Carter, meanwhile, had somehow been cornered by Sophie Kenison. He and Sophie, one of his Father's business contacts, had grown up together. She was nice enough - in small doses. She had dropped many not-too-subtle hints that she was interested in him. His Father was, of course, thrilled If he and Sophie got married it would be an extremely important 'partnership'. That's the word his Father had used - right? Carter on the other hand, was less than impressed. Sure Sophie was... Well she was incredibly beautiful, but beyond that she was pretty empty. Anyway, there's no way he could even think about anyone else when he was so in love with... But here he found himself standing in front of her nodding in agreement as she babbled on about... Something or other. "So she was going to go for the teal bridesmaids dress but I said 'I don't think so!' I mean teal!" She giggled and Carter joined in politely. 'God! Where are my family when I need them?' He groaned silently. Something across the room caught his eye, or rather some one. She was the most beautiful person he'd ever seen - inside and out. She was funny, caring, angry and... Just as messed up as him. She was his soul mate. She was his best friend. She was Abby. His smile soon faded as he saw her reach up and kiss some guy's cheek. 'Wait! Isn't that...Richard?' He thought. 'Well they sure look friendly!' He felt himself becoming jealous. This soon followed by anger. How dare she come out with him and then kiss her ex-husband?! It didn't occur to him that he was being unreasonable. He didn't realise how it must look - he had left her to what? Stand chatting with some woman he didn't even like. All he thought was, 'Why the hell is she kissing her ex-husband when she won't even give us a chance?' It didn't occur to him that it was perfectly innocent or that Abby was on her way to tell him she was in love with him. No, all he felt was jealousy. His thoughts were interrupted by the blond on his right. 'You know what? Screw Abby!' He thought as he gave his full attention to Sophie. "So John, where's you date?" She pouted slightly at the idea that he had a date. "Um, she's around." He said absently. "Oh. So are you two serious?" "No, it's not like that! She's just a friend!" What was he doing? 'Abby is so much more than a friend and you know it!' A little voice deep inside screamed. Why was he so insistent that Abby was just a friend. Friend! There were so many different, more suitable words - saviour, passion, soul mate, reason for living... These words fit much better. "So...you're...avaliable?" She purred, flicking her long golden mane. "Completely" 'Dear god John! Do you know what you're saying - at all? Is your brain even connected?' He thought. He hadn't heard Abby even approach him. "Hey Carter! We need to talk..." She stopped, realising he had company. Oh God! Abby was here! How much had she heard? He shook himself. 'What does it matter? She turned you down! Plus she and Richard looked pretty cosy.' Again, it didn't occur that he was just been an asshole. "Carter?" Sophie spoke first, breaking the tension. He bright blues eyes clouded with confusion. Realisation finally hit. You could practically see the light bulb click on. She signalled to John, "Oh you mean... How... Cute" she crinkled her nose. Abby took an immediate dislike to her. She smiled politely. "Oh sorry. Abby, this is Sophie Kenison. Sophie this is Abigail Lockhart." He said, noticing the look on Abby's face. She did not looked pleased. If looks could kill, he and Sophie would be six feet under! Still, she was polite and shook Sophie's out stretched hand. He also noticed the look on Sophie's face. She straight through Abby, not even caring whether or not she was there. How dare she? But he didn't say anything. Abby could take care of herself. "So...Abby, how do you know John?" She asked with an edge to her voice. "Oh, erm... Condensed version? We work together." Well what was she supposed to say? 'I caught him shooting up in an exam room and I'm his sponsor. I fell in love with him but he rejected me and started dating some one else.' No! Probably not a good idea. "Are you a doctor?" "No, I'm a nurse." She could see the disapproval in Sophie's eyes. How dare she look down on her?! It took all her strength to stop her giving Sophie her opinion of her. "Oh, that's ... nice" Abby ignored the patronising tone and continued, "So, where do you know Car...John from?" She looked at John, who was watching the two women with an amused look on his face. Abby appeared to be jealous. Did she have feelings for him? "Oh we go way back. I'm waiting on him waking up one day and realising he's completely in love with me!" She playfully nudged Carter and giggled. Abby shot her a disgusted look. Could this woman be more obvious? She felt incredibly uncomfortable and glanced at Carter, who was busy grinning at Sophie. "Maybe someday!" He whispered. He couldn't believe it. He was actually flirting with this woman. And right in front of Abby. Maybe that was the reason. Part of him wanted to hurt her. For what? Making him fall in love with her? Or for not loving him back? He wasn't sure. He just wanted her to feel some of the pain and jealousy he felt, seeing her with Richard. Yeah it was juvenile but... "Oh John!" Sophie pushed him slightly. Abby noticed how close they were standing. Had she interrupted something? She also noticed that Carter was completely focused on Sophie. She felt like saying, 'hey remember me?' She felt increasingly uncomfortable. All the while, Carter stood pretending not to notice Abby. He saw how uncomfortable and hurt she looked. His instincts took over and he wanted to protect her. To hold her and tell her he was sorry, but there was something pushing him, forcing him to act like a jackass. He was hurting and he was jealous. So, he continued to flirt with Sophie. As Abby excused herself, Carter realised how horrible he was being. "I'm just...I have to...go to the bathroom." She turned and practically ran off. "Dammit!" He groaned silently as she disappeared. 'I'm such an idiot!' He was a fool! He didn't want to hurt Abby. Not really. 'So why do I keep doing it?' He ran his fingers through his hair defeated. He was about to run after her and explain but he felt someone brush against him, "Come on John. Let's dance." Before he knew it he was being pulled towards the dance floor, helplessly looking into the crowd Abby had disappeared into. He was a fool!

 

 

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Abby barely made it to the bathroom before breaking down. She turned the tap on and sat on the toilet, tears streaming down her face. She was a fool. How could she have even considered telling Carter how she felt. He wasn't interested. He had moved on, her chance missed, to the first woman he met. What hurt most was she was nothing like her. Sophie was rich, beautiful, confident, didn't seem to have any emotional baggage... And there she was alone in a bathroom crying over s guy who didn't even love her. She was stupid to think that maybe he had been truthful when he said he loved her. No. He didn't. She wasn't good enough for him. She wasn't pretty, or intelligent, or...anything Carter would want. So she sat and cried. For all the missed chances, for all the times she wanted to tell him but couldn't and for all the times she'd let him walk away. It was her fault. No! It was that Sophie-woman's fault. Could she have been more obvious? She was practically giving him a lap dance out there! No. It wasn't Sophie. If it hadn't been her it would have been someone else. 'Someone else who isn't me' she thought. She sighed and ran her hands through her now loose hair. She couldn't feel like this anymore. It was time to move on. She'd been kidding herself - they couldn't be friends. She began to feel angry. At Carter? Hell yeah! But mostly at herself. How could she have been so stupid? She knew she would get hurt but she couldn't let him go. Well not anymore. Angrily she stood up, wiping her tears. She splashed some cold water on her face and fixed her hair. She laughed at herself. This wasn't her! She was strong. 'I'm not gonna hurt anymore.' She said, leaving the room. She walked back in the direction of Carter. If she could just get through tonight, she'd be fine. And she could. She was Abby! If she could cope with a bipolar mother, she could deal with a little heartache! 'I'm strong!' The sight before her proved how wrong she was. She saw Carter dancing with that girl. Not only that, but he looked happy - truly happy. She felt all the air escape her body. She looked down trying to hide the single tear rolling down her cheek. Everytime! She kept going back for more. He didn't even notice her. What was she supposed to do now? Hang around, alone, watching him hook up with the future Mrs Carter? No! Why should she? She turned and ran out of the hall, only stopping at the front door to talk to a man Carter had greeted earlier, "Hey. You work here right?" "Yes Ma'am. How can I help you?" "Could you tell Dr John Carter that Abby left? Tell him... I'm happy he moved on. Tell him no to call. I'll be fine now." She ran out, not caring if the guy thought she was crazy or not. Maybe she was! It didn't matter. Nothing did. She just wanted to be home in bed, alone. No one could hurt her there. And she never wanted to see John Carter again. It was over.