Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 24~The Explanation

Another dreadful week went by, and I think Abbie's told me she hates me a grand total of ten times now, not counting the first time she said it when I grounded her on only day two. We've yelled at each other again, she's accused me of not caring again, she's currently grounded and once again not speaking to me, or looking at me. The only time I ever hear her talk is when she sings while playing guitar, or when the guys come over.

When I thought that song she played a week ago, which I now know was It Only Hurts by Default, was the best song for her to take a stab at my heart with, I was wrong. Last night I heard her playing Perfect by Simple Plan, and I was brought to tears. No, not just tears, more like sobs. I sat outside her door and sobbed as quietly as I could manage, but if she heard me she didn't care. I didn't know that I could feel so much pain until now. 

It was like that day at the beach never happened, like I'd never heard her say 'I love you too, Daddy' when I said goodnight to her. It was like it was just some big dream that turns out to be a disappointment when you finally wake up because it wasn't real. Now everything's just gone to hell again. I've lost my little sea monster and she can't be found. 

I was sitting at the piano now, down in the basement. I'd originally came to drum, but for once I found that I just didn't have it in me, so I played piano for a while instead. I figured it out a couple days ago that Abbie seems to know when I come down here, because I've started making a daily routine of it. I caught her on her way back up the stairs one day when I was drumming, she'd been sitting there watching me for I don't know how long, but she acts like she doesn't have the slightest clue that I was even in the basement to begin with. She still came to watch after that, but I continued to pretend that I didn't know she was there. I thought that if she knew, she wouldn't come anymore. It seems to be the only time she willingly comes to me, even if she doesn't speak, and it seems to be the only time she'll lay eyes on me.

I'd just finished playing and as I started to get up, I heard the basement door shut and that was how I knew that she'd been here today. I thought I could feel a pair of eyes drilling holes through my back.

Matt was coming over to hang out for a little while today, since he knew about Abbie and I having our recent conflict and that she wasn't speaking to me, he felt that I needed a little more social human contact. So I went upstairs, and found that I was just in time because he was walking to the door. He only had time to knock once before I had the door open, and I greeted him with a small smile.

"Hey Jimmy, how're you doing?" He asked as he came into the house.

"I'm alright, I guess." I shrugged, and he followed me into the kitchen. I got two beers out of the fridge and slid one down the bar to him.

"How's Abbie?" Matt asked, quieter this time.

I didn't answer for a moment or two, but then said, "I couldn't tell you, really."

"Still not talking to you?"

I shook my head sadly. "I'm lucky if I even get a grunt."

"I'm sorry, Jimmy." Matt frowned. "I blame Jasmine! Even in her death she wants you in pain!"

I laughed a little, and that seemed to satisfy him because he grinned. "Yeah, yeah she does. I swore I wouldn't give in, but I did and now look where that's gotten me." I muttered, running my fingers through my hair.

"There's gotta be a way to turn this around, I know there's gotta be at least one way!" Matt said. I took a swig of my beer and looked at him.

"Well when you find it, let me know, because I give up on looking. I'm just gonna let this thing take it's course now because I don't know what else to do." I replied, taking another drink.