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Post by charlie on Jun 15, 2007 2:43:41 GMT 10
Update Soon!!!!
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Post by *Natalie* on Jun 15, 2007 5:55:40 GMT 10
Great update Would die if i thought any of my teachers where doing that when i was in school lol natalie x
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Post by Caffy on Jun 15, 2007 8:33:38 GMT 10
Hahahahhaa, LOVE IT. Actually, we have "hookup rooms around college" I wouldn't be surprised if some of our teachers had been in there aswell really. Ace update, I love this ficcy with much of a passion. It's lovely. A real pleasure to read
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Post by catkin on Jun 17, 2007 21:40:15 GMT 10
***
Wednesday:
“I feel like chips” Luka looked up at Abby, they were sitting at their bench for lunch, both reading a book as they sat next to each other. “you mean like fries?” “yeah. Chips. The British type. Proper chips.” Luka smiled, “ok. Lets get chips.” “there aren’t any chip shops round here. I know, I’ve looked.” “well what about the canteen chips?” Abby pulled a face, “have you ever eaten from the canteen?” “no...is it bad?” “well I don’t know, I’ve never risked it...but I assume it’s as bad as it smells.” Luka laughed, “come on, it’ll be an experience.” “yeah. A bad one.” “it’ll be fun. Come on, I’ll buy you chips, if you don’t like them we’ll throw them away. No harm in trying.” “that isn’t always true.” Luka laughed and held out a hand to pull Abby to her feet. “come on” She sighed and let him pull her up. “it’ll be full of students.” “so? You work with students.” “Exactly. The breaks from them are precious.” Luka shook his head and smiled, leading Abby towards the canteen.
***
He stood outside the gates of the college. This was where she worked. Where she spent her days, days away from him. She’d always loved her job. It made her tired, and frustrated, but she wouldn’t want it any other way. He stared in at the groups of teenagers, playing music, shrieking and running, drinking coke and eating fried chicken. She spend her days with these kids. Any one of these laughing girls or shouting boys could be her student. A favourite student, a hated student, a friend even. He walked towards the gate and smiled at the security guard. He’d managed to beg a few pound off people in the street and buy himself a new coat form Oxfam. With his hair relatively clean after a trip to a public toilet, and a few sprays of tester aftershave, he was passable as his old self. Or at least as a normal guy. Just a normal guy. They had no reason to doubt him. “hi, I wonder if you could help me...” The security guard looked up and forced a smile, “yes mate?” “my wife works here. Abby Lockhart. Do you know her?” The security guard thought for a while then smiled, pleased with himself for remembering her name, “oh yeah, I know the one. American girl right?” “that’ll be her. See the thing is, I’ve just got a phone call from her sister back home and I wondered if it’d be ok if I could come in and talk to her, I know she’s working, but it’s a bit of a family emergency.” “oh right, of course. No problem mate. Just sign your name here and go to reception, they’ll let you know where her office is.” “right. Thanks.” “it’s lunchtime now though, so you might have to hang around for a while.” “that’s fine. Thanks again.” He walked towards reception until he was out of the security guards sight. No one would notice him now, he was just a guy. A care taker, or a supply teacher, nothing suspicious. Now all he had to do was find her.
***
Abby looked up at Luka with raised eyebrows as a girl ran past them, nearly spilling her can of diet coke all over Abby. He smiled back, “think of it as an adventure.” Abby laughed and walked over to the counter to order her chips. She help the polystyrene tray of greasy chips and inspected them doubtfully, “if Tim knew I was eating these he’d freak out.” Luka laughed as he paid for Abby’s chips, “I have a feeling we wont see Tim in here.” Abby nodded in agreement and held up the chips to Luka, “you have one first. Just in case.” “you think they poison the chips?” “I wouldn’t put it past them.” Luka shook his head and picked up a chip, throwing it into his mouth with theatrical courage. He smiled, “it tastes fine. In fact, I’d even go so far as to say they’re quite nice” He took another few chips, then reached for more only to have Abby slap his hand away. “Ok Mr. chip pig. Get your own chips.” She picked one up and raised it to her mouth but before she could eat it there was a loud scream from the other end of the canteen, followed by a group of teenagers running towards her and Luka and the exit. She dropped the chip as she noticed a man in a dark coat at the other end of the canteen. It was him. It was Richard. Without taking her eyes off him she placed her tray of chips on the table, the desire to eat completely gone from her body which was now gripped with cold fear. She felt Luka behind her tense as he recognized the man walking towards them. the canteen had gone silent, a few groups of kids still sitting at tables, now staring at the man in the dark coat. Everyone was aware of his hand, tentatively hidden in the folds of his coat. Holding something. Abby held her hands up in innocence. She could see the look in his eyes, a look she’d only seen once before. The day he’d finally let the anger and mania overtake him, the day he’d hit her so hard she’s flown to the floor with a sickening thud, crumpling like a doll. “Richard...Richard what are you doing here?” He smiled and continued to walk slowly towards her and Luka, his hidden hand trembling with fear or anger. “I came to see you Abby. I had to talk to you.” “Richard I told you you couldn’t do this.” He shut his eyes tight, blocking out her words. “you wouldn’t answer my phone calls.” “I told you...” “NO!” Richard was shouting now, his face red and sweating. “NO ABBY! I JUST...I just wanted to talk to you...” Luka walked forwards then. He knew this was something Abby needed to deal with, he knew she may not appreciate him trying to help, but he could see that the man approaching them was on the edge, and as soon as he started to shout he knew this wasn’t something Abby could cope with alone. “I’m calling the police!” Luka pulled out his phone, Abby standing safely behind him in case the man tried anything stupid. As if the phone was a sword Richard responded by pulling his own arm free of is coat, brandishing a large kitchen knife. “put the phone down!” Luka held his hands up, shocked by the knife. “PUT THE PHONE DOWN!” Carefully Luka put his phone on the table, next to the chips, and held his hands up again in an attempt to calm the man in front of him. Speaking to a group of students behind Richard in a voice filled with forced calm Luka informed someone to call the police. Richard looked around, twitching with nerves, staring at the people in the canteen but never letting Abby out of his eye sight. “I just want to talk to my wife. I want to talk to her...IT’S NOT A CRIME! I JUST WANT TO TALK TO HER!” Luka raised a hand, “It’s ok!! It’s ok. Calm down, she’s just here...” he turned to Abby, letting her walk forwards to stand beside him. She inhaled a deep shaky breath as she stared at Richard, “why don’t we go somewhere quiet? Then we can talk properly.” He shook his head, “no. no we talk now. I need to do this now.” “Ok. Ok, I’m listening.” Richard opened his mouth to speak and nothing happened, it was as if he’d focused so much on needing to talk he’d forgotten what he wanted to say. Abby looked down for a second, before re-focusing on her husband. “there’s nothing to say Richard. You know that. I know it isn’t easy, but you have to let this go.” Richard shook his head sadly, letting the knife holding hand drop slightly for the first time since he pulled it from his coat. “how can I let it go? How can I?” He began to walk towards her and Luka stepped forwards protectively. Abby held out a hand to stop Luka, “it’s ok.” Luka glared at Richard angrily, “drop the knife.” Richard stared down at the knife in his hand, as if he’d forgotten he was holding it. He nodded his head and let the knife slip out of his hands, bouncing on the floor. The canteen was completely empty now; all the students had left after Luka informed them to call the police. The sound of the knife seemed to echo through the room, followed immediately by the sound of police sirens. Richard ignored them and walked towards Abby. He stopped when he was close enough to Abby that they were almost touching. Luka stood immediately behind Abby, his body tensed with anticipation of what Richard might do next. Richard looked down then, letting his eyes close and tears to roll down his face. He looked up at Abby as the police rushed through the college and into the canteen. Ignoring them as they approached him, shouting for him to put his hands in the air he spoke in a raspy whisper. “You’re all I have Abby.” Abby shook her head sadly as the police handcuffed Richard, “no... I’m not.” Abby turned around then, not wanting to see him anymore, letting Luka hold her tight as she stared absently out of the canteen window.
***
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Post by Ergirl on Jun 17, 2007 22:00:56 GMT 10
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Post by smile90 on Jun 17, 2007 22:39:55 GMT 10
in the end everything is fine!! that's how we want it!!!
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Post by rangooner on Jun 17, 2007 23:32:40 GMT 10
oh wow... heart stopping stuff... thank goodness no one was hurt... i mean i don't mind richard getting a slash or two but... our main man and his fair lady are safe and that's all that matters update soon!!!
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Post by ERFanRach on Jun 18, 2007 3:16:47 GMT 10
Wow!! Great Update!!!!
Update Soon!!!!
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Post by *Natalie* on Jun 18, 2007 6:31:31 GMT 10
Great update Glad everything worked out ok natalie x
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Post by catkin on Jun 19, 2007 4:50:27 GMT 10
***
Luka stood at the door to the staff room, his hand tentatively raised to knock on the door. The police had questioned Abby last and had left ten minutes ago, leaving the college in a state of shocked hush. She’d stayed in the staff room after they’d left and so far no one had dared to disturb her. Most of her colleagues had assumed she’d never been married, they’d certainly never heard her talking about a husband, but the story had spread quickly through the college (after all it was the most exciting thing that had ever happened and students and teachers were equally intrigued) but for Abby this was something traumatic and humiliating. She sat in the staff room hoping she would just disappear, she couldn’t bear the idea of having to carry on now. She looked up with red-rimmed eyes as there was a knock on the door. After a short pause in which she couldn’t summon the energy to answer Luka opened the door and smiled sadly. She didn’t smile back. He walked over to her and sat down by her side, saying nothing, just being next to her. They stared ahead in silence for a few minutes before he reached over and took her hand in his. She looked down at the floor and still said nothing. Luka looked at her, not sure what to say. He cleared his throat and spoke quietly, wishing he could just hold her and take away all the horrors of the day. “let’s go home.” Abby shook her head slowly, “it’s only two o’clock...” “So what? Come on, I’ll talk to Pam, I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Abby snorted with laughter at Luka’s suggestion that the head teacher would let them leave early, sometimes it was painfully obvious that he was new. “I guess you haven’t realized this yet, but talking to Pam never results in things being fine.” Luka smiled, glad she was being funny. It was a good sign he thought. At least she was talking to him, maybe things wouldn’t be so bad. “Come on Abby, even Pam won’t expect you to work after that...” Abby nodded, turning her face away from Luka, making him regret even mentioning the events of a few hours ago. “I’ll take you back to mine and cook you a nice meal...maybe get in a DVD...just have a nice quiet evening. And I’ll run you a bubble bath, a great big bubble bath.” Abby smiled sadly, she knew he was trying to make things ok, and his efforts warmed her, but she couldn’t shake the feeling filled her entire body ever since seeing Richard pull the knife. She felt numb, sick, angry at the world, angry at herself. She didn’t want Luka trying to take care of her, she didn’t even want him to look at her. She cleared her throat, keeping her face turned away from Luka’s. “I um...I think I need a bit of time alone...I just...I’m sorry Luka.” Luka shook his head, “no it’s fine. I understand. If you change your mind you know where I am... I just want you to be ok Abby.” Abby nodded, with a sigh she wiped a tear from her eye and sniffed loudly, refusing to cry. She glanced up at Luka for a second, then looked back down, not allowing herself to get lost in the caring warmth of his gaze. He sighed and kissed her on the top of the head. “is there anything I can get you? Do you want me to try talking to Pam?” “no it’s ok...” Luka nodded sadly and stood up, slowly walking away from Abby. He finally turned and opened the door to leave. “Luka...thank you. For everything.” He nodded and smiled before leaving her alone.
***
With a deep breath she opened the door to leave the staff room. She wasn’t sure exactly how long she’d been in there after Luka had left, everything was still in a daze, but she had the feeling that she’d missed at least half of her afternoon lessons. Luka was right though; there was no way she could work now. At first that’s exactly what she wanted to do, as the police questioned her and she answered in angry, fidgety tones. She just wanted to forget the whole thing, get on with it, pretend it was all normal, because she didn’t know how else to deal with it. If she stopped to get over it, she wasn’t sure she’d ever get up again. But this time was different. Everyone knew; the whole college. Even if she wanted to forget, no one else would let her. She’d have to go home, she had to be alone. The desire to just curl up and hide was so strong that her pace quickened, she was preparing to run straight out of the college. As if her intentions had been transmitted over a loud speaker Pam suddenly appeared, blocking her exit. The older woman forced a smile. She was a good boss generally, not too unnecessarily cruel, but strict enough to make a good old-fashioned head teacher. The type of woman in the type of tailored suit, with the type of carefully structured hair-do that commands immediate respect, striking just a little bit of fear into every heart when she enters a room. Abby stopped and stared, suddenly feeling like a young child in trouble. Pam frowned at Abby’s lack of response to her smile (above all things she expected good manners from everyone she met, no matter what the circumstances). “Ms Lockhart...Abby. Why don’t we have a talk? In my office. You don’t have to be somewhere do you?” Abby shook her head, clearing her throat, “no um....sure.” she followed Pam who’d already started to walk away before Abby had replied. They walked into Pam’s office and Abby sat down in the chair that Pam had gestured to. She sat down, keeping her head down and her eyes busy scanning the room filled with cards from students and old colleagues, pot plants on the window sill and a variety of ornaments on the shelves. The room was oddly cold, so tidy it made Abby shiver. Pam sat behind her desk, in her huge leather swivel chair looking over her glasses at Abby. She sighed and removed her glasses. She could see that the events of the day had taken their toll on the normally loud and vibrant woman sitting in front of her. “I’m giving you the day off. And if you need it you can take longer.” Abby shook her head, in spite of the fact that she desperately wanted time off, her desire to appear strong was stronger “I’m fine. Really.” “Well you may be fine, but you’ve been sitting in the staff room for the last two hours. Tim’s been covering your classes. If you were fine I don’t think that would be happening.” Abby looked up at her boss, anger beginning to grow within her. She glared at the woman towering above her in all her superiority. Who was she to tell her how she felt? She opened her mouth to speak, ready to defend herself. Pam held up a hand, “no Abby. It’s ok, I’m not trying to put you down, or tell you you’ve done something wrong. Look, I don’t know the exact details of what happened today, and I certainly don’t know any personal details from your point of view, and frankly I don’t want to know. but the fact is something traumatic has happened and I think it would be best for all concerned if you took some time off. Sort this out Abby.” Abby stared, blinking with confusion in an attempt to understand exactly what Pam was saying. “Wait a minute; what exactly do you want me to sort out?” “people could have been hurt today Abby. And now I’ve got a college full of rumors, and half the student population scared to death about what they saw.” “are you blaming me for this?” “no of course not...but he was your husband Abby...” “oh my god...” Abby stood up then, turning her back on Pam and burying her head in her hands for a moment. “I cannot believe this. You know, I knew you were old-fashioned but this is ridiculous. You have absolutely no idea do you.” “ms. Lockhart sit down and calm down.” “no. you listen to me, that man was not my husband. I may have married him years ago, but we’ve been separated for three years. He’s ill and there is absolutely nothing I can do about that. Do you think I would have allowed that to happen if there was any way I could stop it? How the hell do you expect me to sort that out?!” “Ms. Lockhart there is no need for that sort of language! Now you need to listen to me...” “No Pam I think I’ve heard enough. You want me to take some time off. I get it. And you know what? that’s fine, because I quit.” Pam stared, her mouth open in shock at what Abby had said. Both women glared at each other for a minute, Abby seemed almost equally shocked at what she’d said. But it was too late now. She looked down, suddenly embarrassed by her outburst. Keeping her head down she rushed out of the now deathly silent office.
***
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Post by rangooner on Jun 19, 2007 4:57:51 GMT 10
oh i just love the drama and the abby angst but what would she do now without her beloved teaching job great update, put one up soon!!!
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Post by ERFanRach on Jun 19, 2007 4:59:30 GMT 10
Great Update!!!!
Update Soon!!!!
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Post by *Natalie* on Jun 19, 2007 5:40:51 GMT 10
Great update Glad abby stood up to the mean old bag natalie x
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hanna
Junior Luby
Posts: 42
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Post by hanna on Jun 19, 2007 8:57:24 GMT 10
oooh i would not have seen that coming. wawaweewa. hah. but yeah great update! poor abby though. and pam?! grrr; i think she needs to rethink her words a little bit before i gouge her eyes out. haha no just kidding.
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Post by catkin on Jun 21, 2007 19:48:44 GMT 10
Thursday:
“there’s still no reply.” Tim slammed down the phone with a sigh. Jenny frowned in concern, “what about her house phone?” “that was her house phone Jenny.” “oh...well did you leave a message?” “no...I left one about ten minutes ago.” “hmm...maybe she didn’t get that one...i mean, her answering service could be faulty or...” Tim glared at Jenny sarcastically. She caught his eye and stopped talking, looking down embarrassed. “oh I don’t know. I’m just worried about her. We have to try something.” Tim smiled and held Jenny’s hand, “she’ll be fine. She’s Abby, she’s one tough chick.” Jenny giggled, “I suppose you’re right.” “of course I’m right, just imagine what she’d do to me if she heard me calling her a chick.” Jenny laughed again, before sighing sadly. Neither of them had seen Abby after the previous days events, they’d been out at lunch and had only heard about it once it was over. Abby had been talking to the police and no matter how hard they tried they couldn’t seem to leave their afternoon classes to find and comfort their friend. They both felt awful about the whole thing, and the fact that Abby wasn’t answering their phone calls just made things ten times worse. Tim smiled sadly at Jenny’s miserable expression, he knew exactly how she felt. Leaning forward he gave her a quick hug. “well, it wont hurt to leave one more message will it.”
***
Abby lay in her bed. She hadn’t slept but she didn’t want to move, her covers were wrapped tightly around her, almost covering her face. The phone had been ringing all morning but she didn’t care enough to get up. She was exhausted mentally and physically. The whole ordeal had made all her muscles ache, it was as if she’s been tensing up for years and the effects were finally hitting her. Every time she closed her eyes she saw him. Richard, standing before her with a knife in his shaking hand and hatred burning in his eyes. She kept imagining what might have happened, what he could have done if he’d been just a little more angry, if she’d said the wrong thing or a false move. With every blink she saw a flicker of shining metal and blood, flesh stinging and ripping. She had to hold her stomach tight, the very thought of it causing a physical feeling as if she had been stabbed. And een worse than the images of herself getting hurt were those of Luka. If he’d got scared, or trued to be brave. She saw him rushing forwards, and crumpling to the floor in agony, staring up at her with accusing eyes. It was that part that hurt the most. She knew it was only her imagination, Luka wasn’t stupid, he’d handled the whole thing very well, and he’d done nothing to make her think he blamed her. But still it haunted her. She’d put him in danger. Like Pam had said, Richard was her husband. She’d never thought he’d do this, but maybe she should have. She should have talked to him sooner, instead of letting him get more and more crazy. The idea that he could have hurt a student was enough to make her never want to leave her bed again. As far as she was concerned staying in bed was the best place for her. The safest place; safest for everyone concerned.
***
The end of the day:
Luka had been distracted all day. He’d had no word from Abby, and though he knew she wanted some space, being away from her after what she’d been through wasn’t easy. He couldn’t stand the idea that she was on her own. As tough as she might be, this had shaken her; he’d seen it in her eyes. It wasn’t something that would just wash over her. This was her past coming back to haunt her in the most unpleasant of ways. He remembered how for a whole two years after his family died he’d wished they’d come back. He just wanted one more day, one more hour, one more minute even. Just to tell them he loved them, to hold them once more. But as the years past and he forced himself to move on he realized that if all that wishing would actually bring them back for even a second it would completely destroy him. Some things you can’t change, and no matter how much you miss someone, getting them back isn’t always what you need. He’d phoned her at every opportunity, but she wasn’t replying. So now as he prepared to go home he wondered whether he should just ignore her request to be left alone and go to her house. He just wanted to see that she was relatively ok. He just wanted to hold her and kiss her on the top of the head, smelling her wonderful hair and keeping her warm and safe. He sighed and looked round as he heard familiar voices approaching. It was Tim and Jenny, they stopped and smiled. He smiled back. “Hey...um, have either of you heard from Abby?” They both shook their heads and Jenny spoke, “we left a lot of phone messages, but she isn’t getting back to us.” Luka sighed sadly, “yeah...me too.” Tim gave Luka a friendly punch on the arm, “cheer up big guy, she’ll be fine. I know she will.” Luka nodded, forcing a smile. “But um, me and Jen were thinking of going to hers, maybe with a bunch of flowers or chocolates, you know, just to say we care...you should come with, she can’t possibly ignore all three of us.” Luka nodded and laughed lightly under his breath, hoping that Tim was right but suspecting that Abby was just stubborn enough to ignore all of her favourite people. “good plan. Come on, I’ll give you a lift.” Luka walked in the direction of the car park, followed by Tim and Jenny who gave each other a look of giddy excitement at the offer of a lift from Luka Kovac.
***
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