Just a Fool
Chapter 10: Moving Forward or Back?
After thinking about her all weekend, wishing he could see her, hear her laugh Harry couldn't wait for school on Monday. To keep busy on Sunday he finished the laundry, which was a shock to Anne, he cleaned his room, and worked on his car, his most prized possession. Ever since he was a kid he loved muscle cars, it was something he and his dad bonded over. He learned how to rebuild an engine by the age of ten and at that age he started saving up for his dream car for when he turned sixteen. Then his dad surprised him with an old beat up 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, said 'It'll be a nice project for us to do.' A few years later Harry found himself working on it on his own. Luckily the money he earned from his fights and what he had saved helped him with repairs. Now he wasn't sure how much money he actually had put into the car, he just knew how much it meant to him. It was the last piece of his dad he had left, besides hurtful memories and broken promises.
Abigail spent her Sunday at home cleaning as well. Even with just her and her dad in the house it still managed to become a mess. With her dad unable to work a dish washer or the washer and dryer and her mom still not home she had to keep the house running. After she smelled of Windex and Pine sol Abigail decided to take a long hot bath. As she sunk into the warm water she let herself relax for the first time that day. It wasn't long until she heard a door slam followed by a few shouts. Climbing out of the tub she wrapped a towel around herself before cracking the door open. “Well look who finally decided to come home.” Her dad snapped.
“Let's not do this now, I'm really tired and I just want to sleep.” Her mom sighed.
Abigail cringed at how sharp their voices sounded. Usually her parents were calm, never raised their voices at each other but the stress over the past few weeks seemed to be finally getting to them. “When do you want to talk about it? You're never here, your daughter never
sees you, hell it would be nice to see my wife every once in a while.”
“I'm sorry, my dad is fucking dying ok?” She yelled.
“Now where are you going?”
“I'm staying at my sister's house, if Abby needs me tell her to call me.” Was all she said before Abigail heard the front door slam.
As she was closing the door Abigail heard a crash from downstairs making her jump. Sliding down the door she sat on the cold tiled floor. Clutching the towel she felt tears form in her eyes. This was new for her, she had never heard them fight, especially in that way. She knew things were tense, she should have expected a blow up but now that it happened she was scared. “Abby, I'm going out!” She heard her dad yell from the other side of the door.
“O-ok.” She stammered quickly wiping her face off.
When she heard the door close she picked herself off the floor. Walking out of the bathroom she heard nothing, being home alone felt different to her. In her bedroom she dressed in her comfiest pair of pajamas and climbed into bed. Feeling her phone she instantly wanted to talk to Harry, maybe he could help take her mind off of everything. Going to his contact she almost called him but decided against it. The last thing she wanted to do was bug him with her problems. Turning her light off she tried her best to fall asleep but her mind kept racing. No matter how hard she tried but the future worried her, the unknown had always scared her. Finally she drifted off but it felt like she had just closed her eyes when her alarm began ringing.
Ever since Abigail came into his life school wasn't such a bother like it used to be for Harry. Or at least that's what he thought until his Literature teacher stopped him in the hall. “Mr. Styles.” Mr. Hill sighed. “You failed another exam.”
Harry couldn't say he was surprised. Literature had always been his worst subject. “Sorry, I'll do better next time.” He had said this same line he didn't know how many times.
“I sure hope so, this is your senior year. You have to pass all your academic classes if you want to graduate.” Mr. Hill explained handing him the test. “I suggest getting a tutor. If you need help finding one, let me know.”
“Thanks.” Harry mumbled glancing over the paper. A sixty, not his worst but still not passing.
Running a hand through his hair he made his way to the Home Ec room where he found Abigail already sitting at their table. When he sat down he saw her jump. “Sorry, didn't meant to startle you.”
“Its ok,” She smiled. “I was just thinking.”
“About what?” He asked placing his failed test on the table.
She didn't answer, when she noticed his grade she turned to him. “I take it you don't care for 'Macbeth' too much.”
He shook his head. “Its not only that, I've never been a big Lit. fan.”
Biting her bottom lip she gave him a small smile. “Well if you need help Literature has always been my best subject.”
“Really? You want to be my tutor?”
“If you're willing to learn.”
“With you? I would definitely be willing, you're much more pleasant to look at than balding Mr. Hill.”
“I guess I should take that as a compliment.” She laughed. “Ok, well if you're free come by my house after school.”
“What about your folks?” Harry wasn't too keen on meeting her parents. One look at him and they would ban her from seeing him, not that he had any experience but daddy's never wanted their daughters to be around a punk like him.
“They're not home very much,” She frowned.
Seeing her change in mood he placed his hand over hers, “I'm free.”
Squeezing his hand she nodded. “Then its a date.” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
“Not the kind of first date I pictured.” He smirked. “But I'll take it.”
Their conversation ended when Miss Brooks stumbled into the room telling them to continue their cookbook assignment. As Harry read over a lasagna recipe he thought about the fact that his 'date' with Abigail. Sure, studying wasn't his ideal first date but he would take it. Glancing at his partner he could tell she was tired, her usual bright eyes were dull and appeared to be sad. Then he remembered how she acted when he brought up her parents. He wanted to ask her if anything was wrong but he decided to wait until they were alone, he just hoped she trusted him enough to open up to him.
Abigail spent her Sunday at home cleaning as well. Even with just her and her dad in the house it still managed to become a mess. With her dad unable to work a dish washer or the washer and dryer and her mom still not home she had to keep the house running. After she smelled of Windex and Pine sol Abigail decided to take a long hot bath. As she sunk into the warm water she let herself relax for the first time that day. It wasn't long until she heard a door slam followed by a few shouts. Climbing out of the tub she wrapped a towel around herself before cracking the door open. “Well look who finally decided to come home.” Her dad snapped.
“Let's not do this now, I'm really tired and I just want to sleep.” Her mom sighed.
Abigail cringed at how sharp their voices sounded. Usually her parents were calm, never raised their voices at each other but the stress over the past few weeks seemed to be finally getting to them. “When do you want to talk about it? You're never here, your daughter never
sees you, hell it would be nice to see my wife every once in a while.”
“I'm sorry, my dad is fucking dying ok?” She yelled.
“Now where are you going?”
“I'm staying at my sister's house, if Abby needs me tell her to call me.” Was all she said before Abigail heard the front door slam.
As she was closing the door Abigail heard a crash from downstairs making her jump. Sliding down the door she sat on the cold tiled floor. Clutching the towel she felt tears form in her eyes. This was new for her, she had never heard them fight, especially in that way. She knew things were tense, she should have expected a blow up but now that it happened she was scared. “Abby, I'm going out!” She heard her dad yell from the other side of the door.
“O-ok.” She stammered quickly wiping her face off.
When she heard the door close she picked herself off the floor. Walking out of the bathroom she heard nothing, being home alone felt different to her. In her bedroom she dressed in her comfiest pair of pajamas and climbed into bed. Feeling her phone she instantly wanted to talk to Harry, maybe he could help take her mind off of everything. Going to his contact she almost called him but decided against it. The last thing she wanted to do was bug him with her problems. Turning her light off she tried her best to fall asleep but her mind kept racing. No matter how hard she tried but the future worried her, the unknown had always scared her. Finally she drifted off but it felt like she had just closed her eyes when her alarm began ringing.
Ever since Abigail came into his life school wasn't such a bother like it used to be for Harry. Or at least that's what he thought until his Literature teacher stopped him in the hall. “Mr. Styles.” Mr. Hill sighed. “You failed another exam.”
Harry couldn't say he was surprised. Literature had always been his worst subject. “Sorry, I'll do better next time.” He had said this same line he didn't know how many times.
“I sure hope so, this is your senior year. You have to pass all your academic classes if you want to graduate.” Mr. Hill explained handing him the test. “I suggest getting a tutor. If you need help finding one, let me know.”
“Thanks.” Harry mumbled glancing over the paper. A sixty, not his worst but still not passing.
Running a hand through his hair he made his way to the Home Ec room where he found Abigail already sitting at their table. When he sat down he saw her jump. “Sorry, didn't meant to startle you.”
“Its ok,” She smiled. “I was just thinking.”
“About what?” He asked placing his failed test on the table.
She didn't answer, when she noticed his grade she turned to him. “I take it you don't care for 'Macbeth' too much.”
He shook his head. “Its not only that, I've never been a big Lit. fan.”
Biting her bottom lip she gave him a small smile. “Well if you need help Literature has always been my best subject.”
“Really? You want to be my tutor?”
“If you're willing to learn.”
“With you? I would definitely be willing, you're much more pleasant to look at than balding Mr. Hill.”
“I guess I should take that as a compliment.” She laughed. “Ok, well if you're free come by my house after school.”
“What about your folks?” Harry wasn't too keen on meeting her parents. One look at him and they would ban her from seeing him, not that he had any experience but daddy's never wanted their daughters to be around a punk like him.
“They're not home very much,” She frowned.
Seeing her change in mood he placed his hand over hers, “I'm free.”
Squeezing his hand she nodded. “Then its a date.” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
“Not the kind of first date I pictured.” He smirked. “But I'll take it.”
Their conversation ended when Miss Brooks stumbled into the room telling them to continue their cookbook assignment. As Harry read over a lasagna recipe he thought about the fact that his 'date' with Abigail. Sure, studying wasn't his ideal first date but he would take it. Glancing at his partner he could tell she was tired, her usual bright eyes were dull and appeared to be sad. Then he remembered how she acted when he brought up her parents. He wanted to ask her if anything was wrong but he decided to wait until they were alone, he just hoped she trusted him enough to open up to him.
Aww
2/2/14