The first night we were in LA, I went out onto the deck, and, looking out at the Hollywood sign, wondered how Abs would do back home without me to look out for her. The next morning, I realized how stupid those late night thoughts had been, and that if Abby ever found out I was worried about her, she’d probably kick my ass.
Abigail Gwenivere Eckran is easily the most self-reliant person I know, and not because she has to be. Her family’s awesome, but Abs has just never felt comfortable relying on other people. If anything, she’s the one who should have been worried about me. It’s just one of the things that makes my best friend my best friend, I guess.
I was thinking about this as we walked from the car to my aunt and uncle’s house (“This is ridiculous,” Zac declared. “The party’s for us, and we still wind up parking two blocks away.”).
Avie let go of my father’s hand and rang the doorbell, which was answered by my cousin Wayne. He’s Aunt Susan and Uncle Jack’s son, but hadn’t come to the airport with them.
“Hey!” he said, kissing my mother on the cheek and shaking my father’s hand. We walked inside, and proceeded to be attacked by five thousand different relatives and the like, wanting to hear all about “our rise to stardom”.
I scanned the room for Abby, and my eyes were met instead by those of Reagan Larkspur, who was wearing a royal blue velvet dress. She held my gaze for a moment before turning away, leaving me just as confused as I had been the night we fought.
I continued looking for Abs, and finally locating her sister, inquired about my friend. “Hi, Taylor!” screeched Janie. “Abby....um, she was talking to the dude before. I don’t know where she is now.” Jane ran off to find Avie.
The dude. Well, that certainly narrowed things down. Luckily, I spotted Abs at that moment, talking to Ash and looking just as bored as he did . She had cut her hair, and the soft, obedient curls at the nape of her neck suggested that either Faith or Clara had attacked her with a hair-styling instrument of some sort. Abby was wearing a long black skirt, and walking over to her, I almost forgot she was Abby for a second. She almost seemed like...a girl.
I quickly banished that thought and tapped her on the shoulder.
