Chapter Thirteen

Abby's POV

I knew Kuki would probably not talk to me at all and ignore me, but I was her friend. Plus we lived in the same tree house. We had to sort this out, or the tension would drive everyone crazy. I leant on the door, my hat covering my eyes. Kuki didn't see me, and jumped slightly when I grabbed her arm. She frowned and looked at my hand for a moment.

"Look, we need to talk." I said firmly. She merely gazed at me. I'm not whether she was taking in what I needed to say. "We don't know whassup with yo', but we're concerned about you. What have we done?"

She rolled her eyes as tears came. "You know very well what's up. And if you can't admit it, then fine!"

I flinched at her high-pitched squeal, and watched her as she tore away from my grasp. "Don't wait up for me, I'm going to keep Lizzie company for today."

I watched her leave, and I felt confused. I didn't know whether to be angry or guilty about the situation. I sighed, and decided to meet up with the girls for lunch outside somewhere. I came around the corner, and stopped as I saw Nigel confronting Lizzie about the dance. He seemed a little troubled, and she seemed furious.

"Look, I really do want to take you, but…" He started. Lizzie cut him off.

"But what? I'm not good enough?"

"No, it's not that…"

"You've found someone better to replace me?"

"Lizzie, let me expl…"

"Well, why aren't you taking me then? It's a Valentine's Day dance!"

"Look, this sounds a little weird, and I don't want you to blow things out of proportion, but well…" He seemed to rub his head, a move I knew only too well. It meant a lie was coming up. Luckily only I knew about it. "Well, Mr. Lincoln came up to me a while ago and personally asked me to take Abigail this year. I said yes because she was my friend, and I didn't want to disappoint her…"

SMACK! I cringed as Lizzie's hand forcefully connected with his cheek. She was furious, and I knew that Nigel would get blasted right about…

"NIGEL! YOU ARE THE BIGGEST INSESITIVE JERK I'VE EVER MET!"

Now.

"Lizzie, I didn't have a choice…"

"Don't try and use that excuse on me!" Oh boy, she was mad. "I just hope you can make up for this, or else!"

SMACK! Yeesh, I was a little glad I wasn't on the other end of that. But I felt bad for Nigel. Lizzie retracted her hand once more, and stormed of while sniveling. I shook my head and casually strode out, as if I had just encountered him. He was on the floor holding his eye. I stopped, and bent down.

"Yo a'right?"

I pulled his hand away, and saw a little bit of swelling starting to form. "Oh man, that's gonna be a shiner. Yo shoulda had yo glasses on before confronting her."

"It's not funny Abby." He replied glumly. "I wasn't expecting it to be this bad."

"So, what were yo expecting? Her to just accept it?" I asked. He gave a look that answered me. "Abby thinks yo need to get an ice pack fo that."

"Yeah. Shame she didn't hit me sooner. It's going to be obvious at the dance." He replied, getting up. "I'll see you in Geography."

I nodded, and decided to head outside. I found the girls sitting under a big tree, and they seemed to be a little bored. Well, there were only two of them there. Kuki was with Lizzie, and Fanny was yet again missing.

"Hey Abs, where's Kuki?" Rachel asked as I reached her and Virginia. I sat down cross-legged and placed my elbows on my knees.

"Kuki's with Lizzie today." I said in a bummed tone. "She's acting like Abby did something really wrong. I don't understand."

"Well, it can't have been that bad." Virginia replied. "I mean, you haven't really done anything to her."

"Yeah…" I felt a little guilty that I didn't know how I made her angry. And now because she wasn't talking to me, it kinda made it hard to ask. I realized Fanny wasn't here, and looked dumbly at them. "Where's Fanny?"

Virginia giggled. "She went to the bathroom. Said something about getting texta off her neck. But we know she's lying."

"Speak of the devil…"Rachel muttered with a sly grin. I turned, and saw the red head coming over, her expression was pretty darn embarrassing. She came over, and sat down. I noticed she placed a hand over a now slightly purple mark sticking out from her turtleneck top.

"Hey, what's that you're hidin' from us?" I grinned, and pulled her hand away.

"No, don't do that!" she screeched, trying to pull away and push me away with her other hand. Virginia grabbed her arm, and she was trapped from flailing. Rachel pulled the neck of the turtleneck down, and chuckled at the large hickey consuming half of her friend's neck.

"Oh my god, you didn't?" Virginia said with a laugh. "That looks harsh dude."

Fanny huffed and got out of our grasps. She folded her arms. "It looks worse because I've been tryin' to get rid of it."

"So, it was bad to start with?" I asked snidely. She pouted with a frown, and we laughed. "Ooh, you know that's the start of headin' to third base ya know?"

Fanny looked at me and said nothing. She seemed very angry and serious at the same time. It was mean, but it made us laugh harder.

"It's not funny." She said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, isn't it?" Rachel said through giggles. "C'mon, I don't even get those, let alone dish them out."

I don't know why, but I got a really bad feeling. And that feeling was confirmed as I turned and found a familiar male standing a little away from us. Orange hair, clothes that were about 10 years out of fashion, and a very weird sailor's cap. I shuddered, and leant in to the others.

"Umm, Fanny. Unless you want to have a good day, I suggest you don't turn around." I whispered. And Fanny being Fanny, turned around and looked at the figure I told her not to. Her pupils dilated, and her expression was hard to decipher.

"I…it can't be…" She muttered. "Albert?"