Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 36~Push Them To The Dirt 'Til The Words Don't Hurt

*Monday*

Elise and I had been keeping a close watch on Abbie since she came home from school in a rather sullen mood Wednesday night, and was that way for the rest of the night. Not much changed by Thursday morning, she acted as though she was dreading going to school, and when she came back she was just as sullen as the night before. The same goes for Friday, though she seemed more upset in the afternoon than the last two previous days. Over the weekend, she was better, but she didn't return completely to herself. We asked her multiple times if she was ok, and tried to talk to her about it, but she always avoided it somehow or had some excuse. No matter how hard we tried to get something out of her, she remained closed up. But last night was the worst night so far. 

Abbie had showered a little earlier than usual, so when she was done, she had come downstairs and sat on the couch with us, until it was time for her to go to bed. But when her bedtime came, she didn't even make the slightest attempt to head on up to bed. She just sat there and continued to stare at the screen. Thinking that maybe she just wasn't paying attention to the time, because that does sometimes happen, Elise reminded her that it was time for her to go to bed. Abbie started to drag herself up off the couch, but then she scared the shit out of Elise and I when she just randomly burst into tears. Both of us came to her aid, asking her what was wrong and why she was crying. She just kept saying she didn't want to go to school the next day, begging us not to make her go, but she wouldn't tell us why. We did get her to calm down, but because she wouldn't tell us why she didn't want to go to school, we made her go this morning. We told her that if she could tell us why and what was so bad that she didn't want to go, maybe she'd be able to stay home, but she kept her lips sealed and wouldn't tell us. She looked absolutely terrified as she made her way down the driveway to the bus this morning.

Before she went to work, Elise and I sat in the living room, trying to figure out what to do. Elise made the point that it obviously had to be something at school if she didn't want to go so badly. The first thing that came to mind would be Danika and her "rats" as Abbie often puts it. Abbie hasn't spoken of them really since the day I had to go to the school to find out what that fight Abbie was in was really all about, so we can't be sure that they're the problem, but it's definitely a possibility. Tonight,  since she doesn't have practice, I'm going to sit down with her and make her stay there until she finally tells me what's going on because this is not ok. Elise has a concert to attend tonight, so she'll be out late and won't be back before Abbie goes to bed, so it looks like I'm on my own for this one. 

Since we were able to do so well since Elise got us back on track, we didn't have studio time today and were taking today off. So, being the lazy ass that I am, I just sat around all day doing absolutely nothing useful. Now, it was about time for Abbie to get off the bus and I was preparing myself for her arrival. If school is as bad as she made it sound last night and this morning, then she might just burst into tears again without any warning. 

But when she came into the house, and I got up to greet her at the door, she didn't have the emotional breakdown I was bracing myself for. She wasn't her happy, bouncy self either, but she didn't start crying or anything. What was really concerning me, was the fact that she had the hood of her sweatshirt on. It wasn't like it was windy outside or anything, and she didn't take it off as the minutes passed after she got home. The other weird thing about it was that she had the strings pulled to tighten it against her head so it wouldn't fall off, and she had her hair positioned so that it was partly in front of her face... as if she were hiding something. 

I don't even bother to ask how school is, since I already sort of got the idea that it's pretty terrible at the moment, I just don't know why. So, instead, I say,

"Got any homework?" 

Abbie shakes her head. "No. Which is why I'm gonna go get a Mountain Dew, and then go down to the basement."