Pretend

by Charlene Antrobus

  Remind me why I invited this chick around again?

  "Yeah," I said as I forced a fake smile to spread across my lips.

  "I wondered how long it would take before you invited me round here again," she said as she began to move closer to me.

  "I've missed you so much baby and we have got so much to catch up on," she said as she finally pinned me against the wall and squeezed my butt.

  "Wow, yeah...Ermm, so do you want a drink?" I asked as I slipped myself from in between her and the wall, and walked into the kitchen with her following closely behind me.

  "No, thank you, I had one just before I left," she said.

  "Oh, great well I think I'll just have one then," I said as I grabbed a glass out of the cupboard, ran the tap and then filled it with water. As I nervously gulped down the water, she didn't take her eyes off of me.

  As I took my last sip of water, she was literally right in front of me, which took me by surprise.

  "You're fast aren't you," I said as the sound of shock broke through my voice and I choked a little on the water.

  "In many ways, yes," she said as a dirty smile spread across her lips. This was going to be an eventful night, I could already tell.

  "Let's go into the living room," I said as I placed my glass on the counter and led the way.

  As I stepped into the living room, I began to search for the remote for the TV. No doubt Crystal had it last. She never puts it back where it belongs.

  "Can I use your restroom?" Cayce asked, breaking my trail of thought.

  "Yeah, sure. You know where it is right?"

  "Yeah, I remember it very well. Right I'm just going to freshen up," she said as a smile spread across her lips and she disappeared out of the door.

  A sigh of relief left my mouth as she walked out of the room. I wanted Cayce to distract me and she was but for all the wrong reasons.

  As I slipped my phone out of my pocket, I stared at the blank screen in disappointment. Maybe I shouldn't have reacted the way that I did before, maybe I should have given April a chance to explain. Perhaps there was an explanation as to why her and Kyle where in each other's arms but then again what reason could there be, other than the obvious? I didn't know but one thing I did know was that I couldn't get her out of my damn mind.

  I turned my attention back to the phone. I quickly went into my messages and started a new one.

  Hey sorry for driving off like that, maybe I should have given you a chance to explain. I can't stop thinking about you and the kiss. I need to talk to you.

  I clicked contacts and scrolled down until I found her name.

  Suddenly I was interrupted by a high pitched scream coming from upstairs. My finger accidently hit the cancel button and the message was gone. I let out a growl and headed upstairs.

  What now?

  "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" Cayce screamed as I watched her jumping around the bathroom like some bunny on crack.

  "What is it?" I asked in a frustrated tone.

  "It's a big, fat hairy spider, that's what! Ewww get rid of it!"

  As I looked down at the spider that sat between her and the bathroom door, I laughed. The stupid thing was so small that I almost needed a magnifying glass to spot it.

  "Are you kidding me?" I asked as I watched the terror on her face.

  "Please can you just get it instead of standing there with that stupid look on your face?" She screamed.

  I wanted to tell her that if she didn't shut up, I would shove it down her throat but instead I picked it up and threw it out of my bedroom window.

  "Has it gone?" She asked as she crept into my room on her tip toes.

  "Yes, the big, fat, hairy monster has gone now, you can chill out," I said, sarcastically.

  "Good," she said as she finally began to compose herself.

  This chick had some serious issues.

  "So..." She said, now with a smile plastered on her face.

  "So, what?" I asked looking at her in a state of confusion.

  "You have a free house and we're alone in your bedroom," she said as she made her way over to me.

  As I looked down at her cheap red lipstick and her tight clothes, I wanted to run a mile.

  Without a word her lips met mine and began to do, what I can only describe as suffocating me.

  "Ok, you really need to slow down," I said as I gently pushed her back.

  "I thought that this was what you wanted. You did tell me to come over after all," she said as a look of sadness filled her eyes.

  Feeling a little guilty, I cleared my throat and looked her in the eyes.

  "Yeah I did and it is what I wanted bu-"

  "Exactly, then why are we still talking?" She said as she pushed me onto the bed and climbed on top of me.

  As her lips left a trail of kisses down my neck I couldn't help but wish that they were April's lips. A few months ago I would have been enjoying this and the thought of April wouldn't have even crossed my mind. I knew that she was with Kyle back then and so I got on with it but it’s different now.

  As I heard her heavy breathing in my ear and felt her hand begin to unbuckle my jeans, I panicked and quickly flipped her around so that I was on top and in control.

  "Mmmm, so you like to play rough," she said as she let out a giggle that made my stomach drop for all the wrong reasons.

  "Yeah, if playing rough is throwing you out of my bedroom window," I mumbled under my breath.

  "What did you say baby?" She said as her red lips formed into a smile.

  "Nothing," I lied.

  I tried to ignore my thoughts and keep my mouth shut as I began to kiss her lips.

  I had to get April out of my mind, for all I knew, her and Kyle were probably doing exactly what Cayce and I were doing right now. The thought made me mad.

  As I felt the warmth of her hands trail up my back, my body shuddered. I kissed her deeper and harder this time as I grabbed her wrists with my hands and held them down, above her head. The low moans that escaped her lips should have sounded sexy but instead, they left me wishing that I was elsewhere.

  What the hell is wrong with me?

  There I was, alone with a chick that most guys would have given up anything to spend a night with and what was I doing...Thinking about someone else.

  "Do you love me?" She whispered deep into my ear.

  Suddenly I stopped moving. I lifted myself from off of her and sat up on the bed.

  "I'm sorry but I can't do this," I said as I placed my head in my hands.

  "Why? What's up baby?" She asked as she rubbed my back with her hand.

  "That's what's wrong," I said as I stood up, so that she couldn't touch me anymore.

  "This just shouldn't have happened. I shouldn't have asked you to come here. I'm sorry.”

  "It's probably just nerves baby, has it been a while?" She asked as she stood up and looked into my face.

  I wanted to scream, no it's you, I'm just not interested but then I decided that that probably wasn't the best way to handle the situation.

  "Mmmm," I finally answered after a few seconds.

  "Awww, don't worry baby, we can take all the time that you need.”

  "No I'm done. Sorry but I'm just going to go to bed now, I'm kind of tired," I replied, hoping that she would get the hint.

  "Oh, ok. Do you want me to stay?"

  "NO!" I screamed in a panic before I even realised what had escaped my mouth.

  "I mean, no my mom will be back soon so it's probably best that you leave," I quickly, corrected myself.

  "Ok then, well I'll just let myself out," she said, sounding rather disappointed.

  "Ok, sorry," I said as a feeling of guilt swept over me. It wasn't in my nature to hurt people, it's just that tonight was so messed up that I was making some stupid decisions without thinking about the consequences.

  "Well, I'll see you at school tomorrow," she said as she kissed me on the cheek and headed towards my bedroom door.

  "Ok, see you late
r," I said as I slumped back onto my bed. I listened as her footsteps disappeared down the stairs and the front door slammed shut. Peace at last.

  I had to admit that I did feel like a bit of a jerk.

  As if Mother Nature decided that now was the perfect time to deal out my punishment, Crystal stormed into my room.

  "What the hell was Cayce Hellman doing here? Actually, the red lips on your face have told me all that I need to know. Aiden, seriously I thought you were through with her, she's like the school bike, what the hell were you thinking?" She screamed as she burst through my door.

  "Ok, so firstly there's this thing that people with manners do and it's called knocking and secondly my life is none of your business," I said as I began to wipe my face off with my hand in a bid to get rid of Cayce's lipstick.

  "Yeah, whatever! Anyway did April get in ok?"

  "I don't know, why don't you ask Kyle?" I said as walked past her and went into the bathroom.

  "Kyle! What the hell are you talking about?" She screeched, in an octave that was way above her normal voice.

  "Well, she was pretty cosy in his arms, outside of her house tonight so I’m pretty sure that he can tell you more than I can," I mumbled as I threw some water onto my face.

  "In his arms? At her house? Oh my gosh! I am so going to deal with that girl in the morning, she promised that she would stay away from him," she said as a look of anger filled her face.

  "Yeah, that's great an all but I'm not interested," I said as I dried off my face and walked back into my room.

  "What's wrong with you? Missing Cayce already?" She said in a sarcastic tone.

  "I got two words for you good bye," I said as I slammed the door in her face.

  "Rude! And that's one word actually!" I heard her scream at the door as she stormed off. From the sound of her footsteps she was heading towards her bedroom, I was just glad for the peace and quiet.

  I took off my top and jeans, took my phone out of my pocket and turned off the light. I got into my bed, slid my phone under my pillow and lay on my back and stared at the ceiling until I finally fell asleep.

  * * *

  Getting ready this morning was like a war zone. Crystal felt it necessary to moan about April and Kyle all morning much to my dismay.

  "I mean, can you believe that she would go back to Kyle after everything? I was the one who helped her to pick up the pieces and quite frankly, I don't think that I can do it again. If she wants to keep getting her heart broken then that's up to her but I will not be around this time!" She shouted as she stepped into the car.

  I’d had just about enough of her voice and so I turned up the radio. A smile filled my face as I heard Wilson Pickett's version of Mustang Sally playing.

  "That is so rude Aiden, turn it down," she screamed as I turned it up even more in a bid to drown out her voice.

  As I sat there ignoring Crystal and listening to the lyrics, I realised how much they reminded me of Cayce.

  After Crystal had finally given up on her rant, I turned the radio back down and we spent the rest of the journey in silence. I was glad because if I had to hear another thing about April and Kyle, I would scream.

  "Damn," I mumbled to myself.

  "What?" Crystal asked in an uninterested tone.

  "Nothing, I just forgot my phone that's all.”

  “Oh dear, don't worry I'm sure that Cayce will let you know if she tried to call," she said in a sarcastic tone. I ignored her.

  As we pulled up at Janeson High, I heard Crystal let out a dramatic sigh.

  "What now?" I asked as I began to stare at her strangely.

  "I cannot believe my freaking eyes. April and that jerk faced moron have actually just pulled up together!" She shrieked as my eyes were drawn to the Audi TT parked a few spots from where we were.

  If I hadn't been so concerned with April and Kyle I might have asked Crystal what the hell a jerk faced moron was. Before I even got the chance to reply, Crystal had already jumped out of the car.

  "Oh my gosh! You have got to be kidding me! Am I seeing what I think I am seeing?" She screamed at April.

  I could tell that a look of guilt and embarrassment swept over her face as she spotted me, stood behind Crystal. As I took in the situation and looked at her and Kyle, an all too familiar anger started to fill my body.

  "Crystal, calm down," April replied, in a low voice.

  "You said that you were staying away. I mean, when Aiden said that HE was outside of your house last night that was one thing but to come in together the next day!"

  "Crystal it is not what you think and will you be quiet everyone is starting to stare.”

  I couldn't stand around and listen to this anymore and so I stormed off towards the entrance leaving them to battle it out.

  As I fought my way through the crowd of teens, I noticed the expressions on people's faces begin to change as they started to stare at me. I didn't really give a damn at this point.

  "Hey slow down dude," I heard as I was walking past a row of lockers.

  As I turned to face the person who was now holding my arm, I realised that it was my good friend Murphy. He was stood with Taise, one of our other friends.

  "What's up with you? You like you've just seen a ghost?" He asked as I slowly began to move closer to the lockers.

  "Nothing man, I'm just tired," I lied.

  "Bro, if that's tired, then I'm Justin Bieber. Now, what's the problem or should I say what's the name of the chick that is giving you problems?"

  Just as I went to answer, I felt a pair of hands slip around my neck.

  "Hey baby," Cayce said, as she looked into my eyes and flicked her hair.

  As I looked behind her, I could see Murphy making grabbing actions at her and licking his lips as Taise stood, shaking his head at him with an amused look on his face. I had to try really hard to keep the smile off of my face. Murphy was such an idiot sometimes.

  Suddenly my eyes shifted behind them to where I could see April staring. I felt a funny feeling come over me as she continued to stare into my eyes. I couldn't help but notice that she looked sad but she brought it on herself by letting that jerk back into her life.

  "How are you doing, beautiful?" I said to Cayce as I slipped my hand around her waist and laughed at a joke that didn't even exist.

  "Oh, you’re in a better mood today," she said as she began to tickle the side of my neck with her soft fingers.

  I watched as April stormed off, back in the direction that she had come from.

  "Hello," I heard Cayce say as she tiptoed, to make eye contact with me.

  “She looked upset,” Murphy mumbled as Taise shook his head in agreement.

  “What?” I asked in confusion.

  “April, didn’t you see her? I heard that Kyle’s sister got hit by a car after Crystal’s party. Apparently she was coming from some family thing with her mom and they went to cross the road to get to their car when some lunatic came out of nowhere and hit her. April’s close with the kid, so I’m guessing that she took it quite badly,” He continued.

  "Sorry but I’ve got to go," I said as I quickly ran off in the direction that April had gone. I really screwed up last night, I wished that I’d known about this then maybe things could have been different.

  "Aiden!" Cayce shouted after me as I ran off.

  "Yo dude, where you going?" Murphy shouted over the crowd of noisy teens.

  Looking at my watch and seeing that I had five minutes left until the bell went, I quickly turned back around to face him.

  "I've just got something to sort out, I'll see you in homeroom," I shouted before turning back around.

  I had to find April...

  I could literally feel the blood circulating through my veins as the image of Cayce with her arms around Aiden's neck kept popping into my head. That was the last straw. I was not going to allow another guy to make a fool of me again. I'm done! It serves my right for even thinking about my best friend's brother in that way. Not that she was be
ing much of a best friend right now anyway.

  As I pushed through the crowds of people I couldn't help but ask myself, who could I really trust? Everyone seemed to want to hurt me right now, first Kyle, then Crystal and now Aiden. Maybe I would just be better off on my own. In fact, that's exactly what I what I am going to do from now on, look out for number one. No more ‘door mat April’ anymore. Today would mark the last day that anyone would ever treat me like that again.

  Suddenly the all too familiar vibration of my cell phone interrupted my thoughts. I slipped it out of my jean's pocket in anger. I wasn't in the mood to hear what anyone had to say right now, especially since all of the people that it could possibly be were annoying me at this very moment in time. So, let me guess Aiden, Crystal, Kyle...Oh, it's Jake. Great, what does he want?

  Hey, sorry that I haven't been in contact but my cell's been playing up. Hope we're still on for tomorrow? Crystal gave me your address already. I can pick you up around 7, if that's ok?

  Tomorrow, oh gosh I completely forgot about that and who told Crystal to just go giving out my address! Grrrr. Why was everything making me so damn mad? Usually I wouldn't mind, I would just say thank you but right now she was at the top of the list of people in my bad books, so thanking her was the last thing on my mind. I'll have to deal with Jake later. To be perfectly honest, I am not in the mood to go anywhere with him and I need time to think of a convincing excuse as to why I can't make it.

  I had five minutes left before the bell would go, so I quickly slipped into the girl's restroom to splash my face with a little water and calm down. No sooner did I walk in, I heard the door swing open and slam shut again within seconds. Did people have to make so much noise in the morning?

  As I turned around to give the person a dirty look for disturbing my moment of peace, my jaw almost fell to the floor.

  "What the hell are you doing in here? This is the girl's restroom. Are you crazy?" I shout, whispered.