Jo & Lise xx
Part One
Abby yawned, not wanting to open her eyes to the harsh morning light. Putting an arm over her face she lifted her head off the pillow and opened her eyes. She slowly allowed her eyes to become accustomed to the sun, and looked around the room. There was something about it that wasn't quite right. Something different. It wasn't a bad thing necessarily...just different. She furrowed her brow, considering this for a minute. It was a smell. She could smell something different. She sniffed the air gently, attempting not to look too stupid. Carter! That was it, she could smell Carter. She shook her head, laughing at herself, and pulled herself out of bed. It was just a memory of a few weeks ago - there was probably one of his t-shirts under the bed or something.
She looked at herself in the mirror, running a hand through her hair. She looked awful, like she'd fall asleep again right there. Coffee would fix that she mused, wandering out towards the kitchen.
"Morning." She almost jumped in the air, shocked to hear a voice. She looked towards the kitchen, where he stood by the toaster. "You want some coffee and toast?" She didn't know what to say, just stood there staring at him. Carter? Why was he here? "Abby?"
"Erm..." she hesitated slightly, unsure what to say. For a moment she felt an overwhelming relief that he'd got home okay. But why was he here?
"Coffee? Do you want some?" She began to nod her head, and then stopped. He shouldn't be here offering her coffee, he should be in Africa. Or at least if he was back in Chicago she didn't expect him to be standing in the middle of her apartment, dressed in a t-shirt she'd been using as a nightie for the last few months.
"What are you doing here?" She didn't move from her spot in the middle of the lounge. She couldn't have moved, even if she wanted to.
"I came back to Chicago, to see you..."
"Why are you in my apartment?" she interrupted him.
"I wanted to see you. I've missed you Abby." He was looking uncomfortable now. Good, she thought. He should be uncomfortable.
"Oh, you've missed me?" she managed to make her feet move now, and walked over to stand near him. "You all but dumped me before you ran off to Africa, and now you're saying you missed me?" She couldn't help but be mad at him.
"I didn't dump you, I..."
"I know you didn't dump me!" she interrupted, pretty much shouting now. "But you were pretty close. How do you think I felt? And now you just turn up in my apartment!"
"Abby, I wanted to see you," he said, and she could see his eyes looked slightly watery with tears. "I needed to make sure you were okay, that you were still here."
"So you broke into my apartment," she seethed. He looked down at the floor, unable to make eye contact with her.
"I used my key Abby, I didn't break in." He looked up again, but now she turned away to avoid the eye contact. "I didn't know you'd be mad. I just had to see you." They stood in silence, both refusing to look at each other. Abby stared at the floor, thinking through everything. She tried to tell herself to stay calm, but she couldn't stay calm. He'd put her in a situation she didn't want to have to deal with. Her practically ex-boyfriend had let himself into her apartment, and started helping himself to coffee. Goodness knows what else had happened.
She stopped herself at that thought. She may be mad at him, but she knew Carter would never do anything like that. He loved her too much. She sighed - what an awkward mess. "Err…could I have my keys back please?" she asked, trying not to sound too angry anymore.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'd like my keys back please. I don't want you just letting yourself in." Now she looked up at him, and for a brief second they made eye contact. She could see the pain in his eyes, and quickly looked away. "Please, John, just give them to me. And then leave, please?"
"Yeah, sure." She felt him brush past her, towards the other side of the lounge. When he returned, he placed a set of keys gently on the kitchen table. Why was he being so calm, she wondered. She didn't like him being angry at her, but at least then she knew how he felt. Right now he had a mask on that prevented her from seeing anything.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, reaching out for his hand. He stepped away, bending down to pick up the travelling bag that was standing next to him on the floor.
"Yeah, well...I guess I'll see you around." And with that he turned and walked out the door. She stared after him, tears coming to her eyes. She could read the emotion now. He was angry, and hurt. Picking up the keys she sat down at the table. She stared at them, twisting them round in her hand. This was it: she'd finally blown it.
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More soon, if we get lots of nice reviews. :)