Lauren is snuggling with her GBF in her room. Abel still can't believe that she knows about vampires, but he's relieved, too.
"At least he didn't leave you on your birthday and didn't actually break up with you," Lauren says as she runs her fingers through Abel's fading hair.
"Yeah."
"Are you going to color your hair again?" Lauren asks.
"I need to get more dye," Abel replies. "Want to go today? I got paid on Friday."
At the end of June, Abel got a job at Carver's Cafe as a chef alongside a kind older man named Bobby. Bobby didn't mind cooking alone, but he needed the help because they've getting more and more busy lately and he can't cook it all alone and keep the customers happy and satisfied. So he told Willy, the owner, that they needed a secondary chef and Abel was the third person to apply and the one that Willy hired once Bobby approved.
"Let's go then."
They go out to the Jeep that Emmett left behind for Abel. Abel was given Emmett's Jeep, the one the vampire usually drives. He said in a note that he'd ride around with Rosalie and Evan if he had to, or Jasper and Alice, or Esme and Carlisle... not Edward since he took off on his own and Emmett isn't totally thrilled with him.
"Wanna stay in town or go to Port Angeles?" Abel asks his pansexual best friend.
"Port Angeles," Lauren replies. "Let's get out of this town for a bit. Wanna get a different shade of blue? A darker?"
"How about black with blue in it?" Abel suggests as he starts Emmett's Jeep up.
"Ooh, I have an idea!" Lauren gushes. "Jessica's mom is a hair dresser. Maybe she can do it for you."
"Yeah!" *****
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"Oh, I love this," Abel says as he looks in Jessica's vanity.
"I like your hair blue, but I like the black in it," Jess says casually as she chews gum while sitting on her bed. "It really makes the blue pop." She looks up at Abel, her expression changing from bored to concerned. "Hey, I heard about the Cullens leaving. I'm sorry."
"I'll be okay," Abel claims. "Emmett didn't break up with me. And he left me his Jeep."
"You two are epic together," Jessica says calmly with a smile. "I can't wait for him to come back and I expect a wedding invite whenever gay marriage is legal in the state of Washington."
"You can be a bride's maid, who are we kidding?" Abel grins and Jessica smiles a little. "Lauren will be maid of honor, sorry, Jess."
"No worries," Jessica replies, waving off Abel's apology. "I wish you were at least bi, or pan like Emmett and Lauren."
"Why?" Abel asks as he spins around in the spinning desk chair he's sitting in to face her.
"Because you're hot and you're very kind," Jessica says. "You never find a straight guy like that. They're usually gay, or they're bi or pan or taken."
"I'm sorry," Abel says. "You can kiss me, but I can't promise I won't feel nauseated afterward."
Jessica giggles. "I'm good. I don't want to make you sick," she muses as Lauren grins at the two. "Hey, wanna grab a movie this weekend, guys? There's this new Rom-Com in the Seattle theatre."
"I'm down," Abel says. "I'll tell my uncle where I'm going. But tomorrow, I, spending the day with my mom at the cemetery. I'm introducing Lauren to her."
"That's sweet," Jess coos. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost my mom."
"You'd wither away," Jocelyn Stanley says from the doorway. "Lauren, Abel, I'm making spaghetti and a salad for dinner with breadsticks. Would you two like to stay?"
"Let me call my uncle and let him know," Abel says once Lauren agrees.
Jocelyn nods. "I love you, too, Jess," she says to her daughter before she disappears out of the room and goes downstairs.
"Your mom's the greatest," Abel says once ha hands up. "Charlie says I can stay out as late as I want."
"How's Bella doing?' Jess asks. "I know she was head over heals for Edward."
"She's not doing too good," Abel admits. "I'm worried. She let herself rely on him, allowed that love to literally consume her..."
"Yeah." Jess sighs. "Let's study while you're here, guys!"
"Oh, for sure!"
"And plan our senior prom outfits," Lauren adds.
Jess snaps her fingers and she points at her. "Yes!" she exclaims and Abel chuckles.
He'll be just fine after all, no matter how much he'll miss Emmett.
