It's like I'm sleepwalking

[Abby Hurston]

The sweet sound of the robin's call rang through her open window, urging her to open her eyes. She could smell, like every morning, coffee, but this time it was accompanied by something else. A smile swept across her face as Abigail brushed the sleep out of her eyes. Waffles! It was her favorite breakfast, after all. So, that could only mean two things. One, that her father did something he wasn't supposed to, but knowing Abby she would be much more easily forgiven by food than the usual "apology flowers". Or, well.. it never came to the second one, but she's sure there was some other reason he would make her waffles.

She leaned against the wall by the window while she brushed the knots out of her hair. It seemed like the perfect time to go for a run, that's if she would still be able to move after she devoured all waffles in sight. It was the first week of summer break, acing all the exams she wasn't already exempt in, and she planned to keep running the entire time to be in kick ass shape for track in the fall.  That was if her father didn't have her summer holidays scheduled out again. Oh no. She leaned her head back against window sill, almost a little to hard.  "Please, please, please no." she whimpered softly to no one. After a heaving sigh, she slipped her hoodie on before making it down stairs.

[Fastion Hurston]

Fastion had the radio on quietly as he whisked up the batter, humming along with it as he stepped around the island towards the oven. Jaelynn and him would do this every Sunday before Church when Abigail was still in the womb. Mostly she just sat on the counter giggling as he would spin around to surprise her with a kiss every once in a while. On occasion spilling a little bit of the batter on her. She would only laugh a little harder, proclaiming that they were just including Abby into the ritual. The memory was bitter sweet, but always made him feel better in the end. He believed that that may have been why this was Abby's favorite. That perhaps with sacrificing her life for him, she was able to give him a reminder of her love from the other side. With a little help of course.

The griddle sizzled as he started pouring the batter onto it. A stirring coming from upstairs put a large grin on his face. He wouldn't exactly say she was a morning person but the first sign of food cooking and that girl could drag herself out of a coma. He turned around with a plate full of fluffy waffles just as she came bundling down the steps. "Good Morning." he greeted with a small chuckle. She grinned back at him quickly before eying up the plate he was holding on to. Simply shaking his head at her, he passed it. Her hands already grasping on to it before it was even in the middle of the space between them. He poured himself some coffee, juice for her, before he joined her at the table.

[Abby Hurston]

It didn't have to be what she was thinking. In fact, it wasn't no way, it was something easily explained like... he just really felt like waffles right now. Boom. Just like that. Walking, which turned into more of a slight job with how much her mind had already kicked in to high gear, she looked up to see a plate of waffles. She smiled eagerly, having the aroma calm her for that brief moment. Scooping the jar of syrup off the counter she took her usual seat. "Thank you," she added softly with a smile, as he set the glass of juice done in front of her. She paused however, it was grape. Now she understood just how ridiculous this would sound if she relayed this information to anyone else, but she knew her dad. He despised grape. And of course she loved it.

The first bite of waffle sat there at the end of her fork. A fork that was now hovering just centimeters away from her mouth. So close, she was sure that if a drop of syrup dribbled down, it would run across her lip. Of course she still wasn't fully sure. Maybe there was something else happening, like perhaps there was a ... No. She peered up at him and when their eyes locked, she knew. There was a slight glimmer of guilt behind them. A look that said, 'Hey! this is good for you, and you'll thank me later.' A look that irked her right to her very core. It was only a brief second of a moment before he opened his mouth to explain, but her whine had beat him to it. "But Daaaaaaaaaad!."

[Fastion Hurston]

Fastion didn't exactly know why he assumed he was in the clear. That perhaps Abby would be thrilled that he planned out her whole summer. She liked stability and she did such a wonderful job last year. The moment of realization hovered along side that bite of waffle. He waited intensely before she locked eyes with him. That's when he knew everything he tried to accomplish was crumbling in front of him. He opened his mouth to try and explain, to show her how much she really wanted to do this, but she beat him to it. Her high pitched whine erupted through the peaceful morning air. Their breakfast now ruined.

In that instant he turned to rage. "Abigail, that's enough," he snarled at her, attempting to silence her. Instead her words only tumbled out at him, showing no end in sight. "That's enough," he repeated, but again no use. His fist came hard down onto the table top, tings of shaking cutlery being the only sound that was left in the wake. "This is happening, and that's final. The church needs you, so you're going to be a respectable young lady and do what you're told." Her eyes hardened on him and he could see that she was just as upset about this situation as he was. Granted for very different reasons. He watched her gracefully lay her fork down on the plate and push back from the table. Retiring cautiously before moving to the stairs. "Abigail.." His voice timid and regretful, but she didn't even pause for the slightest hesitation.

[Abby Hurston]

After she broke the silence there was no stopping the out pour of thoughts that swarmed her mind from the moment she woke up. "You can't do this to me! I never have any time for myself, for my friends. I've been busy with school and track and church.. one summer." She knew that he heard nothing that was coming out of her mouth, that every thought or feeling she had didn't matter at this point. He had made up his mind about this and there wasn't a thing on this planet that had the ability to change it. She couldn't tell exactly why he felt this need to control her.

Her complaints kept pouring out until his fist came slamming down. Her doe like eyes just stared at him, like she was caught in the headlights and in a way she was. She just wished that he'd just run her over already. Respectable young lady.. Her whole body went hot, her eyes narrowed in on him. He might as well just lock her up in her room, or this tiny box and only let her out when it suited him. When he needed to look like he had a well behaved daughter to showboat around town. That was not who Abigail was and she was not okay to be treated as such. She was an individual, not some doll you could simply dress up and pretend. She very carefully laid the fork on the plate in front of her. Making sure not to remove eye contact, she pushed back from the table. "Please, excuse me," she responded 'respectfully'.

Once her back was to him, he heard her name being called out. She took extra caution to not waver, her back arched as she walked up the stairs. It was time to get out of this house. Grabbing her phone to send a quick message to Serena, she changed and left the house without another word spokem,