Chapter XXIV

Dear Adam,

No one told me what day you were leaving. But your mom did say you could get email now. So, here I am, apologizing for being too late. I should have been there. I was caught up in stuff that I'm sure you don't care about, because what matters is that I wasn't there for you. I would have tried, at least. I hope you know that. I know I'm not the greatest friend, but I wouldn't air you like that. I hope Mountview isn't destroying you. I hope you've been having an okay time. And I hope you haven't forgot that people care about you.

Love,

Abby

Abby,

I wasn't even aloud home for Christmas. Whats that tell you? It sucks here. Thanks for writing I guess. Got to see your mum and dad's show, plus your episode. Was funny when your dad called new kid Noddy, but didn't like how many times he called you ugly. Like when I do that, it's jokes, but he kept doing it over and over, until it wasn't funny anymore. Think you might be right about him being a prick and all. Your mum was being a right bitch too. I didn't like that they made you cry. Don't say they didn't because I know you did. Good thing new kid was there I guess. Hope they've fucked off back to L.A. and not just London by now. Mum sent me my Advent calendar. It was good.

-Adam

P.S. Tell your dad I'm not taking it up the arse from anyone at Mountview.

Adam always remembered Gabriel being fun. The guy who let him and Abby watch R rated movies and play GTA, as well as letting him have his first puff. The guy he saw on TV yesterday in the common room wasn't very fun at all. Like, yeah, Adam can admit he doesn't find Abby that attractive or always that fun. But that's no reason for her parents to have torn into her like that. I mean, holy shit, they're almost worse than...well, not his dad, but definitely the assholes at Mountview. Then again, he didn't remember them drinking that much either, or being as mean to Nan. He supposes he hasn't really seen them since he was thirteen. Maybe the stress of having an orange president is getting to them, and they still aren't all that bad. Then again, as bad as it was to watch, it was worse with all the other cadets. A bunch of guys hooting and hollering and graphically debating whether Abby or Roxanne was more attractive wasn't exactly his idea of a good time, especially when some dude shouted about how Abby's tits were bigger and how he'd like to cum on them. If the guy hadn't had five friends backing him up, Adam thinks he might've killed him. But Abby at least has New Kid. The best part of Adam's holiday has been hiding in his dorm room closet and eating all the Advent calendar chocolates in one sitting so no one would steal them.

Dear Adam,

I miss you so much. I'm sorry about the holidays. Is anyone else writing you? Like Charity? I know she was just a fuck buddy, but even some nudes from her would probably make things a bit better for you. I'm really glad Otis was there too. He makes me stupid levels of happy, and he always says the right thing. Dad's got a point that he could do better than me, but it's not just about looks, it's everything else. I'm just an absolute mess who doesn't know how to do anything other than make mixes and jokes. I'm just happy whenever anyone likes me. That's why I try so hard. I guess I want everyone to like me to make up for my parents not liking me. But what's going on with you? Anything new? Do you spend time thinking about this stuff with your family lately? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.

Love,

Abby

Abby -

What'd you do for Boxing Day? I had to run drill cos I'm shit.

- Adam

Dear Adam,

I gave Otis his Christmas presents a day late so I didn't interrupt him and his mom, and he gave me some stuff, like a boxset of Fruits Basket mangas he found in an Oxfam and a copy of the first volume of My Hero Academia. I'm still meh about anime, but I really like manga. I think it's kinda of the same to how I used to not like TV and instead I only liked books. I got him a Funko Pop and some other stuff he really liked. I'm sorry you had to run drills. I hope you know me and your mom are thinking about you.

Love,

Abby

Abby -

What was the other stuff? Was it nudes?

- Adam

Dear Adam,

No, it wasn't. It was clothes. Pervert.

Love,

Abby

She thinks that's close enough to the truth, as it was a Polaroid of her with clothes on. Adam doesn't need to know that it was her dressed in a sexy genderbent Yugi Mutou costume. Hell, considering it's a Polaroid and not in the cloud, no one will ever know. Probably. Unless Otis' mum finds it, and even then, she won't understand what it is. Hopefully.

Abby -

Ugh. Boring. Anyway, what's going on with your other friends, like Cockbiter and Tromboner? (I didn't say it out loud.)

- Adam

Dear Adam,

That's not a loophole. Anyway, Maeve has a really nice job that she likes a lot, but I still think she'll be allowed back in school next term. Eric and me and another friend have been hanging out a lot, mostly at each other's houses. They like talking about clothes a lot, but we watch TV together and that can be really fun. Me and Nan are still getting along really well too, especially since my parents haven't bothered us again yet. Hopefully their stupid Christmas special that ruined the timeline of their show is the last time they'll try and make me do that shit. I sent you a present in the mail. Did you get it yet?

Love,

Abby

Abby -

Look I know you mean Aimee. It's okay. I'm over her now. For real this time. If by present, you mean that massive bag of crisps and that stupid A Separate Peace book, then, yeah, I got it. I gotta hide the crisps in my trunk, but no one's found them yet. Things aren't as bad as people act like they are. No one's beaten me with socks full of soap or anything yet. Other than the deranged officers, no one pays much attention to me other than some dumb jokes. So don't worry about that stuff, yeah?

- Adam

The other guys really haven't been that bad. They steal food a lot, and some of them are fucking massive, but no one goes looking for fights. Kind of a pity. At the very least, Adam could have asserted himself as not quite top dog, but someone not to be fucked with if some smaller or equal idiot tried to come at him his first day, but everyone here actually seems to want to follow the rules, at least the big ones. It's almost scary.

Dear Adam,

Come on. I figured if the TV's in the common room, and you aren't allowed phones, reading might be the only thing there is to do. Still, I know it's not your bag. Are you sure about the Aimee thing? I know that was getting to you at the dance. You really can talk to me, if you want to. About anything.

Love,

Abby

Abby -

I gave Tromboner (Eric) a blowie. What does that mean?

- Adam

P.S. Don't tell Otis.

He doesn't know why he sent that. It just feels weird not telling Abby. He's always told her everything, even if it only comes out when he's angry. She always knows everything about who he's hooking up, even some stuff she never wanted to hear. He might as well tell her the truth about Tromboner, so she doesn't think he's sitting around pining for Charity, or worse, Aimee. Besides, she already knows he likes guys, sometimes, for some fucked up reason (but if she tells New Kid, he'll kill that guy and never speak to her again).

Dear Adam,

Is this a joke? 'Cause even if it's not, I'm not sure what that means. Do you really want to talk about it?

Love,

Abby

Why would he tell her that, Abby wonders. Eric hasn't told her anything, and that means it's definitely a well kept secret. Adam could have died without anyone ever finding out. She gets that she's his best friend, but WHY TELL HER? She won't tell Otis, hell, she CAN'T tell Otis, but this...God, this is going to keep her up at night. Why would Adam even do that in the first place? When did he do it? How long ago was it? And why would he just blurt it out like that, in an email?

Abby -

No. Just wanted to tell someone. Don't talk to Eric about it, okay?

- Adam

Dear Adam,

I promise.

Love,

Abby