A GOOD GIRL'S A BAD GIRL THAT HASN'T BEEN CAUGHT

6:still friends?

Abigael's POV

"Are you okay, Abby?" Jessica ask nervously after we're done eating.

"I'm fine" I say and jog up the stairs to her room.

She silently follow me. I wonder if she knows I'm lying?

In Jess's room, I feel my heart getting heavy. I curl up against the wall and feel the sobs rack through my chest.

"She can't leave me!" I think to myself

"Hey. I know you're not fine. What's wrong?" Jessica asks.

I didn't even hear her enter.

"I don't want you to leave." I say quietly.

"You know I don't have a choice..."

"But why? Why did your dad accept the job? You were like family and now you're leaving!"

She sinks down next to me and lays a hand reassuringly on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry"

I can hear the guilt lacing her voice and instantly I feel bad agin.

"You promised! You said you'd never leave me!"

"I'm sorry"

"That's not helping!"

"Ok, look, Abigael! I'm sorry, ok? What do you want me to say? I can't do anything about any of tjis, so stop blaiming me!"

Her voice rises high in pitch and she's practically screaming. I look up at her in surprise. She's sobbing uncontrolably.

"Hey there, kiddo! I think you should let me talk to Abby for a while, okay?"

Jessica nods and leaves me alone with her dad.

"Hey, Abby! Are you okay? I heard you girls fighting.." he says akwardly.

I hold in a shaky laugh. The best pschycologist in the country doesn't know what to do!

"I know us leaving must be hard on you, but it's hard on Jess as well. You were a great friend to her, and she doesn't want to leave, but this is a great opportunity for my family. You know I have to put my family first, right?"

I nod, too afraid to speak, for fear of my voice cracking.

"I'm sorry, Abby..." he sighes in defeat.

"Sorry? But... why?"

"I'm sorry that I'm letting you down."

"It's okay" I say softly.

"Will you go talk to Jess?"

I nod. "Thank you!"

He gives me a halfsmile. At the doorway he hesitates and turns back to me.

"I'm proud of you, Abs!"

He leaves me alone in the room to think. I think I should make up with Jess. It's not her fault after all.

When she looks up into the mirror I can see she is startled when she sees my reflection beside hers.

"Abigael?" She asks shakily. "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry I freaked out like that, it's just that you're leaving tommorrow..."

"And I'm sorry I yelled at you. But even though I'm half way across the country, we can still keep in touch, ya know?"

"Okay" I say as I walk towards the stairs.

"Is something wrong, dad?" I hear Jessica ask.

I stop at the top of the stairs and creep back to eavesdrop on their conversation.

I know eavesdropping is wrong, but my gut tells me I need to hear this.

"Yeah, it's about your Abigael..." her dad says.

"What is it, dad? What's wrong?"

"You haven't noticed?"

Curiously I edge closer until I'm just behind the door.

"Notice what?"

"The bruises" he says.

I bite back a gasp at his words.

"How does he know?" I wonder.

"Bruises?"

"On her arms, her legs, her neck, her stomach..."

"Oh no! Not again!" Jessica groans.

"Oh please! Oh please, no! Don't let her tell him!" I beg silently.

"What? What do you mean?"

"Well, in kindergarden, these kids used to beat her up and make fun of her. I don't know why but they still hold a grudge it something against her and won't leave her alone. But she wouldn't tell anyone. I didn't know why, and still don't."

"No! No! No!" I curse under my breath.

"Oh, well, I hope she'll be okay! I really care about her!"

I scramble into a room as her dad leaves the bathroom.

"Me too." I hear from the bathroom.

Once I'm sure that her footsteps have quieted, I leave through her bedroom window. I can't face her right now.

I slide down the willow and stand hesitantly in the bushes just outsude the kitchen window.

"Abby? Abigael! Where are you?" Jessica calls from the stairs.

"Mom! Have you seen Abigael?"

"No dear! I haven't seen her since you went up to your room."

But didn't she come down just now?"

"No, dear. I thought she was upstairs with you."

"Oh no! Abby!" Jess cries and flees up the stairs.

I rush through the flowerbeds and crash through the gate. I take off running down the street to the one place that has always given me refuge.