Loved & Loyal | 1

xv

We broke apart from our cuddling position and now we lay side by side on my mattress, staring at the ceiling.

"When are you gunna ask to get out of grounding?" Abby asked, trying to break the slightly awkward silence.

"Not sure yet. I don't wanna push it and ask too early. Besides, I've already gone through more than half the month. I might just wait it out."

"But Beeeeeennnnn..." Abs whined.

"What Abbbbbbsssss..." I mimicked.

"I want to go to a party this Friday and you're my only ride."

I turned my head to look at her, giving her my most 'really' face. Abby had failed her drivers' test and has to wait a week until she can retake it so I'm the only one out of the two of us who can drive. This makes me her chauffer - sadly.

"Too bad. Don't go to the party then."

"But I don't want to be single anymore. I wanna meet someone, and going to parties is, like, the best way!" My heart is thumping heavily in my chest as I hear her words. I get that she wants to meet someone, but why does it hurt so much? Because you love her, idiot. You want her to be with you.

~Abby's P.O.V~

"But I don't want to be single anymore. I wanna meet someone, and going to parties is, like, the best way!" I need to fall out of love with you.

~End of Abby's P.O.V~

"Well too bad. You're stuck here. Unless you ask someone else to drive you," I said, hoping with all my might that she doesn't.

"True, but you know me. I'm too lazy for that shit." We both laughed and then lapsed into silence again; this one being much more comfortable.

Mom came into my room then.

"Sweetheart, supper is almost ready. Go wash up. Abby you know you're always welcomed to stay." With a nod, my mother left the room.

We both got up, washed our hands in my ensuite, then went downstairs to the dining room. Abby and I set the table and soon we were all seated around the table, ready to eat.

Soon after we dug in, questions about university started to fly.

"Have you gotten any applications sent in yet, Abby?" Dad asked.

My father and I looked a lot alike. Almost identical, Mom would say. We both had the same hair colour, bone structure, skin tone, and physical stature. The only difference were our eyes. I had my mother's eyes.

My mother and I, on the other hand, looked almost nothing alike. She was petite, blonde, and had a rounder face. She was beautiful all the same, though. Our eyes changed colour with our moods, but had the exact same shades to them. They were captivating and sometimes demanding on my mother. On me, I thought they were nothing special. It was my body that got all the girls. That and my dark facial features. Apparently I looked mysterious and chicks digged that.

"I want to send in applications to places out on the coasts. I want a beach. Cold doesn't do well with me." Abby got a laugh out of my parents at that.

"Well, darling, anyone would be a fool not to accept you." Mom and Dad were smitten with Abby. She got good grades, was well mannered, respectful, and responsible. At least to them. They didn't know how she was when she was at parties or with guys. But I did. And I was still in love with her.

Conversation about schooling after high school continued, and I found out that Abby and I wanted to apply to most of the same universities and I hoped that we went to the same school. I can't imagine being without Abs. We've spent our whole lives together, and sure we fight, but what friends don't have disagreements?

After supper, I took Abby back to her place, sad that we wouldn't be spending any more time together today. I was addicted to her. Couldn't get enough.

I went up the stairs to her porch with her and before she went inside, I brought her in for a hug and kissed her head.

"Goodnight, Abbigail. Sweet dreams. Love ya," I whispered, my chin resting against the top of her head. I could say 'love ya' to her because we usually do when we say goodbye or goodnight. We were really close. She just wouldn't know that this time, I meant that I loved her more than a friend.

"Love you, too, Bear." I removed my chin from her head and she kissed my cheek before going inside.

I waited until she closed the door to go back to my own home, stepping across the lawn and going up the stairs to my own porch. I gave Abby's house one last look before stepping into my own. I went up the stairs to my bedroom, wishing my parents a good night on my way up.

When I entered my clean room, I flopped on my bed and was immediately surrounded by the smell or strawberries and raspberries mixed with my own Old Spice.

I got back up, took off the black joggers I was wearing along with the grey long sleeved shirt from Hollister. I brushed my teeth in my ensuite then crawled under the covers and drifted off into sleep.

Just before I nodded off, I heard my phone chime but I was too comfortable to get up and look at it, so I let it go, falling into dreams of a certain long haired brunette and hockey.