This chapter is dedicated to [VanillaTwilight2]! Thank you so much for adding my book to your reading list! I hope you'll like the book once you start reading it, that is, after it is completed! :)

This chapter is based on Caroline's Point of View and it makes my heart constrict at the tension!!

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Chapter 24: Torn Apart

****Caroline's POV****

I slithered down the wall, my eyes focussing on blank space. My vision was blurred. I had small hiccups in my throat. My nose felt runny. My face felt dry. My heart felt heavy. I felt empty like someone had sucked my soul away! My palms were sweaty. I landed softly on my rear and folded my legs so that they reached my chest. I placed my phone to the side and my fingers massaged my forehead.

What had just happened?! How could I mess it up?! Kevin was right! I didn't deserve a guy like him! But accusing myself at this current moment was difficult! After all, everything that happened had a reason! It was just that, I couldn't bring myself to explain it all to him over the phone! How could I?! Then why had I called him?! I guessed it was because of guilt...hope that he had forgotten it all or probably the fact that I wanted to hear his voice? It could've also been the excitement that was bubbling within me to finally be his after breaking off the deal with Hayden tomorrow! I had to meet him in some way and explain all that had happened while looking him in the face! He deserved that much! But he was right too. I had kept him in the dark for too long! What hurt the most about all of this was that Kevin's accusations were somewhat true!

Another reason why I had called him was because I felt it was an obligation as it was partly his doing what with the progressing relationship of Abigail and Aaron! I wasn't supposed to call him today even though I always wanted to hear from him since day 1! I was supposed to give him a call after I would inform Hayden that I could do this one month deal with him no more!

But what I reasoned with him was true too! I was in love with Kevin and I really had my reasons which were complicated!

I had planned on telling Hayden off tomorrow. A day after my birthday. Nothing serious had occurred after our last date except exchange of a few messages. But I never led him on! I had to make it clear that I had had enough!

I was in a state of shock. Nothing could make me happy now! Ever! Kevin had just decided to walk away from my life! He broke us apart. He tore my heart completely! The room I was sitting in suddenly started growing smaller and smaller as realisation dawned on me. Kevin was done with me! So all of this struggle...my struggle...would be going to waste...

I felt like I was enclosed in a small space! I felt claustrophobic and nauseous! I felt alone, insecure.

The door suddenly banged open.

"Caroline, we've to reach the restaurant quickly. Mum-" Aaron halted his monologue as he had a quick once-over at me.

"Caroline!" He gushed and rushed towards me not before locking the door. He cradled me in his sturdy arms and I bawled my eyes out, wetting the top of his tee in the process.

"I messed up, Aaron! I-I messed up big time!" I screamed as I banged my fists on his chest. He whispered sweet nothings to me and let me cry till I didn't know what the word 'cry' meant anymore! I sniffed softly and his chin rested on top of my head. His fingers gently wiped away the stray tears while lifting my face up to look at him. His face was contorted with worry, his eyes soft. His lips were pressed into a thin line. The saying 'Crying an ocean of tears' wasn't a hyperbole at that moment! I felt depressed as I ever could be!

"Whatever happened, Carol?" He whispered, his piercing grey eyes locking with my deep blue ones.

"I-I...Kevin broke up with me..." I replied, my gaze landing on his jeans then at his polo tee. The top of his shirt was stained by my salty water. Kevin broke up with me...I couldn't digest those words at all...

His hand left my chin and he scooted farther from me, his hands circling his folded legs.

I looked at him. His reaction wasn't one I expected! Instead of looking shocked, he looked concerned. Serious. Understanding.

After he had talked to Abigail that day, he had come to me and told me what had happened. I was so happy for him! So happy that things were working out for the better with him and her! I was also glad that he had talked to Kevin! But I had become so mad at him when he told me that he told Kevin that Kevin was my friend! Like what the fuck?! What must've Kevin thought of me?! Surely his hatred for me must have increased by a tenfold!

Aaron never asked me who Kevin was to me but kept pressuring me to call him. I wondered why he didn't want to know...

"So you finally called him." He stated, his voice soft.

I nodded.

"What did he say?" He asked.

"I told you. He said he was done with me." I whispered, my fingers wiping away the new tears that were threatening to spill out. I had to be stronger than this!

"You guys were actually an item?" He mused while rubbing his palms.

"Not actually. I wasn't his girlfriend." I replied, stretching out my legs in the process. The word 'girlfriend' made me wish I was his!

"So...how did you guys meet?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing.

I let out a loud sigh. Reminiscing on our lovely encounter wasn't the wisest thing to do at this moment! But heck with it! It was better to vent it all out!

Thus I began telling him our story, from the days when I had started crushing on Kevin to the final match between my school and his. I had been crushing on the guy for almost 2 years! I told him about our meeting at the after-party and the luck I had that even the Marks were invited! I could finally meet him! I told him about how wonderful our first conversation was and how it felt personal and intimate. I then told him about how I went to Kevin's home to bid him goodbye and that was where we had our first kiss. I told him how glad I was when Kevin indirectly told me that he liked me too that night!

Tears poured out of my eyes as I continued talking but I let them flow down my face. These tears were a proof that I was broken. Destroyed. There was no need to hide it!

I told him about how we promised to keep in touch. Our first conversation over the phone after I reached London. It all seemed so fairytale like! It sounded beautiful! It sounded so wonderful that the pain clenched and squeezed my heart all the more...

Then I told him all about our call. He nodded in understanding. I cried all the more while recollecting the conversation, but nevertheless, venting out all that happened to Aaron helped. I felt a lot better though I knew it wouldn't last long...

"He's blind." I finished, taking a deep breath to regain my stance. I was already feeling dizzy what with the blow of memories.

His eyes grew wide as saucers and he looked frozen.

I gave him a small smile.

"Blind?" He whispered, shocked.

I nodded as a reply. I knew he would be stunned!

I noticed his Adam's apple bob up then down.

"That's...lovely! So rare! My beautiful sister..." He whispered, coming closer to me and kissing my forehead. He cupped my cheeks in the process.

I smiled at him, bashful.

He beamed at me in return and his eyes shone with pride.

"This is a very rare thing, Carol! How many girls or people for that matter have you heard falling for a disabled person?! I never thought...I never knew you were one of those few! Do you know how proud I'm of you right now? God will bless you, sweetheart! You gave him hope, darling! If he loves you so much, imagine how much of an effect you've made on him! And all this time, it sounded like he was any other guy! I'm so proud of you! Proud of him too! But..." He trailed. My eyes locked with his questioningly.

"You hurt him. It wasn't right on your part, hon. You shouldn't have done that to him!" He stated. He was right.

I swallowed my saliva in guilt. "B-but..."

He huffed, his eyeballs darting to the right before locking with mine again.

"I know. I know, love. I know what you've been going through! Hell! From your point of view, it seems so right! So apt! Unfortunately, Kevin doesn't know anything about it but he should. He deserves to know, Caroline! You've to tell him to maintain this beautiful relationship that you've with him! Fuck Hayden. That guy is nothing as compared to Kevin! I feel really positive about Kevin, Carol! He's a nice guy! He truly loves you, hon! If he didn't, he would've dumped you long back! Imagine being kept in the dark for so long when you hear your girl is roaming around with another guy?! That guy still allowed you to explain! Wow! Carol, I understand it was difficult to explain all of this over the phone...but you should meet him in person and explain. He might've said he's done with you but he doesn't mean it. Trust me! He loves you a lot to let you go and I know he's clinging to that little ounce of trust. He knows you wouldn't do anything intentional to hurt him. He just needs an explanation. I don't know what your love for each other is called but it's worth to preserve!" He finished, a genuine smile highlighting his features.

Tears poured down my face and I looked at him as I continued crying. He was right! We weren't done! We just couldn't be!

"Carol..." He started.

"I know how it feels to be kept in the dark. It doesn't feel good at all." He whispered. I nodded and hugged him. His situation was similar to mine. In his case, he was Kevin and Abigail was me. I wept on his shoulders until my voice had gone sore.

A few seconds passed by in silence.

"How about we don't go to the restaurant? Mom and dad are there. I'll tell them to parcel the meal." He reasoned while lifting my chin to look at me tenderly.

I shook my head. "Don't do that. Jeez! That restaurant's shit expensive! We've made a reservation, Aaron!"

He chuckled. "It's okay. Don't force yourself to go to that place."

I let out a harsh chuckle. "So I'll stay here and mope all the time?"

He smirked at me. "I'll never let that happen. As long as I live, you're never going to mope alone."

"So let's mope together?" I suggested, my head aching. I smiled slightly at his attempt to make me laugh.

"Nope. I just think it has been a long time since we've gone bowling...I was wondering..." He mused, his fingers tapping his chin.

I gave him a quick peck on the cheek, my face beaming slightly. "I'm up for it."

"Good. Then get your lazy ass off of the floor and change. You look like a gone-case!" He commented, his eyes sparkling.

"Thanks for making me feel better!" Saying so, I stuck out my tongue at him and headed towards the bathroom with him bowing at me in gratitude. I let out a laugh at his antic. 'Enjoy your 18th, Caroline!' My conscience offered.

"I'm making a call from your phone, okay? Got to tell mom and dad!" He yelled.

"Okay!" I answered.

Just then my phone rang.

'It's been said and done

Every beautiful thought's been already sung

And I guess right now here's another one...'

Selena Gomez's Love You Like A Love Song began playing. I stopped in my tracks and looked at Aaron who was equally stunned.

"Kevin?" Both of our minds communicated through telepathy and Aaron broke the trance by picking up the phone. He looked at the screen and a scowl formed on his face. Surely not Kevin.

He lifted his hand to stop me as I approached him. He inhaled a sharp breath of air before...

"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CALL HER AGAIN, YOU UNDERSTAND? SHE'S DONE WITH YOU! SHE DOESN'T NEED YOU ANYMORE! I'LL WISH HER ON YOUR BEHALF BUT JUST FUCKING HANG UP! SHE'S DONE WITH YOUR FREAKING DEAL, HAYDEN! FUCK OFF FROM HER LIFE! I'M NOT LISTENING ANYMORE! BYE!"

I whistled as he threw the phone on my bed, breathing heavily.

"What?" He asked, tugging at his hair and smiling sheepishly.

"You feeling better?" I asked.

"Lots. You?"

"I've so much to thank you for, brother!" I ran towards him and hugged him tight, never letting go just like I was never letting go of the tiny feeling of hope. I wasn't done with Kevin. Not anytime soon.