Chapter Nine Abs: My eyes darted back and forth between Scott and Whitney in the dead silence. What were they thinking? "Do, um, you two want me to leave?" I asked, breaking the silence and the stare between them.    "No," Whitney said.    "Yeah," Scott said in unison with Whitney. I gave them a look.    "Yeah," Whitney said.    "No," Scott said at the same time.    "No!" they finally said at the same time. I swallowed.    "Ooookay then," I replied, taking a seat on the couch.    "So, uh, how ya doin?" Scott asked, running a towel absently over his freshly-washed short cut hair.    "Pretty good," Whitney quietly answered. "Well...considering." He nodded. I felt strangely out of place. I had the urge to get up and leave but I felt that Whitney wanted me here. Needed me here. Plus, I didn't know if I could wait to hear it second handedly.    "So, uh, where've you been?" Scott asked, leaning forward in his chair. Whitney took a seat next to me.    "Um, about 12 hours from here in an extremely small town," she replied, clasping her hands together. I had the sudden urge to take her hand in mine but it would be too obvious to Scott. And I wasn't about to go and screw up something that I didn't know if Whitney wanted or not. A past hope? Maybe. I'd yet to discuss it with her.    "We really miss you around here," Scott quietly told her, his eyes locked with hers.    "I couldn't have told, if Abs never came to get me," she looked down at the carpet. A knot formed in my stomach and I looked around the room, trying to pretend I wasn't listening.    "Look, I'm sorry, I would have if I could but.."    "I'm not blaming you, Scott," Whitney stopped him. "I was just saying."    "Look, you don't think I want you here? I've wanted you here since the day you left." he told her. I really wanted to leave.    "This isn't an issue about us,"    "The hell it isn't!" Scott's voice rose. I looked up and gave him a look but his eyes were locked on her. She just shook her head.    "Maybe we can talk about this later," Whitney said, standing. "I have to take care of some things first.    "Whitney," Scott and I said at the same time. He shot a look at me then back at her. She locked eyes with me.    "Thank you," she quietly said before opening the door and stepping out. I swallowed. Scott: The door shut. I couldn't bare to look at Abs. He had practically stole her away from me. No, no, Scott. I told myself. You did it. You drove her away. I threw my towel down angrily.    "Scott.." Abs started.    "No," I spun around. "Don't talk to me."    "Hey, I thought things were okay between us," he held up his hands in surrender.    "Yeah, well I guess you thought wrong," I grumbled.    "Scott, you heard her! She's not blaming you," he said, motioning toward the door she had just exited through.    "You don't know, Abs, you just don't know," I shook my head.    "Don't tell me I don't know, Scott!" he yelled. Both of us were getting heated. "I'm the one who spent the past 3 days out looking for your ex-girlfriend to bring her back and try to fix things and you tell me I don't know?" I just glared at him. He shook his head. "This isn't even worth it." He said before leaving just as Whitney had but slamming the door behind him.    I left my spot in the living room and headed back into my bedroom again. I opened my closet and grabbed a Nike t-shirt that was hanging there and pulled it over my head. I thrust my arms through. I reached into my pockets to straighten them out and immediately felt something. I frowned and pulled it out. It was the wrinkled napkin note from Teresa. I quickly scanned it again and stared at the small smiley face.    "I don't know if anyone could make me feel happy now," I said aloud. I crumpled up the note and tossed it on the counter and grabbed my keys, headed off for another day at the studio. Chapter Ten...