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Pretend

Page 27

by Charlene Antrobus


  "She's staying at Jess'," he replied.

  "Ok."

  I then began to walk up the stairs. I just wanted to go to bed but I knew that we needed to talk first. I turned back around and gave Aiden a questioning look as he headed towards the living room.

  "I'm just going to straighten everything up and then I'll be up," he said as he threw me a smile.

  "Ok," I muttered before heading towards my room.

  * * *

  Thirty minutes later and I was showered, in my pyjamas and sat on my bed. I heard a gentle knock at my door and prepared myself for a talk that was likely to result in me losing my boyfriend.

  Could this night get any worse?

  "Come in," I said in a low voice.

  "Hey," he said as he sat on the edge of my bed and stared at me.

  "You ok?" I asked.

  "Yeah," he replied although I knew he was lying, I could still see the worry in his eyes.

  "So, what happened?" He asked after a few minutes of silence.

  "I told Kyle something that upset us both, I ran out of his house to mine, so that I could clear my head. I didn't know that Jake was going to be waiting outside of my house. He must have been following me, I don't know," I said as I struggled to force the tears back.

  "What did you tell Kyle?" He asked as though it was the only thing that he had heard.

  I took a deep breath and prepared myself for what would happen next. I couldn't lie to him though, not Aiden.

  "I told him something that I was supposed to tell him the day that we broke up but I never got to because I found out about Rachel. Today he asked me and so I had to tell him, I couldn't lie," I was stalling but I needed time. I was scared to say those words for the second time tonight.

  "What?" He asked in a gentle voice.

  "That I was pregnant," I said after taking a deep breath.

  "Pregnant?" He half whispered as I watched the shocked look on his face.

  "Yes, I'm sorry that I never told you but I didn't tell anyone not even Crystal, I was scared. I told Kyle for the first time tonight and the only other people that knew were my mom and Bob but that's only because-"

  "Stop, just stop," he said in a stern but kind voice. Not sure how it was possible to be stern and kind but he somehow managed it.

  "But-"

  "Just let me talk please," he said as he looked at me with sad eyes. It was over, I knew it. I had just lost the best thing that had ever happened to me...Aiden.

  "I understand that you were scared and probably hurt after what that jerk did to you but you should have told me. You should have been honest," he said.

  "I know and I'm sorry," I whispered.

  "It doesn't matter, I don't care," he said as I felt my stomach drop.

  “Ok,” I said as I realised what was about to happen.

  "I don't care if you're pregnant April. I don't want to lose you," he said as he held my hand in his.

  "What?" I asked in complete shock as I realised that he had gotten it wrong.

  He thought that I was still pregnant?

  This was probably the point where I should have corrected him but I was so shocked by his words that I was left speechless.

  "The night that Jake first...The night that he did what he did to you, I realised something. I realised that I couldn't lose you, I just couldn't. You mean too much to me and if that means that we have to find a way to deal with this then we will but we'll do it together," he said as he stared into my eyes.

  "You’re saying that even if I was pregnant with Kyle's baby it doesn't matter?" I asked in a gentle whisper.

  "I don't care," he said.

  I instantly threw my arms around him and let the tears roll down my cheeks as my grip on him kept getting tighter.

  "It's ok," he said as he stroked my back.

  "I thought that you were going to leave me," I said as I looked into his eyes.

  "Never," he whispered before kissing me gently on the lips.

  "Aiden, I'm not pregnant," I finally managed to say.

  "I don't understand," he said in a confused tone.

  "I was pregnant but I lost the baby a few days after me and Kyle broke up," I said as I tried not to break down again.

  "I'm so sorry," he said as he pulled me back into his arms.

  "I'm so sorry," he repeated.

  * * *

  I lay in his arms for about an hour in complete silence before I felt him slide from next to me and stand to his feet.

  "Good night," he said as he kissed me on the forehead and turned towards the door.

  "No," I said as I held onto his hand.

  "I don't want to be alone tonight," I said as I looked up at him.

  "Ok, just give me a minute," he said as he smiled down at me.

  * * *

  After a few minutes he returned to my room with his mattress, duvet and pillow.

  "What are you doing?" I said as I began to giggle.

  "Being a gentleman," he said as he laid his mattress down on the floor next to my bed.

  "You are so funny," I said as I looked at him fixing his little 'camp' bed for the night.

  "I know," he said as he leant over and kissed me on the cheek.

  "Good night," he said as he turned off the light and got into his bed.

  "Night," I whispered before turning over and trying to sleep.

  Unfortunately after about five minutes of tossing and turning, I knew that there was something missing.

  "Aiden?" I whispered as I leaned down and peered at him.

  "Yes?" He answered.

  "I don't want you to be a gentleman anymore," I said as a smile filled my face.

  "You don't?"

  "No, I really don't."

  "Good because being a gentleman is damn uncomfortable," he said as he stood up and jumped into the spot next to me as we both began to laugh.

  "Better?" He asked as I placed my head on his chest and got comfortable.

  "Much," I replied.

  "Good," he said as I felt his hand, gently stroking my hair.

  It felt nice to have him there with me, it felt perfect. After all that had happened today I can't believe that it ended like this, it seems like a dream.

  * * *

  I had been lying in Aiden's arms for about ten minutes with my eyes closed before I heard his voice. I enjoyed the feeling as the vibration as it resonated through my entire body.

  "April, are you awake?" He whispered. I wanted to answer but I was so tired that it was as if my lips just wouldn't work. So I just lay there in silence, enjoying his voice.

  He suddenly stopped stroking my hair and I felt the warmth of his lips on my forehead.

  "Good night," he whispered before moving around to get himself more comfortable.

  "I love you," he whispered as my heart almost skipped a beat.

  I felt those butterflies going crazy again and a smile crept onto my face. He may have thought that I was asleep and didn't hear him but those were the best three words that I have ever heard in my entire life because Aiden Daniels just said that he loved me.

  I love you too I said in my mind as I drifted off into the best sleep of my life.

  As my eyes flicked open and I felt the beating of the heart underneath me a smile spread across my lips. I shifted my head up gently and watched as Aiden continued to sleep. I rolled over so that I could see the clock on the wall. It was six 'o' clock in the morning. Why was I awake already?

  "You ok?" A voice said as I jumped in shock.

  "Oh yeah, sorry did I wake you?" I whispered.

  "Kind of but it's ok, it's a nice view that I woke up to," he said as he stared at my face and began to smile. I giggled before gently rolling back into his arms. The very feel of his muscular arms wrapped around me sent tingles down my spine. Its crazy how perfect everything seemed when it was just me and Aiden, alone in our own little bubble, I liked it.

  "What are you thinking?" He asked as he began to stroke my hair.

  "About life, it's
funny how things work out," I said quietly.

  "Yeah tell me about it. Not that I'm complaining," he replied. I could hear the smirk in his voice.

  "So, remember when you came in and said good morning to me the other day?" I asked with a smirk on my face as I lifted myself up so that I could stare into his eyes.

  "Yeah, it's slowly coming back to me," he said as he slid his hand around my waist and pulled me up, towards him.

  "It was something like this, right?" He asked before gently letting his lips touch mine.

  "Mmmm," I managed to mumble before he kissed me, passionately on the lips again. I just figured out that kissing someone when you are in love with them is like a million times better especially when that someone is Aiden.

  "You know, you're a really good kisser," he said with a smirk on his face.

  "You're not too bad yourself Mr Daniels," I said in a playful tone.

  "Just not too bad?" He asked as he let out a small laugh.

  "Yup," I said as I giggled.

  "Maybe I need to show you again," he said as he kissed me again, this time longer and much better, if that was even possible.

  "Ok, maybe more than just not too bad," I whispered as we gently parted.

  "Yeah, I thought you might want to change your answer," he said as he stared into my eyes.

  "So, how are you feeling today?" He asked in a more serious tone.

  "Much better thanks," I replied.

  "You never did tell me how you ended up at that lady's house," he said as he looked into my eyes.

  "Oh, Mrs Staples, well she actually came in when Jake was in my house and threatened him with a rifle and he ran away, then she took me back to her house. I'm not too sure how she knew that he was there though, I assume that she was watching from her window," I said with a slight smile as the thought of her empty rifle filled my head.

  "A rifle? Really? Wow," he said as we both began to laugh.

  "It was actually empty but it did the trick," I added.

  "Empty or not I'm just glad that she was there. Something tells me that he won't be back anytime soon," he said in a more serious tone.

  "Yeah."

  "But I would still prefer it if you didn't go around by yourself for a little while," he said as he stroked my cheek.

  "I won't especially not at that time," I muttered.

  "Good because I don't want to end up in prison for having to kill someone," he said as he smiled at me.

  "No I wouldn't want that, I would miss doing this too much," I said as I kissed his lips gently.

  "Yeah me too," he whispered.

  It seems crazy to be sixteen and just know that you have met the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with. When you watch films and read books you just think yeah, right, if only but I was so wrong. I've never wanted to be with someone as much as I wanted to be with Aiden. It was as though we were made to go together, I was simply, completely and unconditionally in love with this guy and it felt amazing.

  The only thing that I had to work out now was how to say it to him.

  AIDEN’S POINT OF VIEW

  Sitting and staring at April, I knew one thing and one thing only, and that was that I wanted her more than I have ever wanted anything before in my life. I knew it was real because the idea of even denying how I felt to my friends seemed crazy. I actually wanted to tell people that she was mine, that I wanted her forever.

  Telling her that I loved her last night was amazing but now I had to actually work out how to tell her when she was awake and that was the bit that I was dreading. It's crazy because we've known each other for our entire lives, I'm so comfortable in front of her and yet this one thing scares the hell out of me. I sit and stare at her and think do you feel the same and I just don't know.

  Maybe she just really likes me...

  Maybe I just came at the right time after Kyle...

  I don't know but I knew one thing, I had to tell her, soon and I needed to know how she felt because it was driving me insane.

  I would never say this out loud or admit it to the guys but the idea of April not loving me back would drive me crazy.

  APRIL’S POINT OF VIEW

  "What are you thinking?" I asked as I watched Aiden staring into space.

  "Oh, just that we probably need to get ready," he said as he stood to his feet.

  "Yeah we really should," I said as I stared up at him and smiled.

  "Stop looking at me like that," he said with a smirk on his face.

  "Like what?" I asked, faking innocence.

  "You know how," he said before kissing my forehead and walking towards the door.

  "Bye then," I said as I waved my hand at him and then slipped out of the bed.

  What a good start to my day.

  I grabbed my phone off of the chest of drawers next to the bed and seen a text from a number that wasn't stored in my phone. I recognised it from last night, it was Kyle's mom. I must have been in a deep sleep because I didn't even hear it go off.

  Glad that you are ok, was very worried about you. I know that you probably don't want to have to keep reliving the past but Kyle's pretty upset and isn't even coming into school today. Would you mind coming round later, to talk to him? I have tried but I just can't get him to listen. xx

  Suddenly my bright day started to look a whole lot more cloudy. I told Kyle about what had happened because it was the right thing to do but I wasn't ready to open up just yet. Thinking about me losing the baby just brought up all of the sad moments in my life and I don't want them to control my future anymore. I also understood the importance of having someone around that could share your pain. I can't even count the amount of times that I picked up my phone all of those weeks ago to tell Kyle everything just so that I had someone to share it with that truly understood.

  I'm sorry that I made you worry, I just needed to clear my mind. Yes I will come around this evening xXAprilXx

  I placed my phone back down and then let out a deep sigh. I don't know if I'm ready to do this.

  * * *

  After thirty five minutes I was finally dressed, ready and heading down the stairs.

  "Hey," Aiden said as I reached the bottom.

  "Hey," I replied.

  "What's up?" He asked as I followed him into the kitchen. I could smell something nice and I was looking forward to it.

  "Kyle's mom text me," I mumbled as I spotted the bacon sandwich sitting on a plate ready for me to engulf.

  "For me?" I asked pointing towards the plate.

  "Yup," he said with a confused look on his face.

  "Thanks."

  "Why did she text you?" He asked as he continued to stare at me. I took a quick bite of the sandwich and smiled to myself. It tasted so good.

  "She wants me to go and talk to Kyle, he's really cut up after last night," I said as I continued to eat.

  "Well that's not really your problem," he said in a slightly annoyed tone.

  "I know but I feel guilty."

  "For what? He left you, remember?"

  "Yeah but regardless, he still didn't deserve that, neither of us did. It hurt me and I can only imagine what it must be doing to him right now," I said as I started to get a sick feeling in my stomach preventing me from eating anymore of the sandwich.

  "April, sometimes you're too nice, you can't be there for everyone. Sometimes you have to learn to be selfish," he said.

  "Well I can't do that, I'm trying to do the right thing. I would do the same if it was you Aiden, I don't think that you're being fair," I said in an annoyed tone.

  "Yeah well it isn't me is it because I would have never cheated on you," he said in an angry voice.

  "Yeah well thanks for that reminder, as if I don't already know how stupid I've been and if I didn't then I've had lots of reminders from Kyle, Jake and now even you!" I said as the anger filled my body.

  "You'd put me in the same category as them?" He said in a hurt tone.

  "Right now? Yeah," I said without even looking
at him.

  "Fine," he said as he stormed out of the kitchen and headed towards the living room.

  Great! What a day this is turning out to be!

  * * *

  The rest of the morning was spent in silence with the exception of a few doors being slammed and the odd grunt here and there.

  "Let's go," Aiden finally said before I followed him out to his car.

  I got in, did up my seatbelt and stared out of the window.

  I wanted to make up with him, I honestly did but he was so stubborn sometimes and he had upset me with the way that he had handled the situation earlier. I also knew Aiden well enough to realise that he felt quite guilty by now.

  After about five minutes into the journey he pulled the car over outside of a row of shops and finally broke the silence.

  "I'm sorry."

  "It's ok," I said as I smiled at him.

  "I'm sorry too."

  "You've got nothing to be sorry for, I overreacted and that was wrong. I just don't want people to take advantage of you," he said in a soft voice.

  "I know you don't but just trust me on this one. I know what Kyle did but I also remember feeling so empty when I found out about the baby and I don't think that anyone deserves to feel that way."

  "I understand. I never want to upset you though, I'm sorry," he said as he stroked the side of my cheek.

  "I know, it's ok," I said before he leaned over the handbrake and kissed me gently.

  "You're so beautiful," he whispered as we slowly parted. I threw him a little smile and then watched as he started up the engine and drove towards school.

  * * *

  When the bell rang, signifying the end of the day I almost jumped with joy. I wasn't in the best mood today and being here wasn't really helping to be honest.

  Kyle text me earlier, during calculus to say that he wasn't ready to talk which made me feel a little better but I still knew that the time would come.

  "Hey," Crystal said as she ran towards me with a smile on her face.

  "Why are you so happy?" I asked as I smiled back at her.

  "Cameron wants us to come to the mall with him and some of the guys," she said.

 

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