"I mean, does she do that often?" Carter asked.
Susan once again shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She'd never seen Abby drunk before. She'd seen her tipsy a few times, but never as drunk as what Carter had just described.
"Look, you know Abby a lot better than I do…but I think it's obvious that something is going on with her."
"Yeah. I agree with you." Susan replied, wiping her teary eyes.
"I just wish I knew what to do about it." He said, his voice trailing off a bit.
"Well, I can tell you now…she's going to be stubborn about it. I already tried talking to her this morning when I found out and she completely bit my head off." Susan sighed. "One thing about Abby is that she hates talking about herself. She hates people knowing what she's really feeling. I mean, I've known her for ages now…and yet she still wont open up to me. It's like talking to a brick wall."
"Yeah I guess I picked up on that."
"This is going to be hard, but we just have to show her that we'll be here for her." She said, standing up.
"I can do that" he said, also standing up.
-
Abby was still in the bathroom, waiting for her wrist to stop bleeding. It didn't usually take this long. She'd been sitting there listening to people walk in and out. Listening to their superficial conversations, which boy they liked, which girl was a bitch, and any other petty conversations one could think of. It was however, nice and quiet now. There hadn't been anyone in or out for about 5 minutes. And that's what Abby liked. Peace and quiet. Being by herself.
A loud bang interrupted her, snapping her out of her thoughts. She'd obviously spoken too soon, rolling her eyes at the fact that someone was in the bathroom.
"Abby? Are you in here?"
Abby rolled her eyes again, whacking her hand against the side of the cubicle.
"Yes Susan. I'm in here."
"Can I talk to you?" she asked quietly, standing outside the cubicle she knew Abby was in.
"Not right now ok. Maybe later."
"I want to talk now" Susan replied coolly.
"Yeah well I don't." Abby snapped back. "Now really isn't a good time ok?"
"Why not?"
"It just isn't aright." She looked down at her still bleeding wrist. There were still little droplets of blood coming out of the new scratches.
"Please, just leave me alone Susan"
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Fantastic" Abby muttered, sitting down again.
Before she knew what was happening, Susan's head popped up over the side.
"I knew you were lying to me" she said disapprovingly, looking at Abby's newly scratched wrists.
Abby jumped up, swinging open the door. She angrily walked into the next cubicle, where Susan had just jumped down from the toilet.
"That is an invasion of privacy!" she shouted angrily.
Susan pushed passed her, out into the bathroom.
"I'm worried about you ok. And now I know that I definitely have reason to be!"
Abby shook her head in anger, closing her eyes tight for a second.
"You still had no fucking right to do that to me Susan."
"Your right. I didn't and I'm sorry. I just want to help you." She said softly, moving closer to her.
"I don't need your help. There's nothing wrong with me."
"Maybe you should talk to the schoolcounselor. It might help."
"You don't get it do you? There's nothing wrong with me. I'm not crazy, I don't need a god dam counselor." Abby replied, anger once again rising in her voice.
Susan nodded, slightly frustrated and hurt by Abby's words right now.
"So can we just forget about all this please?" Abby said, moving away from Susan.
"I can't just forget about it Abby."
Abby shrugged, silently telling her that she didn't no what more she could say. She swung open the door heading outside, leaving a sobbing and scared Susan alone in the bathroom.
-
Carter, who was waiting outside the bathroom, had pretty much heard the girl's entire conversation.
"Abby" he called, running after her.
Abby rolled her eyes again, continuing to walk at a brisk pace.
He finally managed to get in front of her, but she just seemed to push him out of the way.
"Abby" he said again, grabbing her by the hand.
"Let go of me" she said, flustered.
He took her other hand, leaning over a bit so he was staring directly into her eyes.
"Talk to me Abby. Talk to me." He pleaded.
He noticed that her eyes had suddenly become glassy, and that she was fighting back the urge to cry.
"I can't" she whispered, looking away.
"Yes you can Abby. I know you can" he pulled her gently into his arms, hugging her.
She rested her head against his chest for a second, and then felt the sudden need to cry again. She pulled out of his grip, taking a few steps back.
"I'm sorry Carter. I'm really sorry"
He watched her walk away, wondering what had made him hug her like that…or more importantly; why she had let him.
