Part 9- In the Waiting Line by Zero 7

"Mona?" I heard a soft voice speak from the other end of the phone.

"Who's this?" I asked, agitated. I had been asleep when the phone started ringing, waking me up.

"It's Abby. Listen, sorry if I woke you. I'll call back later," she quickly apologized.

"Oh, hey, Abby. It's okay. I didn't recognize your voice at first," I said, sitting up and furrowing my eyebrows.

I looked over at my alarm clock situated on my nightstand. It read eleven thirty-eight. Why was Abby calling me? I hadn't seen her since the disaster that was my birthday party two months ago. I hadn't even spoken to her then, so I didn't know why she would want to speak to me now.

"Yeah… I just wanted to see how you were doing. It's been a while," she sounded extremely nervous. I felt bad, so I let out a soft sigh, putting a smile on my face because, apparently, people can always hear a smile in your voice.

"I've been doing okay, Abby. Just being going to some classes here and there. Nothing too over the top."

Ha, I laughed to myself, if only she knew what I've really been up to or planning, rather.

"Oh, so you are going to college? I thought you decided not to go after… Uh," she stopped short, "I just thought you decided not to go."

The smile fell from my face and I shut my eyes, holding my breath to keep from screaming. I shouldn't get mad at her for bringing that up, although it was stupid of her; it wasn't her fault.

"No, not college courses, self-defense classes, stuff like that."

"Oh," she paused. The silence grew heavy between us. I wasn't sure if she had really called to see how I was doing or not. After the way I had acted the last week of school, speaking to no one or becoming senselessly angry whenever someone did speak to me, I would assume she would have wanted to stay clear of me; even after almost a year.

"Did you need something?"

"No," I heard a heavy sigh, "I've just worried about you, Mona. A lot. You were one of my good friends in high school, you know that. And after… We never spoke much after that. I always thought we had a pretty close relationship compared to everyone else we knew, besides… Delia."

I didn't say anything. I couldn't. The guilt and remorse I felt for my parents after the way I had been treating them since Delia's death was a very heavy burden and knowing that I had hurt Abby too added to the weight I felt. I had always liked her. She had been my closest friend next to Delia, but I had completely pushed her away along with everyone else. I felt so detached from the world then, sitting in my bed; my hair and pajamas a mess. It seemed I had been locked up in this room for decades, having burning grievance and vindication as my only source of company. Talking on the phone with her felt like I was having my first communication with the outside world, it felt… different; almost exhilarating.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you if you wanted to hang out tonight. Go out and do something, maybe?" Abby seemed reluctant, but who could have blamed her.

"Go out?" The concept was so far from me. The only outings I had been on since the attack was to get back in shape and train myself, not one with the intention of having fun and letting loose.

"Yeah, maybe a club or something? Go dancing. It might be fun. When was the last time you went out?"

"Your party," I said slowly. She didn't answer. I could almost feel the heat of her embarrassment through the phone. "That sounds good, Abby. I'd like to go out with you. I think I need it, actually."

I surprised myself with the answer. What was I doing? I didn't need to get involved with Abby again with what I was about to do, but I couldn't stop myself from saying the words. I had been holding myself back for so long. Maybe I could do something fun before I rushed head first into the charging bull that was Darley's gang.

"Oh," Abby's voice was one of pleasant surprise, "great! Well, uhm, should I pick you up around nine?"

"Uh, yeah. That sounds okay."

"Well, good. I'll see you later on tonight, okay?"

"I'll see you then," I told her before hanging up. This was going to be interesting. I just hoped that tonight wouldn't end up too badly. I didn't want anything to happen to Abby because of me. It was my duty to protect those around me now. I would always depend on myself for that.

I looked over to my alarm clock, eleven forty-two; might as well get a start on the day. I sighed. I went down stairs and ate a light breakfast before getting ready, putting on some track pants and a hoody. I pulled on my running shoes and grabbed my iPod before heading out the door.

I jogged around my neighborhood absentmindedly, keeping my eyes ahead of me. Even though it was late morning, the air was still condensed with a heavy fog, the sky gray and weeping. I pulled my hood up to keep from getting completely wet. It was a light drizzle, but I still didn't want to risk the chance of catching a cold.

Once I got home, I went down into the basement where I kept my workout equipment. I proceeded to grab two dumbbells, rotating back and forth between curling them to my shoulders as I did squats. Around one o'clock, I stopped my routine work out and ate a lunch that was a little bit heavier than the breakfast I had eaten. I wanted more, but knew to keep my proportions fairly small. The rest of the day I kept myself busy with little things like cleaning, gardening, and cooking dinner early for my parents. What I usually did went I wasn't too preoccupied with fantasizing about Billy Darley and his gang; about how much I wanted to hurt them.

My thoughts stayed with them as I started to get ready for my night out with Abby. It had been two weeks since the day Billy had pulled up next to me. I had resisted going back down there, knowing if I showed up again too soon he would definitely know I was up to something. I had gotten nervous after going into Four Roses to ask about them. People had paid a lot more attention to me than I thought they would, and I was afraid that someone would say something to them. I wasn't too worried about the man, Sammy, though. He seemed to be genuinely interested in my well-being, which I found odd. Why did he care? As long as he didn't say anything, I was okay. After all, he had been the only one I had spoken to.

I had just finished pulling on my sweater when I heard the doorbell ring. I ran down the stairs to get it just as my mother was pulling the door open.

"Abby," she breathed, shocked, "What are you doing here?"

I walked up behind her to see Abby standing there, her short, dark hair framing her small face.

"We're going out, mom," I said. She jumped and turned to face me when she heard my voice.

"Oh," she looked back and forth between me and Abby.

"Actually, we aren't going anywhere with you looking like that," Abby pointed to my attire.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" I asked, looking down. I wore a simple pair of jeans and a black sweater. I thought I looked okay, but then my eyes drifted over Abby's personal choice in clothing. She wore a dark purple dress that came to her mid-thigh. It billowed out as it reached her waist and hung loosely from her chest.

"Oh," I said, seeing her point. We were obviously going to a nightclub and wearing jeans and a sweater just wouldn't cut it. It actually wouldn't even get me in the waiting line for it.

"Let's get you into something more appropriate, huh?" She grabbed my arm and dragged me back up stairs to my room. I looked back at my mom who stood there with a very confused look on her face. She stared back at me, her hand still on the knob to the front door, before finally a small smile appeared across her features.

"We're gonna have a lot of fun tonight, Mona. I'm gonna make sure of it," Abby said, smirking at me.

"Oh, boy," I replied before my bedroom door closed behind us.