mock disbelief.
“Ah now this…” Liam points at the radio excitedly as another song kicks in with an electric guitar blasting out a heavy, rock riff. “THIS is a tune…!”
Abbey doesn’t recognize the song, but she is grateful for the change in topic. It hadn’t escaped her attention that it was Nathan who lightened the mood and she catches his eye, smiling appreciatively. He nods and smiles back, before joining in the lively debate that has suddenly erupted between Lucy and Liam. Abbey voices her opinion and watches in amusement as Lucy excitedly agrees with her, pointing out to the boys that they clearly have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to the Oasis back catalogue.
She sits quietly, listening to their animated discussion as relief floods through her. They know the truth. Her secret is out. And instead of being met with a barrage of awkward and uncomfortable questions, they simply listened. Abbey is so used to people shying away from her because they don’t know how to act or what to say, but they had just let her talk - and had made sure that she was alright without prying or asking for any of the morbid details. It is something she has never experienced before. Even her oldest friends back home had changed around her after it happened, but not Lucy, or Nathan or Liam. It’s as if they understand her better than anyone, and she suddenly feels like a huge weight has been lifted. For the first time in a long time… she feels happy.
C HAPTER T HREE
T HE P ARTY
A bbey’s life at home and her life away from it couldn’t be more different. They are complete polar opposites. Two totally separate worlds occupied by the same person. Her relationship with her family has broken down even more than she ever thought possible and there is hardly any interaction at all with her mum. She is far too immersed in the new house and making a good impression with the neighbours, concentrating on her new job, and proving to everyone that she is ‘fine’ after her minor relapse a month ago. Needless to say there has been no more wine kept in the house after that episode. Janet may ask Abbey how her day has been and how school is going, but she never really listens to the answer-far too busy focusing on more important things than her teenage daughter. At least that’s how it seems. Peter is the same, so wrapped up in his own life that he shows minimal interest in Abbey or how she is, and Anna and Dom are only slightly better. The fact they live on the other side of the city means they don’t visit all that often and even when they do Janet monopolises their time, bombarding them with never ending questions about her future grandchild, who she can’t wait to meet. It is getting increasingly claustrophobic, living in that house, with the endless small talk and constant silences… and Abbey hates it. She feels completely cut off, almost as if she is ceasing to exist.
She is well aware that she should probably care more, but even Abbey is surprised at how little she feels towards her less than perfect situation. She isn’t overly upset or worried about the deteriorating relationship with her family; in fact it barely affects her at all, because when she is with Lucy, Nathan and Liam, she can escape that world. She can find a release and forget about everything else. Being with them is like a breath of fresh air and all the doubt and hurt that she is so used to just don’t touch her anymore. She may feel as though she is disappearing at home but with her friends she feels completely herself and more content than she ever has before. It’s like a paradox, both lives running alongside one another at the same time; the good and the bad.
It is a Thursday afternoon when Abbey’s two worlds eventually collide. It is strange to see Lucy in her kitchen; she has never been over before and Abbey is so used to their friendship being totally separate from the misery of her home life. It feels odd to have her at
“Ah now this…” Liam points at the radio excitedly as another song kicks in with an electric guitar blasting out a heavy, rock riff. “THIS is a tune…!”
Abbey doesn’t recognize the song, but she is grateful for the change in topic. It hadn’t escaped her attention that it was Nathan who lightened the mood and she catches his eye, smiling appreciatively. He nods and smiles back, before joining in the lively debate that has suddenly erupted between Lucy and Liam. Abbey voices her opinion and watches in amusement as Lucy excitedly agrees with her, pointing out to the boys that they clearly have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to the Oasis back catalogue.
She sits quietly, listening to their animated discussion as relief floods through her. They know the truth. Her secret is out. And instead of being met with a barrage of awkward and uncomfortable questions, they simply listened. Abbey is so used to people shying away from her because they don’t know how to act or what to say, but they had just let her talk - and had made sure that she was alright without prying or asking for any of the morbid details. It is something she has never experienced before. Even her oldest friends back home had changed around her after it happened, but not Lucy, or Nathan or Liam. It’s as if they understand her better than anyone, and she suddenly feels like a huge weight has been lifted. For the first time in a long time… she feels happy.
C HAPTER T HREE
T HE P ARTY
A bbey’s life at home and her life away from it couldn’t be more different. They are complete polar opposites. Two totally separate worlds occupied by the same person. Her relationship with her family has broken down even more than she ever thought possible and there is hardly any interaction at all with her mum. She is far too immersed in the new house and making a good impression with the neighbours, concentrating on her new job, and proving to everyone that she is ‘fine’ after her minor relapse a month ago. Needless to say there has been no more wine kept in the house after that episode. Janet may ask Abbey how her day has been and how school is going, but she never really listens to the answer-far too busy focusing on more important things than her teenage daughter. At least that’s how it seems. Peter is the same, so wrapped up in his own life that he shows minimal interest in Abbey or how she is, and Anna and Dom are only slightly better. The fact they live on the other side of the city means they don’t visit all that often and even when they do Janet monopolises their time, bombarding them with never ending questions about her future grandchild, who she can’t wait to meet. It is getting increasingly claustrophobic, living in that house, with the endless small talk and constant silences… and Abbey hates it. She feels completely cut off, almost as if she is ceasing to exist.
She is well aware that she should probably care more, but even Abbey is surprised at how little she feels towards her less than perfect situation. She isn’t overly upset or worried about the deteriorating relationship with her family; in fact it barely affects her at all, because when she is with Lucy, Nathan and Liam, she can escape that world. She can find a release and forget about everything else. Being with them is like a breath of fresh air and all the doubt and hurt that she is so used to just don’t touch her anymore. She may feel as though she is disappearing at home but with her friends she feels completely herself and more content than she ever has before. It’s like a paradox, both lives running alongside one another at the same time; the good and the bad.
It is a Thursday afternoon when Abbey’s two worlds eventually collide. It is strange to see Lucy in her kitchen; she has never been over before and Abbey is so used to their friendship being totally separate from the misery of her home life. It feels odd to have her at
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