“Why didn’t you tell me?” Carli asked, staring hard at Abigail. “We could’ve avoided this whole mess!” She gestured towards Abigail’s ruined dress.
“I didn’t know how I felt, and I don’t know how I feel....” Carli didn’t seem to look impressed, so she went on. “Besides, he was mad at me, he wouldn’t even look at me-”
“And for the most romantic reason possible!”
Abigail blushed. “He was just being nice.” She replied, smiling sheepishly despite herself.
“Pshh, are you kidding me? Nice is: ‘hey, you okay?’ ”
“Your point?” Abigail asked softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“My point is,” Carli rolled her eyes. “He likes you.” She said it in a way that suggested that this particular fact was painstakingly obvious.
“Of course he does, and I like him, we’re friends.” Abigail elongated the word, but it didn’t do anything to sway her best friend.
“Stop denying it! I mean like, like.” She gave a knowing smile. “And I know that’s how you feel about him too, Abby.” She added quickly, sensing that she was going to interrupt.
“So what are you saying?” Abigail asked quietly.
“Tell him.” Carli answered, looking into Abigail’s eyes.
“I-I can’t.” Abigail said, turning away. “It could ruin our friendship, and he’s the only person I have....”
“You have me.”
“But you’ll be leaving, and then what? If I ruin this with him, then I’ll be back where I was when we first moved here, alone.”
“But you won’t know unless you try, this could be the best thing that’s ever happened to you, I mean, I know how Brian makes me feel, and you could have that.”
“But I just can’t risk it! ”
“I know you wouldn’t forgive yourself in the future, knowing you never even tried. Please, I can see it in your eyes, he makes you so happy. Please, do it for me, if you won’t do it for yourself.”
“I just can’t....”
“Then do it for him.” Seeing that she was only going to shoot her down again, Carli moved across the room and put her arms around Abigail. “You’ll only regret it if you don’t.”
Silence followed her words, only broken by the sound of footsteps on the stairs. “Abigail, are you up there? Can I talk to you?” Her mother’s voice reverberated in the hall as she called.
“I’ll go downstairs.” Carli murmured as the thin frame of Abigail’s mother appeared, silhouetted in the doorframe. Abigail’s mom gave her an appreciative look as she left. “Think about it!” She called to Abigail over her shoulder as she descended the stairs.
“Hi mom....” Abigail greeted her cautiously after Carli had left, crossing her arms across her chest. “I can’t believe you can take off so much time from your precious work just to talk to me!” She added, her words dripping in sarcasm.
YOU ARE READING
(You are Never) ALONE
Teen Fiction"Sometimes, when you're trying to find yourself, it takes more than just yourself to do it." It's a story about love, about hardships, about hope, but most of all about finding yourself especially when you never thought it was possible. Because ever...
