Title: Mind-Reading
Author: Annie Dolnar
Language: English, Rating: Rated: T
Originally Written: 2011

AN: This one feels a bit unfinished, but I think it works fine.

Mind-Reading

Abby paced back and forth in her room, trying to decide between two boys she liked quite a bit- Maurice and Hoagie. But which one did she like and which one did she love? She thought she had loved Maurice for a very long time, until one day she saw Hoagie differently... Was she going crazy? BOY crazy? She shivered- she had made a promise to herself to never jump between guys like the girls at school did, as though they never loved them. And they probably didn't.

Besides, the whole thing was ridiculous. Hoagie was her best guyfriend. She couldn't be falling for him; it was probably just... A cold. That was it. She'd been feeling a little dizzy lately. She had a cold.

She shook her head in frustration. "Abby's fooling herself," she said out loud. "The problem is, Abby don't know which side's foolin' and which side's not!"

Opening her window, she saw a falling star and immediately made a wish- "Abby wish she could have a way to help her figure out what she wants," she said. Then she climbed under the covers and fell asleep.

The next day, she woke up at 6am as always and was out of the house by 630. At school, she passed people gossiping as always. And at her locker, she ran straight into Hoagie Gilligan, one of the men in question. He smiled at her.

"She looks so pretty," she heard. She looked around; Hoagie's mouth hadn't opened, but she'd felt like the voice was speaking to her.

Deciding it was someone around the corner, Abby said a quick hello to Hoagie before turning back to her locker. But she heard the voice again.

"I reallly should tell her I like her... She'll figure it out soon anyway."

Abby stopped what she was doing. Why did the voice sound very slightly like Hoagie's?

"Um.. Hoagie, did you say something?"

"Huh? No." Was that... the voice? Behind his, as though speaking the same thing at the same time? She frowned.

"I wish I had the guts to kiss her... Or do more... GAH DON'T THINK STUFF LIKE THAT!"

She was frozen now. What the heck?

"Hoagie... Do something for me, please. Think of your favorite song."

"Er... Sure."

"Drops of Jupiter by Train... Why did she ask?"

"Um, what is it?"

"Drops of Jupiter by Train," he said. "Why?"

"I was wondering if I was right... That was my guess."

"Aw, you couldn't have guessed without asking first?" Hoagie joked. "Like a guessing game?"

"No," Abby said tiredly.

From this point on, thoughts are in italics and parenthesis when they come from anyone but Abby. If they're Abby's thoughts, they're just in italics.

"She can be so strange sometimes... Still like her, though. I'm pretty sure she doesn't like me, but I'll have to tell her anyway. She IS my best friend; she DOES deserve to know..."

Abby sighed. "I'm going to class... Have to study for that Chem test."

Hoagie shrugged. "Good luck. Chem is hell."

"Like I didn't already know."

"What are you doing! Offer to help!"

"No!"

Hoagie looked puzzled. "Huh? I didn't say anything, Abby..."

She laughed nervously. "I know, it's just, well, I assumed you'd offer to help me, but you, um, you need to go to that Physics club meeting, so, um, go?"

"I wonder what's with her today? I'll ask Wally and Kuki later, I guess, if they've noticed anything funny. Wish she would tell me what's really wrong." "Oh, I forgot. See you later."

"Yeah... bye..."

Hurrying on her way, she suddenly caught sight of Maurice. "Hi Maurice," she said.

"Hi Abby," said Maurice, and Abby heard what she was listening for- the weird echo sound that came from hearing two or more people talk at once. Then came some thoughts. "Not again, I wish she would leave me be."

Abby raised her eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

Maurice stared at her. "You need to get by?"

"Um... yes? Yes. That's it."

"Thank god she's gone... I wish she would stop trying to be friends with me. Can't she see I can't stand her anymore? Oh, no, she can't, because she admired me so damn much as a kid... Speaking of kids, they're going to regret trusting me..."

Abby whirled around and glared at him in disgust, but he didn't see her. So much for him! What a moronic loser, like that Arnold guy from the American Revolution. What the hell is HIS problem?Gah! I'll have to warn the KND about him so he can be decommisioned... And I was sure he was on our side!

She growled all the way to class and kept growling until lunch, which was when she saw Hoagie again.

"There she is!" "Hey, Abby, over here!" "She's beautiful..."

"Hey Hoagie," she said with a small smile, wondering how she would sit through lunch.

"Hey Abby. Oh, guess what I heard today?"

"More jokes?"

"Why did the keyboard run out of room?"

She sighed, but it was an affectionate-type sigh. "Why, Hoagie?"

"Because it lost its space bar," he grinned. She hit him with her hat.

"Lamest joke ever."

"I have a better one. Why can't the melons get married?"

"Because they're damn melons, Hoagie."

"Nope! It's because they can't elope! Get it? Cantiloupe?"

She found herself snickering at that one, but hid it very quickly.

"Aha! I saw that! She thought I didn't see but I did!"

"Abby didn't hide fast enough then," Abby muttered thoughtfully.

"Nope," Hoagie said triumphantly, before making a confused face and saying, "wait, what?"
"Er.. Nothing."

"She really is very pretty... Especially her eyes.. Chocolate eyes on chocolate skin, with pearl white teeth... So much more beautiful than I am."

"That's not true!" Abby blurted. Hoagie looked at her funny, inclining his head.

"I didn't... Say anything, Abby.""But I did think something."

She sighed. "Abby knows. This has been bugging Abby all day... Last night, Abby made a wish on a shooting star. This morning, Abby can read people's minds. The teachers and the students. All of it." She frowned. "And Abby found out some pretty disturbing things. Stupid Maurice, Abby can't believe she ever thought he was on our side with those thoughts he was having, Abby wanted to barf!"

Hoagie was now turned white. "You're... You're pulling my leg right?"

"Fraid not. Abby heard everything you've been thinking since she saw you this morning. Think of something at random but don't tell me."

"Hmm... Nigel Uno. How's that?"

"Nigel Uno," she said. "Why him?"

He shrugged. "First person that popped into my head." Then he turned white again. "So, I guess now you know."

"Oh... Yeah, now I know. But you don't."

He stared at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means Numbuh 5 feels the same way about Numbuh 2."

"Wait... Really?"

"Duh, Hoagie. Abby don't listen to just anybody tell lame jokes."