Farmgirl

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

September swept into October, the leaves turning orange and red, and the weather growing chillier. Although I continued to visit the twins in the woods, my visits became a little less frequent due to the cold weather. Soon, however, I began showing the twins (but mostly Abigail) around the woods. I showed them my favorite hiding places, where the berries grew in the springtime, and the creepiest trees around.

"I'd love to throw a Halloween party here one year," I said casually, as I showed Abigail the spookiest spots.

"You should do it!" Abigail said, excited.

"Nah, it's already too close to Halloween to start planning it for this year, plus, I don't know who I'd invite."

"Well, you'd invite all your friends, right?" Abigail asked.

"Well, I don't really have many. Mostly, I just hang out with my friend Sierra...and you." I finished awkwardly.

"And Andrew." Abigail added.

"Yes, and Andrew."

"That wouldn't be a bad party. Me, you, and Andrew." Abigail said.

"Maybe." I said. "I'll probably have Sierra over for Halloween, so I could probably bring her up here to meet you guys."

"I'd love that." Abigail said. I smiled. I smiled a lot when I was around Abigail. I had to admit, every time we were together, I was sure I was falling for her a little bit more. But I was also sure her brother was falling for me as well. It was only a matter of time until he asked me out, and I wasn't sure I'd have the guts to turn him down. I didn't really like him like that very much. Sure, he was nice, and cute, but I was mostly head over heels for his sister. Was that a bad thing? Maybe. But on the flip side, I wasn't sure how I'd react if Abigail were to turn me down. But of course, I'd have to ask her first.

"Well, I'll keep you updated." I said. "Are you going trick or treating? Maybe you could come with me and Sierra." I suggested. Abigail shook her head.

"I don't have a costume, and I haven't been trick or treating for a few years. Dad's not fond of Halloween, doesn't like everyone walking up close to the farm. Might spook the animals and everything, so I usually put a bowl of candy at the end of the driveway."

"Oh, okay."

"But really, I'd love to meet your friend. She seems really nice, from what I've heard."

"She's something." I said, laughing.

"How about your other friends? What are they like?" Abigail asked, always keen to find out more about life in public school.

"Well, I'd don't have many, I don't make friends easily." I said.

"Really? Just you and Sierra, then? No boyfriends?" Abigail asked. I shook my head.

"What about you?" I asked. "No boyfriend? Or, um, girlfriend?" I rushed out the last bit before I could lose my nerve.

"Nope, no boyfriends for me. I've never had a girlfriend either, but it's only a matter of time." Abigail sighed.

"Oh? So you're-"

"I only like girls, yeah. Surprising, how easy it is to find that out when you don't have a social life, but-" she shrugged, "I watch a lot of TV shows in my spare time."

"Oh." I said. Excitement coursed through my veins. If Abigail liked girls, then this meant there was even the slightest possibility that my dream could come true.

"That doesn't bother you, does it?" Abigail asked, standing up a bit straighter, looking uncomfortable.

"No, of course not. Actually, um, I'm bisexual, so I like girls too. Girls and guys." I explained, quickly.

"Oh! That's cool. How does your family feel about that?"

"Well, I just live with my mom." I explained. "My dad, um, he passed away last year from cancer."

"I'm so sorry." Abigail said, putting her hand on my arm. I shrugged a bit.

"It's okay. I still miss him sometimes, though. But yeah, it's just me and my mom, and she's pretty liberal so she's okay with it. What about you? Does Andrew know?"

"Andrew doesn't know." Abigail admitted.

"But he's your twin, don't you tell each other everything?"

"Ha! I wish. Don't want to be mean to him or anything, but he's a bit rash and easily angered, so I don't trust him with many secrets because it's always possible he could tell someone who I don't want to know - like my dad." Abigail said.

"Is your dad-?"

"Conservative, homophobic, pretty racist, too. By the way, that's the real reason Andrew told you not to come near the farm. Dad wouldn't want a black girl anywhere near his farm." Abigail said, sounding more bitter than I'd ever heard before.

"I'm biracial, actually." I said. "My mom is white, and since my dad's been gone...we get a lot of stares when we go out in public."

"Biracial bisexual, huh?" Abigail said, smiling slightly.

"Oh yeah. My mom might be liberal, but loads of relatives still won't talk to her for marrying a black man."

"Yikes."

"Don't even get me started on what they think of me. I'm practically devil spawn in their eyes." I said. Abigail laughed.

"Well, I've only got about a year and a half till homeschooling ends, technically. And I'll be eighteen a few months before, so I'll be leaving the farm on the first possible opportunity." Abigail said.

"Where will you go?"

"Community college, maybe? Get a job, get an apartment? Stay close enough that I can see Andrew but far enough that I can get away from my dad."

"Is he... does he..." I struggled to form my question without somehow being offensive, but luckily Abigail caught on.

"He's not horrible to me, or abuse me in any way, but he does frequently rant about and hate on "the gays" and calls them every slur in the book, and I'm not gonna be able to stay there much longer before I lose it." Abigail said. I leaned over to hug her.

"I'm so sorry." I said. The words sounded empty, but it was all I was able to manage. Mostly, all I knew was that I wanted to help Abigail more than anything.

🍂🍂🍂

Abigail walked home slowly. By the time she got there, it was almost dinnertime. Her favorite. Abigail stepped inside to smell the burgers cooking on the grill and she quickly walked over to the sink to wash her hands and start preparing the salad.

"ABIGAIL!" Her father roared, and she startled.

"Yes, Dad?" She called back.

"Hurry up with the salad! The burgers are almost done!"

"Coming!" She replied. Abigail quickly throw the salad together, adding just a sprinkle of her father's favorite spice, then ran into the dining room. The whole place had a rather rustic feel to it, but this room in particular felt like it belonged more in the Wild West than in modern, suburban New Jersey. Deer antlers were tacked to the dark wooden walls and the place was covered in dust, except for the table where they ate.

Abigail put down the salad and her father put down the newspaper he was reading.

"Disgusting," he muttered, "the homos are getting more and more rights. Our president is weak, givin' in to them! They oughta be put down!" He slammed his fist on the table. Abigail jumped a little, then began scooping salad into her father's dish and into Andrew's, who was giving no comment to their father's rant. She shot him a disgusted look which he didn't catch, and put down the salad bowl.

"I don't feel well." She announced. "I'm going to go to my room to rest." Then Abigail fled the dining room, ran into her bedroom, and locked the door right before she burst into silent tears.