Chapter Four

There was a knock on the door. Abbey got up from her bed and walked over and opened the door slowly. Tim was standing on the other side.

"Hey, Abbey I wanted to talk to you," He said but stopped when he looked at her.

"I don't have time for talk," She whispered to him grabbing him behind the neck and pulling him into her bed room. Abbey slammed the door and looked at him and then kissed him.

He seemed to go rigid for a few seconds before wrapping his arms around her. She threw her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. Then she moved her hands down and grabbed his shirt pulling it over his head.

"You sure?" He breathed. Abbey only nodded in response. She kissed him and then pushed him on her bed…she crawled over him and kissed him again…

"ABBEY! Get up!" Abbey sat up in bed in a cold sweat to the sound of Matt yelling from the kitchen.

She looked around her room blinking rapidly trying to expel the thoughts of her and Tim rolling around on her bed that had encompassed her dreams.

"Well, that was a new one," She whispered getting up out of bed.

Abbey slammed the door of her locker and turned to walk down the hall but stopped when she found Tim standing beside her.

"Oh my god!" Abbey said jumping at his sudden appearance. She dropped her books in the progress.

"Sorry, didn't mean to freak you out or anything." He bent down and picked up her books and Abbey found herself unable to look him in the eye as he handed them back to her. "Are you okay? You look a little flushed."

She looked at Tim, "No fine, just….So how's the big football star," She asked trying her best to change the subject.

"Oh, you were at the game," He said smiling and putting a hand at the back of his neck.

"You have got to be kidding me right? Of course I was there; the whole damn town was there!" She said brightly as they headed down the hall to their next class. "You were amazing!"

Tim shrugged, "I mean, it wasn't that big a deal, I didn't even play the whole game, Smash was just having a bad night,"

"Yeah well, with the size of that boy's ego he could do with another couple of bad nights." Abbey said, Tim snickered. "And from the looks of it so could you."

"Abbey!" Abbey and Tim turned to see Jacks running up the hall towards them. "Hey," Jacks said smiling at her and not acknowledging Tim.

Abbey chanced a look at Tim, whose expression gave nothing away. "Hey Jacks, what's up? I thought you had English Lit.?"

"Oh yeah I do just thought I would give you this, you left it at work last night," Jacks handed Abbey her wallet.

"Oh god, I knew I forgot something last night, thanks Jacks."

"Yeah well, I gotta go or I am going to be late." He smiled at her, "See you tonight?"

"'Course," She said smiling at him.

"'Scuze me," Jacks said to Tim as he squeezed between Abbey and Tim.

Tim watched after him and then looked at Abbey as they continued to class.

"Since when have you had a job and who's Bozo the clown?" He asked rather critically.

"Since two weeks ago and his name is Jackson," She said smiling.

"Why do you need a job?" He asked blowing off the mention that Jacks actually had a name.

"Cash genius," Abbey said glaring at him. "Look this is my stop, talk to you later." Abbey headed into the sophomore home economics class.

"Oh right," Tim nodded and then left her standing there.

"So that was when he asked me out, do you think I should say yes?" Abbey looked up from the quilt she was helping Julie make.

"Don't you think I am a little biased, I mean I am his sister." She said smiling down at Julie.

"Yeah but you are supposed to help guild us through high school." Julie said smiling triumphantly.

"High school home economics," Abbey corrected crossing her arms and standing up straight.

"Same thing," Julie shrugged and looked at Abbey expectantly.

"My brother is a decent guy and he would treat you right, but aside from that you have to make up your own mind." Julie nodded looking confused.

Abbey walked out of the class room thirty minutes later only to be cornered by her brother seconds down the hall. "Did you talk to Julie in there?" He asked frantically.

"Yeah," Abbey said trying to shake him off and head to her chem. class.

"Well? Did she say anything about me?" Matt asked staying on Abbey's heels.

"I can't tell you because anything she said is in my confidence." Matt looked crest fallen. Abbey looked up and down the hallway, "But I can tell you that I think she likes you." Matt smiled at Abbey. Abbey shook her head and walked down the hall.

Abbey sat on the counter in front of her till and looked out over the abandoned grocery store. "Okay favourite movie?" Jacks asked looking over at her from his till. He was leaning on the register.

"Giant, yours?"

He shrugged, "Donnie Darko,"

"Oh, good choice, can I change mine?" Abbey asked looking at him.

"No," Abbey shrugged at Jacks response. "Your turn," Jacks said.

Abbey pondering what to ask for a few minutes. "Okay, secret talent,"

"Drawing," Jacks said without a moment of hesitation.

Abbey looked over at him, "Really? My brother loves art."

"I don't like art, I just like to draw," He shrugged, "Okay so what's yours?"

Abbey shook her head, "Nope no way,"

"Oh come on, I told you mine,"

"Yeah well you are proud of yours,"

"And you aren't?" Jacks asked.

Abbey shrugged, "I… I have been told I have a good singing voice." Jacks stood up at this.

"Really?"

"What!?" Abbey said looking unnerved.

"What?" Jacks asked trying to look innocent.

"That's your 'I have a brilliant and ingenious plan' face, like that time you decided we should race in grocery carts and I got a bruised rib." Abbey snapped.

Jacks shrugged, "That was a very rare incident and this is a really good idea."

Abbey shock her head, "So go ahead, the quicker you tell me the quicker I can shoot it down." She smiled at him. He nodded.

"Okay well look, I managed to scrounge a band together in this dead end town that is half decent but I need a lead singer."

Abbey stared at him, "You're kidding right, and I can't sing in your band… you do it." He stared at her.

"I am only talented on the guitar there my musical prowess ends. I need you, just tell me you will think about it." Abbey shook her head.

"Fine, I'll think about it."

"Great," Jacks disappeared behind his register and came back up with some sheets of paper. "Here are some of our lyrics practise them, and tell me what you think oh and here is the matching mix tape for the music." Abbey took them and looked over them.

"It kinda seems like you were expecting me to tell you that I could sing a little." She looked at him and he shrugged.

"You sing when you stock stuff, why do you think I wanted to play this game." He smiled at her leaning on his counter again. Abbey shock her head looking back at the papers.

"Uh excuse me, sorry to break up this wonderful moment you two are sharing but some of us have lives to get back to." Abbey turned around to see Tyra standing at her till.

"Sorry, Tyra I didn't see you standing there." Abbey put the papers under her counter and grabbed what Tyra handed her. It was a collection of kitchen knives. "Planning on doing some chopping?" She asked jokingly, but Tyra didn't laugh.

Abbey had kept her exposure to this girl down to a bare minimum, the fact that Abbey had to hots for Tyra's ex wasn't a good basis for a friendship.

"I am picking them up for someone." Abbey nodded.

"Good to know,"

Tyra seemed to study her for a few seconds before leaning on the counter to talk to Abbey, "Billy Riggins actually,"

Abbey looked at Tyra, "Oh yeah, you guys are like friends, didn't you two throw that party a week or so ago?"

Tyra nodded pursing her lips, "Tim and I are back together," She added nonchalantly. Abbey glanced at her.

"Good to know,"

Tyra nodded, "Yeah and I know you two are like 'friends' or whatever but even consider steeling him and you will end up in a world of hurt little girl."

This caught Abbey's attention, "Well you know Tyra when ever he goes near you there doesn't seem to be much to steal, considering he doesn't seem to think you deserve him sober, but that is just my little old opinion, so you can just relax because trust me, I ain't the one you need to worry about, little girl."

Tyra looked taken aback by Abbey's response that seemed less then polite. She nodded and left the store.

Abbey turned back to look at Jacks who was looking at her with a surprised expression.

"What?" She asked crossing her arms.

"You go girl," He said laughing at her.