Annie and Abel

"Hi Annie, I want to take you out tonight if that's okay." Calvin looked into my avoiding eyes.

"No," I said and walked passed him.

He grabbed my arm gently, swung me around and kissed me lightly. I pushed him away and then walked out the door without saying another word to any of the staring faces. I was going to New York, to find Abel.

"Where're you going!?" he screamed after me.

"New York." I shouted to him.

He didn't answer me and I wouldn't hear if he did; my venture had begun now.

. . .

With Abel swarming in my thoughts constantly it was hard to make my aching legs work.

This was worse than I thought it could be, I had to ask for directions a ton of times and I told myself once I got up to the cities I could ride buses; their dirty and gross, but better than walking.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

New York was beautiful and big. It was dirty in places but still nice. I looked around for any sign of Abel, but remembered that this was New York City! It's enormous, and might be impossible to find him.

I looked into my purse, remembering that I had crushed my cell phone and then looked for any loose change to use a payphone. I found a few quarters and two dimes.

I crossed the road with the change in my hands and then put it into the payphone. I had enough for a good fifteen minutes, only because I cashed a twenty in coins. I first dialed Courtney's number to hear her worried voice in a whisper.

"Courtney?" I asked, trying to picture her face.

"Annie! Oh my gosh! I've been worried sick about you! Where are you?" she piled questions and more on me.

"New York." I said bitterly, "how are the 'rents?"

"Well, your Mom was losing it for a while, but Dad seemed to get over it. I told them you'd be back, and that you went to a camp for the Academy." she lied.

"Thanks, I guess that's okay, but..." I trailed off, "I don't know if I'm coming back, Court." I told her.

"What. . .what do you mean?" I could tell she was crying.

I tried to calm her down, and eventually she stopped hyperventilating and almost screaming.

"Court, did Abel, er, anyone say specifically where in NY he is?" I asked after settling her down.

"New York, New York." she told me.

"I'm here now, is he at a school? And how did you come to learn all this?" it was my turn to question her.

"He's at Belford Academy of Dance and Shawn told me."

"Okay, thanks Court, well I guess I'll talk to you later. Bye." I said sadly.

"Wait!" I pulled it back up to my ear, "where's your cell phone?"

I explained what I'd done and then she suggested I should get a new one, but I can't even imagine how much cell's would be in NY. I said bye again and the conversation was over. I searched for more money and fortunately found some for at least ten minutes. I dialed Abel's cell number and heard his sweet soft voice.

"Abel!" I literally screamed.

I held the cord in my hand and turned to see people were staring at me.

"Annie? Is that you?" he sounded different.

"Yes, Abel, I'm here! I'm in New York." I told him.

The way he sounded frightened me a little. He sounded depressed and dainty.

"Why?" this disappointed me.

"Because, I came to see you." I said in a monotone.

"Annie, I can't see you." I wanted to hang up but couldn't find the strength.

"Abel, I love you, I snuck out of my house and away from Courtney and school. I've been walking for days to come to you, and you can't see me?" I felt a wet drizzle on my cheek.

"Fine, where are you?" I was trying to control myself but couldn't.

Why was he acting like this? Did he maybe meet someone else while he was here? No, he wouldn't do that to me. . .would he?

"Um, I'm Times Square, under the Hilton sign." I told him slowly.

"Annie? I see you look across the street."

I looked and saw him, glowing with this beautiful skin and brilliant eyes. I smiled lightly with the tears going into my mouth and waved to him. He waved back slowly.

I hung up the phone and crossed the crowded street.

Once I was in hearing range of him I smiled lightly and he tears were still coming. He avoided my eyes completely until he looked towards me and his right eye was black and blue and he was limping.

I raised my hand to his face and he didn't try to move.

"Abel, what happened?" I gasped back.

"I did this to myself,"

"Why?" I pulled myself in closer to him.

"Because of you."