To those around her, Abigail Henson can be described in two and a half words: harsh, cold-hearted and sometimes, on the very very rare occasion, funny (despite her "jokes" being meant as insults most of the time). Does Abigail care that her peers find her mean and unnerving? No; and that's the short answer.

Abby - if you call her Abigail, may God help you - wasn't always so cruel and "intense" as she's now described to be. Once, a long time ago, Abby laughed and smiled on a regular basis. She didn't snicker when little kids fell on ice and she certainly didn't stare into the school janitor's eyes as she spilled her soda on the floor, grinning as if it caused her true and genuine amusement.

A long time ago, Abby Henson could be described as normal.

That was, until, her sixteenth birthday passed, when she woke up on August 18th feeling as if her heart was jet black and that's how it's always been.

But that was normal, right?

•

November 23rd started off as any day goes; Abby peeled off her black pyjamas and pulled on some black clothes. She curled her black hair and swiped on some black eyeliner, but when she came down and her mother asked her if she was going through a goth-phase, she replied with no.

"Have a nice day, darling!" Her mother, Ruth called, just before Abby shut the front door behind her.

Not answering, the door closed with a bang, but Ruth merely rolled her eyes and went back into her room to sleep.

Abigail didn't feel all that bad when she ignored her mom, it's not like Ruth didn't know she loved her; she did, of course she did, but it was only because you have to love your mother. Ruth and Abby have barely held a full conversation since before her birthday.

The brisk wind smacked Abby in the face the second she stepped outside. Pulling her black beanie down to cover her ears and crossing her arms tightly over her chest, Abby made the seven-minute walk to school.

She didn't admire the orange and yellow leaves falling around her, she didn't gaze at the perfect blue sky and she didn't look both ways when she crossed the road. Her eyes were glued to her phone, on the conversation she was having with her (only) friend Maddie.

maddie madoodle soleman:
i'm telling you, abby, he followed you home and sat in front of your house for hours.

abby (never abigail) henson:
first of all, how would you know?? did you follow me home too??

maddie madoodle soleman:
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

abby (never abigail) henson:
whatever, weirdo, i'll see you in second period.

That's usually what their conversations consisted of, but Maddie nor Abby really minded their lack of communication; it usually gets made up in second period.

Abby sighed, finally reaching Baxter High, and as she gathered all the books she needed from her locker and made her way towards her first class, she couldn't help but think how eager she was to leave the old, boring town that is Greendale.

•

"So, my dude, I've come to an interesting conclusion," Maddie stated the second she noticed Abby walk into chemistry.

"What, no 'hello Abby' or 'how was English?'" Abby joked, raising an eyebrow at the one person she seemed to be able to tolerate these days.

Maddie ignored her friend's sarcastic statement and jumped right into what she had to say. "Remember the guy–" Abby groaned "–that followed you home yesterday?" Maddie took her friends silence as a 'please continue'. "I've discovered that he actually doesn't go to Baxter High at all."

That got her attention.

"What?" Abby questioned, suddenly feeling slightly self-conscious.

Maddie eagerly nodded, "Yeah, I came to school a bit earlier today so I asked around to see if anyone has noticed a good-looking guy dressed in all black."

"How confident were you with your results?"

"Not very," Maddie sighed sadly. "But," she grinned, "if you're really interested, you can–"

"But I'm not interested, Maddie," Abby argued, begrudgingly opening her notebook to 'write notes' when she noticed the teacher's eyes on her.

Maddie rolled her eyes, "Abby, darling you know I love you, but if you don't get back out there soon I'm going to force you into third-wheeling with James and I." Ah, James Mayfield; football team captain, school's unofficial official heartthrob, and Maddie Soleman's boyfriend of approximately three weeks.

Man, did Abby hate that guy.

"Like I don't third-wheel already," Abby mumbled, thinking she wasn't loud enough for her best friend to hear, but when she got a swift kick in the shin did she realize she was wrong.

The rest of the class went by quickly (thank the lord) and so did the rest of the day, and before Abby knew it, it was time to go home again.

After a quick "watch out for that guy and if he flirts flirt back" from Maddie, Abby made the seven minute trek back to her home.

It was the same as the morning, only the sky seemed a bit brighter. The wind still carried the fallen colorful leaves and the brisk weather made Abby shiver.

She stopped at the park, which held a path leading into the forest that'll no doubt make the - now five minute - journey shorter by a whole lot (even though five minutes was practically nothing). Deciding against the voice in her head that told her she may die walking towards the tall tree-hidden path, Abby walked.

And she walked.

And she walked.

Until she heard a twig snap.

(note!)

it's not boring i swear just stick with mE

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