This chapter is dedicated to [shreyv]! Thanks for your support, girl! It means a lot! :)

------

Chapter 16: Being Hurt Hurts

Clang! "SHE..." Bang! "COULDN'T EVEN..." Shatter! "DEFEND HERSELF!!" Riley screamed on the top of his lungs as my room was currently a battlefield. My glass trophies of all the previous matches of basketball were lying on the carpeted floor; shattered to smithereens. "Arrghh!!" I seethed as I grabbed the nearest thing I could lay hands on and lifted it to throw at the wall. Why was I so pissed? I guessed it had a lot to do with Caroline but also the secret about Abigail's pregnancy. I couldn't bear to think that she suffered for 9 months and I wasn't there by her side to help her in any way!

"NO!! NOT THE RECENT TROPHY, KEVIN!!" Riley yelled as he leaped on me and snatched the trophy from my trembling hands. I heard him cursing as he placed the trophy away gently.

As soon as he regained his stance, I furiously grabbed his collar and tugged him forwards. "What the..." He swore as I hissed. "Did you even give her a chance to speak?? Did you give her a fucking chance to explain, Riley??!!" He snorted as he pushed my hand away. "A chance??!! Are you fucking kidding me??!! She doesn't even deserve anything!! What would she explain anyway?? We already knew what she was up to. Or should I say I knew what she was up to?? In the beginning when you told me how crazy you had gotten about her, I realized that probably you had finally found the right girl for you. The one who would always love you no matter what! But hell was I wrong!! That day hasn't come in your life yet. So stop desperately searching for it!! When I heard the rumours, I brushed it off just like you did. But it has intensified now!! Hasn't it??

"A girl who you so earnestly believe would never betray you has turned out to be what the media calls her now! Hayden Albert's girlfriend!" He sneered.

"SHUT UP!!" I roared as he huffed in annoyance.

"Hurt, are we?? Truth hurts, Sanders. Really bad. Anyhow, listen to your best friend for once. The guy who has stood up for you on numerous occasions. Your brother." He whispered.

I looked away. "She was never meant to be yours. Period. Don't tell me it all happened in one fucking day and then she went away and you guys promised to continue liking and trusting each other??!! Which century are you in?? It was obvious she would have a fling in London!! Like, hello!! After all, she's a stunner and no matter how great you're, you'll always be the blind boy like how many others think of you. The time hasn't come for someone to look beyond that side of you. Trust me. And if this hurts, then man up. You need all the encouragement to face this harsh two-faced world and I'll always be right behind you. I got your back!"

Tears filled my eyes at his words. They were blunt and they hurt. Like hell!! But he said the truth and that was what I loved about Riley. He never sweetened the bitterness.

I started doubting myself. The lovely moments I shared with Caroline seemed like shattered pieces of glass trying to fit together. I was devastated and sadly to say, I could no longer trust her. In the beginning, I had brushed off all the rumours. I was also expecting her call to fill me in with the details about this sudden drama but she never did. I tried calling her but she never responded. Whether she was innocent or not, it didn't bother. For now I was seething in anger at her betrayal. Was I expecting too much from the relationship to end up in a state like this?? It could be true. After all, it was too good to last.

All was silent for a while and the only sound heard was of our shallow breaths.

"Can I tell you something, Kevin?" Riley asked after sometime.

I nodded.

"Abigail was the right girl for you, man. I was the happiest man alive when I heard that you were dating her! It was seriously heaven on earth for me. My best friends in love! But later? What happened? What made you dump her? The only girl you would ever be perfect with was her! She understood you, took care of you and loved you like you were her soul mate! A match made in heaven! So why the hell did you dump her, you idiot?! I was seething in anger at the thought that you could hurt her! Did you know how crazy she was for you?! You still don't give her a chance! I see how you distance yourself from her when she tries to get cosy with you! What's your fucking problem, man?!" He gritted his teeth in anger, his words making me mad.

"Don't cross the line, Riley!! You're overdoing it!!" I hissed in anger.

"I'm crossing the line, aren't I??!! When she was in distress, I was the one by her side. Now that you're in distress and I'm trying to reason out and help you, you're telling me not to overdo it and cross the line??!! You still want that bitch by your side, don't you??!!" He mocked.

That was it. Thwack! For the first time in my life I had punched my best friend and somehow I had a good aim. I was in too much of an infuriated state to regret what I had done.

"You fucking need to shut that trap of yours, you bastard!! You may call yourself my best friend but I know how to deal with my fucking life. Thanks for your help! Also, don't try to intervene again and hey, never jump to conclusions!" I spat in disgust. Where was the Riley I had always known?!

He groaned in pain as the door suddenly banged open. "Kevin!! Riley!! What the hell just happened here??!!" Abigail screeched in horror as I imagined her grasping the entire situation. Not knowing what to do, I tried to make my way past her. I didn't want a questioning session and I didn't feel ready to face her especially after her confession. Riley didn't know about Abigail's pregnancy. It was not like I judged Abi but I was in a state of utter shock and it was difficult to overcome it.

A hand was placed on my chest as I felt Abi's eyes boring into mine, her eyes scanning my rugged and tired features. I could feel her pain as her grip on my shirt tightened and her fingers trembled. "What have you both done?!" She whispered to the both of us, her voice cracking slightly. Riley grunted and tried to make his way past us but Abi stopped him in time. "And where do you think you're going?" She asked. He ignored her and briskly walked out. How I hated his arrogance! I heard her sniff. "Hey..." I soothed. "What happened between the two of you?? Okay, it's fine if you don't tell me now but I swear to God make it up both of you!! And do it soon!!" She pleaded. I bent to kiss her forehead as she adjusted my neck to kiss on the right place. We chuckled as she hugged me. "It feels so normal to be friends with you again." She whispered. I smiled at that. At least I had a friend left.

"So..." She straightened up.

"Hmm?"

"I...I want to take you somewhere..." She stammered. What was she so unsure about?

"Where?" I asked, my voice puzzled.

"To meet Celeste."

+ + +

I was made to sit on the couch in Abigail's house. Abi's parents hadn't sold the house but had just locked it until they returned and since they would be staying for sometime in New York, they were staying here. I was surprised or let's say more than surprised when I came to know she had brought Celeste along with her. How I was dying to hold that baby!

Celeste was almost 2 years old and just when I was lost in my thoughts, I heard some whispering and talking as feets approached me. Abi's parents weren't home and she had appointed a nanny to take care of Celeste. Her parents had not uttered a single word about Celeste and all the drama to my parents. "It's okay. I'll be able to manage. Shh..." Abi took the baby from the nanny and sat next to me. She gently placed Cel's head on my lap while her legs dangled from the edge of my lap and Abi played with her toes.

"Her head is so tender and so are her hands and fingers!" I cooed as the warm sleeping baby washed away all the worry and anger I had some time back. "Yeah! She's a beauty! She has got hazel brown eyes like mine and two rosy cute dimples like Aaron's." She whispered. My heart clenched at her pain that she tried so hard not to reveal. "She has got his complexion too..." She trailed on, her head resting on my shoulder. My head bent towards hers. We remained silent as we relaxed ourselves in each others company.

"When are you planning to tell Aaron?" I asked.

She sighed. "Soon. But I need some time. I'll tell him when I'm ready."

"You'd know that you'll be seeing him in London, right? When you go to University?" I asked, unsurely, while caressing Celeste's head. She had fairly well realised that Caroline was Aaron's sister.

"One more month. I'm ready to wait that much." She whispered, her voice sounding far away.

"I'll always be there for you, Abi. No matter what." I swore.

I could feel her smile lightening the once tensed atmosphere.

"Shall I give you a piece of advice and not an order?" She continued after a slight pause.

It sounded like she was hinting about the incident between Riley and me. How much had she heard?

"Hmm?"

"Listen to your heart. Always. If you end up being hurt, you'll heal. Being hurt definitely hurts. But remember, you'll always heal..."