FF - The Promise - Thread I - Chapter 1 to 68 - Page 66

Chapter 53

Abby pulled the tuke Akash had given her closer to her and inhaled deeply. "He smells so good."


"He does smell good," Madhu agreed, paying no attention to the fact that Abby was talking about Akash.


"Uh-huh, I'm talking about Akash, girl."


"Right, well... yeah, he's okay, too."


"What're we gonna do, Madhu?"


"I wish I knew." She also wished she was sharing a sleeping bag with Rishab.


Madhu rolled onto her side and propped herself up on her elbow. "Uh-huh... realize something?" Madhu asked when she saw Abby deep in thought.


"Tell me what you are thinking."


"Just thinking about the ex."


Madhu made a face remembering him. She never did like him. "That guy was not the right guy for you. You do know that right?"


"Have either of you guys ever liked him, Madhu?"


Madhu made a face. "No..." Madhu flopped over on her back. "Sorry."


"No, you guys have always been honest about the way you felt about him. I just thought that would change if you got to know him better."


"I never understood why you picked him, girl." "He's different when it's just the two of us." She winced. "And maybe I should've seen that as a big, flashing neon sign."


"Maybe he treats you okay, girl, but he's nothing like you. He doesn't enjoy outdoor sports, he's not outgoing, he's... he's boring. And you're so full of life, Abby."


"Well, he enjoys stuff like that, he just doesn't seem to... enjoy it as much when... you guys are around."How had she not seen that? "Oh, my God," she muttered.


"You can do so much better, Abby."


"But we aren't together anymore and I don't have a boyfriend." Abby looked at Madhu confused.


"I know... but you tend to have the use-a-couple-times-and-throw-away policy, and you could do a lot better than that." She smirked. "Maybe that's why the thought of hooking up with Akash makes you so nervous. He seems serious and he does really like you, Abby."


"Uh-huh... maybe. Never did the steady thing before. You know the longest relationship I had lasted was with 'HIM' and that too lasted what 1 month." She sighed. "All I can think is what if we try it and it doesn't work out?"


"What if it does? There's no way to know how things are gonna turn out, all we can do is go for it and hope things work out."


"Does that count for you and Rishab, too?"


"Hmm.. Well we are working on that. We are working on being friends at the moment though we have been slipping on that a couple of times. But yeah we are trying to open up to each other about personal stuff. It is tough for me and it seems equally tough for him. But we are trying to make this 'be friends first' thing work." Okay, being 'friends first' was not a the bad thing.. the bad thing was keeping the 'thoughts' away. The hard thing was actually keeping herself from acting on her thoughts.


"But if you don't do anything now... what will happen then, Abby? 'Cause we're going home after this... and Akash isn't coming with us."


Abby continued to remain silent. Madhu sat up again and looked at her friend. "You really wanna give up on him now?"


"No." Abby replied softly.


"Do you want him?"


Did she want him? Yeah, there was no point lying to herself. "Yeah, I do... " She groaned. "What if this doesn't work? What if for once I get serious about him... and it doesn't work? I don't know if I could survive that."


Madhu shrugged. "You would have me right next to you."


Abby smiled at Madhu. "Same goes for you, girl. Now and forever."


Madhu nodded and grinned. "We'll figure it out, Abby. If I can work on it, you can go for it, too."


Madhu sat up thinking about it in detail. "Okay, let's pretend this is working out. You and Akash... what'll you do about the distance?"


"Hmm... I don't know... maybe check out the colleges around here and see what our options are... We can alternate vacations. I could come here on my breaks. And since he owns the place he could come down when the tourist season is at its low."


Madhu made a sad cum shocked face. "So you are actually considering leaving us."


"It's just one option, and I don't know that it's the one I would finally choose." She grinned. "Of course, in the perfect scenario, you guys could always move here."


Madhu smiled. "I'd really miss you, girl. We'd have to consider this possibility."


"Rishab has had a lot of fun up here, too... and please, he'd follow you anywhere."


Madhu blushed. "You really love him, huh?" Abby asked


"Yeah."


"Tell him that he matters to you, Madhu. And that you'll stick with him no matter what."


"So, whatcha gonna do about Akash?" Madhu turned the questioning back to her.


"Wait until he makes the first move?" Abby said carefully. When Madhu glared at her, she retracted. "Fine, Fine. I'll make the first move."


"When?"


Abby laughed quietly. "Eventually."


Madhu made a face. "I'm gonna die."


"Okay. Okay!! For your wellbeing, will talk to him tomorrow."


Madhu grinned. "Yay!! Finally!!"


Abby snorted and pulled her sleeping bag tighter around her. "We should get some sleep, girl."


"Yeah. Good night, girl. Tomorrow you are on a mission. Gotta think about how you can get your man in your sleeping bag."


"Now there's a thought to sleep on. G'night, Madhu."