Chapter Twenty-Four

Nigel's POV

It was the next morning and I was making myself a cup of coffee with buttered raisin toast. I carried it to the table and sat down to eat it. On the other end of the table sat Kuki. She had a purple rainbow monkey sitting in front of her on the table and she was fiddling with the arms. Wally sat on the couch watching T.V. with the volume on low. I watched him.

Some Valentines this turned out to be. I didn't even get to mend things with Lizzie, and now I'm getting suspicious about Wally and Abby again, and I think Kuki is too. Why do I care anyway? Also, we never got to find out the Delightful's and Albert's plans and for all we know… Abby could be part of it too.

I shook my head. No, no way would Abby join the bad guys. She knows better than that. She'd never betray us… she'd never betray me.

The door opened and Abby emerged. She walked over to the fridge to get milk and started pouring herself some cereal. She walked over to the table. Kuki gave her a look and she backed away. "Fine, Abby'll eat her breakfast in her room." She sighed. As she walked away, my heart told me to call her back but my anger stopped me. Some sort of conflict started happening on the inside of me and it made me feel sick.

Hoagie and Fanny walked through the door; Abby didn't see them and bumped into them. The cereal fell all over Abby and a little bit onto Fanny. "Abby, are you okay?" She asked.

"I'm sorry." Abby whispered and ran out of the room.

"What's… going on?" Hoagie asked. No one replied. In fact the only one polite enough to was the T.V.

The conflict continued. My heart saying go after her and my anger saying leave her alone.

You're her best friend. You said so last night.

Yeah right. She's taking you for granted.

Why would she do such a thing? She's too loyal.

Exactly. That's what she wanted you to think.

But… you know deep down, no matter what… she'll always be your best friend…

My heart won. I got up and went after Abby. "Abby please." I said while knocking on her door. "Open up…"

No reply.

"Please… Abby… I need to talk to you…"

The door opened and there she stood. She was in her blue shirt and black pants and held her cereal-drenched pajamas in her hand. She turned around and walked back into her room and I followed suit. "You didn't come to my room last night." I said as I sat on her blue sofa.

"Abby didn't think yo wanted to see her." She replied monotonously as she sat on a purple beanie bag. I didn't reply.

I didn't know what to say.

"Sit." I eventually said and patted the seat next to me. Abby stared at me and eventually walked over to sit next to me. "You remember last night when you said I was your best friend?"

Abby nodded. "I want nothing to come between it." I said. "So are you going to tell me what's up with Albert and Wally?"

Abby looked away and started to cry. "Hey." I whispered. "Shh." I pulled her into a tight hug and she returned it. She started sobbing into my chest.

"I want to tell you… but I'm afraid." She said.

"Afraid of what?"

"Albert."

I sigh. "What happened between you and Numbuh 4-T last night?"

"Nothing. He was just being a friend to me… I'm sorry if I hurt Kuki again."

"She'll get over it."

We didn't say anymore and just sat on the couch hugging each other for a while as Abby continued to cry into my chest.