Monday, March 16, 2009

Chapter Two - Part One

Abbie came closer to the bus stop, just three blocks from her apartment, once the stop was in sight her heart began to flutter. Her palms began to perspire and her breathing sped up to match the thoughts running through her mind.

"This could be it. I might be able to see him again. This time I'll introduce myself or say something witty to get his attention. Ugh, I don't want to look too eager or even worse, needy. What am I thinking? I probably will never see him again, it's a lost cause. Shit, did I bring money to get on the bus?"

As she arrived at the stop digging through her pockets for $2.25, Abbie found her self excited for the first time in a while. Five months prior Abbie was in a steady relationship that she thought was perfect. He was handsome, but not the conventional type of being tall, dark, and handsome. Instead he was a different type of attractive. He had a musty smell and deep brown eyes. His smile was crooked but it suit his face and light complexion. He went by the nickname his grandfather gave him when he was younger and his auburn hair had hints of red tint, Rusty his grandfather called him. Rusty was average height and had broad shoulders and strong hands. Abbie had loved Rusty all through her senior year of high school, but never had the chance to tell him her feelings.

They only shared two classes together through out that year and they hung around two very different crowds. Abbie mostly drifted from one group of friends to another, while Rusty stayed true to his friends from grade school. In high school Abbie was considered eclectic, she never fit into any particular category. So, she was seen as a "floater" and someone who could blend into any group or clique on campus. Rusty was thought of as a "hick" or "cowboy," he drove a truck that had not been washed in years and wore sturdy and reliable boots to school. He joined the 4-H club his freshman year and by senior year had his 4-H jacket instead of a Letterman's.

The next year Abbie had ran into Rusty at college orientation not knowing he was going to the same state college only an hour away from the town they once shared in high school. They never realized how much they had in common and three short weeks after that day in orientation, they started to see each other in another light. They dated for a full year before the first bomb was dropped on their relationship. Rusty found a construction job in another town that he wanted to pursue instead of college. When Abbie found out he would be leaving the state she had a feeling she knew it would strain their relationship.

Rusty moved a few months into their sophomore year of college and nine months later their relationship ended. Abbie loved Rusty and he felt the same way towards her but he was making money and moving up in the construction job he had found.

"Come move out here. We can live together and you can go to the community college. You won't even have to work. I'm making enough for both of us. If you wanted to work there are tons of animals out here and that means there must be a vet you could work at," Rusty begged her one night.

Abbie held the phone to her ear with tears streaming down her face, "You know I can't. I don't have enough money saved and I already have a job here and I don't want to go to a community college now that I'm so far into my second year." She put her hand over the receiver while she let out short gasps and listened to the words that stung to her very soul.

"Abs, I can't do it anymore. I want a girlfriend who wants to be with me. Who wants to be here. I know you have a lot going for you there. So stay. I love you, but I just can't wait any longer, it's hard enough as it is that I know you won't leave for me. I love you Abbie, and I'm sorry."

The next few weeks went by like a whirlwind for Abbie. There were finals, then summer school started, and then Abbie moved out of her parents house and into the apartment with Karen. While Abbie went to the state college, Karen went to cosmetology school and picked up a part time job as a receptionist at a salon. Abbie started to rely on her little sister for comfort during the hard times when she could not get over Rusty.

The bus finally arrives and Abbie steps on immediately looking around for any sign of Mystery Man.

"Miss it's $2.25 to ride," the gentleman driving the bus interrupts her thought process.

Abbie shoves the crinkled dollar bills into the pay slot, "Oh yea, sorry." As she makes her way down the isle of the bus seats she thinks, "I knew it." The bus lurches forward and continues on it's route. Abbie sits down next to an elderly man, who looks over and nods his head and smiles. She kindly returns the gesture and smiles, feeling the disappointment that she may never see Mystery Man again.