Disclaimer: I don't own the KND.
Story: Abby finds herself stuck in between 30c and Nigel.
Set after the entire series.
Spoilers: None really.
Warnings: As of now, none.
Pairings: Nigel/Abby/30c, Chad/Abby (sort of), and 3/4.
A/n: Wow, I finally got back into this. Eh, it's just no inspiration and seeing the same old pairings in the fandom made me lose interest. After this, it's two more chapters that are alternate endings and then it's complete. I just want to finish the fic instead of leaving it hanging. So I'd have more interest, I put in a little twist instead of having it gone along the same direction as the previous chapters. As you can tell, my writing style is a little different.

Maybe It's Not Too Late
Chapter Fourteen: What Memories to Spare

Five years. Five years had passed. It didn't seem so long ago that Abby had remembered the triangle she had found herself in. She could remember it as clearly in her mind as if it had just happened.

They hadn't done anything.

It frustrated her beyond anything else. If they had really liked her, wouldn't they have done something? Only 30c had done so, but only on that night when he had revealed their true feelings. Years had gone by and they had done nothing else.

Perhaps she shouldn't have lied to them, pretending to be Chad's girlfriend. But did that really matter? At any point in time, they could've done something. She and Chad even decided to have a break early on in their pretending to see what the other two would do.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Damned if that didn't irritate her. If they claimed they liked her so much, they should've said something. Anything. Just anything!

She heard of the phrase 'fight for your love' and then the opposite phrase of 'letting them go and if it's true, they'll come back.' Both phrases didn't apply. They didn't fight her, just be totally honest, and they had let her go without doing anything when she was on break with Chad. She had given them a chance. She had even told them so.

"30c, you told me once you liked me. Were you being honest?"

The boy opposite her was quiet, "Yes."

She sighed, knowing she had to push more. She was more hesitant with Nigel, being that he hurt her and she wasn't so sure of him, so she decided to try with 30c.

"I don't know what to do with you two. I'm confused. I hardly really even knew you to begin with, 30c. And Nigel had just broken my heart. I don't know why I still love him, when he hurt me too much and still refuses to tell me why. I still don't even know you, and after Nigel I'm more wary. With Chad, I know him and I feel safe. But even with him I feel like I'm rushing into things."

30c started chewing on his bottom lip, "Abby, can we try going out once? Can I pick you up tomorrow at eight and we'll watch a late movie?"

Abby blinked at the sudden suggestion, but nodded slowly.

The next night, she sat waiting on her doorstep for a long while. She had been stood up.

Chad had told her that 30c had been held up by Nigel, and that the both of them got into a fight that resulted in the two being knocked out. It was why 30c hadn't made it to the date. But 30c hadn't called her to confirm it and Nigel would never let his rival get an upper hand.

Pride kept both from doing anything.

Pride kept 30c from telling her, feeling ashamed at having missed their date and ashamed to show his face.

Pride of a different kind kept Nigel from moving in when his opponent was down, because his secret of why he broke up with Abby and his shame of the truth and not wanting it revealed.

She had visited them in the hospital and had told them a couple things before she broke down.

It was pitiful. The two boys were in beds side by side, glaring intensely at each other, silent but angry. She had to speak up to say anything.

"I need something to say," she said quietly.

Their heads swung to face her, surprise registering. She steeled her resolve and began to talk again before she could be interrupted.

"I asked you, 30c, if you were being honest about your feelings. You told me before that Nigel felt the same. And I still haven't forgiven you, Nigel, even if I still feel strongly for you.

"I think you're both lying," she concluded softly.

Protests erupted from both of them, but she held up a hand to silence them.

"Both of you say you like me…but neither of you have tried to do anything about it."

She turned back around and left.

Again, she had to hear from Chad that 30c was wondering what they hadn't done. How were they not doing anything?

She was frustrated. Those two had been stagnating. She didn't want to put them up against each other, but those two had already agreed they would so she hadn't really forced them. But what were they really doing, other than waiting for the other to make a move and then thwart it? And it took a long time for 30c to even make that move, and it was only after Abby had approached him first and after she and Chad decided for the break.

She couldn't keep making the first move. Maybe it's wrong to pit them against each other, but it was their decision to do so. It was wrong of them to push their feelings on her when her own feelings were confused. With them not doing anything, she can't figure out her feelings enough to deal with theirs.

Their saying the words was different from their doing anything about them.

After that, Chad asked her if she wanted him to pretend to be her boyfriend again. She was tired and lonely. She just wanted comfort from a friend and didn't want to be bothered by suitors. She didn't want 30c and Nigel to bother her. For just a while, she just wanted to be left alone and be comforted without having to deal with the issue of her love life.

At that moment she just wanted a friend so she told Chad yes.

Now five years later, she shared an apartment with Chad and still had that same arrangement from the beginning. She had told him plenty of times he could date others, but he firmly stated he was fine this way.

They were comfortable with each other and understood each other well enough by then. They were free to date others, even though they gave the title of girlfriend and boyfriend for the sake of it, to throw unwanted others off. They just never had dated anyone. They were pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but sometimes it really seemed like they were.

She didn't know how she felt about that.

Chad yawned, rolling out of bed. Abby was already up and making breakfast for them both. He grinned at her, seeing it returned.

"Off to work?"

"No, practice's been called off," Chad said, seating him at the table.

"Hm, well I've got voice over today. I'll probably come home late tonight."

Actually, that worked out perfectly.

"That's fine. I'll see you tonight then."

Both 21 years of age and living together. Chad was working as coach for the little league and Abby was a voice actor for several shows. Both of them were doing just fine in their lives.

"I hear Nigel is hurrying to marry Lizzie. He doesn't seem too happy at the prospect though," Chad commented.

Abby scowled and focused harder on making the food.

"30c's working part-time on the shopping channel and I hear he works for your mom too."

Abby huffed and laid the food in front of him, turning and grabbing her bag on the way out the door.

"Sorry, got to leave. Can't be late, but I left all that food for you."

The door slammed shut behind her and Chad watched the door for minutes after.

His lips twisted into a bitter smile.

Later that night, an exhausted Abby walked into her shared apartment and was surprised to find Chad sitting at the table, and dinner laid out. All of her favorite dishes were served and she caught a glimpse of the dessert in the kitchen.

"So what's the occasion?" she grinned at her flat mate.

She flung her bag to the couch and headed to sit in front of him. She raised an eyebrow at the candles and looked amusedly at him.

"It's our fifth fake anniversary."

Color drained from her face and she stared at him in astonishment. He had never done anything like this before and she didn't know how to react to it.

He leaned forward eagerly and the bitterness in his eyes was clear to her than ever before.

"I was thinking maybe it's time to stop pretending," he said seriously. Her breath hitched in her throat. He continued as he stared into her eyes, "I know you didn't know how I felt before so now I'm being clear.

"I'm telling you how I feel, I'm being honest, and I'm doing something about it. I made the first move."

"I just want them to do something! I can't just wait for them forever!"

"Chad, I –"

"I don't get them. I just don't get them at all."

"I –"

"I'm always making the first move! Why won't they do anything if they're honest about what they feel?"

"I-I –"

"Abby."

She stared terrified into his eyes and she was drawn in by the warmth in them.

"With Chad, I know him and I feel safe."

"It's okay. I'm not forcing this on you. I'm just being honest and clear on how I feel. I wanted you to know, but you don't have to give an answer right away. You don't need to rush. I'll keep doing all the little things for you to show I care, but it's your decision and nothing changes how I'll feel or act towards you."

She stared at him and saw him smile gently at her.

"Chad…I think, maybe, I'd like to try this one more time."

His jaw almost dropped, but instead he grinned.

"Let's start this over. For real this time."

She mentally shook her head and smiled, "For real."

This time, Chad finally allowed himself to give her the kiss he really couldn't before.

Started 12/26/07 –Completed 12/27/07