Abby
By Mystickally
Three months had gone by since the protest on campus. Things had started to die down and the media coverage stopped. Everything around town seemed to return to normal except that by then every Pagan in town who participated in the protest had inevitably been caught on video and was forced “out of the broom closet�? Much to the dismay of the Anti-Pagans, it was proven that the small community actually had a rather large Pagan community as compared to any other religious denomination.
Greg tried to get on with his life the best way he knew how. His teaching duties, along with every other privilege he’d been given were taken away. He was just going about his studies and ignoring everything and everyone else. This was how he dealt with everything in life. Whenever something went wrong in his life he’d shrug it off and pretend it never happened. If something didn’t go his way, the other person was in the wrong and damned for it. This whole situation with the protest processed in Greg’s head as a big injustice against him, and the whole school was out to get him �?even those trying to help him.
Despite Greg’s years of coping in this fashion, Abby would not leave his mind. Greg never thought he would ever have to see Abigail’s face again, and now he realized that she could be his only way of getting through this. That made him a little nervous. Abby had always been very fair, no matter what person was involved. She had always been able to be very objective, but in this case, especially with Cal right there beside her. Greg wasn’t too confident.
Greg walked through campus fairly easily, without paying much attention to those staring and pointing at him, not for being Pagan but for the parts of his past that came out during Abby’s testimony. He finally got into the student center and plopped down on an armchair, pulled out a book and continued to ignore the world. He pretended to be reading his book, but in reality he was trying to figure out a way to get to Abby. She had such a major part of his life at one point and it seemed odd to not have her there with him now.
Greg furiously scratched his head and shook out his hair, frustrated that he could not get her out of his mind. He blinked a few times before trying once again to concentrate on his book. Before he could do so, Cal took the chair beside him and stared at him.
With an aggravated sigh, Greg asked, “What?�?BR>
“It must really stink to have her around you 24/7 huh Greg? It’s like you actually have to relive the past, rethink past wrongdoings, unmake the bad you’ve done?�?BR>
Greg stood up. “I came here to clear my mind Cal, so I don’t need you here to harass me.�?BR>
“Oh you haven’t yet witnessed what harassment is like. You’re usually the one doing it, aren’t you Greg?�?BR>
Greg picked up his things and was ready to leave, but Cal grabbed his arm and forced him to stay.
“Greg, I am talking to you and damn it you’re going to listen this time!�?BR>
Greg reluctantly sat down.
“I should have done this when I first had the chance.�?Cal exclaimed, and with a sigh, went on to say, “You sure have gotten yourself into some major crap this time huh Greg?�?BR>
Cal laughed but Greg started to get more and more annoyed.
“What I haven’t been able to figure out is what you are doing here and what does it have to do with Abby?�?BR>
“It doesn’t have anything to do with Abby. I’m here for school and to get on with my life.�?BR>
“No, it’s not about Abby, but it’s about you isn’t it? Tell me Greg, when does the world stop revolving around you?�?BR>
“I didn’t know Abby was here Cal. I was here first.�?BR>
“That you were. So what scheme have you been coming up with all this time against Abby in anticipation of your next run in? Just thought you could get into her head again? Maybe find out if she has an insatiable urge to throw you down and have her way with you?�?Cal smirked.
“Cal just stop it. You have no idea about what I am thinking or feeling!�?Greg snapped.
Cal interrupted, “No I don’t Greg and you know why? It’s because you have something loose up in that brain of yours that says the whole world is out to get you and you also have this God complex that makes you think that every woman alive has got the hots for you. You grew up with Abby, Greg. What the hell made you believe that she had a fatal attraction for you?�?BR>
“You know what? I don’t have to justify myself, least of all to you. And while we’re trying to get answers here, tell me why exactly are you so protective of AJ? As far as I could tell, she has a boyfriend and it isn’t you. So why don’t you just go back to your own woman and mind your business?�?BR>
Cal paused before responding, “You know the answer to that one Greg. Or maybe the drugs really did fry your brain huh?�?BR>
Greg looked as though he had just been punched in the face.
“That was low.�?Greg said.
Cal shrugged, “Not as low as letting one of your best friends stand accused of a crime that YOU committed.�?BR>
“Nobody ever proved it.�?BR>
“Yeah, but we know the truth don’t we? And that scares you to death. We could all band together and put you behind bars for the rest of your life. Did you ever think of that? You have, haven’t you? Isn’t that just a drag?�?BR>
Cal started to walk away, but Greg stepped in front of him.
“Cal, when is the tormenting going to stop, huh? We’re all trying to get on with our lives. Why can’t we just leave it be? I tried to talk to Abby to tell her just that.�?BR>
“Greg, this ‘tormenting�?that you’re so hurt by? Well, it’ll end the day it makes up for all the time we all lost Abby because of you. She’s not the same person anymore is she? Why do you think that is? And then of course there is Seth. We lost him and we can’t get him back in any possible way. It’s Abby we are trying to keep now �?you get me?�?BR>
“You just look into Abby’s eyes and you’ll see what damage you’ve done. Congratulations Greg. You single-handedly killed ‘AJ�? I guess you’re proud of yourself?�?and off Cal went, disappearing into the crowds.
Greg stood there, unable to move, staring at the spot where Cal had been standing. Suddenly from the corner of his eye, he spotted Abby walking with a girl he knew from orchestra. Abby looked so happy, smiling and laughing. She had an overall glow about her that was completely different from how he last remembered her. Cal was right; she had changed. Abby spotted him and instantly the smile disappeared. Her friend hustled her away and that was that. Greg still felt a sense of urgency when it came to Abby. He wanted to talk to her. He couldn’t figure out why or what he’d even say to her, or even that he wouldn’t start a headed argument with her.
Rather than run after her, Greg decided that it would be in his best interest to just stay away. To do otherwise might jeopardize any involvement on her part in standing up for Pagans �?and him �?during the ongoing protest. Abby had already done a great deal of speaking and had somehow been declared the leading voice in the battle for justice. She made no attempts at hiding the fact that she was new to the Craft, but like ritual structure and spell writing, she did it with the heart and the intent needed to be successful. She knew enough to speak about only what she knew. If she ever came across anything she wasn’t sure of, she’d turn to someone else and admit to not knowing everything “just yet.�?She was very eloquent and straightforward.
Greg’s quest to get back his job and his fellowship had turned into a battle for acceptance. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the fact that all the attention was being diverted away from him because of it. Everyday, something was being done to help him get back his position on campus. But still he saw it as people taking the opportunity to speak up for Pagan rights. “What about me?�?Greg thought.
Greg absentmindedly walked through campus, unaware of the fact that, hiding behind a corner, Abby was watching him. When Greg turned the corner, Abby grabbed him by his belt and pulled him towards the door of the building. She closed the door behind them then latched the back of his belt to the doorknob. Unable to move, Greg just stood there, struggling to get out.
“I latched it on pretty well. You can’t get out.�?Abby smiled, pulled up a chair and sat in front of him.
“You want to talk to me right? Well here’s your chance, but first, you’re going to hear what I have to say and this time, you won’t interrupt me…�?/FONT> |
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