Freedom Train

February 3, 1963 cont.

February 3, 1963 cont.

More than anything else is the world, Bobby Warren wanted to hate Annabeth Washington. That girl had always been a hindrance for him, ever since he could remember, and it seemed as time went on the obstacles related to Annabeth only grew larger.

He had tried his damnedest to hate the girl in kindergarten when she kicked his shin and made him bleed. It was the same day he told Annabeth her dress was pretty and she told their class that he ate boogers. Bobby cried all the way home until he saw the same ribbon haired she-devil pick up a bird with a broken wing, her touch delicate and caring, as she carried it back to her house to heal. His anger at the pig-tailed child subsided almost instantly, replaced by an innocent wonder that stuck with him as they grew.

Bobby wanted to hate Annabeth when she asked Howard Morton to the 8th grade Sadie Hawkins dance. Instead, Bobby went with Missy Carlisle and caught Annabeth's eye as he spun his date around the dance floor. Annabeth smiled at him from across the crowded gymnasium, and his hate was replaced by a harmless crush that developed into a slight fixation as the years went on.

Finally, Bobby wanted to hate Annabeth after he finally thought he had won her over only for her to completely break his heart. She hadn't want to be with him after all. She wouldn't admit it, but there was someone else. It was clear as day to Bobby the moment she broke up with him in the front seat of his truck.

Finally, for a short time, he thought he could finally hate the infuriating, selfish, evil woman.

Then, she came into that cabin- their cabin- her wet hair plastered to her face, her purple lips shivering, her eyes wide in worry, and his hate was once again replaced by a different emotion- A protectiveness that covered her in a warm blanket and led her to dry in front of the fire.

Now, because of Annabeth- the girl he couldn't hate no matter how hard he tried- Bobby was combing the woods for a man who was practically a stranger to him- A black man that had apparently been beaten up for spending time with the same girl who had been driving Bobby mad for practically his entire life.

It was all starting to become clear to Bobby. He recalled the recoil in Annabeth's stance when they had gone to the activist center in Birmingham. She was excited as hell one second, only for her face to fall dismayed the moment Terry White stepped in front of them.

He could also remember the shock on Terry's face at seeing her standing there. How his eyes fell to Bobby's hand on Annabeth's waist. Henry saying that Terry had a woman named Annabeth that waited for him in Alabama. The quiet, contemplative ride home, followed by the end of whatever relationship the two of them had.

Finally, it all made sense.

And Bobby felt like an idiot.

Even more so now, that he was spending his day trying to help the man who had stolen the heart of the woman he been in love with his entire life.

The brutal weather made it feel as if the search were endless. The overcast sky kept the forest dark and the wildlife running for cover from the rain kept the shadows constantly moving. More than once, Bobby worried that he would scan right over Terry by accident and he would have to leave him to fend for himself in an unfamiliar and unsafe territory.

Bobby was worried about him. He knew Terry didn't deserve whatever those men did to him. Bobby knew how easy it was to fall for Annabeth. How could he blame him for doing something that he himself had easily done?

If anything, he blamed Annabeth.

Finally, just as Bobby was debating on giving up the hunt, he spotted Terry's hunched over form leaning back against a tall Oak tree. Bobby jogged up to him, leaning down and resting a hand on Terry's shoulder.