C H A P T E R T H R E E

Chris's POV

Once Abi had calmed down, we entered the cafeteria. I didn't really know anybody, so I was nervous. Good thing Abi's here.

"Abi!" A voice called out. We turned our heads toward the sound and spotted a group of two girls waving my bestie over. Abi smiled, waving back. She took my hand, almost running over to them. She may seem okay now, but I knew she really wasn't. Abi loves helping people, making them happy. So much that she forgets about herself sometimes.

Abi's POV

Chris is such a angel. He knows me better than anyone: My family, friends, even better than I know myself. As we entered the cafeteria, I spotted some of my old friends from middle school. I waved back to them, grabbed Chris's hand and dragged him there with me. "Beth! Alicia! Heyyy!" I was still a little dejected, but no point in showing it.

"Hey, Abi! Sup, girl!" They exclaimed, returning my greeting. Beth noticed Chris standing by me as he waved sheepishly. "Who's that?"

Chris grinned, showing his array of pearly whites to the world. "I'm Chris."

"Childhood BFF." I explained.

"Ah, cool! Well, this is Beth, and I'm Alicia. Nice to meet you." Greeted Alicia, but Chris wasn't listening. He was looking out, upon the sea of people, searching for who knows what. I nudged him with my elbow and his head snapped back to our direction.

"Hmm? Ah! Sorry, about that! Nice to meet you too." He said, realizing what just happened.

Chris... well he had trouble focusing sometimes.

They nodded an 'it's okay' and we sat down. I pulled out my sandwich and was about to take a bite, when a pair of arms snaked around my neck. I elbowed whoever it was in the stomach, turning around. I was enraged, nobody ever came between me and my food. Before me stood Caleb, gripping his abdomen.

"Oh my god, Caleb! I'm sorry, that was a reflex, though you kinda had it coming. You okay?" I asked, concerned. He nodded, shooting me a thumbs up. "You're strong for a girl, you know." I chuckled. Next to him were the other two question askers, Robin and Erin. Robin had a goofy grin plastered on her face, while Erin was stone faced. "Hey, guys." I greeted them. "Hey Abi! Hey Chris! " Saluted Robin, while Erin just nodded. "Mind if we sit here?"  I smiled. "Not at all."

I introduced everyone, and we all got along pretty well. Caleb tried flirting with Beth, while Erin rolled her eyes at him, Robin asked her endless amount of questions, and Chris and I caught up.

Apparently, Chris had moved here just a week ago, and even better, he lived on the street behind mine. His family made sure to keep it a secret from mine, in order to surprise us today. And boy, did it work.

"So Abi," Erin slowly asked. I looked up, switching my view from Chris's face to hers. I waited for her to continue, and she did. "Why didn't you answer my question?" Her face was emotionless, still. I wonder how she did that. I on the other hand flinched, and Chris gave my hand a squeeze from under the table.

Chris started to say something, covering for me, but I stopped him. If Erin and I were going to be friends, she deserved to know. "It's because currently, I have an older sister  named Zora," I started. Intrigued, everyone turned there heads toward me. I had earned myself a couple of raised eyebrows as I continued. "...but I used to have a twin brother. Aaron." My voice cracked when I said his name, but talking about him felt good. Hesitantly, I told them the story. "One day, he just disappeared. Everybody looked everywhere for him, but nobody could find him. Now he's gone." Once I had finished, I earned a sympathetic look from Erin. "Oh. Sorry about that." Guess she wasn't an ice cube, after all. I nodded, accepting her apology. "It's fine. You didn't know."

It was pretty quiet after that, but soon we started talking again as if nothing happened.

The rest of the school day was a breeze, just more introductions and going over rules. Finally, the last bell rang, the sound ending the first day of school. I sighed in relief as I exited biology, making my way to the front of the building. I had told Chris earlier to meet me there. As expected, he wasn't here yet. Instead, there stood Dallas. He was talking to Liam, and I made my way over to them, trying not to be noticed.

"Hey there Abi!" Liam half shouted. I groaned in exasperation as I made my way over to them. "Liammm! I was trying to scare you guys." I pouted. "Oh, well sorry about that." He laughed, while Dallas ruffled my hair.

"How was school?"

I grinned, looking up. Dallas was six foot three, so me being only five foot four was an issue. "It was freaking awesome!" I answered, earning a eyebrow lift from Dallas.

"School? Awesome?" He questioned.

A laugh left my lips. "I saw one of my old childhood friends." I explained. "We haven't seen each other in about seven years."

"Seven years?! Wow" Liam added. Huh, I forgot he was there.

Suddenly, I was pulled into a hug from the back.

"What the-"

"Abbaaaaay!"

I laughed in realization, while Dallas went into protective-mother mode.

"Dude, what the heck? Get off her!" He ordered.

"D-dont worry! Haha, he's my friend!" I said between laughs.

"I'm Chris." Chris greeted, releasing me at last.

"Oh, sorry about that. I'm Dallas"

"Brown bear, mind if he walks home with us?"I asked, sneaking in my best puppy dog eyes. Liam chuckled at his nickname, though it truly suited him. He had a strong aura. Calm and quiet, but if you hurt his loved ones, he wouldn't hesitate to hurt you. Dallas shook his head, and we were on our way.

"Bye, Liam!" I called out, and Dallas patted him on the back.

"See ya!" He waved, walking into a school bus.

"Liam?" Chris asked.

"Oh yeah! I forgot to introduce you guys!" I mentally facepalmed. "That's Liam, he's a friend of ours."

"Cool." He responded, his usual smile shining bright. That's what I loved about Chris. He was caring, crazy, and never failed to put a smile on my face.

As we started our journey back home, I suggested that Dallas and Chris get to know each other better.

They were my two best friends, but they were polar opposites. Like the sun and moon.

Soon we were at the part where Dallas and I usually parted, unless we were going to Pedro's studio. Pedro was an old man and a friend of ours, and it's were we went to play music together.

"Bye brown bear." I dismissed, a smile dancing on my lips.

Then, without warning, Dallas bent down and hugged me. I stiffened at first, not expecting the touch at all. The most he ever did was ruffle my hair, and I'd only see a full on smile from him when we were in the studio. This was vastly unexpected. Happy, I hugged back.

Laughing, he pulled away. "See ya Abi. Chris."

He stretched out Chris name a bit, though, didn't think much of it. Tons of people want to be friends with Dallas, due to his good looks, but only a few emerge victorious. He mostly keeps To himself, expecting others to do the same. Chris frowned, and didn't say bye back.

Chris and I walked on, surprisingly, in compleat silence. It wasn't the at all awkward, just peaceful.

"You know, I missed this a lot."

I turned around to see Chris staring out into the vast Texas sky. He looks so carefree, like always.

I smiled, turning my face up towards the endless blue as well.

"Yeah me too."

"Also Abi..." he started.

I looked at him, intrigued by how serious he sounded. "Yeah?"

"Why can't I have a nickname!" He whined.

I burst out laughing. So serious over a nickname, this kid.

"Hey! Im  serious!" He pouted.

"Well, if you want one that much, how about sunshine?" I suggested, still possessed by my laughter.

He raised an eyebrow at me "sunshine? "

"Mhm"  I nodded "your so bright and bubbly. It suits you."

"''Kay!" He grinned

Not being able to keep it in, I started laughing again. Hard. Man, I loved this kid.

Not soon after the whole nickname dilemma, we found ourselves in front of my humble abode.

"Wanna come in?" I offered

Chri- I mean sunshine smiled, and nodded.

I whipped out my  key and opened the door. We walked in to see my whole family there, as well as Chris's, instead of at work or school.

"Surprise!" Yelled Fiona, Chris's mom. We were so Close, I called her by her first name.

I laughed, giving her a hug. I swear, the Howlmans are the best huggers on earth.

"Don't forget about me Abigail!"

I leaned my head back to find an upside down Tony.

"Like I ever would, and it's Abi!" I replied. We laughed and did our super cool, secret handshake. It was so fast, almost impossible for others to master.

Our families sat down in the living room, catching up. It had been seven years after all, and so much had changed. For example, Chris now danced! He showed us some of his moves, and even taught  me some. We laughed, and it was a ton of fun, but soon it was time for them to go.

~LATER THAT NIGHT~

I sighed, flopping down onto my bed. I am exhausted. My family and I had played some board games after the howlmans left, and we had dinner too. Gosh, I love food.

I slowly changed into some pajama shorts and an old tank top.

Staring at the ceiling, I went through the days events. Meeting Liam, Chris, seeing Dallas. Meeting Robin who never seemed to have a loss for words, Caleb who couldn't keep his eyes to himself, and Erin, stone cold, but secretly caring. Seeing my good old friends, Beth and Alicia. Finally my mind paused at the thought of Aaron.

I have no idea how he disappeared happened that day.

Slowly, a single tear crept down my cheek.

I never cry in front of others. I'm strong, I have to be. But the strongest people, are the ones with the most scars.

I brushed the tear away, and picked up my nearby basket ball. Winter was approaching and would arrive in a few months, so I better start practicing.

I'm pretty sure it's too late now though. I picked up my phone And started down at the lock screen. 11:00pm. Yup, too late.

I settled for practicing spinning top he ball on my index finger. I've always wanted to be able to do it, and I wasn't far from doing it.

I walked over to my mirror, and started watching my ball rotate on my finger.

Briefly, my eyes drifted toward my shoulder.

What I saw made me I freeze. There was a faint mark origin above my bicep. It looked like the scratches I usually get from my cat, Sage, But bigger. It looked like a scar almost.

I dropped my basket ball and rushed into my bathroom, desperate to scrub it off. Nothing worked.

Defeated, I crept back into my room, and lay on my bed. Right before my eyes closed, the scar glowed a beautiful shade of lavender, before returning to its original tan.

Afterwards, my eyelids connected and the world drifted away.

A/N

Hey guys!

Thx for reading :)

This chapter was  a bit longer than usual, so yay me for that!

I also made a new cover

Here are pictures of Beth, Alicia, and Sage ❤️

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