The Life of Abby

Chapter 5

Abby's heart skipped a beat as she heard the deep, raspy voice on the other end of the line. "This is Trystan. I got your number from Kali. I hope it's okay that I asked her for your number." The sound of his voice sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt a sudden flutter in her chest.

Abby's daze was broken by Trystan's raspy voice, and she found herself lost in thought, imagining all sorts of scenarios with him. She quickly shook off the daydreams, reminding herself that she barely knew him. "Yeah, of course. So why did you call me?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Trystan explained that he needed help catching up in school, and Abby hesitated before responding, "Can it wait until tomorrow? It's already 1 in the morning." She attempted to sound tired, but her tone betrayed her true alertness. As she took another bite of her food, she heard Trystan sigh on the other end of the line.

"Yeah, sure. I'll come by your house to get you tomorrow," he said without hesitation. Abby's response was a bit too eager as she replied, "I'm at my grandmother's house for the weekend, but I'll send you the address." She couldn't help but wonder what the next day would bring.

Abby's heart skipped a beat as Trystan chuckled and said, "It's a date. See you tomorrow Abby." The sound of his voice left her breathless, and she felt like she was melting. Without finishing her food, Abby jumped off the stool and ran into the living room, excitedly hugging her grandmother.

Her grandmother laughed, surprised by the sudden display of affection. "What's going on?" she asked, amused. Abby took a deep breath and exclaimed, "I have a study date tomorrow! What am I going to wear? How will I do my hair? You have to help me; I'm begging you!" Her grandmother smiled, entertained by Abby's enthusiasm.

"Okay, okay. Settle down. I will help you first thing in the morning. Now go clean up your dishes and go to bed. You want to look your best, not tired." Abby beamed with happiness as she scurried off into the kitchen to clean up, already imagining the perfect outfit and hairstyle for her study date with Trystan.

Abby hastily finished her meal, not wanting to waste any more time. She washed and dried the dishes with a sense of routine, putting them away with precision. This habit brought her a sense of comfort and control, a stark contrast to the chaos that often surrounded her at home.

With her tasks complete, Abby rushed upstairs to her room and changed into her cozy oversized tee-shirt and spandex shorts. She then entered her spacious bathroom, but instead of being greeted by her own reflection, she found solace in the absence of a mirror. Sitting at the sink, Abby let out a sigh of happiness and relief, her emotions swirling with excitement.

This upcoming study date with Trystan marked a significant milestone for her - her very first date. The thought sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and anticipation for what tomorrow might bring.

Abby gently wet her hair to make brushing her curly locks easier. She then applied face moisturizer, followed by brushing her teeth. Feeling relaxed, she climbed into bed and picked up her favorite book, getting lost in the familiar story. Thirty minutes passed before she started to feel tired, her eyelids growing heavy.

Abby placed her book on the nightstand beside her desk, turned off the lights, and closed her eyes, ready to drift off to sleep. However, her mind had other plans. She tossed and turned throughout the night, unable to shake off thoughts of Trystan and their upcoming study date. Sleep eluded her, and she eventually gave up, lying awake in the darkness.

Abby returned to the kitchen at 6 a.m., seeking a glass of water to quench her thirst. Mariah, one of the chefs, greeted her warmly, "Good morning Mrs. Abby. Would you like some breakfast?" Abby declined, "No, thank you, Mariah. I'm going to try to fall asleep one more time." She took her water and headed back to her room, hoping to catch a few more hours of rest.

However, her sleep was short-lived, as she was soon awakened by the sound of crying coming from the next room. Abby sprang into action, rushing to Derek's room in a distressed state. "Derek, what happened? What's wrong?" she asked, concern etched on her face. Derek sniffled, "I don't feel well, Abby, and I think Lily isn't feeling well either."

Abby quickly picked up the crying baby and took her temperature. The thermometer showed Lily's temperature to be 100 degrees. Acting swiftly, Abby ran Lily through cold water to bring down her fever. As she turned off the water, she turned her attention to Derek, preparing to get him into the bathtub. Just then, a servant walked into the room, ready to assist.

Abby smiled gratefully at Annie, the servant, as she offered to take care of the kids. "Mrs. Abby! Let me take care of the kids. You need to get ready for your study date." Abby typically handled everything on her own at her grandmother's house, but when she wanted or needed something, the servants would step in to help. "Thank you, Annie. Please text me with any updates about them," Abby said, her eyes shining with appreciation.

As she checked her phone for the time, Abby realized she still hadn't sent Trystan her grandmother's address. She made a mental note to do so later. After kissing Derek and Lily's heads, Abby left the room and headed to her own to prepare for her study date. She decided to relax with a bubble bath, running the hot water and adding bubble soap to the tub. Once the tub was filled, Abby slid into the warm water, feeling her muscles relax. She pulled out a book to read, hoping to unwind before her date.