Title – What you leave behind
Rating - PG-13, just to be on the safe side.
Summary – Abby, John and Susan as teenagers. What happens when Abby moves?
Disclaimer – I don't own anyone
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"Yeah yeah, I'm coming!" Susan yells at John, who's knocking on her door.
"Hi! Sorry. I'm a little slow getting started this morning" Susan says as she finally opens the door.
"It's okay" John says, without any enthusiasm.
"Well come in, I'll only be a second"
John steps inside and closes the door.
"Hey John" Chloe says as she walks down the stairs.
"Hey Chloe"
"Where's Abby, I want to show her my new shoes"
John looks at her and swallows hard. Hasn't Susan told her little sister that Abby has moved?
"Ehm… Abby's not here today" John says a little helpless, feeling bad enough about it as it is.
Chloe's face falls.
"But I really like your shoes" John says quickly, pointing at her shoes, trying to cheer her up.
"Thanks!" Chloe replies happily. "I got them yesterday. I picked them out myself"
"Well, they look great"
John was thankful when Susan stormed through the door with her jacket and backpack all ready to go.
"Come on John, we don't want to be late! Bye Chloe!" Susan shouts as she pushes John outside, quickly closing the door behind them.
"Sorry about that" Susan apologizes. "I know I should've told her but I couldn't. I myself can't even believe that Abby isn't here anymore" and then she fell silent.
"Yeah, I know" John says understanding.
Susan looks at him sadly.
"How'd you sleep?"
"I didn't. I couldn't stop thinking about her Susan" Susan looks at him sympathetically urging him to talk to her.
John took a deep breath, thinking how he was going to explain his feeling, although he knows Susan probably feels the same.
"It's just… I never knew it is possible to miss someone so much. She's been away for two days but it feels like a lifetime. I'm worried about her. I talked to her yesterday and she told me about her house and her room and about how her mother was acting. She has to take care of her brother all by herself now. Here, you used to help her with that but there she doesn't have anyone. She doesn't deserve that Susan. She's a good person, why does this have to happen to her?" John looks at Susan, pleading for an answer.
"I don't know John, I really don't"
John looks at the ground, staring at the pavement while they walk in silence for a while.
"I just wish that there's something we could for her you know?"
"Yeah, me too. But all we can do is keep in touch with her and let her know that we'll always be there for her"
"I know" John says, thinking for a moment. "It sucks though"
"Jep, it does" Susan sighs.
In the distance they then hear the school bell ringing.
"Let's go. We really don't want to be late in French class" Susan says, and she starts running.
"Nope, we don't" John replies, but actually, he doesn't care about anything. But he follows Susan anyway.
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After what feels like a lifetime the bell finally rings, announcing the lunch break. Susan runs out of the classroom to wait for John to exit his'. Susan has kept a close eye on John in the classes they had together today. Although it was impossible to talk during classes and frankly during biology, when they had to dissect a frog, she kind of got distracted from her task, she could still tell that John isn't himself today. He hasn't been taking notes and he didn't get any of the math questions right, which is odd since he's at the top 10 percent of the math class. He's just been staring out of the window and doodling on his books absentmindedly. Though she understands why, the teachers probably don't. Just when she sees John walking towards her he is called back by his teacher, Mrs. Adams, to stay a little longer. He signals for her to just go and that he'll come and find her later. Susan nods at him and walks to the cafeteria, not looking forward to having lunch alone.
About ten minutes later John joins her at their regular lunch table in the back of the cafeteria. Susan, Abby and John always sat at that table, because you could follow everything that happened during lunchtime, but it was still quiet so you could talk privately. But now it's just Susan and John together.
"Hey, sit down" Susan said, making room on the table for him to put his food tray
"Thanks" John said, but he didn't make any effort to open his yoghurt or grab a sandwich.
"Aren't you eating?" Susan asked concerned
"I'm not really hungry"
"Okay, fair enough. So, what did Mrs. Adams want? Did she try to seduce you?" she asked, trying to make him laugh. I didn't work. All she got was John who looked at her and raised his eyebrow
"No, not this time" he sighed, and then continued. "She wanted to talk about why I didn't pay attention in class today"
"Ouch, she noticed. What did you say? Did you tell her about Abby?"
"No, of course not. It's not my place to tell. Besides, I think the teachers have noticed that she isn't here. I mean, you can't skip one day of school because you'll get caught, so they must notice this too right?"
"Yeah right. So, what did you tell her?"
"Just that I had a lot on my mind"
"And she bought it? I mean, no further questions asked?"
"Well, I don't know if she really bought it, but she let me off the hook. I do think she'll keep an eye on me, so I'll just have to put Abby out of my mind when we're in school"
"That's easier said than done" Susan said, speaking like an expert
"Jep, it is" John agreed, deciding to grab a sandwich anyway "I'm just wondering… what Abby's doing right now.."
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"Eric! Hurry up! We've got a lot to do today!"
"I'm almost ready Abby" Eric called, running towards me with his head inside his sweater
"What are you doing?" I ask, with a smile on my face; my first real smile of the day.
"I'm stuck!" He states as a matter of fact
"Haha, okay let me see. Arms up.. hold still.. there you go" I say, as I untangle him from his sweater.
"Thanks" he says, smiling at me with his hair static and pointing every which way.
"You're welcome" I say, putting a sandwich in front of him, pointing at it to tell him to eat it up, while I put some gel in his hair
"So, Abby-" he asks with a mouthful of bread, and he then swallows "-where are we going again?"
"To the hardware store, to pick out a colour for the walls in your bedroom"
"Owh yeah! I remember now!" he says proudly. "Can I pick out the colour myself?"
"Ehmm.. sure, but I'll have to approve"
Eric takes a second to think about it. "Okay" he finally gives in, and then he stands up to go brush his teeth so we can go.
It's going to be a long day. I don't know where Maggie went, but she took the car with her, so Eric and I will have to ride our bikes. That in itself is no problem, it's just that I don't know where anything is here, so I'll have to figure that out first. And then I have to think of a way to get the paint we're going to but back to the house. We'll just only buy paint for his room and I'll do my room when I get to it.. his room is just more important right now and-
"Abby, I'm ready! Let's go!"
I smile at his enthusiasm. This sure is going to be a long day. And how I wish Susan and John were here..
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I step back and look at the results of my painting. Not to bad, if I must say so myself. I have now painted three of his walls sky-blue, just like Eric wanted. I look at the fourth wall, but decide that I'll do that one another time. I take a look at my watch and notice that it's almost seven and that we still need to eat, although I really don't feel like eating. I'll just make something for Eric. On my way to the kitchen I hear a familiar sound; my cell phone! I run to my room and see it's Susan who's calling me. Happy for the distraction and for the fact that I get to talk to my best friend again, I pick it up.
"Hey Susan" I say cheery
"Hey Abs" Susan replies. "How's it going?"
"Well, good actually.. well, as good as it can be I guess"
"I'm glad to hear it. So what did you do today? Didn't go to school I guess?"
"No, I'll still have to look into that. First Maggie said she was going to, but I haven't seen her since we had a fight last night, so…"
"You had a fight?"
"Yeah, I guess you could call it that" I say
"What happened?"
"It was a pretty regular fight. She was being stupid so I called her on it and I called her a bad mother and then she became depressed and then she sent me to my room"
"That doesn't sound good"
I smile a wry smile to myself.
"No, it wasn't. But I haven't seen her since then, so things only got better. I've painted Eric's room today. Well, almost. I'll have to do the last wall tomorrow"
"Really? Owh, Ab, that's great! I'm so proud of you!"
I know that she means it and I feel my cheeks burning
"Haha, thanks" I say. "I'll do my room next week or so. But tell me" I say, changing the subject, "how is everything at school? Anyone notice ehmm.. anything?"
"Well, not from me, and I don't know if the teachers know what happened to you, but Mrs. Adams had John stay late because he wasn't paying attention. He's just not himself Abs, he misses you"
I swallow hard, trying not to think to hard about what I'm doing to John.
"I know, Suz. I miss him too"
"Have you called him? Let him know what you're doing and all?"
"Well, I only talked to him once, yesterday, but that's it. It's really hard for me to talk to him but not see him. I don't know what to say to him. I want to be near him so bad, but I can't and it's driving me crazy. I don't know if it's weird, but I feel better when I'm not talking to him, because then I can't hear the sadness in his voice and then I don't have to feel bad and then I miss him less" I think about what I'd just said "Does that make any sense?"
"Yeah, it does, but I don't know how he'll feel about it"
"Yeah, me neither. Could you tell him for me?"
"Tell him what exactly?"
"That I think it's best if we don't talk for a while, until I get settled and he has his life back on track. That I love him, but that I don't want to make this harder than it already is-" I swallow. Do I really want Susan to tell him that?
"Are you sure?" Susan asks me softly, like she can read my mind. I think about it for a second. "Abs, are you still there?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. Tell him I'll call him when I'm ready. I promise"
"Okay, it's just that-"
"Abby! I'm hungry!" I hear Eric shout at me from the living room, or as far as you can call it that.
"Suz, I'm sorry, I'll have to make dinner for Eric"
"Have you already eaten then?" Susan asks me surprised
"Uhmm, yeah, I did. Eric was asleep, so I ate alone. I have to make something for him now. I'll talk to you again soon okay, and please tell John for me, and tell him I love him"
"Sure I will. Take care Abs, talk to you soon"
"I will, bye" and then I clicked the phone shut. I don't know if I'd just made the right decision concerning John, but he's clearly suffering from it all and it's not easy for me either. I think it's for the best this way; for both of us. And, as I hear Eric calling for me again, I walk into the kitchen and start making him dinner.
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A/N: Sorry it took me like.. forever! Mayor writers block and very little time to get it undone.. But, I passed my exams (jeeh!) so I have summer vacation which means time to write (when I'm not actually ON vacation..) So I'll try to update more frequently IF you want me to continue… let me know by reviewing people!