Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 59~More Pain To Bottle Up

When I woke up, I found that the other side of the bed was still empty like it had been when I went to sleep last night, meaning that Jimmy had chosen to stay the night on the couch. When I'd gone to bed, he was still awake, just watching TV. I thought maybe if he cooled off he'd come up to bed when he was ready, but I guess not. Well it's not like I care that much, I'm still angry at him for the way he just 'dismissed' Abbie last night. I don't know how he doesn't realize that she's hurting, that's not like him at all. They way he acted last night... it almost gave me the impression that he didn't care, but that can't be true. Abbie's his princess, she always has been and she always will be, so he must care. 

I sighed and got out of bed, glancing at the time and seeing that I'd woken up just in time to wake the girls up for school. Today would be Abbie's first day, and I know she's nervous about it because she doesn't know the building. I know she'll be ok, though. A lot of the friends she had in elementary school still attend the same middle school, and she'll probably end up reconnecting with a lot of them. She's already got Dustin, and she found out that she'd be in the same homeroom as him the other day, and he promised to help her with anything she needed. 

I went across the hall to Abbie's room first because it was right straight across from the bedroom. It was really great having her door open instead of closed all the time, and it was even better to walk by and see her sitting in there doing whatever. I liked being able to get her up for school in the morning again.

Abbie was all snuggled up under the covers, I could just barely see her face because nearly her whole body was covered up by the large comforter. She slept so quietly and peacefully that I almost felt bad for having to wake her, but she has an education to receive. 

"Abbie," I shook her gently. "You gotta get up for school." She groaned, just like she used to when she was little. I laughed quietly and gently removed the blankets from her body. "C'mon, get your lazy butt out of bed."

Abbie laughed a little, her eyes still shut. "Noooo." She mumbled out tiredly, feeling around for the blankets and pulling them back up over her as she turned over onto her other side.

"Don't you roll over!" I teased, grabbing the pillow and sliding it out from under her head. She yelped slightly out of surprise when her head fell to the mattress, and I started beating her with the pillow. This is what my dad used to do to me when I didn't want to get for school in the morning. It always worked. 

It did work, too, because soon Abbie started laughing uncontrollably, trying to defend herself by putting her arms over her face. "Alright, alright! I'm awake!" She exclaimed.

I stopped, smirking. "Good, now get out of bed." 

As she started moving around, I turned and went back out in the hall, going into Kaylee's room next. She was curled up into a little ball, sleeping as peacefully as Abbie had been. I shook her too, telling her to get up. She didn't protest like Abbie did, her eyes fluttering open easily. Kaylee smiled slightly and stretched out, yawning. 

When she was done stretching, I lifted her out of the bed and brought her over to the dresser to help her pick out her clothes for the day. She had laid her head on my shoulder, obviously still sleepy but she was more willing to get the day started than her sister was. Once she had what she wanted to wear all picked out, I set it out on her bed and I put her down on the ground. As I turned to leave, I heard,

"Mommy?" 

I looked over my shoulder. "Yeah?" 

"Abbie's getting on the bus with me, right?"

I smiled slightly. "Right, but she'll probably sit in the back with Dustin." 

Kaylee nodded, and then I left. I paused at Abbie's door to make sure she was up, and she was just starting to make her way to the dresser, so I headed downstairs to get their breakfast ready. Dustin had become a family friend since he's lived across the street, and I think Jimmy trusts him more than he did when he first met him.