Hey guys...
Sorry it took so long, but my pc totally screwed up and wouldn't let me update (really evil, I know)!!
But finally got it to upload, so here's the next chapter :P
pH: She's always got her Diet Pepsis :P (And I'm not always evil towards you, or okay, maybe I am when I compare you to Paris Hilton, but get over it :P)
leiraguzon: Are you sure he's getting in the way?? :)
Anyways, LOVE your reviews :P So... ENJOY!!
Oh yeah, another thing: The whole conversation in the end (With Carter), I know you don't know what they're talking about, but you'll find out later :P
Chapter 15 - Keeping Up The Facade
Abby fastened her seatbelt as Richard turned on the car. So far he'd been quiet, not even having looked at her. Somehow she was happy about that, but at the same time it scared her.
She bit her lip as she looked out of the window at the life on the streets in downtown Chicago. She wished she didn't have to be in this car with Richard. She'd much rather be out there, even if it was freezing cold and hailing with daggers or poison ivy.
"I'm guessing you know I didn't forget anything." Abby carefully looked at him, but turned back to the window when she realised he was only looking at the road.
"Yeah."
"So this whole 'boyfriend' business..."
"I know." She turned around so she was looking at him. "I'm sorry. I never meant for it to happen. I tried to avoid it, I really did. And..."
"Stop!" She shut up abruptly by the tone of his voice and bit her tongue. "Not that I can imagine why any boy would possibly want to date you, but it's okay. Normally I wouldn't have allowed you to be dating, but since you already are, I guess there's nothing to do about it." This pretty much took Abby by surprise. She had expected him to punish her, forcing her to break up in some way that would be embarrassing and painful for her, but no way had she ever expected him to accept it.
"And you should go to his place on Friday."
"What?" Her jaw fell to the ground, although not literally. This was so unlike him, which scared her. A lot.
"Well. It'll make you look more normal." He pulled into the garage at his factory and parked the car, but they both stayed put. "That way no one will as easily suspect anything 'different' going on. Unless, of course, if you decide to screw up and make it obvious to everyone!" For the first time he looked at her, and his eyes gave it all away. It was all a part of his big, master plan. To create this normal-looking façade.
"But remember, you still belong to me!" Biting her lip she nodded. How could he even ask that question? How could she possibly forget? After all, he made sure she felt what he meant at least multiple times a week.
"Good! Now, we can't really go back yet, so do you have anything specific in mind you'd like to do?" She looked down as she shook her head. She had been hoping he would leave her alone, but never really having believed it would actually happen.
"Have I ever told you how cute you look when you do that?" Abby snapped her head up, not knowing what he meant. "You know, Abby, it doesn't matter how innocent or pitiful you make yourself look, it'll never stop me or give me bad consciousness." She looked up at him shortly before turning around to stare out of the window.
"I know." She felt her hair tie being pulled out, causing her braid to go up and her hair to fall down over her shoulder.
"I'll come." Luka closed his locker and turned around. He smiled at Abby as he leaned up against the wall. "Don't think I'll make a habit out of it though." He shrugged his shoulders and started following her down the hallway. "But you better keep your promise, otherwise you'll break Eric's heart." She made a fake pout, but couldn't hold it for more than a couple of minutes before she broke into a laughter.
"You sure seem happy today." Abby shrugged as she stopped at her own locker.
"Well, ain't I allowed to be in a good mood after my 'bad day' yesterday?" In fact, she had no idea why she was so hyper and happy today, but it felt good.
"Of course you are, and it's awesome." She grabbed her biology book and slammed her locker shut, smiling at Luka. "But I'm still kind of curious as to why, though." Abby stooped walking and looked wondering at Luka.
"To be honest, I don't know. It's kind of weird though, since I'm still pretty sick." She shrugged her shoulders before he had a chance of saying anything, and started walking again. "But see you next lesson." She waved at him and went into her biology class, sitting down on one of the middle tables instead of her usual one all the way in the back.
Abby took a bite of her cracker as she sat down on the flag pole rock thingy in front of the school.
"Is that all you brought?" He nodded towards the couple of salty crackers in her hand as he sat down next to her. She took another bite and nodded.
"Yep."
"Are you sure that's enough? Aren't you gonna get really hungry?" She shrugged her shoulders and ate the last bit of the cracker she was currently chewing.
"Not really." Luka unwrapped one of his sandwiches, while looking questionable at her.
"I've got an extra turkey sandwich. You want some of it?" She shook her head, finishing off her last cracker.
"No thanks. I'm fine." It wasn't that she didn't want it, it was just that she didn't want to give anything away. And besides, her body had gotten used to not eating enough.
"Abby, can I ask you a question?" She smiled at Luka, who looked like his brain was working faster than he could follow along with.
"Sure. Shoot!" For a while he just starred at her, like he wasn't sure what to say. So Abby motioned her him to go on.
"Okay, I know this sounds weird, but please be honest with me." She bit her lip, but nodded. "You're not anorexic, are you?" This made Abby laugh, almost enough to make herself choke. Even Luka couldn't help but smile a little.
"Luka!" She rolled her eyes before smiling at him. "How can I possibly be anorexic? You've seen me eat!" Luka gave her a weak smile, looking kind of defeated.
"True. But I guess you could be like anorexic slash bulimic." Abby just shrugged her shoulders, having a hard time trying not to smile.
"I could, but I'm not." Luka smiled back at her, happy that she had not gotten mad at him, but also realizing what a weird conversation they were having. "You know, in case you still don't believe me, I'm gonna prove it to you on Friday." Luka smiled and took a drink of his water.
"Don't worry, I believe you." She playfully punched his shoulder.
"You better!" They both started laughing like crazy, not noticing Luka's brother walking towards them.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the two young love birds?" Abby stopped laughing and looked down embarrassed. She knew that if Niko was there, then his friends probably were as well.
"Shut up, Niko!" He just laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
"You can't make me. This is a country of free speech as far as I remember!" Luka sent him a dead stare as Abby continued to look down. "Anyways, I just came to pick you up. We have to go with mom and dad to Champaign, remember?" Luka leaned his head back and groaned.
"Damn. I totally forgot about that." He turned to look at Abby who just gave him a weak smile. "I'll see you tomorrow?" She nodded as he got up, ignoring his pitiful glance.
For a few minutes after Luka left, Abby stayed in the exact same position. It wasn't until she felt three boys in front of her that she looked up. She bit her lip, looking at Carter and two of his friends.
"Hello, Abby!" She didn't reply. In stead she just looked away. "Oh I see, too cool to talk to us now that you've got a boyfriend?" She bit her lip, trying to retain herself from doing something she would later regret. She wanted to just ignore them, but knew better than to do so.
"No." Her voice was weak and could barely be heard, but at least she'd replied. Carter gave her a sly smile and crossed his arms.
"Good. Cause we don't want any 'accidents' to happen. Do we?" She started shaking her head, but quickly stopped herself.
"No." Carter had a thing with having to remind of what had happened every now and then. Kind of like he was afraid she was going to forget it, like that could ever happen. Or maybe he just wanted to remind her to keep her under his control. To keep her scared of him.
She let out a sigh of relief as the first bell rang, meaning that the lunch break was over. Without saying anything the boys started walking away, just giving her a evil smile.
