SkaterGirl

Chapter Ten

Tomorrow was the first day of school. Cayla had invited me to sleep over at her and Luke's house, so I did. I hadn't had a proper sleepover in such a long time. But even now, I didn't know how to act like a normal teenage girl. Cayla was telling me stories from all the places she's lived, sang a few songs, and was painting my toes red.

"So are you ready for senior year?" She asked.

I nodded. "Are you?"

"You bet," she squealed.

"So, um, where's your dad?" I asked.

"Oh, I don't know. Never met him," she said.

"I'm sorry. Shouldn't have asked," I said, guilt swirling through me.

"Oh, no, you're fine," she assured me. "You can ask me about almost anything and it won't be too hard for me to talk about."

I nodded.

"So how do you live on your own all the time?" She asked.

"Well with the boys constantly dropping by, and that teacher, Ms. Ames coming by, it doesn't feel like I'm living alone," I said.

"Who is Ms. Ames and why is she coming to your house all the time?" She asked.

"She's a teen leadership teacher at the school. And I think she just wants to make sure I'm okay, like the boys," I shrugged.

She did too and put the red nail polish away. "Now your toes just have to dry."

Luke went to stay the night with Danny. Cayla went to get some water and I looked around her room. It really reflected her personality. Pink and glitter and pictures of her and a bunch of happy people.

"Okay, back," Cayla sat a glass of water and some junk food in front of me.

"Thanks," I said drinking the water.

Eating properly was becoming easier, but I still had trouble actually keeping the food in my stomach. It just wouldn't feel right and I'd sometimes throw the food back up.

"So how are things going with Danny?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I don't think that's gonna happen. But I do think you were right when you said Vince liked me."

"Why?" I asked.

"He texts me, like, every morning and every night, and sporadically throughout the day," she said.

"You two really would be cute together if you like him," I said.

"I'm thinking about it, because he's really sweet and I don't know. This might actually happen," she said.

I nodded.

"What about you? Still convinced Kyle and/or Danny doesn't like you?" She asked.

"Yep," I said. "We've been friends for way too long. And we're a group. I don't think it'd be a good thing if one of them liked me and I didn't like them. That would make things awkward."

"Okay, that's so not what I asked," she laughed.

"I don't think they like me," I clarified.

"Do you like anyone?" She asked.

I shook my head. "No."

"Oh, wow, it's late. Let's go to bed," she looked at her phone.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Fifteen till two," she laughed.

"Whoa," I said.

"Abigail, why don't you smile? You don't laugh at anything," she said.

I shrugged. "I'm just not exactly a ray of sunshine like you. Things got greyer when my dad died and I don't know. It's hard to smile or laugh about anything anymore."

"Well, I hope you can find happiness again," she said. "Goodnight."

"Night," I said, not really knowing where to sleep.

I laid on the floor, staring at the ceiling. I couldn't sleep. Going to sleep was the hardest part of my day. At night, that was when everything set in. That I was an orphan. That I was so broken inside, there was no way anyone could have feelings for me. That I obviously didn't deserve to be happy, because it just felt like I was in a dark hole all the time.

I grabbed my glass and went downstairs to refill it.

"Can't sleep?" Cayla's mom, Ruby, asked.

I jumped and faced her. "Not really. Why are you up?"

"I just worry about Cayla, is all," she said.

"Why?" I asked.

"From meeting her, you think she makes friends easily. Which, she does. But majority of them are fake. They don't care about her and she doesn't see it. She just craves any kind of relationship, so she's very vulnerable and naive," she said.

"But she has a loving family. Why does she crave so much attention?" I asked.

"Luke is her only sibling. And I'm old," she chuckled. "She doesn't feel like she can talk to us about anything since we aren't in her shoes. Which is why I'm glad you're here for her. She makes it appear she's doing you a favor, when really, you're doing her one."

"But I don't do anything. She talks, I listen," I said.

"That's what she wants. What she needs. For someone she feels comfortable with, to listen," she said.

I nodded. "Well. I'm a good listener."

"I know. Your parents would be very proud," she said.

I chugged my water for ten seconds and shook my head. "My mom's been gone for almost ten years, my dad hated me while he was alive..."

"Trust me. Your mom has been watching you all this time. And your dad, was probably just upset," she said.

I nodded and chugged more of my water. "Well, goodnight."

I went to Cayla's room and curled in a ball and cried myself to sleep.
*****
Y'all, I really need help!! Haha Danny or Kyle?! I keep leaning towards Danny, but I don't know! Leave a vote down below explaining why Kyle or why Danny! And what do you think of Ruby? And do you think teen leadership will be good for Abigail? I seriously am loving writing this for y'all! Thank y'all so much for the support you've been giving for the book! It means the world!!!