Chapter Two
Score

When you're crying, who do you call? When you need to get something off of your chest, who do you confide in? When you had a really sucky day, who do you want to cheer you up? Who do you spend every moment with? When you think you're falling in love, who do you tell?

Abi's answers for four-out-of-five, of these questions are her best friend Austin. But the fifth question, however, he can't help her with. After all, how would he react when he finds out she might be falling in love with him...?

____

The cold metal door burst opened and two young teenagers came tumbling out onto the grass. The small, quick-footed, dark-haired girl regained her balance first and began running again with the black haired boy right behind her.

"Run!" Austin yelled, and gave the small girl a shove in the back to make her go faster. Abi stumbled a little, but regained her footing and pushed herself forward harder. Dirt flew up from behind their feet as they made their escape down the path beside their school.

The warm wind whipped at Abi's face as she ran as fast as she could to get away from Coach Lincoln. Her breathing was coming out in short gasps and her heart was racing. The bag of spray paint was still slung over her shoulder, the painful thump of metal against her back reminding her of what they had just done. She squealed excitedly as she ran past the cars in the parking lot and around the side of the building.

Then, the door towards the main building was in view. She ran towards the rectangle that promised safety from their pursuer. She heard Austin running behind her and she stuck her arms out in front of her. As soon as she reached the door she pushed it opened with all her might without even stopping her sprint.

The door shut quickly behind her, and she ran to the right, heading toward her classroom.

"No-no-no," Austin said from behind her, grabbing her wrist tightly and jerking her around. "This way,"

She giggled and followed her best friend the other way, past the rows and rows of blue lockers. They heard shouting from behind them, and Abi covered her mouth to keep from screaming. She could picture the bulky red faced gym teacher, running behind them and blowing his whistle. He would catch them if they didn't hurry.

If they got caught, they were dead.

Suspended.

Grounded.

Never to see the light of day again.

And that's what made Abi's heart beat like a drum in her chest. The amazing thrill.

"In here," he whispered, and flung open the janitors closet. He shoved Abi inside and quickly smushed into the tiny space behind her. With the door closed it was pitch black and Abi was pressed against Austin's toned body. He had his arms around her chuckling loudly.

"Shh!" she hissed, trying to control her own giggles. She put a hand over her mouth and pushed her face against Austin's hard, broad chest. He squeezed her tighter in the small space.

Their heartbeats were one, thundering in rhythm with each other.

Seconds ticked by of dead silence... then minutes. Nothing happened. Abi's leg started to tingle, falling asleep, and she shifted uncomfortably in the limited space. The only sounds in the world were their heartbeats and rough breathing. It felt like there weren't really at school, but in their own little world. And if they stepped out, they would be in another universe far away.

"Do you think he saw us?" Abi whispered, slowly lifting her head. She couldn't see his face in the dark, but she could feel his rough breath against the top of her head as he took deep breathes. Her hands were on his chest now, and she could feel his heartbeat thumping under her fingers, fast and frantic.

"I don't think so," he whispered back, his voice just a thread in the darkness. Abi felt something stabbing into her back, and she figured it was a broom, or a mop.

The laughing started again, slowly and quietly at first and the building until she was sure they could hear it in the halls. She felt the cold metal of the cans on her back through the thin mesh of her bag and laughed harder, "I can't believe we just did that!" she squealed, covering her mouth once again.

"Hey, it wasn't my idea," he pointed out in mock defense. "The other day, you said,'Hey, let's put graffiti all over Coach Lincoln's weight room walls."

"Well, the football players were making fun of you," she countered maternally. She reached up to find the spot where his hair hung down over his face and she pushed it back with her fingers. She giggled, "Plus, I think the walls needed a little color,"

"I don't think pictures of half naked girls are what they had in mind, Abi," he teased in his deep voice.

She laughed again, harder this time. "Oh, you know you liked it," she joked. "I saw you staring at my art work!" They both broke into uncontrollable laughter. His body shook against hers and she leaned her face back into his chest. He was so much taller then her. She was barely making it past five and a half feet and he was about six foot three.

After a few minutes, she finally sighed. "Do you think it's safe?" she asked quietly, her ears straining to hear any sounds from outside. There was nothing but the strange humming coming from the air conditioner vents above them.

"I'll go check," he said, and shifted against her, attempting to get out of the closet. Unfortunately they weren't going anywhere unless both of them got out together. She pushed against his chest, but trying to move backwards made the handle of something dig deeper into her lower back. Crap.

"I'm stuck," he muttered. She could hear his smile.

"Thanks Mr. Obvious," Abi muttered as she grunted and pushed backwards harder to get away from his body. This was going nowhere.

"What do we do?" he asked.

"Hang on," she said, reaching carefully and finding the doorknob in the darkness. With a soft click the door came opened, and they both came falling out with a big crash. The mops and brooms clattered loudly to the ground and on top of them as they sprawled across the white tiled of the floor. Abi sat up slowly, shoving the mop off of her back.

Austin lifted himself up and sat down on the ground, and looked at her. Grins stretched across their faces at the same time, and they said together, "Score!" That's what they said every time they had successfully completed a prank without getting caught. Abi raised her tiny hand up for a high five, and Austin granted one.

Carefully, they got up, and shoved the cleaning supplies back into the closet while trying to stay quiet. Austin got the bag of evidence- cans of green, red, blue, black, and purple spray paint- and disposed of it's contents in the trash can. He was sure not to put the cans on top, but to bury them underneath the papers and things that were already inside.

When they were done, Abi took a deep breath. They had done it. She let it out in a long sigh. "We did it," she whispered.

"We did it," he agreed, putting his arm around her thin shoulders.

"We better get to class." She playfully pushed his arm from her shoulders and gave him a poke in the ribs. "I'll meet you after school," she promised, heading off toward English. She ran her fingers through her short charcoal black hair, which barely came down to her chin. It was almost shaved boyishly in the back, but not quite and got longer towards the front. Then her bangs came down over her eyebrows, framing her tiny, delicate face. Many had learned however, that just because everything about Abi screamed small and innocent, she was anything but.

Austin waved goodbye and headed the opposite direction to Math. Abi had a big smile on her face as she walked away.

She and Austin had known each other since they were in diapers and had grown up living across the road from each other. His mom, and her mom were friends through High school. They used to plunk Abi and Austin naked into the bathtub together. Everything was perfect.

Or.. so they thought. Abi had no idea as she stopped outside the class room door to compose herself, that things were about to get a whole lot more complicated.

____

Abi met Austin outside by his truck after school and he had her favorite grin on his face. The warm summer breeze whipped his black hair out of his blue eyes, before he quickly put on his favorite black beanie. "Sup, Abi?" he asked.

"Nothing much," she said, shrugging her shoulders. The gravel crunched loudly under her feet as she came to a stop in front of him. Her mesh bag was now filled with books and pencils, the evidence from the previous hours long gone.

His grin widened. "Well I know what's up," he said smugly. "Coach Lincoln's blood pressure. He's totally flipping out!" He sounded amazingly proud of himself. Almost as proud as Abi felt.

She made a face and looked around nervously, pretending to be a spy from one of those cheesy secret agent movies. "Shh," she whispered, "They could hear us... These dumpsters have ears you know."

He snickered. "Get in the truck," he said and pulled opened his door with a loud squeak.

"Yes sir!" she saluted like an army man and pulled opened the truck with peeling hunter green paint and seats that had seen better days. No matter how much Austin cleaned his used truck, it always smelt faintly of tobacco, peppermints, and old coffee. It was one of the most comforting mixtures in the world. Because if Abi was in Austin's truck, then she and Austin were together. And she always felt safe with him.

Austin turned the music up deafeningly loud as they drove down the back roads with the window's rolled down, the wind making Abi's hair fly around her face. She lifted her arms up, and held one out the window, "We are so amazing!" she declared to the gray roof over her head. "Shall we take a bow?"

Austin smiled widely. "Yes we shall," he said, and tipped his head froward. Abi did the same, but further down since she didn't have a steering wheel in the way. The sun kissed her cheeks as she leaned back against the old seat and closed her eyes. Her content sigh was lost in the sounds of the fresh wind rushing through the truck and the booming music.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked, putting one arm casually over her seat the way he always did.

"Let's get something to eat! I'm starving!" she said, patting her flat stomach.

"Where?"

"Mc. Donald's!" Abi declared.

Austin cheered in agreement, and pressed harder on his gas pedal.

Abi sang off key to the complicated pop music Austin was playing. Neither of them had any specific taste in music. They just got wrapped up in the song and listened just for the sake of listening. Just to be free. Like now. Abi treasured these moments with her best friend. Because she never wanted them to end. Ever.

___

So....? What did you guys think? I know, this is a big jump from the first chapter, but it will all make sense later. :D
Thanks to Just Silly Me and Agent Firefly for your reviews! I edited the last chapter and added a little to it, and I hope it's better!

QUESTION FOR YOU! I'll put it in the next chapter.
1) What is your favorite breakfast food?