What Hurts the Most

Chapter 16

It's hard to deal with the pain of losin' you
everywhere I go
But I'm doin' it
It's hard to force that smile when I see our old
friends and I'm alone
Still harder gettin' up, gettin' dressed, livin' with
this regret
But I know if I could do it over
I would trade, give away all the words that I
saved in my heart
That I left unspoken

What Hurts the Most - Rascal Flatts

I was going to have this up yesterday, but this web site was being stupid. This one might be a tear-jerker if I managed to play with your emotions the right way. One more chapter and then the epilogue. This story went by fast did it not? As a side note, the dance company is real. I researched it. *It's not mine* Also, the one scene at the end, I used a scene from the movie Fever Pitch because I love it and I really wanted to use it. *Don't own that movie either* Let me know what you think!

Walking to class was horrible, just like Hannah had expected it to be. People would stare at her, giggle, whisper amongst one another as she passed. It was just like high school all over again. News travelled fast, and she could only guess how many rumors were going around and just how crazy they were. The only thing now that was on her mind was that April was on its way. She couldn't wait.

Hannah wasn't sure when, sometime when she was dancing somewhere, but she had been offered an amazing job. Terry Schulke, director of Just Plain Dancin' and Co, sent her a letter asking if she would be interested in joining her staff. It was no Broadway, but who could say no to teaching at the best dance studio in the country?

There was only one thing about the job that she still was unsure about. Could she handle moving all the way across the country? California would be a drastic change. There was no doubting that. There was nothing for her in Massachusetts now. Lexi would understand is she would go. She was her best friend after all. Hannah would miss her, but she had to continue on and do what was best for her. If that meant packing up everything she owned and booking it to California, then that's what she was going to do.

Hannah entered her last class, and took a seat near the back. That way she could get out of the room as soon as the class was over. Thankfully, this was a lecture. That meant less staring.

"You know, I doubt she's even pregnant. I think it's just a way for her to keep Garwin forever," she heard a group of girls talking in front of her. "I heard it was all a dare for her anyway."

"But whenever I saw them together they always looked so happy," another one said. "It looked like the real thing. They looked good together in my opinion. If she is having his baby, I bet it will be adorable."

That made Hannah smile. At least there were some people who didn't believe all of the rumors. Did she really think that her baby would be cute? In her dreams it was, but she would never know now.

"That's because you believe in that fairy tale, happily ever after bullshit, Chris," the first girl spoke again. "Newsflash! None of that exists."

"Well they looked as close as you could get," Chris replied. "I really hope they work things out. She deserves to be happy."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now keep quiet. Class is starting."

Hannah had no idea what the professor was talking about. All she could think about was whether or not she should talk to Reid. She even made a pros and cons list in her notebook, and right now there was a tie between the two, but she was leaning towards the pros side. He did have a reason to know. It's not like she was going to take him back or anything, but she did want to hear what he had to say. All she had to do was find him.

Reid has seen her twice so far, and Hannah didn't make eye contact with him either time. To some degree, he just wanted to give up and move on with his life, but he knew that was not an option. He needed to tell her about what really happened, and how Lexi was a two-faced bitch. Would she believe him though? He needed to find a way to make her believe him, but how would he do that? What could he do to show Hannah that her, supposed best friend, was a dirty rat? He needed something more than his word. He needed proof. Maybe if he had Hannah with him, then maybe together they could get the answers out of her.

"Are you busy?" Reid spun around at his desk chair. "If you are I can come back."

Reid had been waiting for this moment for days. She was there, standing in his doorway. His eyes traveled from her face, down to her stomach, and then back up again. On the outside she looked great. Normal even, as if nothing had happened at all.

"No! No, I'm glad that you're here," he exclaimed, getting to his feet, grasping her hands. "I'm really glad you're here. We really need to talk."

"I know," Hannah pulled away from his hold, sitting on Devon's bed. "Start talking."

"I didn't sleep with Kelsey. I would never do that to you. She had the key I gave you and used it so she could sneak into my room, so it would look like she slept there. It was another one of her plots to split us up. I love you, Hannah. You have to believe me."

"How would she get the key? I never came into contact with her. At least, not long enough for her to take it," Hannah asked. "How can you explain that?"

"Hannah, I- how much do you trust Lexi?"

"You can't say that-"

"Just answer the question please. How much do you trust her?"

"She's my best friend, Reid. You know that. She would never do anything like that to me," Hannah answered. "If that's all you have to say-"

"I saw her talking to Kelsey about stealing the key. Why would I make something like that up?" he asked. "Let's go to your room."

"What?" Hannah exclaimed.

"You want proof? I'll give it to you," he smiled. Lexi's phone! They must have communicated that way. She always had it with her. "Let's go to your room."

"This better be worth it."

Hannah opened the door to her room and watched Reid go inside. The blond was looking for something, but what?

"Ah ha!" Reid snatched Lexi's phone from her bed. "Here, look at all or her messages. She's been talking to Kelsey-"

"What are you doing with my phone, Garwin?" the two turned to the doorway to see Lexi standing there, holding a towel around her. "Give it to me."

"Hannah needs to know what you've done, Lexi." Reid said.

"Hannah, don't believe a word he says. Just give me my phone back please."

"Hannah, look at the phone," Reid said, handing it to her. "Look at it."

"Hannah!" Lexi shouted.

"Hannahbelle Lee, trust me," her heart clenched. She looked up into those eyes, that's when she knew.

Hannah looked down at the messages on the touch screen. There were dozens of them between her best friend and Kelsey. But Lexi couldn't stand her, right?

"What is this?" Hannah asked her roommate, tears in her eyes. "Lexi, I thought you were my friend. I-"

"Oh, grow up, Hannah," Lexi grabbed the phone back. "I have a party to get to. If you both will excuse me."

"Come on," Reid pulled her along, back to his room. "I'm sorry. I know she was a friend of yours."

"Obviously I wasn't one of hers," Hannah sat on his bed when they got back. "You think you know your friends."

"Yeah," Reid nodded, sitting beside her, taking her hands into his. "Hannah, I think there's something else we need to discuss."

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"That baby, Hannah!" Reid exclaimed, causing her to jump. "We need to talk about the baby."

"No, we don't, Reid."

"Yes, we do," he said. "I know you must be freaking out, and I bet you think that I won't be there for you, but I will. Every step of the way. After you get the results from your audition-"

"I didn't even get to my audition, Reid!" Hannah announced, standing up. "I need to get out of here."

"What do you mean you didn't audition?"

"I missed my audition," she whispered. "I missed it because of the damned test."

"Aw, Hannah. I'm so sorry," he wanted to hug her, but that didn't seem like a good idea at the moment. "I'm sure everything will work out. We can worry about the baby-"

"There is no baby!" Hannah screamed.

"No baby?"

"No, the test was negative and I got my period the next day," Hannah told him. "I need to go, Reid."

Reid watched her leave. He slumped onto the floor, smacking his head against the bed post. There was no baby. Hannah wasn't pregnant. They weren't going to have a family. Making his way to the closet, he pulled out the bag from the mall and opened it. Reid pulled out a tiny onesie with three words printed on it: Daddy's Little Man.

Reid was never a crier. He would always try and be the macho man by keep all of his emotions hidden, but this wasn't one of those times. His shoulders shook, his hands quaked; he couldn't control himself. The tears fell one right after the other.

CoffeeJunkie33 - Plot twist! I had that one planned for a while. I thought it would add something. I was also playing around with the idea of actually keeping Hannah pregnant, but then I couldn't use the one scene that I wanted, but not to worry there might be a Hannah/Reid baby in the epilogue. If they get back together again. You're just going to have to sweat it out and wait. Thanks for reviewing. :)