My Childhood Sweetheart's Brother

Part 33: Beach

The next week had gone somehow more smoothly. I felt at ease, almost completely free. No calls from either of my betrayals, no apology texts, not even looks my way when passing in the corridor. It was officially over. I was done. It felt good.I say completely free; I still had to watch Caleb walk around with Rachel, his arm swung around shoulder, her arm right around his waist, as they strolled through the school corridor like the power couple that they were. Yup, they were a couple now, as of Monday. The news had brought a tingling sensation of jealousy when I heard it, something that I expected to have felt, just not so strong. I tried by best to put it behind me though, I mean, there wasn't much I could do about it, unless fighting the pregnant lady was in the picture, which it wasn't."How has it come to this?" I asked my best friend as we walked to the parking lot. "Come to what?""Two weeks ago I had a long term boyfriend who I loved and I thought loved me and I had a best friend in the bad boy." I told her. "Now I have neither a boyfriend because he's cheated on me with one of my best friends, and I'm slowly losing my bad boy best friend to a cheating slut.""You're jealous." Bella smirked.I shook my head. "I'm not.""I guess it's different now though." She said. "You can openly admit to your feelings for your bad boy best friend."

"Whatever you say." Bella rolled her eyes. "Oh, and have you thought about tomorrow yet?"On Monday, Bella had kindly invited me to a beach trip the gang had planned. It seemed fun and I was tempted to take her up on the offer seeing as both her and Caleb would be there, but then I realised that so would Rachel, Dan and his girlfriend. I wasn't ready for that kind of gathering just yet."I don't think I will go Bella." I admitted."What? Why?" She asked.I glared at her. "Why do you think?""Abbie you need this."My eyebrows shot up. "I need to be next to a deep ocean with three people I hate and may feel the urge to drown? No, I don't think I do."Bella let out a laugh. "It'll be a breakthrough for you. You can show yourself and them that you're the bigger person. Come on.""Thank you Bella but no--""Ryan and Tyler will be there to guard you if anything." I rolled my eyes. "I'm not actually going to kill the two bitches and the dick." "See, I wouldn't take your word for it." I sighed. "Please Abbie? Do this for me?""Why for you?""Don't forget that I've lost a best friend too. And my boyfriend is best friends with my best friends ex who cheated on her with the best friend that I lost." "That's sounds awfully confusing to someone who wouldn't know what a fucked up group of friends we've got." I laughed.Bella joined in. "Please come."I rolled my eyes. "Fine.""Really?"I nodded. "Only for you though."Bella hugged me with a grin on her face. "You're the best."

***

As I smacked my alarm clock to shut up I knew this would be a bad day. In school everything was normal except, the absence of Caleb in any of my classes. I guess bunking school wasn't exactly anything new for him, but somehow, I got the feeling that there was something behind his absence, something was wrong."Do you know if Caleb is coming?" I asked Bella at lunch."Tonight?" I nodded. "I don't know. He hasn't let me know yet. Why?""Just wondering because he's not in."Bella shrugged. "I'll text him after school and ask.""Okay." I nodded."So you're over this whole it's-going-to-be-awkward thing?"I laughed. "No. But I'm doing this for you remember?""You'll be fine. I promise." She grinned. I drank my coffee. "You better keep it."

I had about two hours after school to eat, change and do some homework before I quickly slipped on my favourite bikini, a shirt and a pair of shorts and ran out the door where Bella was sitting in her car, waiting. "What took you so long?" She asked."I had shit to do." I grumbled. "Is everyone there already?"Bella shrugged. "Connor and Dan are. Don't know when the bitch is coming.""I can't believe she actually insisted to come with Dan." I said. "No one except for him actually likes her there.""I know." Bella said, disgusted. "Ryan and Tyler are on their way.""And Caleb?""He hasn't replied."I bit my lip, slightly anxious."He's fine Abs. Maybe he had some 'shit to do'." She mocked my earlier reply. "Or his phone broke.""Maybe.""Or maybe he's just going through trouble in paradise." Bella shrugged.I smirked. "I wouldn't really call what they have a paradise.""No one would."

Half an hour later we were there, met by everyone who was waiting. Connor gave me a tight hug, while Tyler and Ryan took turns in spinning me around. "Hi guys--""Hey Abbie." A petite blonde girl smiled my way with her arms out. "Natalie!" I grinned, giving her a hug. "Hey."I felt tempted to ask if they knew where Caleb was but after mine and Ryan's talk at prom I was still cautious of how much interest I could show in Caleb around him.Dan and Grace simply stated seated on one of the logs around our campfire, without even a look my way. Good.I smiled. "Thank you, don't worry about it. Everyone found out pretty much the next day anyway.""Are you okay?" She asked. "I mean, obviously you're not, but how are you feeling about all of this?""I'm fine actually." I told her somehow proudly. "I've talked to both of them and they explained everything. It makes me hate them even more but I can't keep holding onto it if I want to be happy."Natalie nodded. "Very true.""How are you and Ryan?"She smiled. "Great, really.""Have you found a ring box in between any of his clothes or in his underwear draw yet?" I teased.Natalie let out a laugh. "No, not at that stage just yet.""I'm happy for both of you." I said sincerely. "You're great for each other."She was about to reply, probably with a thank you, but didn't get the chance because a car horn rudely interrupted us. The whole group turned our heads to see a grinning Caleb jump out his car and run towards us, grabbing a beer on the way."Hey guys!" He was alone."Where's Rachel?" Natalie asked."She couldn't make it." Caleb said, slumping down on the log across from me, his face illuminating from the reflection of the fire flame. Bella raised an eyebrow. "She couldn't make it or she didn't want to come?" "She couldn't make it." Caleb reassured.I watched him closely. He was smiling, joking with Tyler about something, before letting out a bark of laughter but although his mouth was wide upon and curved upwards his eyes weren't laughing. No, his eyes were blank, obviously trying to hide something that the laugh was helping him cover. I knew him too well, I knew how he hid stuff, how he lied, but I also knew his weak point and what his give-away was. Caleb was great at lying and manipulating every part of his body and even his character and actions to keep away anything that he didn't want people to know, but one thing he could never control was his eyes. I got up to get another beer from the cooler, tapping Caleb's shoulder as I passed him. He got the hint instantly and excused himself from the campfire before following me."Hey." "Hi." I smiled. "Everything alright?"I nodded. "Yeah, great. What about you?"Caleb shrugged. "Yeah, things are alright I guess."I raised an eyebrow. "Really?""Yeah. Why?"I shrugged casually. "Because if anyone can tell when you're lying or trying to hide something, it's me."Caleb sighed. "You're too good.""What's wrong?""I broke up with Rachel." My eyes popped. "You did? Why? What about the baby."He let out a sad humourless laugh. "There never was a baby." My jaw dropped as I tried finding my words. "Oh Caleb, I'm so sorry." We stopped walking and he bowed his head. "She lied to me. She just wanted the money Abbie. She manipulated me for my money.""Caleb--""Thank god I didn't tell my parents. This would have been so much worse." He was trying to look for the positives in this whole situation but his voice was cracking and I could tell he was on the verge of tears."Caleb, I know you're hurt, she played with your feelings as if you were a puppet. But think of the bright side." I told him. "You don't have to worry about being a dad, about raising a child at this age.""I know." He sighed. "But Abbie, as crazy as this sounds, I've actually started coming to terms with the fact I'm going to be a dad, and I can't hide the fact that it was getting me slightly excited."I shook my head in disbelief at what the bitch did. "It's not crazy Caleb. I don't blame you." I put my arms on his. "I'm so sorry. Everything's going to be okay though. She's a lying hoe and everyone will know it now."Caleb nodded. "I know, I just need time to get over it."I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. "I understand."