A Collection of Short Stories

Have Gum?

Abi Fenway and Eric Lawrence were best friends.They did everything together from riding bikes to going to the pool.They even had a little ritual for when one of them was really happy and the other wasn't. They would split one piece of gum in half, and they would both chew it until it lost it's flavor. They were inseperable from a young age until one day Abi just went away. Abi had left their little town of Allen, Oklahoma. Eric always thought he was the cause of Abi's disaperance, but the real cause of Abi leaving was her father's job. When Abi left, she and Eric were only eight years old. 

So many years had passed since then. Abi was now 16, and Eric was awaiting the arrival of his 16th birthday. Eric had forgotten about Abi, sadly. When she left, it only took him a few months to realize she was never coming back, so he made new friends. He raised in social standards, and he was the king of Sophomores. No he didn't run the school, at least not yet. He was going to, though. He had dated almost everyone in his grade, and in the grade below. Abi on the other hand never forgot about Eric. Abi could never make any friends, her father's job had bounced her, her mother, and her father around the country until one day they ended up back in Allen, Oklahoma. They weren't in the same house they were before, they were right across the street. Right across the street from Eric Lawrence's house.

- - -

I walk out my front door, so nervous about my first day back here. This has always been my home, but seeing so many faces I left so long ago will be quite strange. I pull the door shut, and walk down the drive. I notice someone doing the same across the street. I'm not quite sure, but I look at him. Is it him? I doubt it. "Eric!" I call out, and he lifts his head to look at me. I smile, hoping he'll come over here. But he doesn't. Eric's attention goes back down to his phone, and my smile drops. He climbs in his truck, while I avert my eyes from staring at someone who doesn't even remember me. I trudge down the sidewalk, dreading the rest of the day. He was supposed to make me less nervous, not more on edge. I saunter down the sidewalk towards the high school. I watch his truck after he's gone, and my eyes never leave the back of it.

- - -

"Eric!" I hear a girl call. I look up and see someone across the street. I've never seen her before, so I look away. She's probably a junior or senior, but I thought that house was for sale? Oh well. I climb into my red pick up and back out of the driveway and speed off toward the school. It's only down the street, but walking isn't fun. I pull up into my normal spot, the first non-handicap spot that's closest to the doors. I push open the door, clamber out of my truck, grab my bag, and slam the door, heading for the school doors. I wonder who that girl was though. 

- - -

I reach the school and go straight to the office, hoping not to see Eric at all today. Already ignoring me for a stupid phone was embarrassing enough, I don't need to see him anytime today to make it worse. The office woman gives me my schedule and I leave the office, in search of my locker and classrooms. My first hour is English, in room 219. I find my locker first, make sure I can open it, then find my classroom. It opens on my first try, thankfully, and I close it before trying to manuever through the crowded halls. I catch sight of Eric, throwing a binder over a shorter kid in glassses who, not to be rude, looks like a nerd. Another guy catches the binder and throws it back to Eric. What a jerk, is all I can think. I continue walking, my eyes not leaving him, before I run into something. More like someone. I look up into the eyes of another football player.

"Watch where you're going, runt." He says, walking away.

"S-s-sorry.." I stutter. I think he heard me, because he walks back over to me. 

"What did you say to me?" 

"I said sorry..." I say nervously but without a stutter. 

"Dude, leave 'er alone," Eric walks over to us. I freeze in my spot, not knowing what to do at all. He stares at me, and I look away so I don't feel awkward. "What's your name, new girl?" Eric asks.