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Vic
I love watching Abi blush. Better yet, I love that she recovers so quickly. As she goes into her next song, I smile my approval. The girl has a voice; I just wish she could use it like she deserves to. I’m not a dick to her like most of the other guys, but I don’t show her respect, care, or love unless we are alone. Over the years she’s pushed me away. Hell, she pushes everyone except Wayde, Adam, and Fred away. She’s even pushed her own family away.
I know she doesn’t go home at night most of the time. She either sleeps at the garage or in her car. Most people don’t know this, but I do. It kills me watching her go through so much because her momma is a whore, and her daddy works to make sure she has a roof over her head.
“Hey, Vic, let’s throw the ball and quit drooling,” I hear one of the guys on the team and mentally shake my head.
“Clay, you up for throwing the ball?” I call over to the new guy, Clayton.
“Sure. Hey, what can you tell me about that girl over there singing? She’s so out of place in this crowd it’s not even funny.”
“What are you referring to... The blue streak in her hair, the flower tat on her wrist or the fact that she has a better voice than most artists right now?”
“All of them, dude, she’s perfect. I need to get to know her.”
“Yeah, good luck. She doesn’t date or even talk to the likes of us. She’s from the wrong side of the tracks and keeps her distance. Abi and I used to be best friends—something about wounded people coming together or some shit. She doesn’t talk to anyone much, except those two over there with her and her boss. That’s only because she works at the garage, I deliver wrecks to.”
“Wait, she works for a garage? Like, that fixes cars and shit?” Clayton lets out a whistle “I bet she’s one tough cookie.”
“Yeah, she works at Radman’s. That’s where I took your car last night.”
Clayton tosses me the ball, but it was just a little too much. I can’t catch it and it smacks into Abi.
“What the hell?” I hear her shout. Aw, hell, this isn’t going to be good. Clayton and I jog over to her.
“These were my last set of strings and I have a gig this weekend at Mac’s. How am I supposed to play if I have no strings?!” Abi is on the verge of tears and Wayde is trying to calm her, but he knows as well as I do that won’t happen.
“Abi, I will go get you some. Don’t freak, I wouldn’t let you not have something you needed for a set,” I whisper to her in hopes it gets her attention enough to calm her down.
“Fuck you, Vic! I can’t believe you’d ever think I’d take money from you. Just leave me alone. I’ll figure it out.” Abi is on the verge of screaming; she looks as if she may even hit me.
“Hi, Abigail, is it? I threw the ball and it’d only be right if I pay for what I broke.” Clayton scoots his way in and tries to console her.
Abi actually does a double take. I know she’s not used to someone who looks like him, but geez. Clayton stands six foot one to my five-foot seven frame. We’re both on the athletic side. He weighs in at a good two-hundred pounds, so he has fifty on me. Clay’s got the blonde hair, blue eyed thing going for him. Most chicks seem to like my dark brown hair and hazel-ish eyes. What most love is my eyes do this like Twilight thing, as they all say, getting this yellowish-orange look to them.
Abi recovers quicker than I expected, with her hand on her hip and full of sass.
“And who do you think you are? My knight in shining armor? Well, I haven’t had one in almost eighteen years, what makes you seem to think I need one now?”
I chuckle, watching her five-foot three frame give Clayton hell. It’s fucking hilarious.
I don’t know if it makes me jealous that he gets more of a rise out of her than I do or not. I love getting her all riled up because she’s sexy as hell all pissed off. I need to get over my shit and tell her that I’ve been in love with her since we were kids. Of course, she’d never give me the time of day, but you know, sometimes it’s better just to get shit off your chest.
I can’t help but stand here and watch Clayton and Abi match off. She likes him. I can see it in her eyes and it tears me up inside that she doesn’t look at me that way.
I can’t watch any longer and walk away, grabbing my shit as I head for class.
