The New Girl

Chapter 7

Abby woke up Thursday morning feeling better, but she still felt fatigue when she would walk around too much. She went to school wearing the same attire she did everyday at school; black hood, and dark blue jeans with her simple Vans. She entered the classroom, arriving a few minutes before the bell, and sat in the back of the classroom. The room slowly filled one student at a time. Some rushing to grab their favorite seat, others slowly moving as if it didn't matter where they were seated. 

After her incident with Derek and seeing Nick, she wasn't sure on what to do about any of it. She knew what Derek would do if she didn't listen to him. Derek would make her life a living Hell, regardless if it were physically or mentally. It could even be emotionally. But Nick was a good friend, and Abby liked him. She had grown to him over the past three weeks. To Abby though, it wasn't about how much she liked Nick. It was about how afraid she is of Derek. She did what she thought any girl would do in her situation, and cut ties with Nick. 

She walked to her locker after class and opened it to exchange books. As she grabbed a book from the locker to replace the one she just put in, she felt two hands cover her eyes. 

"Good morning!"

Abby turned around as the two hands released her eyes to see it was Nick with a wide smile. A smile such that of a child with extra dessert. Abby smiled back, but as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. She took a deep breath and looked into his dark brown eyes that looked so relaxed, but energetic; eager, but patient; crazy but sane. A feeling in her chest that thumped harder and harder as he remained in front of her. The pounding within her chest began pulsing within her fingertips. She wrapped her arms around her books and held them, like she wanted to be held in this very moment.

"Nick... I," She paused.

Nick tilted his head one way with the same smile, " What is it?" He asked. His voice riffled through her heart with each word. She looked into his eyes and her heart sank and her trembles began. 

"We can't talk anymore."

Nick's smiled disappeared and immediately turned into a hurt and broken smile. 

"What?"

"You and I can't talk anymore. I need you to leave me alone," Abby said shifting her eyes to the floor. Her voice became weaker with each word, knowing that this was going to be a mistake letting him go. He looked at her, shocked, dazed, and confused. 

"Did I do something wrong? I mean we had that heart to heart talk and now this?" Nick said brushing his hair back.

"I know, Nick. Please, just we can't talk anymore." She said with her trembles increasing in her hands and arms. "I have to go." Abby walked down the hall.

"Wait, Abby. I'm sorry!" Nick yelled down the hall as she walked away. 

She knew that she had hurt Nick, and she felt horrible about it. Who would feel great after doing something like that? But in the end, Abby knew she needed to protect herself before having a social life. To her, knowing she won't get beaten is better than having friends. 

As she entered English class later that day, she had expected Lem to immediately try to get an answer out of her about what happened that she knew she wouldn't give. But Lem was not in class. As her school day continued, she had predicted one of the three to come up to her to talk to her about it at least once, but so far not a single one of them have crossed her path. She entered Trig class knowing this had to be the class she would be approached by at least Nick. She sat down in the back and watched the door. She watched one student walk in at a time anticipating Nick to come in dragging his feet like he use to in the mornings. The last of the students entered the room and the bell rung. No Nick.