."

"You sure?"

"Yes, thank you."

Brow knitting with skepticism, Steve laid his hand against the small of Abigail's back, then gently began to steer her toward his car. "C'mon, let's sit on the hood," he prompted. "Maybe you can get your equilibrium back on track."

In spite of the situation, Abigail had to laugh. "Equilibrium? Wow... Glad to see you paid attention in science class."

Steve grinned. "I'm more than just my good looks, you realize."

"Yeah," she agreed, "I'm beginning to think that maybe you are." Hoisting herself up to sit on the hood of his Mustang, she smiled sadly and leaned her elbows on her knees. "You didn't have to follow me, you know, but thank you."

"I wanted to. I did only come here because of you, you realize."

Flushing beneath his gaze, Abigail lowered her eyes and self-consciously tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Why? I'm nothing special."

"Yes, you are." Steve's smile grew soft and lopsided. "It's kind of funny, isn't it? How the smart people can always be oblivious to their own gifts?"

Abigail fell at a loss for words. She'd never particularly liked herself, so it was difficult to look at her accomplishments and traits with pride. "I've been so mean to you," she whispered, immediately awash with shame. "How could you ever-?"

"To be fair, everyone's mean to me at first. I'm kind of a douchebag." Steve laughed then, shrugging good-naturedly. Now moving to sit alongside her, he gave her arm a gentle nudge. "At first I just thought you were cute, 'cause...y'know...that's kind of how attraction works, but then I realized you had a lot of layers and this well-hidden spark. I've never met someone who wants their entire personality kept secret, but for some reason, you try to hide all your good parts."

Abigail bit her lip, a shiver of panic rising through her. "You can see all that from just a few talks?"

Steve smiled sheepishly. "I know it sounds weird – stupid, even – but I've always had a good intuition when it comes to people. And just...I dunno. I think you're pretty amazing."

A swell of emotion formed in the pit of her stomach, and tearfully, Abigail's lips lifted into a soft, fond little smile.

"Did I say the wrong thing?"

"No." She shook her head, hesitating before touching his hand. "It's probably the first 'right' thing I've heard all week."

Uncertain, Steve gave her hand a gentle squeeze, then he scooted in closer.

Almost instantly, Abigail felt a spike of panic. Was this what her father had always warned her about? Was Steve going to...?

No, Abigail decided, she was going to do it herself.

Taking hold of his cheeks, Abigail urged her mouth over his in a clumsy, gentle kiss that had him fumbling for where to properly place his hands. First she felt him touch her hair, then her waist, before finally settling at the small of her back. Curling his arms around her, Steve pressed his mouth strongly into hers and drank of her more fully.

That was when a pair of headlights cut across the yard.

Startled, Abigail broke the kiss and shielded her eyes, only to realize it was her father's car.

Shit.

Leaping up from the Mustang, Abigail subconsciously clutched at her chest while the car rolled to a stop.

"What is it?" Steve asked, reaching for her hand. "What's wrong?"

"My dad..."

Seeming to understand, Steve also rose and peered out at the tall, foreboding figure furiously getting out of the driver's seat.

"Let me guess: overprotective?"

"Insanely." And that was putting it lightly. "If you want to get off easy, you should go now."

"No way, I'm staying put. Especially since I plan on sticking around for as long as you'll have me."

Fearfully, Abigail nodded. She didn't know how much her father had seen, but the fact she'd sneaked out was more than enough for him to crucify her.

"Abigail!"

She cringed, feeling Steve's hand reassuringly grip hers.

Hobbs stalked toward them then, his face red and his eyes flashing. "This is your study session, is it?" Abigail opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. "Come with me. We're going home."

Abigail moved to acquiesce, but to her horror, Steve took that opportunity to intervene. He smiled and stuck out his hand, appearing boyish and good-natured.

"Hi, Mr. Hobbs, I'm Steve Harrington. Abby's told me a lot about you, so I'm glad we can finally meet face-to-face."

Within the moonlight, Hobbs' eyes appeared like ice. Ignoring Steve's offered hand, he took hold of Abigail's arm and tugged her off toward the car.

"Hey!" Steve called. "Sir, she did nothing wrong!"

Hobbs rounded about in an instant. "Oh, I'm fully aware," he seethed. "I know exactly what you were interested in."

Steve appeared aghast, and Hobbs took advantage of his stunned silence to continue dragging Abigail toward the car. She could feel everyone's eyes on her and did her best not to cry.

Once they were in the car, Hobbs turned on the ignition and became oddly calm. "You disobeyed me, Abigail."

"I know dad, I'm sorry. It's just-"

"What have I told you about boys?"

"This one's different! He-"

"No." Hobbs wore a cynical smile. "He's got you fooled, puffin, because no man is honorable."

"Not even you?"

Scowling, Hobbs ignored the question and began easing the car around to edge down the driveway.

"Dad, you embarrassed me..."

"I was just trying to protect you, Abigail. Everything I do in this life is for you."

Thinking of the cold, dead girls scattered into pieces in her name, Abigail clammed up and held herself tightly about the middle.

"Someday, you'll thank me. I know that it's going to be hard, but you need to cut that boy loose."

Abigail felt her heart drop. "Dad, no! Aside from Marissa, he's the only one who understands me. We both-"

"I understand you, and I am all that you need," Hobbs reminded her. Reaching over the divide, he took hold of her trembling hand and squeezed her fingers. "I love you, puffin, and you need to remember that everything – everything – I do is for the best. One day, you'll finally understand."

With tears blurring her vision, Abigail bowed her head and sniffed. "What if people talk? You didn't come in quietly..."

"If they talk, it won't be about our doe."

"You mean Jessica."

The grip on her hand suddenly turned painful, and she yelped, startled by the sharp, radiating pressure in her bones. "Dad! Dad, you're hurting me!"

"I told you not to name the does, Abigail. I can't keep you safe if you insist on ignoring my instructions!" Releasing her hand, he instantly became remorseful, and his fingers gently stroked along her throbbing hand with guilt. "I'm so sorry, puffin," he whispered. "I'm never going to hurt you again."

Biting her lip to keep from bursting into tears, Abigail moved away from him and leaned her weight against the car door.

Pulling out onto the road, Hobbs glanced her way before sighing. "You were careless tonight. When I went up to check on you a while ago, you weren't there. And then I heard music, so I came out to investigate. I'm so disappointed in you, puffin. You're better than these people."

No, she grudgingly thought, I'm not.

"Tomorrow, we can go out to that old diner we used to frequent – remember the one with the milkshakes? – and make a whole day of hiking and birdwatching. How does that sound?"

Sniffing, Abigail held herself around the middle and shrugged. "Nice, I suppose."

"Wonderful! Maybe your mom can pack us a lunch. It's been quite a while since we had a picnic, hasn't it?"

"Yes, dad." It truly amazed her how he could go from utterly terrifying to loving in two seconds flat.

Yet again, Hobbs reached over and touched her hand, and Abigail cringed. "Just me and my girl," he said approvingly. "Me and my girl."

A/N: Finally! For a while there, I honestly didn't think I'd be able to finish this, but at long last, I got inspiration and wrote this up in a couple days! And I'm happy to announce that the next chapter will be the last, so things will finally be wrapped up soon. It'll take place a few months in the future (mostly because Abigail assisted her father with many girls, so since Jessica was her first assist, I didn't think it'd be realistic if I just ended it with one). Anyway, I'm sure I lost most of, if not all of my readership with my poking around/slowness, but I appreciate all of you all the same! Thanks so much for reading! Comments are love!