When I decided to come to the cafe, I never thought someone would be able to find me. I never thought someone would know, that they would find me here. 

"Where have you been?" Luke asks out of breath. 

"How did... How did you know ... How did you find me?" I am lost for words

Breathing heavily he responds, " You weren't asking the phone. I thought... I told my mom and she told me you could be around here. Why are you wearing glass indoors?"

"I-I don't-t I don't know." I try to sound reasonable. 

"Abby." He says in a delicate matter.

I swallow not knowing what to say. I run my fingers through my hair, trying to avoid the question

"I'll be back." Luke walks toward the counter register.

Meanwhile, I pull some of my hair to a hangover so the bruise on my face won't be noticeable. Luke comes over with two cups of coffee and pastries. 

"Help yourself," He takes a seat and starts to eat a slip of chocolate cake. 

I stare at him for a while. I'm scared. But I really need to tell someone. Anyone. He's not asking questions about my face, nor prying. But I really want to tell him. To tell him I'm scared. That I live in a hellhole. 

"Come on choose one. I promise that I won't ask you to repay." He pushes a pastry forward. 

"I need to help you something," I slowly tell him.

"What, your favorite coffee is black? " He chuckles.

"No," I swallow hard. I take off my glasses.

He stops eating when he sees the big bruise on my face, "If you don't tell me, Abby. I can't help you."

"The White's they..... They're the ones that did this to me."

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Sluggish. That's the word that describes my insides. I grab a nearby stick, use it to play with a nearby puddle of water. 

"Abby, come on. Get up," Luke comes carrying several basketballs. 

I let out a sigh and start drawing with the water and stick. Finishing up a tree figure, I doodle a face next, but as I to the mouth part, I pause. Do I have the right to draw a happy face? Without noticing, Luke had come over to see what I was doing. He grabs the stick, dips into the water, added some angry eyebrow and a  mouth as if it were yelling. 

In a grotesque voice Luke makes an impression, "Hello, I'm Abby. My favorite color is black."

Luke has a smirk on his face waiting for a reaction. But I don't have the energy to give him one. "Luke, I"m really not in the mood."

He stops and sits down next to me. "a little too early for that uh."

I give him a weak smile. "yeah, a little bit."

"I still think we should tell someone. " He looks at the basketball net. 

"No, you promised me you wouldn't tell anyone, " I look at him desperately.

"I know, I  won't say anything to anyone, but I don't agree with it. My mom could help. If we explain to her- "

I cut him off, "No! We can't. If we tell someone, they could do something to Jess and I can't let that happen. I can take it a little longer, I  just want to make sure Jess is safe."

"Fine. I promise I won't tell. But let me help you."

"O.k," I hesitantly agree. "And for the record, my favorite color is yellow, not black."

"Interesting," He thinks about it for a while. "Anyway, When are you coming back to school?" Luke gets up, grabs the basketball, and starts dibbling the ball. 

"I really don't know."

"Well, you are going to keep on practice for the scouting trip right?"

"I really don't know if I should." I avoid Luke's face.

"You can still make it to the list." Luke dibbles the ball a bit. 

"Even when I've missed a game? I don't think the coach will cut me some slack.' I sit on top of the basketball. 

" If you don't try we'll never know. What's the worst that can happen? What if you do make it? You'll be able to go to college!" He squats to my eye level. "Abby, there is still time to try. How 'bout it?"

I look at him for a while, "O.K, I'll do it."

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I'm at my locker as Luke makes his way over to my locker. "Annnnnd, she's back. How do you do Abigail Johnson," he mimics an interviewer's voice.

I shrug, "I can't hide forever, can I?"

"No, you can't. Come on, let go before we're late."

I am stuck in the line again thinking about what I should get, apples or oranges. I get both. I look around for a place to sit and see Lura. I am not so sure if she would mind if I sat with her. Suddenly, Luke comes from behind and shoves me toward the table. I take a sit next to Luke, and I feel very unwelcome. As soon as I sit down everyone became serious and the mood somehow turned awkward. "Y'all excited for Nationals?" Luke breaks the silence. That got everyone to start talking but made me quieter.

"You bet, after the 4th game the starter lineup will be finalized," Jackie chimes.

"And we'll have players who actually deserve to be there," Lura indirectly inputs.

"Anyway, What's up with you? Why did you miss yesterday's practice, " Taylor asks Luke. 

"I was busy," Luke shrugs. 

He missed practice?

"To busy to show up?" Hector is astonished.

"I bet he was playing hooky, Ain't that right, Luke?" Zack implies. 

"Very funny, guys. I was not playing hooky, " Luke explains.

"It's nice to know your available," Kyra smirks. 

"Back off, K. I saw him first, "Lura winks at Luke. 

I start to feel a bit bothered by the conversation. My hand starts to go numb. I grab my orange juice and drink it in one go. It seems Luke has friends that really do care for him. 

"You know if you keep hang out with that, you'll lose about of favor," Taylor gestures to me. 

I stare at him without knowing what to say. 

"Guys that's enough," Luke casually says. 

"Lukes right. Give her a break, she has her charms, dark clothes, gloomy and witchy attitude. What more do you want. right, Abby?" Kyra teases.

"Compared to Luke, I mean she's not my first choice, "Lura glares at me.

The numbness is spread to my face, I clench my teeth. 

"Stop. It's not funny," Luke raises his voice.

"What's up with you lately? One day you go from hating Abby yourself, and now what? You're together? Are you a thing now?" Taylor confronts Luke.

"We're not a thing. It's not like that-" Luke starts. The last thing I need to his pity. 

I gather all my courage, get up from the table. "Like he said it's not like that. We aren't anything, "I grab my stuff and leave.

"Abby, wait," Luke calls out. My head feels heavy.

 "Ow," I mumble while falling down with my stuff coming down with me. 

 "Sorry didn't see you there," Taylor sarcastically says as he tucks his foot back.  I let out a huff and gather my stuff together. 

"Abby, wait they were just playing around," Luke hands me my bag. I take it, "You think that is funny? You really think they don't think about me that way?" I start walking. I try to move around my hand to get rid of the numbness. 

"If they just got to know you, they would be more understanding." I stop walking and look at him disbelieved, "What?" My breathing gets heavier. 

He looks at me, "I didn't like you either when I met you, but now it's different." 

I cut him off and keep walking," Different? Different how? Just because you know about me, you think you got me all figured out? Thanks. Thanks for being a great friend." For being harsh and aggressive, I have simple reasons. I have seen it and I even felt it once, betrayal hurts. 

"Abby, What's wrong?" I hear Luke's voice. 

I can't breathe. air. I lose feeling in my legs, everything goes numb. I can't catch my breath. My head feels dizzy. 

"Hey, Abby...."

 I lose consciousness.