Chapter 7

Wally was walking Kuki down to Burger Frenzy for her late afternoon shift. It was a fifteen minute walk from school. When they arrived at the fast food restaurant, he suggested that she call him when her shift is over so that he could pick her up. "I don't want you walking around late at night," he had said.

"I don't think that would be necessary, Wall. The streets are still pretty lively at eleven."

"It's not debatable, babe. When you're ready to close shop, call me." She nodded in agreement and he stole a kiss before watching her enter the restaurant. As he turned around to head back to school, his phone rang.

"Yeah?"

"Uh…hi," the voice said nervously.

"Hey Joey, what's up?"

"Um, could I see you this afternoon?"

"That…will be pretty hard," Wally replied slowly. "I've got class this evening. So, you know, unless we meet up after that?"

"That would work. Will you come home?"

"Fine. See you later."

xxx

There was a quick knock on the door numbered 157. When the occupant of the room opened the door, she looked up at him warily. "Hi Hoagie," she said as she gestured for him to come in.

"Hey Eva," he replied. He stood in the centre of the room and waited for her to invite him to sit. He was very tense, and Eva Roberts had noticed. When they were both seated on the little couch between the beds she asked, "Is everything alright?"

He inclined his body toward her and took her hand in his. He took a deep breath then said, "Listen, I've got something to tell you." He looked at the beautiful red head staring up at him, and for a few seconds he lost his voice. He bit his lower lip then finally he managed to say, "I'm sorry, but…"

"You're not breaking up with me," she cut in matter-of-factly. "You're not going to leave me for some random girl you met in a diner."

Hoagie was confused. "What...?"

"I know you were with some girl this morning. And I know you were all cute and cuddly together. But I also know you're not a cheater. So I'm sure you had a temporary lapse of judgement, because you love me. You told me you do."

He was quiet for a while as he mused to himself, before asking, "How did you know where I was this morning?"

"Lizzie saw you, and she told me you were cheating on me."

Out of a lack of expression, Hoagie simply scratched his head in response to what he had just heard. "I wasn't cheating."

"I know. But I also know from the description of you two in the diner that she is definitely competition."

"Listen. That girl is Abby – Numbuh 5. Everyone knew I had a crush on her."

The revelation stunned Eva. "She came back?" she asked very quietly, before adding, "But that was then, for goodness sake." He could hear the desperation in her voice. "We're together now."

"That's just it," he said. "I have feelings for her. Being with you…If I stay with you, I won't really be with you, coz my mind and my heart will always be with her." She turned away from him as she felt her heart break. "You don't deserve that," Hoagie continued. If we stay together, it's like you'll just be settling for what you've got. You deserve a guy who will love you, completely."

"Please," she turned to him and begged, holding his hand between her smaller ones, "Please don't leave me."

"I am so sorry. I never wished to hurt you. But, I love Abby…and I can't tell myself to not feel what I feel."

"If you leave me, I will die."

"No you won't. You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. I should know," he said with a little smile as he hoped to make her feel better, though he knew it was an effort in vain.

"No, I will kill myself!"

"Dammit, don't say shit like that." Hoagie was starting to get mad. You don't joke about things like that.

"I mean it!" She threatened. "You know girls don't just say things like that for nothing. Think of Nigel."

"Listen," he said as he got up, "You just need a little time alone to think. So do that," he said, reaching for the door handle. He opened it and gave her a last look before exiting the room. He could hear her shout, "Don't leave me, Hoagie!"

xxx

Abby and Nigel had gone for a walk outside the school compound. She wanted company as she went to the park. There were pretty flowers in the park, and she liked flowers. She loved the vibrancy brought about by the variety of colours. Plus, it was the fall, so she wanted to enjoy the flowers while she still could before winter set in. As they sat in the park, Nigel received a phone call, cutting short their conversation.

He listened to the other party before saying, "Calm down." Abby looked at him questioningly, then she turned her head to look at the little kids playing in the sand box. She loved kids.

"Are you sure? She can't be serious," he told the caller, although his voice was now laced with worry. He listened some more and said, "Alright, I'll go see her."

When he hang up Abby looked at him expecting an explanation. "It's Hoagie," he said. "He's just come from meeting Eva. As can be expected, she didn't take what he had to say too well."

"O-kay," Abby said, with emphasis on the second syllable. "But why is he calling you?"

"She's threatening to kill herself," he said with an involuntary gulp.

"What? No way!" she exclaimed. "But what can you do about it? Are you close? Like, can you talk her out of it?"

"I bloody well hope so. She's my cousin. You remember Numbuh 10, don't you?"

"Eva is Numbuh 10?" Abby asked, surprised. She definitely did not expect that at all. Upon seeing the concern on Nigel's face, she added, "She wouldn't do anything so stupid. She was smart; I bet she still is."

He leaned forward and supported his head in hands. Although Nigel was facing straight ahead, his eyes were distant. He wasn't really seeing the lush green grass and lively children in front of him. When he spoke, there was pain reflected in his voice. "Abby, right now I could have been a father." Abby was kept mum, wondering what the hell he was talking about.

"Approximately three years ago, I impregnated a girl. I didn't really know her, but we went to the same school. When she told me she was pregnant, I freaked out. I was like, 'I can't deal with this', and I walked away. She called me a few times; she was scared. The few times I'd pick up, she'd said if I didn't stand by her during the pregnancy she'd kill herself. I told her to just chill. I needed a little time, you know? Anyway, I guess she figured I wasn't going to man up, so she popped several pills and died of an overdose." At this point he grew silent, looking down at his shoes.

Abby moved closer to him so as to embrace him. "It was not your fault," she whispered as she cradled his head in her arms. His body suddenly shook violently before he regained his composure, and he roughly wiped away a tear that had betrayed him. "It was not your fault."

"I killed my kid," he said quietly. Abby maintained a respectable silence. After a while, Nigel got to his feet. "I've got to go check up on Eva. Thanks…for listening to my crap. Just…thanks."

"Anytime," she replied with a sad smile.

"And for what it's worth, if anything at all, I'm glad you and Hoagie can get another chance."

Abby quickly raised then lowered her right eyebrow in acknowledgement.