The Life of Abby

Chapter 10

Abby woke up screaming from a nightmare, disoriented in an unfamiliar room. She looked around, taking in the plain space before spotting the glass of water beside her. She drank half of it, then grabbed her phone to check the time. Suddenly, the door burst open, and Trystan stood there, out of breath. Abby jumped at the noise, setting her phone back down as she stared at Trystan.

Trystan rushed into the room, feigning sleepiness, but his red face betrayed him. Abby explained it was just a dream, and he suggested she share it with him. As she recounted every detail, Trystan's eyes gleamed with intensity. After she finished, he remained silent, collecting his thoughts. Finally, he spoke, "It was only a dream. Nothing to fear. Let's sleep, and I'll see you in the morning." But Abby asked him to stay until she fell asleep, touching his shoulder with a small hand.

Abby lay beside Trystan, uneasy but not alone. Her mind raced about the dream's meaning. She glanced at Trystan, already asleep. Quietly, Abby got up, taking her glass, and slipped out of the room. In the hallway, whispers and shuffling boots echoed downstairs. She peered over the railing, seeing a pool of blood. Alarm surged through her; she retreated to Trystan's room, colliding with something solid upon turning around.

Abby stumbled upon entering Trystan's room, locking eyes with him briefly before walking past him. She grabbed her phone and texted Kali, asking for a pickup. At 4 am, Kali arrived, and Abby, cautious after her nightmare and the blood she saw downstairs, sneaked out of the room. She stopped at the top of the stairs, surprised to see the blood cleaned up and the area spotless. Abby continued downstairs and out the door, escaping Trystan's house with relief.

Abby breathed deeply, finally exhaling, as she got into Kali's Volkswagen Beetle. "Go, I'll tell you everything on the way to Grandma's," she said. Kali drove off, and Abby recounted every detail of her night. Finishing her story, Abby admitted, "I think I'm falling for him." Kali's expression turned sad. "Abby, look at me," she said gently. Abby turned to face her. "It's okay to like him, but be careful. Take things at your pace.

Abby smiled at Kali, then turned back to the window, watching her grandmother's mansion come into view. She offered Kali a chance to stay, retrieving her keys from her bag. Abby had a special connection to her grandmother's home, where she'd lived on and off since age 2, escaping her parents' troubled trailer. This mansion felt like her true home, where she felt safe and cared for.

Kali promised to return in the afternoon, and Abby knew she'd keep her word. Abby got out of the car, walked to the mansion, and unlocked the door quietly. Inside, she screamed as she saw her grandmother standing there. "Grandma, what are you doing up?" Abby asked, catching her breath. Stacy replied, "I could ask you the same. You should still be at Trystan's." Abby explained, "It didn't feel right being there," and moved to the living room to sit and chat with her grandmother.

Abby hesitated to share the truth with her grandmother, fearing consequences for her relationship with Trystan. Instead, she said, "It was fun, just studying." Abby thanked Stacy for not mentioning the sleepover, then excused herself, tired. "I'll tell you more after I wake up," she promised, heading upstairs to bed. Stacy reassured her, "I'm always here for you."