I'm still alive guys. I know you might think I've been abducted by aliens or hideous creatures but I'm still alive guys and I felt really terrible for keeping you all hanging with my story but you should all know that I won't leave my story undone. I'm really sorry for keeping you all waiting, your reviews are all nudging me to post this chapter but I get a little too unsure with the last part and I write and re-write it tons of times just to get it more realistic... and I apologize in advanced if the last part of this chapter won't satisfy you but I really tried my best... Hope you'll enjoy reading this...
-Flashback-
Caleb sat down on a bench inside a boutique watching as Olivia stroll around the place choosing dresses from racks. He really doesn't know what's with women and dresses. Olivia walked towards him holding two dresses with different colors, purple and red.
"Okay, which of the two looks gorgeous on me?" Olivia asked standing in front of him.
"They will both look good on you." Caleb answered crossing his arms.
"I know, Duh! I want you to choose which is the best." Olivia said.
"I don't know you're the girl you should know about dresses better than me." Caleb said.
"But you're the guy, us girls wear gorgeous dresses for you guys." Olivia said.
"Yeah, fine. The purple one, I think it suits you." Caleb said.
"I really thought it's perfect." Olivia said excitedly.
Caleb shook his head smiling. "Why bother to ask me if you thought that one is perfect?" Caleb said chuckling.
"I just want to make sure, you know." Olivia said sarcastically.
"Women," Caleb said shaking his head.
"I'll go fit this first." Olivia said before walking away.
Caleb just remain seated on the bench while waiting for Olivia. After few minutes, Olivia walked out of the fitting room wearing the dress. Caleb stood up taking in her appearance. He had always thought she's beautiful but in that moment he seen her differently. It's like she's the only girl in the room and nothing else matters. He hasn't felt that feeling in a long time and he can't even remember the last time that he ever looked at someone like that. He was stunned at her beauty.
"Wow," Caleb breathed.
Olivia walked towards him with an amused smile. "Hey, don't drool." she joked touching his chin.
"You looked beautiful." Caleb said.
"Thanks." Olivia simply said.
Caleb didn't say anything again and just looked at her. Olivia just smiled back at him, loving the attention he was giving her.
"Let's pay for this and get out of here." Olivia said starting to walk to the cashier.
"Yeah," Caleb said and just follow behind her.
After heading out of the boutique, Caleb and Olivia headed to the coffee shop to just hang out and grab some snack.
"Thanks for coming shopping with me, I know you got bored the whole time." Olivia said. She was sitting across from Caleb in the round table in their usual spot in the coffee shop.
"It's nothing, I have nothing to do anyways." Caleb said taking a sip of his coffee.
"I'm really happy that you came back and decided to just stay here in Ravenswood." Olivia said.
"Rosewood is not the best place for me anymore and Ravenswood felt somehow home for me despite the creepy stuff I've been through in here." Caleb said.
"Don't get me wrong but I am somehow thankful that your girlfriend left because if it weren't for her leaving you won't be sitting with me right now." Olivia said.
"Things happen for a reason, I always kept thinking of why she left and it's been years and I still don't know the answer but maybe the greatest thing that comes with it is having a great friend like you. I mean, when she and I broke up I've been hating you but now look at us." Caleb said.
"Going shopping together and drinking coffee together." Olivia added with a chuckle.
"Yeah, exactly." Caleb said with a little laugh.
Olivia looked at him as he smiled at her and before she knows it she's already leaning in crashing her lips to his. Caleb froze but then came to his senses and kiss back. Caleb thought that maybe taking a chance again would help him move on and forget about Hanna.
-End of Flashback-
Caleb flutter his eyes open into Hanna's peaceful face still asleep beside him. He loved the feeling of waking up to her. She is capable of making his day perfect in an instant. As much as he wanted to just stay in bed with her, he needed to start the day and he needs to go to work. He kissed her forehead quickly and get off the bed carefully not wanting to wake her up. He picked up his clothes from the floor and get dressed before heading out of the room to make breakfast for Hanna and Carter. As he stepped out of Hanna's bedroom, he immediately saw Carter already sitting in the living room watching Mickey Mouse.
"Good Morning Bud, you're up early." Caleb said.
"Morning Daddy," Carter said smiling at his dad.
"How was your arm?" Caleb asked.
"It's good, it doesn't hurt anymore." Carter said.
"That's good, what are you watching?" Caleb asked.
"Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," Carter answered.
"I'm making breakfast, what do you want french toast, pancake, scrambled egg?" Caleb asked walking to the kitchen.
"Uhm... anything, are you making breakfast for Mommy too?" Carter said.
"I'm making breakfast for all of us." Caleb said.
"Can I help?" Carter asked with his eyes lighting up.
"Sure Bud, that would be great." Caleb said.
"Yay!" Carter said jumping out of the couch.
Caleb pulled out eggs and milk from the fridge and put it on top of the kitchen counter. He search the cupboards for pancake mix and put it on the counter as well.
"What can I do, Daddy?" Carter said climbing to the bar stool to sit down.
"Hmmn, you can beat the eggs." Caleb said. pushing the eggs and putting the mixing bowl and whisk in front of Carter.
"I can do that," Carter said reaching for the egg. He cracked one egg and try to put it in the bowl but dropped half of the shell in the bowl too. "Oops," he said.
"It's alright you can just get the shell, Bud." Caleb said smiling at his son.
"Okay," Carter said picking up the shells.
They both prepare and cook breakfast together making a not too little of a mess in the kitchen.
"And we're done," Caleb announced placing the last pancake on the plate.
"Yay, Mommy's gonna be happy that we made breakfast for her." Carter said.
"Not so much, Bud when she sees all this mess so we better clean up." Caleb said tapping Carter's shoulder.
"Let's clean up daddy," Carter said jumping down off the bar stool by the kitchen counter.
The father and son cleaned up the kitchen together fooling around and laughing together.
Meanwhile, Hanna woke up finding the other side of the bed empty. She sit up from the bed and look around the room for a sign of Caleb and noticed that his clothes are gone as well. Her evidently joyous mood since the previous night dropped down in an instant concluding that the reason of her happiness took off and left her. She walked to her closet to find appropriate clothes to face his son. She put on sweats and t-shirt and walked out of her room. She immediately heard Carter's voice singing with the TV on.
"Hotdog-Hotdog Hot- digidi-dog..." Carter sang repeatedly. She then heard Caleb laughing. Her not so cheerful aura have been replaced by her delightful mood again by just hearing Caleb's laugh. She followed Carter's voice heading to the kitchen. She saw her two boys cleaning up together. Caleb sweeping the floor while Carter is wiping the counter top.
"Looks like you guys are having fun," She commented crossing her arm leaning by the doorway to the kitchen.
"Hey, Good Morning." Caleb said smiling at her lovingly. He walked towards her and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Good Morning," She greets back smiling at him.
"Daddy and I made breakfast." Carter exclaimed.
"Really?" Hanna asked.
"Yes Mommy, we made pancake, french toast and omelet." Carter said pointing at the food in the table.
"Wow," Hanna commented.
"Sorry, I invaded your kitchen." Caleb said.
"It's fine, I love your pancakes anyways." Hanna said with a wide smile.
"That's what I thought," Caleb said with a chuckle.
"I think we should eat," Hanna suggested.
"Yeah," Caleb agreed.
"Daddy, are we going to play all day again?" Carter asked as they all seated at the table.
"As much as I wanted to, Bud I have work today." Caleb said.
Carter's face fell with disappointment. "It's okay, Baby. You can come with me at work today." Hanna said touching her son's back.
"Really?" Carter asked with his eyes lighting up again.
"Yes, you can bring few toys and you can play with Auntie Spencie or Uncle Toby when he comes over." Hanna said.
"Yay," Carter said with excitement.
"And Daddy will just play with you after work, maybe I can fetch you and mommy at her office and we can go out to dinner." Caleb said smiling at his son.
"Yay, that's really great daddy. Can we watch a movie too?" Carter said.
"Anything you want to do, we'll do it." Caleb said.
"You're the best daddy ever..." Carter exclaimed putting one arm around Caleb's neck to hug him.
"Wow, I've been a daddy for just a day and few hours but I got the best daddy ever spot right away." Caleb commented hugging his son back.
"I think you deserve it." Hanna said smiling at the sight of Caleb and Carter hugging. Caleb smiled back at her taking her hand to his and squeezed it.
Olivia and Penn walked side by side heading to the airport's exit. None of them wanted to speak feeling awkward with each other.
"Is Caleb gonna fetch you?" Penn asked starting a conversation.
"No, I'll be just riding a cab to his apartment first." Olivia said plainly.
"I'll drive you home." Penn said.
"No, thanks. I'll be just fine riding a cab." Olivia said.
"You must misheard me, I said I'll drive you. It's not an offer, I'm doing it." Penn said.
"I said no thank you." Olivia said back stubbornly.
"If this is about what happened last night, again I'm sorry. I don't know what is happening with me but I don't regret it. I know you're engaged and you give the man your word of marrying him and I get that but can we please be friends. Can you at least let me drive you to where you're heading?" Penn said.
"Okay, fine but if you ever remind me again of what happened I'll be jumping out of your car right away." Olivia said.
"Promise, but am I really that bad that you didn't enjoy yourself?" Penn said curiousity plastered all over his face.
"Please Penn, you promised but you're still reminding me. I wanted to forget about it okay and with you asking things like that, I feel like I wanted to slap you on your face right now." Olivia said.
"Fine, I won't say anything anymore. My car is in the lot, let me help you with your suitcases." Penn said picking up her suitcases.
Olivia let him get her suitcases and they silently headed to his car. Penn loaded their suitcases in the trunk and opened the car door for Olivia. The whole drive from the airport to Caleb's apartment was pretty silent. None of them never wanted to say anything.
Olivia's mind wandered back into the previous night that she spend with Penn. She knows that what happened between them is really wrong knowing that he still have a girlfriend and she's engaged but it feels right at the same time. She knows that she's attracted to him but she still can't recognize the feelings that is starting to bloom every hour that she spend with him. She wanted to slap her self for being so stupid cheating on her fianceé. Caleb have been not just a loving perfect boyfriend but an amazing friend to her too and she felt guilty for what she did.
Penn glanced at Olivia in the passenger seat. She looked so worried and he wanted to comfort her but he fought against it. He thought maybe she felt guilty and if he talk to her and might said something inappropriate she might feel even more guiltier than she is now so he just remain his silence focusing on the road. They remain that way till' they reached Caleb's apartment building. He opened the car door for her and unload her suitcases from the trunk without a word.
"Thank you," Olivia said sincerely as he placed her suitcases in front of her.
"Don't sweat it," Penn said casually.
"So, I'll just see you at the office?" Olivia said.
"Yeah, you take care." Penn said with a friendly smile.
"You too, Goodbye." Olivia said.
"Goodbye," Penn said. He watched Olivia turned on her heel heading inside the apartment building rolling her suitcases. He then walk back to his car when she entered the building.
Olivia was sitting on the couch in the living room in Caleb's apartment. She was surprised that he wasn't there when she arrived but maybe it's a good thing too so she can think things through before she faced him. She's not really a big fan of lies so she figured telling him the truth will be the best thing to do. She never wanted to lose him and if he really loves her he will forgive her but if not maybe she can handle the consequences of what she did.
The door suddenly burst open with a cheerful Caleb walking in, pulling Olivia from her thoughts.
"Hotdog-Hotdog-Hot-digidi-dog..." Caleb sang repeatedly with his back from Olivia putting his bag and keys in the table by the door.
"What are you singing?" Olivia asked amused standing up from the couch.
"Livvy," Caleb said startled facing her.
"Hey," she said awkwardly.
"Hi, you're back." Caleb said walking towards her.
"Yes, I am. I went straight here from the airport." Olivia said.
"I'm glad you're back." Caleb said truthfully.
"I want to tell you something," They both said at the same time.
They fell silent for a brief second just looking at each other. "Ladies first." Caleb said.
"We should sit down," Olivia said gesturing for him to sit down.
Caleb take a seat in one of the arm chair while Olivia sit back down in the couch. Caleb just stared at her waiting for her to speak up.
"What is it, Livvy?" Caleb asked.
"I- I have done something unforgivable." Olivia started hesitantly.
"I don't know if you can forgive me but I wanted to be honest with you. We've been friends for a long time and I don't want to ever lose that, I don't want to lose you even if you decided to break up with me and call off the wedding because of what I'm about to tell you." Olivia continued.
Caleb just stared at her confused studying her every expression.
"What is it? Tell me." Caleb said.
Olivia took a deep breath staring at her feet, she then look up at him.
"I slept with someone else during the business trip." Olivia said nervously.
Caleb was speechless just staring at her. He was shocked of what she just confessed.
"Please, say something..." Olivia pleaded.
"I don't know what to say, Liv." Caleb began as he recovered from shock. "I guess this is the end of us. When I told you on the phone that we needed to talk about something important, I wanted to..." Caleb said hesitantly.
"Do you want to break up with me? Because I can feel it the way you talk to me on the phone." Olivia said straight forward.
"You've been honest with me and I wanted to be honest with you. Yes, I wanted to end things with you and call off the wedding. I felt like I'm being unfair to you if I still commit to you in marriage when I'm not sure about my feelings. I'm in love with someone else." Caleb admitted.
"What happened to us?" Olivia said running her hands through her hair. "We used to be so happy like we never wanted to be apart from each other and we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together." She added.
"I don't know." Caleb said shaking his head.
"I'm really sorry, Caleb. I can take it if you hate me, I think I deserved that but I hope someday we will get back to the way we used to be, being best friends." Olivia said in a verge of tears.
"I don't hate you, I can't even be mad at you. Honestly, I felt relieved, I thought this would be hard. I just hope that you'll find your happiness. I know that it might be hard and really awkward for us to offer friendship right now but maybe someday we can all take it much lightly and be friends again like we used to be." Caleb said sincerely.
"Someday," Olivia said nodding her head at him half smiling. "I guess, this is goodbye. Goodbye, Caleb." She added standing up from her seat. She pulled out her engagement ring from her finger and placed it on the coffee table in front of Caleb.
"Goodbye, Olivia." Caleb said. With that, Olivia turned on her heels and walked towards the door leaving a relieved Caleb sitting in the living room.
That's it people, hope you all enjoy it... I would really try my best to write fast and give you chapters everyday but with the next chapter I really haven't write anything but I already have plans you guys just have to wait... Thank you for keeping on supporting my story it really means a lot... Just clarify some few things about this chapter, the flashback is set before Caleb and Olivia get together, And in the business trip after Penn and Olivia went out they slept together. I kinda planned to write about Penn and Olivia's moment but this is a haleb story anyway but if you want to know every detail about their moment I could write it and maybe PM it to you...
Thanks to all Reviewers, Followers, Favorite... You guys rock...
Thanks for Reading! Xoxo
-Trea