*IMPORTANT*

This chapter is one of the most crucial chapters of this book. I hope you all like it!! It was difficult for me to write.

Comment on your views!!

#passmethefreakingtissuebox

P.S Play the song linked to the media. If the feels are too much for you to take [like me (sad high five)], then don't.

This chapter is dedicated to all of you!!

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Chapter 23: That Call

It had been a week and a few days. A week and a few days since I last talked to Aaron. Abigail went back to Paris the day after she spoke to Aaron. I was happy for her. Happy that things between them were settling down. What about me? Well, I was busy stuck studying for my finals before I would graduate. I was waiting for the day when I would be receiving my diploma! I was also waiting for the day when I would be able to talk to Caroline and sort things out.

"Can't wait to graduate, man! And two weeks after that, Prom!" Riley commented from behind me as my fingers traced the dotted letters on my current page. We were studying for our upcoming Chemistry exam. That reminded me! Prom! I had to get a date!

I heard him shift behind me. "Hey, do you need any help? You know, any explanation of diagrams or something like that?" He whispered, his voice soft.

I smiled at him. Whenever I would study, Riley would make sure he would join me too. He said he liked group studying! As if I didn't know that fellow! His main intention was to reach out to me and help me out!

"I'm good." I replied, my mind memorising the table of the insoluble and soluble salts.

"Cool." He chided and continued studying, the only sound heard was of us flipping the pages.

'Yeah, you can be the greatest

You can be the best

You can be the King Kong banging on your chest...'

My phone suddenly started playing the Hall Of Fame. Someone was calling. My heart lurched for a second and my adrenaline rush ceased the next. After I had talked to Aaron who had promised me that Caroline would call, I was always edgy whenever I received any call. After a week, I realised that I was getting my hopes too up and that I had to stop behaving like a desperate idiot! But yeah, just for a second when the phone rang, my heart clung to hope.

I heard the shuffling of Riley's feet as he rushed to grab the phone.

"Caroline." He stated, shocked.

My feet remained rooted to the ground. I was frozen! I felt like I was stupefied!

So she called! She had finally called! After the long wait, she decided to call! I would be talking to this girl ever since I last told her goodbye over the phone! I couldn't wait to hear her voice! I couldn't wait to know what the hell was happening!!

Riley handed me the phone not before swiping the screen.

"Caroline!" I breathed, a sigh of relief escaping my lips and I clutched my phone tight in anxiety.

"Kevin!" She replied, her voice sounding enthusiastic but tense.

"How are you? Where were you all this time?! Why didn't you ever call me?! Why didn't you ever respond to my calls?! What the hell is happening?!" I fired questions at her, frustration lacing my voice. I shut the book to concentrate on this call.

Silence. I didn't want silence from her! I wanted answers!

"Kevin, it's impossible to explain all of this over the phone!" She reasoned, sounding defensive.

I gritted my teeth at her reply. Impossible to explain over the phone?! What?! Then why the hell did she call?! If she didn't explain everything to me over the phone, how else was she planning to explain it all to me?! Would I've to arrange a jet for her just to get the freaking answers?!

"Impossible to explain?! Don't bullshit me, Caroline!" I hissed, my tone menacing.

"Please, Kevin! You're being unreasonable! You do not know how much I've been through!" She responded, her voice pleading.

"Are you trying to gain my pity, Caroline? I expected better from you! And what do you mean by "You don't know how much I've been through"?! What're you trying to tell me?! I think you should be glad that I'm even giving you a chance to explain yourself! If it would've been any other guy, they would've dumped you way back! What do you think, huh Caroline? You can come into someone's life all of a sudden and then toy around with that person's feelings then walk away at your will and roam around with some other guy?!" I snarled, my fist banging hard on the table.

I heard her intake a sharp breath of air. "Do you think I would do that to you? Is that how you think about me now?"

I squeezed my eyes tight and pinched the bridge of my nose. I heard the door close softly. I internally thanked Riley for giving me some privacy.

"Can you blame me for thinking like that?! You very well know what impression you've left of yourself to me now! You think a blind guy like me can't put you in your place? Do you think I'm that desperate for you? Isn't that how I've proved myself to you all this time? Riley and I had a huge argument here some days back about how he didn't give you a chance to explain yourself when he had called you! What a fool I was to think that you had your reasons! Your reasons to date another guy when you made me feel like we had something all this time!" I let out a harsh chuckle.

"Kevin, you must understand! I know I've hurt you and I'm truly sorry! You should understand that my reasons are genuine! I love you and it's the truth. Please believe me!" She pleaded, sniffing slightly. Hearing her weep silently was a jab at my heart but I had to remain firm with this. I had had enough what with their recent date flooding the internet!

I clenched the phone tighter.

"Explain yourself, Caroline. Give me a good reason why I should still like you especially after all you've done? Even when I tried every way to approach you, you avoided them all! You only called me because Aaron told you to, right? Probably you felt guilty since I persuaded Abigail to talk to Aaron and you must've noticed the progress they're making, it was more of an obligation, wasn't it?" I asked, standing up and walking straight, my left hand outstretched to feel.

She was quiet.

"You weren't supposed to talk to me today, were you? Were you supposed to talk to me ever?" I whispered, my voice cracking. I had reached the window near my bed and sat on my bed, my hand messing my hair.

"You're right. I wasn't supposed to talk to you today. But I was going to call you soon, anyway." She replied, some noise outside muffling her voice a bit.

A tear escaped my eye. 'Be strong, Kevin.' My conscience encouraged me.

"What's your problem, huh? Why can't you explain yourself?" I urged.

She sighed. "I can't do it over the phone, Kevin. I really can't."

"THEN WHY DID YOU FREAKING CALL?!" I barked. I flinched at my anger. Never had I ever raised my voice to a girl! To anybody for that matter! But I couldn't help it this time! Anger, frustration, irritation, defeat. All of those feelings erupted my calm inner being!

She began crying on the other line.

"Kevin...please...please understand..." She whispered.

I took in a huge breath of air to calm down. I banged my fist on the wall. My knuckles hurt but it was nothing compared to my broken heart.

"Caroline, listen. Either you explain yourself to me over the phone or else..." I shuddered at the next words I was going to say. "...we're done."

Silence. The silence was so eerie. So frightening! The silence made me scared at the power of those words! I would be losing her...

"You can't possibly do that to me, can you? Why can't you wait to listen?" She whispered, her tone scared.

"I've liked you a lot, Caroline! You're very different from most girls! It doesn't mean I'm here to take your shit! I'm giving you a chance to explain yourself then why don't you take it? If you really like me and want this relationship to last then, explain! I'm just asking you for an explanation! That's all! That one thing can fix all of this mess! If you don't feel like explaining over the phone, then don't bother. We'll be done. Officially. You can go your way and I can go mine. Anyway, I'm busy with my finals. So make up your mind!" I offered, sounding callous. I wanted her to feel the pain I was going through.

"I can't explain anything over the phone." She stated, her voice droopingly sad. It seemed like she was informing herself.

Another tear escaped my eye. So that was her decision. Okay.

"We're done, Caroline. It was lovely getting to know you! Have a nice life!" I sneered, my heart breaking into a million pieces.

She let out a sob. "Don't, Kevin! I'll tell you everything! Just give me time! Don't leave me, love!"

I huffed and tugged at my hair. "How long do I've wait to hear your explanation?! Do you know how it feels to be kept in the darkness, love?! Do you know how many times I've paid a deaf ear to all the news about you and celeb boy?! I guess I believed and trusted you too much! I've waited this long for you to call! I've changed a lot, Carol! I wasn't like how I'm right now! Please understand! We'll do each other a huge favour by letting go!"

"Don't break up with me!" She cried.

I sniffed, tears escaping my eyes. "You were really the best thing that had ever happened to me, but I guess, good things don't last long! We were never even together in the first place!"

She sniffed while trying hard not to let out a sob.

"So...this is it? You want to leave?" She asked, her voice a mere whisper like she didn't want me to hear it.

"Yes. Let's part ways." I answered, finality lacing my tone.

She sniffed again. "It's my birthday, Kevin."

My breath hitched in my throat. We had this dreadful conversation on a day which was meant for utter celebration! She had turned 18 today! A freaking adult! How I wanted to celebrate this day with her in a lovelier way?! Why did this shit have to happen?!

"I hope you enjoy your day! Have a great life, Caroline!" I answered and hung up.

I slumped to the ground and cried my eyes out. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

Never in my life had I ever felt like this! All my energy had drained out! I felt so empty! A heavy feeling settled in my heart! I felt cold! Heartless! I bent my legs and brought them to my chest. Putting my head on my knees and folding my hands around my calves, I cried. Clutching my phone, I threw it against the wall and heard it fall on the carpeted floor.

"Aargh!!" I screamed and tugged at my hair.

I didn't know for how long I was crying when I felt strong arms encircling me. I got into his embrace and continued bawling my eyes out. He rubbed my back and I heard him sniffing too. His tough exterior had broken as well...

"I told her I was done, Riley! I fucking told her that!" I screamed as he tried hushing me.

"Do you think you did the right thing?" He asked, his voice soft.

"I don't know! I freaking don't know!" I wailed and continued crying knowing that nothing could fill my empty heart anymore...

Where had life brought the two of us?!

No where.