When I Met Polly

Chapter 20

An abrupt beeping, from outside my bedroom, pulls me from my sleep. I spring upwards with widened eyes. I wait a few minutes and wait for another beep. Yep there it is! I scrabble from my covers and walk over to the window. Outside my house is a black car, I can't see who's driving, but I know the beeping is intentional. How have the neighbours slept through this? I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear, and pull on a dressing gown, before walking out on to the landing. I creep past mum and Jeff's room, and tiptoe down the stairs. I open the front door and look out. The car door opens, and I do not hold back my long and mournful groan as Alex Jennings climbs smoothly out of the car. He offers me a little smile. I stare back at him with dead eyes, before rolling my eyes, waving dismissively and turning to go back inside. However before I know it he had gently grabs my arm and spins me back around.
"Abby, wait!" He pleads. I grit my teeth.
"How many god damn times Alex? I don't want you to try and talk to me, I just don't want you around, I've moved on, just please let me!" I beg, my voice cracking slightly with desperation. His blue eyes twinkle with sorrow and hurt. He then bites his lip, and shakes his head.
"I'm sorry, but I can't," he declares, I look down at his hand on my arm, and look back up to him with a cocked eyebrow. He releases his grip and I roll my eyes before continuing to walk back to my house.
"Bye Alex," I sigh, boredly. I then realise I didn't bring a key with me when I came out here, I'm locked out. I could knock but mum will think I had snuck out in the night, and she'd see Alex.
"This can't be happening!" I groan wanting to slam my head onto the door and knock myself out. "Please god," I pray wanting to cry.
"Aha, now if that isn't fate, then what is?" Marvels Alex smugly. I grit my teeth so tightly I fear they may crack.
"That is not fate, it is the result of being woken up at 5.30 in the morning!" I snap. He holds his hands up in surrender.
"So what you going to do then?" He questions with a smart ass smirk. I hate him, oh so much.
"I'll call my friend!" I declare, with a smug smile. He laughs.
"What from the top of a tower," he says, I furrow my eyebrows. "You have no phone," he explains, as if he was talking to an alien. I groan again. I collapse onto the door step thinking of possible ways out of this impossible situation. I then stand up and and observe the wall leading to my bedroom window. I could try and climb up the pump. I strip off my heavy, blue dressing gown, not bothering to feel self conscious in my pyjama shorts and vest top. I hear Alex's breath hitch and I turn to him with another dead look he ever so slightly blushes. He then let's out a laugh as I grip onto the pipe.
"Practicing for your career," he comments teasingly. I pause and turn to him with a warning glare.
"By that Alex, I hope you mean as a spy," I caution. He laughs lowly.
"Yeah sure..." I roll my eyes before yet again trying to scrabble up the pipe. However I fall straight back down. I press a hand to my head. "What am I doing?" I question.
"It's not going to work," he states. I shoot him a glare. "The pipes too weak, to take that weight," he says.
"Calling me fat?" I hiss. He holds his hand up.
"No, I was calling the pipe weak," he quickly defends. I sigh and stomp on the ground.
"Why is life so cruel?" I curse.
"So are you on for letting me take you to have pancakes with Nutella for breakfast or are you going to wait out here all morning trying to climb that pipe?" He questions. I ponder, pancakes with Nutella? "I can even throw in some Malteasers," he suggests. My thoughts then materialise into the memories of discovering the Malteasers packet yesterday.
"Wait a second, yesterday, how did you get into my house?" I question. He smiles.
"Your mum left the back door open," he states. I groan, I had hoped it would be some way that I could use.
"How did you know?" I inquire. He blinks a few times.
"Know what?" He replies.
"Know that I like Malteasers?" I explain. He smiles.
"It wasn't about knowing, it was about remembering," he says calmly. I can't help but ever so slightly smile, I knew he was referring to when we shared Malteasers on the coach. I suddenly feel very nostalgic. In a good and bad way. Good because it's nice to know that things have changed, that I've managed to move on. Bad because that was one of the worst days of my life. I look at Alex for a few moments, his blue eyes sparkling in thought.
"What?" He questions my stare. I shake myself off.
"Nothing," I mumble softly. I then bite my lip and squeeze my eyes shut. "I can't believe I'm agreeing to this, but fine I'll come with you," I sigh, a little unsurely. His eyes widen, excitedly.
"Really?" He breathes. I roll my eyes, before slowly nodding. He punches the air ever so slightly. I then look down at my pyjamas.
"Wait, I have no clothes," I remind. He shrugs.
"Those will do," he states with a sigh. I shake my head.
"I'm not going out in my pyjamas Alex!" I growl.
"Look we'll eat the breakfast in my car, okay?" He suggests. I ponder the thought, before sighing and nodding. We then walk over to his car, he holds the passenger car door open for me. I hop inside and wait as he clambers in the drivers seat.

I lay my head back on the car seat. I then feel Alex's car pull to a stop. I open my eyes, and assess my surroundings. I then feel as if a massive rock has just thudded into my chest, my expression drops and I stare with dead eyes. He has pulled up to a little cafe, that little cafe being 'Little Stacy's Little Restaurant.' Oh wow...
"Really?" I hiss. He turns to me with an unsure stare.
"What?" He questions.
"You really don't remember? Do you?" I laugh, however my laugh possesses no humour, it was icy and cold. He looks up at the shop, after a few moments his eyes widen in realisation. He groans and drops his head in his hand.
"Abby I-"
"Look, just drive me home," I mutter. Alex looks at me, he then slowly and cautiously rests his hand on mine. I shoot my eyes over to our hands and then over to him.
"Abby, it's not like it was then, it's all a different story," he insists. I shake my head.
"But you don't understand, what it was like, you may think I'm being over dramatic but you don't have a god damn clue what it was like for me, and I don't want you to know, I don't want anyone to know, cause not even the devil himself should ever be demanded to know what it was like," I whisper, my voice cracking slightly. His eyes soften and plead.
"I'm so sorry Abby, and I know that's not enough. But you don't know what it's like for me either, living with the fact that I-I did that, I made you feel that way, all I'm doing is just trying to make a change, or not even that, because you can't change it. I'm trying to compensate," he explains. Okay, so I know what he's saying it's good, it's sweet? But it's not what I wanted. I didn't want him to feel he had to do this, because of all the stuff he did to me, I wanted him to want to do it...but I guess that's one thing that's always been a problem with me, it's always kind of been that way.
"Okay," I whisper, snatching my hand away.
He looks at me, with one raised eyebrow, "you okay?" He questions. I force a smile and nod.
"Okay, I'll get breakfast," he says gently before climbing out of the car and walking into the shop. I sink back into the seat.

"So your mum?" I begin, sipping my hot chocolate. I see him tense. "Sorry," I say quickly.
"No, it's fine, I can trust you," he assures. I gulp and look down at my doughnut covered in multicoloured sprinkles.
"Okay," I whisper.
"She uh..." He hesitates, and looks at me as if calculating who I am. I offer him a comforting smile, he shakes himself of and snaps his gaze away. I internally hate myself for finding it cute, as he clutches the sides of his seat and bites his lip. "Uh she died," he states shortly. "Of cancer...she smoked a lot, and developed lung cancer," he says and takes a shaky breath. His blue eyes are soft but scared and upset. His hand is resting beside mine, I slowly and shakily reach out my hand and intwine it with his, giving his a squeeze for comfort. His blue eyes widen and he looks up at me, in surprise, his eyes were almost asking permission. I smile reassuringly.
"It's okay Alex, I'm sure she'd be proud if she saw you now," I say, my voice quivers at the end. I don't know if I'm telling the truth, it's just something you say to comfort someone, I don't know who this boy is anymore. He shakes his head and laughs, a humourless laugh.
"Proud?" He repeats his voice cracks at the end and it makes my heart break ever so slightly for him. "Look at what I did to you," he spits. I hate the venom in his voice, even if it is for himself, it just reminds me of when he talked to me like that. I flinch at his tone and he looks to me with soft eyes.
"I'm okay Alex, I'm okay now, it was a long time ago," I assure. He looks at me with widened eyes.
"So, you forgive me?" He questions cautiously. I look at him for a few moments and stare deep into his blue eyes. I feel my chest sink. Tears build up in my eyes and I force a shake of the head. He sighs and clenches his jaw as he turns away.
"I'm sorry, Alex, but I just can't," I whisper, forcing my tears behind my eyes. There is a long pause as he doesn't look at me.
"Get out!" He spits suddenly. My eyes widen.
"What? Alex?" I whisper in shock.
"Get out!" He yells. I stare at him. "I pour my heart out to you and you just throw it back in my face!" He growls shaking his head. I narrow my eyes in shock.
"Wow Alex, I'm not even sure how to reply to you!" I say lowly.
"You can just get out!" He orders. I roll my tongue across my teeth.
"Wow, well that was close, that was a good one there. Pretending to have changed, making me believe you were someone else, but know it's all the same, because you still haven't realised, that some god damn doughnut, a hot chocolate and a sob story won't ever make up for the things you did to me," I spit, controlling my voice to an indoor voice. "And don't try arriving outside my house again with an apology, because this time, for once I'm not going to let my past anywhere near me, goodbye Alex Jennings," I say, before slamming the car door and walking away. I look down at my pyjamas and groan. I am stranded by 'little Stacy's" in my freaking pyjamas. I run a hand through my hair, Alex's car has gone. I'm kind of cold, it's the morning and I left my dressing gown outside my house. People on the streets are eyeing me suspiciously as I shiver in the cold, one woman tuts as she passes me.
"Some people have no shame!" She retorts, I stick my tongue out at her, because I am a mature, young lady. I shiver uncontrollably, Alex is beyond words, I can't believe it, never again will I even talk to him.

That's a promise!