Freedom Train

Bonus Mini-Chap: From Bobby's Eyes

Bobby passed Jim's Diner on his way to his truck from the grocer. The red bench out front gleamed in the sunlight, catching his eye and immediately bringing his thoughts to Annabeth Washington, the girl who broke his heart a little more every time he saw her.

Angry didn't even touch on the emotion that Bobby Warren felt when he thought of Annabeth. Sad didn't seem quite fitting either, nor did hurt. It seemed as if Bobby felt all of these things, mixed into one big cloud of emotion that hung over his head with a constant threat of causing a shit storm.

Sandy Merriman was the last person he expected to find waiting on him as he walked up to his porch after the drive back, his arms laden with groceries. You see, Sandy and Bobby had a rivalry as old as they were, starting in a community sandbox when they were practically babes. They couldn't personally remember what had started the enmity, but they knew that they couldn't stand the sight of each other ever since.

Bobby struggled with the three paper bags, rolling his eyes as he walked passed Sandy as she stood smoking a cigarette on his porch.

"Don't worry," he said sarcastically as he set the bags on an old wicker rocking chair. "I got it."

"I thought so," Sandy grumbled, flicking her smoke onto the gravel walkway in front of Bobby's farm house.

"There a reason you're stinking up my house?" Bobby asked gruffly, surprisingly causing a slight chuckle from Sandy.

"I see we're back to our old dynamic. It's a relief, really, because a nice Bobby Warren kind of gave me the willies."

"What do you want, Sandy?" Bobby growled impatiently.

"Okay, fine," Sandy sighed. "I wanted to talk to you about Annabeth."

Bobby scoffed and opened his front door, holding it open with the tip of his boot as he grabbed for his bags again.

"That ain't got nothing to do with me."

"I know things are strained between the two of you, but she cares about you, Bobby. I know she does."

"Don't delude yourself, Sandy. Annabeth only cares about herself," he said as he went to walk inside the house.

Sandy blocked his way with her body, pulling the door close against her so that he couldn't go inside.

"That's not fair, Bobby." Sandy argued. "Annabeth cares too much about other people and that's what's gotten her head stuck in the clouds. She's gonna leave with him, Bobby. If that happens, you'll never get another chance with her. Is that what you want? Because as much as I hate to say it, I'd rather see her here with you than running around doing God knows what with that Terry guy."

"I got to get this stuff in the icebox," Bobby replied softly, his eyes not meeting Sandy's.

Sandy scoffed and stepped back.

"Yeah. You do that. I don't know why I came here. I should've known you'd be useless."

Bobby didn't answer her. Instead, he allowed the door to close in her face as he walked his groceries inside the house.

***

After Bobby finished up his chores, he took his old hound dog, Harley, for a walk along the road. It was therapeutic, the silence combined with the clap of Harley's nails on the gravel. He was almost back to his house when he heard an approaching vehicle behind him. He pulled Harley to the side of the road and watched as a tow truck towed a car- One he could only assume belonged to Terry.

Bobby smiled to himself as he walked his dog the rest of the way home. For a moment, he allowed himself to rejoice in the fact that Annbeth's plans were thwarted. She was stuck in Audumnly whether she wanted to be or not.

He was just letting the dog in the house when another thought dawned on him. If Annabeth was trapped, that meant that Terry was also stuck there in Audumnly. That didn't hold the same joy for Bobby. It wasn't Terry's fault that he had fallen for Annabeth. Was it stupid? Hell yes, but Bobby couldn't blame him. He knew all too well how easy it was to fall for that girl.

Terry being stuck in Audumnly would be awful for him. Certain people see him even walking down the road and he would be in for a world of hurt, more so that he had already suffered.

Bobby sighed to himself, head low, as he trudged through the woods and toward the cabin. He knew that once their plan failed, they would return to where they felt the safest. And then, Bobby would help them because, damn it, he was a good guy.

***

The drive into Birmingham with Terry and Annabeth began as the most awkward ride ever. The silence was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Then, Bobby struck up a conversation with Terry, ignoring Annabeth to the best of his ability, and it seemed to make the ride smoother. Annabeth seemed displeased, but that was just a bonus.

Once they got into Birmingham, Annabeth said her good-byes and headed toward the door to the activist center that Bobby had grown quite used to in the past weeks. He shook Terry's hand firmly, wishing him luck. Terry thanked him again and went to walk away after a final shake, but Bobby gripped his hand and pulled him closer.

"Wait," Bobby whispered, "Just one more thing."

Terry could sense the change of tone in Bobby's voice and his shoulders tensed defensively.

"That woman is crazy," Bobby began. "She's impulsive. She's a dreamer. She really knows how to get under your skin and stay there, like a damn parasite. But she's also sweet. She's too caring for her own good, and she has no idea what she's getting herself into. I swear to God, Terrence, if you let anything happen to her I will find you and I will turn your entire world upside down," he said as his grip on Terry's hand tightened.

"I'll take care of her," Terry promised, returning his grip.

Bobby smiled and let go of his hand.

"I'm sure you will."

Terry nodded his understanding and Bobby let him go. Bobby watched as Terry walked back to the woman who had stolen Bobby's heart all those years ago- The woman who still had it, even if hers happened to belong to someone else.