Before beginning with the dedication, I would like to thank each and everyone wholeheartedly for getting this book 3715 reads and 156 votes as of now!! I would also like to thank you all for your lovely comments and special messages that you've sent me about this book!! It seriously touches me when I notice people falling in love with the book and especially when they tell me about it!! Never would I've ever imagined the book touching so many hearts!! I love you all for this!! These dedications are paybacks to all of your sweet ways of showing me your support!! :) <3

This chapter is dedicated to [JessieCroons]! Thank you so much for voting! :)

*This chapter gave me immense feels...I hope you feel them too!!*

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Chapter 22: Spare Me the Pain

****Aaron's POV****

Dring...

"Pick up the phone!" I seethed in anxiety, sweat wetting my palms. The phone on my ear was slipping every 2 seconds due to the stupid anxiety!

"Hello?" A manly voice spoke from the other line. My immediate response was to hiss in anger and clench my phone tight at the very idea of a guy answering her phone. Then I remembered it wasn't her phone!

"Kevin? This is Aaron here." I replied, my voice calm.

Silence.

"Aaron? Hey." He replied, his voice cautious.

"Um, hi! How are you? Uh...we haven't had a formal introduction before. But...I'm Caroline's brother and...Abigail's...boyfriend." I stated, the word 'boyfriend' making me flinch. My voice betrayed me. What were we exactly?

"Yeah. I know about you. Um...do you know me? Has Caroline told you about me?" He asked, his voice sounding hopeful. Abigail had told him about me! Good or bad stuff?

I thought about anything Caroline told me about Kevin. Nothing.

I watched some of the girls and boys laughing in the corner while I leant my head against the wall. It was our break after our course. After Carol's question about Abigail yesterday, something spurred me to take down Kevin's number and talk to Abigail. I just wanted to try my luck. Carol didn't know that I had done this.

"You're her friend, aren't you?" I asked.

Silence.

"Yeah. Right. I'm her friend." He answered, his voice sounding agitated.

What was on? Who was Kevin to Caroline?

"Umm...Kevin? I'll tell Caroline to give you a call, okay?" I said. I felt the tension and I wanted Caroline to sort things out.

"That'll be good. Thanks, man." He replied, his voice sounding a lot cheery. I smiled and watched a girl strutting towards a café not before giving me a flirtatious wink. I sighed and ruffled my hair.

"Kevin? Is Abigail around?" I asked.

Silence.

This conversation was so freaking awkward and difficult!

"She is."

Those words made my heart pound a trillion times per second. Sweat beaded my forehead and I clenched the phone tighter.

"Do you want to talk to her?" He asked.

I let out a heavy breath that I didn't know I was holding. Would she talk to me? She didn't the last time. She hung up on me.

"Sure. Please." I pleaded. I didn't care if I sounded like I was begging.

"Definitely, Aaron. Just promise you'll make sure Caroline calls me." He reasoned, his voice really reassuring. That somehow cooled me down. My heart began beating steadily but the adrenaline rush made the insides of my stomach squirm.

"Sure, Kevin. Will do." I replied. I made a mental note of asking Caroline about Kevin. I knew something was up between them.

I heard the thumping of footsteps and then the line was filled with mellowed noises.

I breathed in and out to steady myself.

"Aaron."

The voice made my breath hitch. Her voice. She was actually talking to me? Or would she hang up the minute I would say, "Abigail."?

All was silent from her side.

I was talking to this girl after 2 years! 'Aaron, calm down!' My conscience warned.

"Abigail."

She sighed, sounding hurt. I felt like reaching out to her...

"How are you?" I asked.

"I'm fine. How about you?" She questioned. I heard the chirping of the birds in the background. I slumped on the bench nearby. How could she be fine when I wasn't?! I was glad she was all hale and hearty and safe, but really? Did she still...love me?

"Good. In London now." I replied.

"I realised." She answered.

"When did you come back from Paris?" I asked.

She sighed. Again she sounded hurt. My arms itched to hug her and tell her everything would be okay...

"I came here almost 2 months back. I'm going back tomorrow." She replied.

"When are you returning to America?" She asked.

"After 2 years, I suppose. But I'll come there for the holidays." I answered.

"Where're you?" She asked.

"I'm at my crash courses class right now. We've got a break. Did you apply for any University?" I asked.

I sensed her smiling through the phone. I grinned in response as though she could see me.

"I'm applying for Universities in London." She whispered. My breath hitched. She was applying here! Here!

"That's..." I didn't know what to say. My heart was fluttering with joy! I would get to see her!

"Awesome? I know. I'll see you!" She replied.

She wanted to see me?! God! Pinch me somebody! This couldn't be true! All this while I thought this girl had a dying hatred towards me for a reason I didn't know! Right there, my inner self could be compared to a 5 year old girl what with all the squealing and bubbly excitement! My cheeks had turned a shade of red and it wasn't because of the cold. At that very moment, the cold wind blew against my cheeks so as to tease me.

"Wow! Somebody is surely looking forward to see me." I stated, my voice teasing.

Her voice turned low. "I'm sorry, Aaron. I shouldn't have walked out on you like that. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just thought it was for the better. I'm earnestly sorry. I can't explain this on the phone. Please excuse me."

She walked out on me for the better? What?!

Tears blurred my vision. I was glad things were getting better between us and slowly, I was sure we would be like how we were before. Together. But stronger...

"When will you explain it all to me, Abigail?" I asked, my voice cracking. My carefree façade finally melted.

She took in a sharp breath of air. "Soon. I promise."

I nodded as though she could see me.

"Aaron..." She trailed.

I waited.

"I love you. Always have. Always will." She whispered, her voice confident.

Those words! How I always waited for her to speak those 3 powerful words! And finally she did! What could've been better? She loved me! That was enough to make me the happiest and luckiest guy on the planet!

"I love you too." I replied.

Silence.

"How can you still love me? Especially after all I did to you?!" She asked, her voice cracking.

"Love, I can never stop loving you. You and I are meant to be. No matter what you did, I just couldn't refrain or avoid the feelings I've for you! They're embedded in me. I know I sound cheesy, but Abigail, you're the one for me." I stated, venting out all I felt for her.

She began crying on the other line. I sniffed after hearing her weep. When would I meet my love?

"I love you, my Aaron. Sorry to keep you waiting. I'll call you next when I'm free. From my phone." She chuckled between her sniffs. I smiled.

"Bye, beautiful!" I chirped.

"Bye, love!" She replied.

None of us hung up, though. We just held the phones to our ears and enjoyed each others presence. No matter where we were. No matter how far we were. No matter how many miles away she was. Our hearts would always beat as one...

And I was glad we were making progress...