Abby and Violet Vol.2: Abby and Violet, #2

By Jasa Null

 

The continuation of Abby and Violet's story is here!
It's a new year and a new life for the two friends.
Abby now has her newfound freedom to enjoy away from her mother's grasp, but there are things she still has to struggle with. Meanwhile, Violet struggles to support the friend the best she can, but she has no idea how to, only that she wants to always stay by her side.
Laughing together in the good times, and crying together in the bad too, will the two girls be able to achieve their goals?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jasa Null
• Release date: Oct 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223940470

Jasa Null

Born and raised in Portugal Jasa had been searching for something that made him buzz his whole life. Finally, after being bored to death in a class on a Hotel Management course, the story of Abby and Violet came to him.

Book preview

Reunion and a Challenge

I never much cared about the sun before. Not even during winter, and I specially never much cared about it during the summer. Now, while I sat on the table in the diminutive backward my house had, I was finding it surprisingly pleasant.

You couldn’t stretch your arms width wise, and you also could not take more than perhaps ten steps before reaching a wall when walking its length, but it was still very useful for hanging clothes to dry, and as of late, for me to experience a bit of the outside, albeit still a confined one.

I had nothing else to do after having taken care of hanging the laundry until dinnertime, so I sat there. Before, I’d be happy with all that extra free time I was finding myself with, but not today.

Today, and the whole past week for that matter, I was finding the less I had to do, the worse it was.

Haah, this sucks.

The sun felt warm and nice on my face as I leaned my head back with my eyes closed, taking it in like the plants we kept in pots around that area, but I still felt unsatisfied. Today marked a week since I was forced into seclusion inside my house. The left side of my cheek was still bruised and there was a huge scab on my lip, so I suspected it’d be another week until I was free to leave the house without people calling the police on my innocent dad. And I was sick and tired of it. I wanted to go for a walk. Being stuck in the house without it being my choice was absolute hell.

...I wonder what she’s doing right now...

My dear friend, Abby, was most likely checking out an apartment with her father. Apparently, the old lady renting the place took pity on them when Abby’s dad gave her a brief explanation about their situation and she’d let them stay immediately, even before signing any contract. It sounded like a nice place too, although she didn’t give me much details about it. It almost felt like she was trying to keep secrets from me.

...It’s whatever...

It wasn’t. I was extremely bothered by all the secrecy. Whether it was because of the huge mess which came out of her doing the same last time, or me just being petty, I don’t know.

Either way, I hated feeling like that. It felt... unwarranted. I think that’s an apt word to describe it.

What should I do for dinner? I asked myself to occupy my mind with something else other than those feelings.

That question went unanswered. The air was cool, and that in conjunction with the warm clothes I was wearing, my eyes being shut, the scent of fresh laundry and the sunlight were making me cosy enough, I started to feel drowsy, feeling as if my mind and body were both getting heavier and drifting away.

I decided to let it happen. That was something I was doing a lot of recently too. Naps are the best way to fast-forward in time after all, and I was still sleeping soundly at night if my phone calls with Abby didn’t arouse worry.

Sometime later, amidst me half dreaming about roasted meat and some nice, hot vegetable soup, no doubt resulting from the last thought I tried to hold, I seemed to feel my right leg extra heavy, like there was now a weight on my thigh. It could just be my leg getting numb from the hard edge of the table, or me starting to really fall asleep, or something else on those lines, so I didn’t pay it any mind. But then, I noticed a new scent, it seemingly being to be shampoo.

It was nice smelling, although perhaps a bit too sweet for my taste. And last I checked, dreams don’t come with smells.

That’s weird.

I squinted a single eye. Then, I opened both, puzzled at what I was seeing.

Sitting by me, on an empty gas cannister we still had to exchange for a new one, was Abby. She had come, walked in front of me and sat down with me only noticing her when she planted her chin on my leg.

Assuming I wasn’t having a very vivid dream, of course.

Meow.

Erm... hi?

...Are you perhaps thinking you’re imagining things?

That’s crossing my mind, yes.

My nonchalant answer was a result of so many dreams of Abby simply popping up out of thin air that even I could realise was a dream while having them. As an example, there was that one in which she came out of the bathroom cupboard, and despite her liking to tease, play tricks and being small, I don’t believe even for one second she could contort herself in a way that’d make her fit inside such a confined space.

She took one of my hands and separated the index from the rest. She gave it a tiny bite, her lips peeled and revealing a pearly-white row of teeth, not with enough pressure to hurt, but enough to confirm I wasn’t seeing things after all.

I missed you so much, she told me.

There, she really sat. She sat and toyed with my hand, eyes with heavy and dark circles underneath glistening with emotion, fixed unblinkingly on mine.

I stood up and squeezed her head against my stomach.

You smell so nice, she hummed, rubbing her face and squeezing my waist.

I chuckled and put a bit of distance between our bodies but still holding her by the shoulders.

I had so many questions I wanted to ask her, but for starters, I’d ask how she managed to get in.

Papa Stan let me in.

First, I followed with asking if he was home because he had told me he was going to the office, but then, the way she had referred to him weirded me out.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to steal him from you. I just really like your dad, that’s all.

Huh... erm, ok.

Was it really? I mean, the two were close and he treated her the same way he treated me, but... calling him that wasn’t going a tad too far? It sounded... dirty? It most definitely was weird to call a friend’s dad by such nickname.

And he let me in because I called him asking if he was home.

That confused me even more deeply. Why call him and ask if he was home? What about me?

...Hehe. Are you getting jelly? she joked, pressing a finger on my right cheek.

...No.

Hehe, yes you are. I called him because I wanted to surprise you.

Oh... I see...

I was feeling so stupid for not having seen right through her. Now that she had told me, it was so obvious. And why she told me that in that particular way.

...Surprise! she quietly cheered.

It was a nice surprise they prepared for me and it was making my day, but still, Abby was taking too much delight from her teasing.

Ah! Before I forget, he told me to warn you it will probably rain this afternoon, so you shouldn’t leave the clothes hanging outside.

...

I blinked at her a few times before looking behind me. What a huge pain, to have it only be told after already having gone through all that work.

I’ll help! she cheered, hopping off her improvised stool.

My first impulse was telling her not to since some of the clothes were my dad’s underwear, but it was proven unnecessary. Instead, I watched, deeply amused and admittedly a bit vengefully for all her previous teasing, while she tried her best to reach out to the springs holding the clothes in place.

Seeing how futile it was to stretch her whole body and getting on the very tips of her toes like some sort of ballerina housemaid, she turned, planted her hands on the hips, stuck her chest out proudly and made a proclamation with an unwavering smile.

I’ll hold the basket!

As it most likely was her intention, I started laughing at such unmoving positivity. Only she could make me laugh like that while I was feeling so annoyed.

We collected everything at the sound of her merry humming. When we were done, I tried to take the basket from her, but she dodged my arms. Apparently, she wanted to help me even further. It wasn’t heavy and we were only walking a few steps, so I let her have her way. Our destination was the living room, and once there, she asked what followed.

I took out a rope from a drawer and tied one end to a hooked nail on one side of the room and connected it to the opposite nail, all so I could leave everything hanging a second time, all the while under her curious gaze.

All that was left now was opening a window and the backdoor.

I’d take care of the latter and asked her to open the former to allow her to help me and not just chase after me through the house.

Won’t the cold get inside? she called out.

The draft will help with the dry and avoid getting weird smells, I explained. Besides, don’t you think it’s colder in here than outside?

Well...

Abby didn’t say it, but I knew she agreed with me. There was no denying it. If you were to leave a glass of water on the living room and another one outside, the first would freeze sooner than the latter. I’m exaggerating of course, the house wasn’t that much of a freezer, but you get the idea.

What’s next? she asked while looking around, once I came from getting the back door open.

Since I had her help, the chore was done a bit faster, and we were all done, I told her. I must say, having her holding the basket was a lot easier than me having to bend down every time I had to grab a new article of clothing to hang. My lower back sure was thankful, and I made her know it, much to her cheer.

She started looking around, taking in the sight that was the fruit of our labour with a satisfied smile. It’d be nice if we had a drier, but those were expensive. In contrast, a bit of rope, sun and wind were practically free, so we had to make do. I was just glad, and a bit surprised too, that she didn’t crack any jokes about my underwear in exposition to anyone coming in. I mean, not that it ultimately mattered. She was the only person who’d come around anyway, and I didn’t wear anything I’d be embarrassed to have dad see on the string.

Even so, things were feeling a bit awkward now. Not for her, she was enjoying the mood. The way she was so intensely staring at me after she was done looking around was leading me to believe she was expecting something. I had already thanked her, so I suspected it was something she’d use to tease me.

"You know, I really, really, missed you."

So, that’s what she was going for?

Truth be told, I felt a bit bad for not having told Abby I had missed her too on the first time she said it. Not that I couldn’t do anything about it now.

I... I missed you too, I stammered. A lot I then added, somehow.

Really? she chirped, rotating her body and leaning sideways on me, giving me a look full of mischief. Somehow, I find it hard to believe.

W-what!? Why!? I asked, completely falling into her trap, and knowing full well it was what she was aiming for.

You’re not blushing nearly as much as you should.

She wanted me even more embarrassed? Somehow that was... well, not just embarrassing but super embarrassing.

Hehe, there it is, she giggled, poking my burning face on the safe side again. Now, say it one more time.

...I missed you too...

She arched an eyebrow, still not happy with my words.

...A lot... I, erm... missed you a lot.

She was finally satisfied, giggling and hugging me in the process.

I hugged her back, tightening my hold until she let out one of her happy Abby noises. It was a moany squeak, so to speak.

Your heart is making such a nice sound, she hummed, adjusting her head so she could hear it even if just a tiny bit better. It was completely unnecessary if you’d ask me. My heart was feeling like a jackhammer at that point.

A-Abby, I pleaded.

She took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

Sorry for being so sudden, but can I stay over tonight? I haven’t been sleeping that well lately.

I’d have to be blind to not notice.

And even if her eyes weren’t reminding me of a panda, I still wouldn’t refuse her after being apart for so long.

Thanks, you’re the best. I just hope I won’t wake you up.

Are you having that many nightmares? I asked, reminding myself of our talks over the phone during the past week.

Mmh-hmm. Dad says I should go to therapy.

...What do you think?

I was going to ask you the same thing.

We broke apart our hold and stared at each other’s eyes while I pondered things over.

I thought it might be a good idea, but she was looking at me with such apprehension, I hesitated in answering straight away. Instead, I asked for her opinion on the matter once again.

She looked at her feet for a few moments before shaking her head and looking up.

I don’t wanna. I’d have to go rummage through bad memories if I did, and I don’t want that. I only want to forget any of that happening, move on with my life and fill my head with good memories of us together. With everyone.

After hearing Abby, my heart and mind were pulling me towards opposing directions. My heart told me to go with her opinion and let Abby try and forget all the bad stuff and be happy with her newfound freedom. My mind however told me it was a short-sighted idea and doing so would bring more pain in the long run.

I’m sorry, she suddenly said, looking down again.

What for?

For burdening you with my problems again.

...Didn’t we promise we’d tell when something is bothering us?

Well... yeah, but...

I reached out to one of her hands, startling her a bit and causing Abby to look up.

Let’s try your way for a while. If it doesn’t work, you can always try therapy, right? And... I’m here too, so...

Her face twitched as her eyes welled up with tears. When she dove back into my arms, I held and patted her gently as she sobbed.

For my whole life, I might have a visible scar from Abby’s mother, but she had so many more invisible ones.

I wanted to help her with them. I’d be sure to do my best to help Abby heal. She deserved it, and a lot more, after all she’d been through.

A yellow sunflower with black background Description automatically generated Waking up, all huddled up in her embrace under the dim light of the room, with Violet’s breathing hitting my crown and her scent enveloping me was one of the nicest things I had ever experienced. I smiled from ear to ear and snuggled more into her embrace. She let out a moan and pulled me closer too, seemingly mumbling something in the process.

Are you awake?

She gave me no answer, meaning she had done her previous actions still in her deep sleep.

I wasn’t too bothered by not being able to chat with Violet right now. We could do that after breakfast. For now, I’d enjoy my time until the alarm began ringing.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

And of course, my luck being always a cruel mistress, the alarm started ringing right away.

Violet was the one reaching out, since it was her phone, and my back was turned to the bedside table. She turned it off, but she went back to holding me dearly, resolute in going back to sleep with me warming her up.

Violet, I hushed, almost in a singing voice, I need to get up to go to school.

She moaned a protest and tightened her grip on me even more.

I pushed my head completely out of the covers, cold air hitting it, and our faces now levelled.

"I need to go to school so we can have material for you to study,