Chapter Twelve
A.N.- What's up, guys? I just want to thank you all for all of the reviews you've typed for this work of fan fiction. You guys absolutely give me the faith and courage to continue this story. Thanks for taking the time to review this story and for those who read but don't review, thanks as well! So, please continue reading! Later!
Addie stewed silently for a full week. She hadn't uttered a single word to anyone since the incident at the skate park, and the only time she did talk was to Gracie or her own self. Which was entirely a sane thing to do. She hadn't taken to answering her own questions, so Peter and the others took it as a good sign. Everyone knew you weren't truly insane until you started answering yourself.
Needless to say, Addie wasn't her usual carefree self. She rarely smiled or wore her normally cheerful clothing. And, of course, she wasn't speaking. Though, no one was prepared for the full force of her sadness. She was known to start crying in the middle of class, at lunch, and in the middle of crowded hallways. Her boss at the store, Mr. Cline, had given her the next week off just so she wouldn't freak the customers out with her constant sobbing. Julie was starting to get so worried, that she had taken to coming home from work early and filling out paperwork in her living room. She knew that Addie was by nature a strong willed person and couldn't stand the sight of her daughter crumbling over a dispute with her son's best friend. Julie also noticed that the already slender girl was drastically losing weight, which wasn't a good thing for her small frame.
And you may wonder about Peter. He was absolutely lost for words. He didn't joke around or make sarcastic comments. He was actually the exact opposite of himself. He was being kind and considerate.
Actually, all of her friends were. Jordy was always there to listen to her sob, thought she never spoke a word. Gabby was by her side at all times with tissues and anyone who dared snicker at Addie got a death glare that even Medusa would be jealous of. Peter had taken to threatening anyone who made a comment about his tormented sister with his fist and no one dared push him over the edge.
Well, Val was an exception. Though, he wasn't worth getting in a fight over.
" Addie, honey, please eat something." Julie begged as they all sat around the kitchen table.
Gracie was happily cooing in her high chair, while Peter sullenly forced food into his mouth, and Addie sat quietly in her chair, not having even touched the plate. Julie had fixed her favorite dinner; fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn on the cob, and buttery rolls; to entice the forlorn girl into eating, but to no avail.
" I'm not hungry." she mumbled, her first words to them in seven days.
Her throat felt soar and dry, and her normally cheerful chirp of a voice with a hint of a 'New Yorker' accent was dull and lifeless.
' What's wrong with you, Adelaide.' she mentally shook herself. ' Look at yourself. You are nothing but a lifeless shell of your old self. You refuse to speak, eat, smile, and everything else that you used to always do. And for what? The rejection of a guy who you like? Quit acting so silly and get over it.'
" Please, Addie. I'm just so worried about you." Julie said, on the verge of tears. " You aren't happy. And I just can't watch you mope about all day long. It's just not how my daughter used to be. She used to be so cheerful and full of life. What's wrong, Addie? Can't I do anything to help you? Please, tell me."
Julie had never broken down in front of her children before, but couldn't stop herself. The salty tears poured down her soft rosy cheeks in rivers and she hiccupped every once in a while. She covered her face with her small, delicate hands and laid her head down on the dark brown kitchen table, her shoulder length brown hair covering her face.
" Mom?" Peter asked in alarm.
He was just a guy and wasn't adept to these situations. After all, every since he was a little boy, he had been taught that men didn't express their feelings and didn't know where to start.
" I'm sorry, Mama." Addie said, tears streaming down her face as she rushed over to the sobbing Julie.
She threw her arms around the woman and hugged her tightly, fighting hard to control her tears.
Peter looked from one female to the other. Why did women always have to cry?
" I'm so sorry. I'm okay, honestly. It was silly of me to get so upset. I promise I'm better now. Really."
" Oh, baby. I don't want you upset. It makes me feel like I've done everything wrong." Julie said as she raised up and locked Addie into her arms.
" Um…I'm going to take Gracie into the living room." Peter said uncertainly, getting up and grabbing the baby before leaving the room.
" You haven't. I just was so upset. I really thought Andy liked me." Addie explained, her chin resting on Julie's right shoulder. " He obviously doesn't, though. And just seeing him with Molly had me seeing red."
" Are you sure that's all?" Julie sniffed.
" Yes, Mama. That's all it was. I just blew things out of proportion. I'm sorry I made you worry so much." she said, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. " I was starting to worry my own self."
She pulled away from Julie and kissed her on the cheek.
" Okay, now, will you please eat some dinner? You've lost too much weight." Julie said, wiping away her own tears, and giving her daughter another small squeeze.
" Yes, ma'am." the teenager replied as she sat back in her chair. " I'll even do the dishes after I get through."
" Oh, honey-"
" No, Mama. I've let you do too much work this week already." she insisted.
" Okay."
" Go upstairs and take a nap. Pete and I can handle Gracie."
Julie smiled a brief smile before leaving the room.
" So, are you okay?" Peter asked as he and Addie sat in the living room, watching " The Patriot".
Gracie and Julie were upstairs and in bed, asleep, giving the teenage siblings some time alone.
" Yeah. It was just a spell." she replied as she continued watching the movie.
Oh, how she loved watching Heath Ledger in this movie. He was just so good looking in it, and with a tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream currently occupying her lap, she couldn't ask for anything better.
" Are you sure?"
" Peter, you're worse than Mama." she admonished lightly, taking her eyes from the glowing television screen. " Yes, I'm sure. I'm over it. I didn't realize it until just before she started crying. I was just being plain selfish, acting like the world was coming to an end. And guess what, it isn't. Wasting away just because Andy's in love with another girl is so not worth my time. Besides, I'm getting sick of everyone acting like I'm the walking dead, 'cause I'm not."
She emphasized this by shoving a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth and slamming her left fist down on the couch's arm.
" Okay, okay. I'll quit asking." Peter said, sounding more like his old self.
" Good. Now, hush. This is the best part."
" But we've already-"
" I said HUSH!"
A.N.- I hope this chapter is up to par with the others. Also, I want to again thank all of you guys for your reviews! They really mean a lot to me! Sorry for the long wait…I should have the next chapter up sometime soon, but I won't make any promises. Later! And, thanks!
