Chapter 7: Good Night

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Conner, Abby, and Lewis walked over to Abby's car. Conner mostly sauntering his way, trying to make sure his head didn't begin to ache on him. Abby opened the car and pat Lewis on the back, telling him to go ahead and get into the car. He did so without question, leaving Conner and Abby alone.

"What did you and Lewis talk about?" Her voice was deadpan, yet also dynamic.

"I asked him to recount what happened," Conner replied quietly. Neither of them turned their heads to one another, they kept their eyes on the car ahead. However, there wasn't a presence of tension, it was more somber if anything. "I know, I know. It could have been extremely traumatic for him to do that. But, I think it actually helped him get past it. You see him, right?" They both watched as Lewis crawled around in the car, giddily looking at the steering wheel, daring himself to touch it.

"I'm not upset." Abby began, she contemplated for a moment before continuing. "Honestly, I'm really glad you went about it the way you did. The subject wasn't avoided, and all too often, especially nowadays, the subjects that cover those kinds of things are just completely ignored. However much Lewis trusts me, I'm glad he talked with you. He needs some kind of male figure to listen to him, particularly about something of this magnitude. Do you get what I'm saying?"

"I do. My brother was the only one I could talk to about anything when I was a kid," Conner recalled. "Still is really. Sure there was our mom, but really. It was too rough around the house. I couldn't talk to her because I simply couldn't connect enough with her... Not only that, I didn't want to add to her stress level." Conner turned his head towards Abby and smiled shakily, his memories suddenly rooting themselves into his heart. "So yeah, always got to have that male figure to talk to. I get that."

"I knew you would." Abby returned Conner's smile. A gesture that Conner was widely thankful for.

"You seem to know a lot about me." Conner glanced away in thought. "Considering we literally just talk in the teachers' lounge sometimes. About mostly my car. And how it seems to always be in the shop for some reason."

"Well, Michael definitely holds you in high regard," Abby chuckled at the car comment but kept composure. "When we were dating he would talk about you quite a lot. Sharing especially of your extravagant adventures. Specifically, of the magnificent adventure entitled 'The Great Library Massacre of 2024'." Conner laughed, his memory of the instant still fresh in his mind.

"Seriously, is he still on that? It happened last year. And, it was a very simple incident." Conner motioned with his hands while he began his story. "I hate that he uses the word 'massacre'! Nobody died. Mike and I literally just snuck into the library at the school and took a few books and misplaced them everywhere. Our plan was working out just fine. We snuck in every night and misplaced books so that the kids and librarian would be insanely confused. The whole reason it is a supposed 'massacre' is because Mike got all touchy one night and started messing around with the books. We ended up staying a bit too long and the nighttime janitor came in and found us. The only reason we weren't fired on the spot was because-"

"Because you are good friends with Karl, our janitor," Abby giggled, her smile was wide. "I know the story. However, you exaggerated it way less than Mike. And, he said he had good reason to be, oh how did you put it, messing around?"

"Yeah, yeah. Well, he didn't." Conner suddenly thought of a reference to make, he hoped Abby would understand it. "And, we would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for those meddling kids!" Abby broke down in laughter. She stopped in her tracks and laughed hysterically which cause Conner to laugh as well.

"Who knew anyone even still remembered the old 'Scooby-Doo'." Abby stated, continuing to walk with Conner after she recovered from her laughing fit. "And, wouldn't it be a meddling janitor?"

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