"Does anyone want a drink?" I asked as I walked towards the door.
"No thanks," they both answered as though I was becoming a nuisance.
"Ok, I'll be back in a bit," I added. They both ignored me of course.
As I stepped out of the door, I closed it behind me and hit Aiden on the arm.
"What was that for?" He asked as he continued to laugh and rub his arm.
"It was for laughing and making me fall," I replied as a smile filled my lips.
"Hey, that was not my fault," he said as we walked into the kitchen, closing the door behind us.
"It was to. What were you doing spying on me anyway?" I asked sarcastically.
"Well, you can't really spy in your own house, it's kind of my duty to watch everything that goes on," he said as a smirk spread across his face.
"Oh, is that right?" I asked as I walked towards the fridge and took out a can of Pepsi, Aiden's favourite. I opened it and took a small sip.
"Yup," he replied.
"So, about that message that you sent me," I said in a more serious tone.
"What, the one that made you fall off of the chair?" He asked as he tried to stop himself from laughing.
"No, the other one," I said.
"What about it?" He asked.
"Well, what exactly did you mean?" I replied.
"What do you think I meant?" He asked as a smile crept onto his face again.
"I don't know," I whispered as the butterflies in my stomach began to go crazy.
"I think you do," he said as he looked me in the eyes and took a step closer.
I could feel myself getting more nervous as he took a step closer to where I was stood. It was crazy but I could actually feel the pulse in my left wrist increasing in speed. As our eyes locked, I tried to look away but I just couldn’t.
“What do you want it to mean?” He whispered as he looked straight into my eyes.
“I don’t know, I’m confused-“
“You don’t have to be April, it can be simple if you want it to be,” he continued.
“I jus-“
Suddenly the kitchen door swung open, interrupting our conversation much to my dismay.
"Kyle?" I asked in complete confusion as I watched him and Crystal burst into the kitchen.
"I'm sorry to come like this but I went to yours and your mom said that you were here and so I came straight over.”
"Is everything ok?" I asked, feeling rather anxious.
"Mimi's awake!" He screamed.
"What!" I shouted back as I ran over to him and jumped into his arms.
"Seriously?" I asked as the tears began to roll down my cheeks.
"Yes, seriously!" He screamed back as he wiped the tears off of my cheeks with his thumbs.
"Can we go and see her?" I asked.
"Of course, that's why I'm here," he said as a smile spread across his face again.
I threw my arms around him and squeezed his neck as tight as I could.
"Thank you," I whispered into his ear.
"Sorry guys, I've got to go," I said as I looked at Aiden. He was smiling but I knew that there was something beneath the smile. I just hoped that he would understand.
"Of course," Crystal screamed in excitement.
"Remember to keep us posted," she said as we ran towards Kyle's car.
As I leapt into the passenger's seat, a feeling of joy came over me. I was going to see Mimi! This was really happening. Words couldn't begin to describe how I was feeling right now.
"You, ok?" Kyle asked as I sat in silence.
"Yeah, you?"
"I don't know. It's crazy, I kind of feel like I'm in a daze," he replied.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," I said.
"I suppose, I was so scared, that I just got used to thinking that she would never wake up again. I didn't want to get excited, only to get let down again. Now that she's really awake, I don't know what to do or how to feel," he said.
"I understand," I finally whispered.
"Thanks.”
"For what?" I asked.
"Being there for me, it means a lot," he said as he squeezed my hand.
I smiled at him and then we spent the rest of the journey in silence.
* * *
"Ready?" He asked as we pulled up in the hospital parking lot.
"Yeah," I replied as I stepped out of the car.
The walk through the hospital was like walking the green mile. My heart had ached so much for my Mimi and now it was racing faster as we got closer to her as though it knew that she was there. As I walked down the different corridors the smell of the hospital filled my nose. I hated that smell, I hated hospitals. I could see sick children all wired up with tubes. It broke my heart. Mimi should have never been here. Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Kyle's voice.
"Hey mom," he said as she threw her arms around him and kissed him.
"April, darling," she said as she noticed me standing there, behind Kyle.
"Hi Mrs Edwards," I said in a low tone.
She instantly threw her arms around me and squeezed me tight.
"It means so much to us all to have you here, especially Kyle," she whispered in my ear.
I don't know why but that last comment made me feel guilty. I felt like I should have been there more, for him. Why, I don't know.
As she pulled away, I threw her a smile and then turned to face Mimi's room.
As I peered through the glass window of the room that Mimi was in, my heart sank. She had tubes in her nose and arms, there was a drip next to her bed and a fruit bowl on the cabinet. She looked so fragile. As I looked up at the name above her bed that read Mia Edwards I smiled, she hated being called Mia.
"She's been asking for you," Mrs Edwards said.
"She has?"
"Yeah," Kyle added.
"Why don't you go in and see her sweetheart, visiting time will be over in five minutes," Mrs Edwards said in a soft voice.
"Are you coming?" I asked Kyle.
"I'll come afterwards, I've already seen her. You go," he said as he threw me a gentle smile.
"Thanks," I said as I approached the door that separated me from Mimi.
As I walked in to the silent room and looked at her face, I watched as a smile spread across her lips. It really was Mimi.
"Hey, beautiful," I whispered as I sat on the edge of her bed.
"April?" She whispered.
"Yes baby, it's me," I replied.
"What took you so long?" She asked as she scrunched up her nose and stared into my eyes.
My Mimi was back. I smiled.
"Well I could ask you the same thing. You've been sleeping for nearly two days now," I said as a smile spread across my lips.
"I was tired," she said in a sarcastic voice.
"I missed you," I said as I gently placed my hand on top of hers.
"I missed you too," she replied.
"I thought that, that stupid Rachel was going to come," she said, scrunching up her nose again.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"That's not nice," I said as I tried to stop myself from laughing.
"But she is, I don't know why Kyle picked her, she's strange. I want you back," she said as she looked at me with cross eyes.
"We can't always have what we want Mimi," I said gently.
"That's not fair".
"I know, I know. How are you feeling?" I asked.
"How do you think I feel? Some crazy man knocked me over," she said in a way that made me burst out laughing.
Mimi was a ten year old with the personality of an old lady. She would have me laughing for hours when I would go round to their house, simply just by talking. She always had a comment on everything, a slight temper and a bucket full of sarcasm. It all made me love her so much more though.
"Are you eating your fruit?" I asked as I nodded my head in the direction of the fruit bowl.
"Of course not," she said as she pointed at the drawer next to her bed.
As I slid it open, I was given a clear view of all of the fruit that she had obviously pretended to eat before throwing it inside of the drawer.
"Mimi," I gasped.
"What? I don't like it and Dad keeps bringing more and more, I had to hide it somewhere," she said as a smirk filled her face.
"I see that you haven't changed," I said as I tapped her nose with my finger.
"I'll never change, never ever," she replied.
"Good, I don't want you too," I said as I smiled at her.
"Hey, visiting time's over. Are you ready?" Kyle asked as he stepped into the room.
"Yeah," I said, even though I really wanted to say no.
"Right, now you take care of yourself and hurry up and get yourself strong," I said.
"Are you going to see me again?" She asked in a sad voice.
"Of course I will, that's why I want you to get better so that things can get back to normal," I said as I gently moved a strand of her brown hair out of her eyes.
"So, you're going to be Kyle's girlfriend again?" She asked, excitedly.
"Let's just worry about one thing at a time, ok?" I said.
"Ok," she mumbled in a sad voice.
"Goodbye Mimi," I said as I gently kissed her on the forehead and wrapped my arms around her.
"By April, I love you," she whispered in my ear. It took everything I had inside of me not to cry as I heard those words.
"Love you too," I said as I squeezed her a little tighter before finally standing back up.
"Right, squirt, I'll see you tomorrow, ok?" Kyle said as he messed up her hair with his hand.
"Boys," she said as she rolled her eyes and put her hair back into place.
We both laughed.
"Bye Mimi," we both said as we walked out of the door.
"Bye," she whispered.
"See you at home," Kyle said to his mom as she walked into the room.
"Ok bye. Thanks for coming April, we really appreciate it," she said as she squeezed my hand and then walked towards Mimi.
The walk out of the hospital seemed to take half the time that it did when we first arrived.
It was warm outside and I enjoyed feeling the gentle breeze as it hit my skin as we walked towards the car.
As we stepped inside, Kyle sat still and began to stare at me.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"I can't do this," he said in a sad voice.
"Do what?" I asked in a confused voice.
"I can't pretend anymore. April, I lied when I said that I could move on and would be happy for you and Aiden. The truth is I'm not," he said.
"I don't understand, I thought that we had gotten past this?" I said, feeling a little frustrated.
"Maybe you did," he said sarcastically.
"Don't, because I'm not the one that ruined things in the beginning," I spat back at him.
"I know, I'm sorry," he said in a gentle voice.
"Look, I don't feel that way about you anymore. I'm sorry," I said, looking into his eyes.
"Because of Aiden?" He asked as he stared back at me.
"No, I just don't," I replied.
"I don't believe you. How can you just be over me like that, after everything? Don't we at least owe it to ourselves to give it another shot?"
"I can't do this Kyle, please," I pleaded.
"Well, I can't give up because I still love you. In fact I'm in love with you April," he whispered.
I couldn't take in the words, I was shocked. He had never told me that before and I was lost for words.
"Can you seriously say that there is nothing there anymore?" He asked.
"It doesn't matter, Kyle.”
"It does.”
"It doesn't because it's over," I snapped.
"Kiss me," he suddenly blurted out.
"What?"
"Kiss me and if you feel nothing then I promise to leave you alone forever.”
"No, I can't do-"
Suddenly I was cut off as his lips met mine.
He kissed me...
AIDEN’S POINT OF VIEW
Seeing April walk out of my front door with Kyle was a slap in the face but I knew why she had to do it. She had her reasons and I was cool with that. I still couldn't figure her out though, sometimes I was so sure that she felt something for me but when Kyle was around he had me second guessing myself. Every dude knows that that's not a feeling that you want to have. No guy wants to admit feeling threatened by another guy, it's a sign of weakness and I’m not weak. No girl has ever had me questioning myself like April did, there was something about her. Even when we were young I felt different about April. I just thought that it was like a brotherly instinct because she was Crystal's friend, I guess I was wrong. Lately she was the only thing on my mind and it was so frustrating.
"So, what now?" Crystal asked as we all stood in the hall way in silence.
"I don't know about you guys but I wouldn't mind having Aiden to myself for a little while," Cayce said with a big smile on her face.
“That was way too much information," Crystal replied with a look of disgust on her face.
"No, what about the guys, I invited them, I can't just leave them," I said as I gave Anthony a look that said 'don't you dare leave me alone with her'. He obviously found it hilarious.
"Nah we're cool dude, go have your fun," he said as he winked at me, slapped my back and walked into the living room.
I was going to kill him later.
"Yeah, I'm cool," Jake said as he followed Anthony with a smile on his face.
Him too.
"To be honest, I'd rather you two go and be all lovey dovey in your room than down here with us, so bye," Crystal said as she followed the guys and shut the door behind her.
"Mmmm, alone at last," Cayce said as she kissed my lips and then ran up the stairs.
"Yeah, great," I muttered, sarcastically.
By the time that I had walked into my room Cayce had already laid down on my bed, much to my dismay. If I had ever known that April would leave half way through the night, she wouldn't even have been here. It was wrong but Cayce was my way of making April jealous and so far it didn't seem to be working the way that I had planned.
"What are you waiting for, big boy?" She asked as she batted her eyelids at me.
"For you to sit up," I replied.
"Why?" She asked in a frustrated tone.
I slowly walked over to my bed and sat down next to her.
"Cayce," I said quietly as I scratched the back of my neck.
"Yes baby?"
"We're not getting back together," I said to her, feeling rather guilty that I had probably given her the wrong impression.
"I know, we're taking it slow and that's fine but there's no reason why we can't have a little fun in the meantime," she said as she pushed me onto my back and straddled me.
I quickly grabbed her wrists and pushed her gently off of me.
"I'm sorry but this isn't what I want," I mumbled.
"So why have you been inviting me around so much, lately?"
"I don't know, I've just been confused," I replied.
"About what?" She asked.
"I've got feelings for someone else," I said as a guilty look spread across my face.
"Who?" She asked.
"It doesn't matter. Look, I'm sorry if I've led you on, I never meant to hurt you," I said as I took a step closer to her.
Suddenly she burst out laughing which completely caught me off guard.
"Care to share the joke?" I asked in a confused tone.
"You and your sentimental crap. Look, Aiden as hot as you like to think that you are and you are hot, it's not you that I want," she said as she took a seat on my bed.
"What?" I asked, feeling even more lost than ever.
"I like Anthony. I was just trying to make him jealous, sorry to burst your bubble," she said as a smirk filled her face.
"Seriously? Anthony? That kind of makes a whole lot of sense actually. So you're
doing exactly the same thing that I am," I said as the realisation hit me.
"Yeah, yeah I know. Actually it's quite a relief to finally let it out. I was getting kind of worried that you may have actually wanted me. No offense.”
"None taken," I replied.
"Well it feels good to get that out in the open.”
“You did do a good job at acting desperate though,” I said as I raised my eyebrows at her.
“Well, from what I remember you can’t stand desperate girls so I had to make sure that you wouldn’t actually want to do anything with me but still make Anthony jealous at the same time. Not that it seems to be working anyway,” she said in a sad tone.
“Anthony doesn’t do getting jealous and neither does he do relationships. That’s just how he is,” I said sympathetically.
“Yeah I’m starting to see that. Look, can you kind of just keep this between me and you though?" She asked as she stood up.
"Yeah sure," I said, feeling rather used, even though I was doing the exact same thing to her.
"Good," she said as she walked towards the door.
"Oh and she likes you too," she said as she turned back around to face me.
"Huh?"
"April, she's really into you. I can tell," she said as she winked at me.
"You knew that I liked April all of this time?" I asked in complete shock.
"Of course, only an idiot wouldn't see that. You guys are kind of cute, well you would be if Kyle wasn't in the picture but hey, who knows."
"Hey Cayce, don't mention this to my sister please," I pleaded.
"Are you kidding? That girl would somehow find a way to blame me if I told her and no one wants to be on the receiving end of her anger. Your secret’s safe with me," she said as a smile filled her face.
"Thanks," I said as I looked back at her.
"No problem. Oh and for the record not everything was fake. You are one hell of a kisser just like I remembered. April's one lucky girl," she said before walking out of the room and leaving me stood, smiling to myself.
To try and understand what had just happened would be pointless, so instead I picked up my cell, car keys and jacket, and then ran down the stairs. I had to find April.
"Woah that was quick," Anthony said as I popped my head around the living room door. I rolled my eyes and then looked at Crystal.
"I've just got to pop out, be back in about an hour," I said.
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