Searching for You

Enlisting Help

Did I sleep at all after that realization? Absolutely not. I went to school the next day an absolute zombie. What else do you expect?

After yawning when walking through the door, I scarcely remember walking into the first classroom. The lesson for the day couldn't have been that important, because I don't remember any of it. To say I was one of the walkers from the Walking Dead would be an understatement. Especially since I would respond to people with grunts and groans because I didn't have the energy to talk to anyone.

It was around lunchtime when my body finally decided it wanted to wake up. Leo plopped down next to me and leaned back, his eyes wide with shock.

"Abby," he began slowly, "you look like you're about to eat something raw."

I blinked out of my trance. "What?"

"I have never seen you look so feral before," Leo explained. "What on earth did you do last night?"

I shrugged. "Was on my computer too long," I said simply.

"Oh. So you're currently running on energy drinks. Got it."

That wasn't technically true, but I went with it. My body sometimes did this. It was like it was running on reserves and the reserves were super potent, or something. 

It was true that I had stayed up too late on my computer, but I didn't say why. I didn't say why because I hadn't told them about my name yet, or about my father and who he was. And it wasn't like they had time to help anyways. Missions were super taxing and took up a lot of time. And if they weren't on a mission then they were doing schoolwork and/or training. And if not that? Sleeping.

Something I currently need to do, I thought bitterly.

I turned to Leo. "You don't look like you got too much sleep either, smart butt."

He stuck his tongue out at me. "That's my business."

"Why? What were you doing that you shouldn't have been doing?"

"I---"

"He was watching a PG-13 movie at midnight," Chase broke in. I hadn't seen him come into the cafeteria.

Leo glared at him. "How do you know that?"

Chase sighed and looked at him with his eyebrows raised. "You seem to forget that I have super hearing and that you like to watch your movies right above where I'm sleeping."

Leo flushed and crossed his arms, pouting. I looked at Chase and we both giggled. The comedy show you got to experience when being around this crazy family made all of the near-death experiences worth it. I know that sounds stupidly morbid. Don't worry about it, it's fine.

Something kept nagging at me and it took me a second to figure out what it was. I realized eventually that I needed to tell someone about my little endeavor but I had no idea who that someone would be. Who would be willing to help me with something as crazy as searching for a long lost dad?

I decided not to dwell on it and went to finish the school day. I would worry about it after school.

Mom was working on the laptop in the living room when I got home. She looked up at me and smiled when I walked in the door.

"How was school?" she asked.

"It was okay," I said. "Just the usual."

I slung my backpack off my shoulder and slumped into the chair across from her, sighing loudly. She gave me a curious look and I prayed that she wouldn't ask about.

But, of course, like how my luck is with everything, she did.

"Something you want to tell me?"

I chuckled dryly. "I hate how you know."

She closed her laptop and put away her reading glasses, setting both to the side and crossing her arms. "Alright," she said, "what's up?"

"Should I ask someone to help me look for Dad?"

The silence that followed was one of the most painful things in the world. Awkward silences were never fun, but they especially weren't when you had a topic as deep as this one. It sucked. And Mom wasn't one to let a serious conversation slide.

"Is there anyone you trust enough to help?" she asked.

"I mean, Adam, Bree and Chase are always an option," I reasoned. "But I'm not sure how they'll react to the 'hey, I'm actually not a Strickland, I'm a McCoy' conversation. They could look at me weird."

She pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow at me. The look on her face sent a chill down my spine. Every time I saw someone look at me with a raised eyebrow, I thought about him. Marcus Davenport. The dead android. It was like his face haunted me wherever I went, taunting me about how I failed to save his life even though I knew there was nothing that could be done.

It still killed me on the inside.

"How did they react when you told them about your powers?" Mom asked.

"They reacted well," I replied.

"So . . . what's making you so hesitant to share news about your dad?"

I thought about that for a moment. She made a good point. What reason was there for me not to talk about family stuff with my friends? Of course, I shouldn't share anything too personal with my friends, but Mom seemed to be okay with something like this, which was almost unheard of in my family. I guess finally coming out with the truth about my dad really changed her for the better. I couldn't imagine having so much pent-up rage over someone who left her all those years ago.

I thanked Mom for her time and walked out of the living room, taking my bag with me. I tossed my bag onto my bed and whipped out my phone, dialing Bree's number.

"Howdy, girl!" she greeted cheerfully. "What's up?"

"Bree, I need to see you at your house after school tomorrow," I said.

"Why?"

"I've got some news to share and help to enlist. Prep your siblings, okay?"

"Understood."

Sorry for the late update! (AGAIN) 

I've been working on a separate writing project of mine which isn't going to be posted here. I've had this chapter in my drafts for a WHILE and finally decided to finish it in between working on different writing projects. Hope you enjoyed!