Unspoken Goals

I'm Not Acting Shy

October 6th

Two weeks had passed, and Abigail's distance from her friends was becoming more apparent. Though she attended their Wednesday movie nights and hung out occasionally, she was clearly detached. She spent most of her time in her room, in the gym, or studying outside the apartment. On weekends, she drove home, only returning late on Sunday nights.

This evening, Sophie, Emily, and Juliette were cuddled up on the couch, a movie playing softly in the background as they anxiously awaited Abigail's return. The air was thick with concern after hearing what Ethan had told Juliette the previous night.

Juliette had run into Ethan at the bar and confronted him about Abigail's distant behavior. To her shock, he had casually mentioned that he and Abigail were on a break, a fact that Abigail had kept hidden from them.

"I can't believe she wouldn't tell us she and Ethan are on a break," Soph said, her voice tinged with both hurt and worry.

Em, leaning against Juliette for comfort, looked up with concern. "Has she ever kept something major like this from you before, Julie?" Em asked.

"No, she hasn't," Juliette replied, frustration evident in her tone. "I don't understand what's going on with her." She sighed, the weight of Abigail's silence pressing down on her chest.

The girls had tried to respect Abigail's space, hoping she would open up when she was ready. But knowing she had kept something so significant from them felt like a betrayal. It was as if a wall had been erected between them, a barrier that their friendship had never faced before.

Sophie's eyes were filled with a mix of sadness and frustration. "We've always shared everything. Why would she hide this from us?"

Juliette shook her head, her mind racing with possibilities. "Maybe she thought we'd judge her or that we wouldn't understand. But we're her friends. We're supposed to be there for each other, especially during tough times."

The movie played on, its storyline lost on them as they sat in heavy silence, the flickering screen casting shadows of doubt and worry across their faces. The once cozy atmosphere now felt suffocating, the tension in the room palpable.

Their thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a key turning in the lock. They all sat up, hearts pounding, as the door opened and Abigail stepped inside.

Juliette sprang to her feet and rushed to the door, pulling Abigail into a tight hug. Abigail, caught off guard, took a moment to hug her back. "Hi," she said with a giggle, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness.

Soph and Em joined the hug, enveloping Abigail in a warm group embrace. "What is going on right now?" Abigail asked, her amusement not fully hiding the confusion in her eyes.

"What is going on?" Em echoed, her tone a mix of exasperation and worry. "How about you tell us what's going on?"

Abigail looked between them, her expression guarded. "What do you mean?"

"Okay, wait," Soph interjected. "Let's let her actually get into the apartment and settle in before we start interrogating her."

"Fine," Em agreed reluctantly.

"Thank you, Soph," Abigail said, visibly relieved.

After about twenty minutes, Abigail sat in the chair next to the couch where the other girls were seated, a cautious smile on her face. "How was your weekend, Abs?" Juliette asked, trying to ease into the conversation.

"It was good. I went to Drew's football game on Friday night," Abigail replied, her voice steady but distant.

"Okay, enough with the small talk," Em said, cutting to the chase. "What has been going on with you, Abby?"