The Way Back

Chapter 2

Abby looked at her watch and knocked on the door. She was late. She had missed her bus connection and spent 20 minutes shivering in a bus stop. It was dark and raining now and the final walk from the bus stop to Darren’s house had left her feeling chilled.  When she had at last found number 32 she’d felt a wave of relief go through her, but at the same time she felt terrified. She was about to see Darren after four long years. She knocked loudly, wishing she’d had the foresight to get drunk first. Alcohol would definitely have helped settle her nerves. How should she greet him? A hug? A high five? Drunk Abby wouldn’t have cared. Sober nervous Abby was likely to trip over her words and make this reunion more awkward than it needed to be.

Abby raised her hand to knock again and the door suddenly opened. A tall blond guy looked out and Abby felt her heart flutter. My god he was hot! Was this Darren’s housemate? Her eyes quickly took in his toned arms and flat stomach, accentuated by his tight grey shirt and jeans. He ran a hand through his medium length wet blond hair and stared at her in surprise, then he smiled warmly, “Hi Abby.”

Abby blinked. Did she know him? She looked into his blue eyes for a second and then a jolt of recognition ran through her. Holy shit! It was Clay. Jesus when did he get so ripped?! He looked like a Calvin Klein model. Clay had always been hot in school, but now, well… suffice to say he had aged well. Clay regarded her carefully as he ran a hand across his five o'clock shadow. Abby had to fight the urge to bite her lip. What was she? 17 again? She shook herself out of it.

“Clay! How’s it?”

She swung her hand up in what she hoped was a casual high five. He looked at her hand and then at her face. He opened the door wider and moved to one side to let her in. Abby dropped her hand, immediately feeling like an idiot. Did people not high five anymore? She was so out of touch. Nerves rattled through her.  Abby walked inside and Clay shut the door behind them. He gestured for her to go ahead and she walked into the living room. Her hands shook slightly so she gripped onto her backpack straps and took a deep breath. This was it -she was about to see Darren. Abby walked into the room and looked around. The room was dimly lit by a small lamp in the corner. Several dark leather couches lined the walls, with a coffee table in the middle. It was clean but there was the faint smell of beer and cigarettes that told her this house was no stranger to partying. Abby looked around. No one else seemed to be home.

She turned to Clay who was leaning against the door frame, watching her, “Abby…”

“Is Darren here?”

Clay shook his head. Abby frowned, “Um, okay.” Panic welled through her. Why was Darren not here? He knew she was coming at 8. She was super late. What was going on?

She looked back at Clay. Why was he just staring at her like that? “Abby…”

“Do you know when he might be back?”

Another shake of the head. Abby let out a huff of frustration. Well this was very Darren. She sat down on the couch and dropped her bag at her feet, trying not to succumb to a wave of self pity. Clay continued to watch her from the other side of the room. Abby pulled out her phone and called Daren. The phone went to voicemail. She shoved her phone into her bag and then drummed her fingers on her knee.

Finally, Abby couldn’t stand the silence anymore, “Do you know where Darren is?”

He nodded, “Tony’s.” 

Abby smirked. So Clay hadn’t become mute. She stared at him. It was strange to reconcile the memory she had of him, with the man who stood before her now. She had always remembered Clay as being too good for everyone. Or was it just too good for her? He had always seemed cheerful enough when he was with the boys but in her presence he would become detached and monosyllabic, like she just wasn’t worth the effort. Abby smirked -looked like nothing had changed there. Except she had. She wasn’t the pushover she’d been in high school. She’d always been painfully shy around Clay. Of course she’d had a crush on him- who wouldn’t with those blue eyes? But that was a long time ago.