"Aww is little April Wapril still tired?" Anthony said in a baby voice.
"Jess!" I screamed as I tried to keep my eyes closed and block out the light.
"Ant, you know that she's not a morning person, come on," she said as she tried to hold back her laughter.
"Yup and that's what makes it so much fun," he said as he pulled the covers back and messed up my hair.
"Right!" I screamed as I jumped out of the bed and bolted towards him as he attempted to run out of the door.
This reminded me of when we were kids and him and Aiden would try their best to annoy me and Crystal every morning. I see that some things never change.
"Now, now April violence is never the answer," Anthony said as he continued to race down the hall towards another one of the many bedrooms in Murphy's house.
"It's too late to reason with me," I said as I started to speed up my running as I burst out laughing.
As he took the corner and disappeared into one of the rooms, I lost my footing and stumbled face first through the door in my bid to grab his shirt. The shock on Anthony's face was priceless as I collided with him and sent us both flying through the air and onto the floor. As I landed on top of him I looked down and let an evil smirk spread across my face.
"Mmm, looks like I caught you," I said as I looked down at a very confused Anthony and smiled.
"Now, now little sis play nice, we wouldn't want anyone to get hurt now would we?"
"Oh, I'm afraid that you should have thought about that before waking me up," I said before pinching the sides of his stomach.
The great thing about growing up with your friends is that you learn their weak spots and luckily for me Anthony had a few.
I burst into laughter as I watched Anthony squirm underneath me, screaming like a little girl.
"Say sorry!" I screamed as I continued to torture him.
"Ok, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said as he tried to catch his breath.
"And you won't do it again?"
"No, I promise," he said.
"Good, I'm glad that we cleared tha-"
"Oh gosh, seriously I know that you and Aiden are like 'BFF's' and all but do you literally share everything?" Murphy said sarcastically, in a girly voice as he eyed up the position that me and Anthony were currently in.
Realising how it looked, we quickly jumped to our feet as we tried to catch our breaths.
"You know, you really need to get your mind out of the gutter," Anthony said with a smirk on his face.
"Yeah look who's talking," Murphy replied as he raised an eyebrow at Anthony before walking away.
"You're a beast you know," Anthony said as we both sat down on the edge of the bed in the room that we had run into in an attempt to calm back down.
"Well you shouldn't mess with my sleep then, it's precious," I said as a smirk filled my face.
"Precious? Who are you? Gollum?" He asked as he smirked at me.
"Yes and sleep is my precioussss," I said in my best Gollum impression, causing us both to burst out laughing.
"I forgot how weird you were," he said as he nudged my arm with his elbow.
"Ditto," I said as we both began to laugh.
We both sat silently for a while as we tried to catch our breaths.
"So, the player has finally been tamed?" I said as I continued to smirk at Anthony.
"Nobody can tame the wild tiger within this guy kiddo," he replied as he winked at me.
"You're crazy. You know that, right?" I said as we both began to laugh again.
"So I've been told."
"Seriously though, do you think that this is the real deal?" I asked in a more serious tone.
"I can't believe that I'm about to say this but, I think that it is you know," he said as he threw me a warm smile.
"Good I'm happy for you. Both of you," I said as I began to smile again.
"It's strange though because it's all happened so fast, I just never expected it, you know?"
"Yup, believe me, I know," I said as I thought about Aiden.
"You just know though because it feels right doesn't it?" I continued.
"Yeah it kinda does," he replied.
"Yup."
"Right, enough of the sissy talk now," he said as he stood to his feet and held out a hand to help me up.
"Race you back?" I asked as a grin filled my face.
"Ok, after three. One, two-"
I didn't hear three because he had already ran off before I got the chance to.
"You're such a cheater, Anthony!" I screamed behind him.
"It's not cheating, it's called being one step ahead," he said as he began to laugh at himself. I shook my head as I tried to speed up my pace and catch up with him.
"Just wait till I catch up with you!" I screamed as I continued to laugh.
"Oh scary! Please don't hurt me April!" He shouted back, sarcastically as he continued running and laughing to himself.
"What are you doing?" I heard Jess say as both Anthony and I speed past her and into the room where Aiden was now sat up on the bed.
"Jess, your boyfriend is such a cheater, I swear!" I said as I sat on the bed and tried to catch my breath.
"Aww never mind short legs, better luck next time," Anthony said as both him and Aiden burst out laughing.
"Oh, so you think that that was funny?" I said as I crawled up the bed towards Aiden with an evil grin on my face.
"Now, now beautiful, don't bring me into you two’s little domestic," Aiden said as he tried to hold back the smile that was threatening to creep onto his face.
"Oh but you brought yourself into it sweetheart," I said in the sweetest and most innocent voice as I lunged at him.
We both burst out laughing as he easily flipped me around and held my arms above my head as he hovered over me.
"Now if you say sorry I won't be forced to tickle you," he said as I could hear Jess and Anthony's laughter from behind me.
"Never," I replied.
"Ok, have it your way," he said before he began tickling me. I was screaming and trying to break free of his grasp for a good thirty seconds before he stopped and looked down at me with a smirk on his face.
"Had enough?" He said as he continued to laugh.
"You don't scare me Mr Daniels," I said as I looked up at him and smirked.
"There are other ways to get you on side you know," he said as he continued to smirk at me.
"And they don't scare me either," I said as I continued to hold his gaze.
"They're not supposed to," he said as he began to close the gap between our lips.
"Woah, woah, woah! That is my cue to go. You guys need to get a room," Anthony said as we both turned to see the smirk on his face.
"We have one, you're trespassing," Aiden said as he let go of my hands, picked up a pillow and threw it at Anthony's head before they both began laughing.
Anthony did some sort of electric slide to dodge the pillow, making us all burst out laughing.
"Come on baby, let’s go. You two better be up by the time that I come back," he said before scanning the two of us.
"On second thoughts, I may be blinded by what I see next time. Just hurry up and get up!" He said before laughing and dragging Jess through the door and closing it.
"Mission 'get rid of Anthony' was successful," Aiden said as he high fived me and rolled back onto his side of the bed.
"Yep nice plan," I said as we both started to laugh.
"Well it was half a plan and half the fact that I actually, really wanted to do this," he said as he slipped his hand around my waist, pulled me closer and then planted a soft kiss on my lips, making me smile.
"Now, I'm going back to sleep for at least an hour, maybe two," he said as he kissed my forehead and closed his eyes.
"Now that sounds like the best idea that anyone has had all day," I said before turning around so that my back was pressed against Aiden's chest.
The last thing that I felt was him tucking my hair behind my ear and
kissing my cheek before I drifted back into a nice, deep sleep.
* * *
After enjoying my second chance at sleep, I was finally up, dressed and ready for the day ahead. Aiden and Crystal had decided that it'd be nice to hang out at Murphy's for a few hours until their mom got back today, so all the girls were currently gathered in the room that Aiden and I had spent the night in and all of the boys were gathered in Murphy's room.
"We haven't done this in ages," Jinnie said as she threw herself back on the bed and let out a loud yawn.
"Put your hand to your mouth you animal," Erica said as we all burst out laughing.
"Do I ask you to put your hand to your butt every time that you fart? No, then shut up," Jinnie replied, sarcastically as we all laughed even louder.
"Such a lady," Erica said, sarcastically before joining the rest of us on the bed.
"Jin's right, we haven't had a girly day in like forever, I've missed it," Jess said.
"Yeah me too," Crystal added.
"Well usually this is where we would find out all of the gossip but we already know that Jess has tamed Anthony, Crystal's infatuated with Cameron and April's made Aiden fall in love so what's left?" Jinnie said with a smile on her face.
"Tamed, I like that," Jess said as she high fived Jinnie and laughed.
"I am not infatuated, woman!" Crystal said as she hit Jinnie in the arm.
"Ouch!"
"Good!"
I just sat smiling...Aiden in love? That sounds pretty good to me.
"Wait, where's that red headed girl?" Erica suddenly asked.
"Her name’s Marissa and she had to go home. She looked kind of embarrassed like something happened but I don't know," Crystal said.
"Mmm, no doubt something to do with prince Murphy," Erica replied.
"Yup," we all sang in unison.
"Ok, so I have something to tell you guys," Erica said as her cheeks started to go red.
"Spill now!" Crystal demanded with a smile on her face.
"Ok, so I kind of have a crush on someone in school," she continued.
"Who?" Me, Crystal and Jess screamed in an excited tone.
"Promise not to laugh?" She asked nervously.
"We promise," we all said excitedly.
"Now spill," Jess shouted.
"Oh for goodness sakes, she likes Mr Gibbons!" Jinnie answered impatiently.
"Arghhh your mouth is so big!" Erica complained.
"What? You were going to tell them anyway," Jinnie said with a smile on her face.
"So what I think he's hot! Have you seen the way that he shakes his butt when he wipes the board? I swear he does it on purpose," Crystal said as she tried to hold in her laughter.
"You're such a creeper Crystal," Jess said as she started to laugh.
"Like you haven't noticed," Crystal said as she raised her eyebrow.
"Of course I noticed, it's just nice to know that I'm not the only creeper around here," she said as they both burst out laughing.
"Well since we're sharing and caring I guess I'm a creeper too!" I said as we all screamed with laughter.
"Always the innocent ones," Jinnie said, pointing towards me.
"You better watch out, what would Aiden say?" Jess joked.
"Probably the same thing that Anthony would say, creeper number two," I said as we continued laughing.
"Well I get the crown for creeper number one and I wear it proudly," Crystal added.
"Hey, I'm the one with the crush, the crown is mine," Erica said as she dragged the 'fake' crown off of Crystal's head.
"Hey give that back," Crystal joked as she pretended to fight for it.
"See, only I could have friends that would actually fight for the right to be a creeper. What is the world coming too?" Jinnie asked as we all burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.
"Anyway it's just a little crush, it's not like anything can happen, he's my teacher," Erica said once she had finally stopped laughing.
"It had better not, crushing is one thing but there is a line. Student, teacher is a no go," Crystal said seriously.
"Oh, so was best friend and brother until last night," Erica replied.
"Hey don't bring me into it," I added, quickly.
"April's different anyway, her and Aiden are cute," Jess said as she smiled at me.
"True," both Jinnie and Erica said in unison.
"Thank you ladies," I said as the smile on my face grew.
"Gosh this going to take some getting used to," Crystal said, sarcastically.
"I thought you said that you were happy, missy?" I asked with a smile on my face.
"I am but actually thinking about you and Aiden doing couple like things can border on weird. I mean, we can't talk about how great a kisser your boyfriend may or may not be because that would just be weird to me," she said with a disgusted look on her face, making us all start laughing again.
"Oh that reminds me, is Aiden a good kisser?" Jess asked as Jinnie and Erica shook their heads in agreement as they awaited an answer.
"Oh no, we are not having this conversation!" Crystal interrupted.
"I'll tell you later girls," I said as I laughed and then rested my head on Crystal's shoulder.
"Ok, so what about you and Anthony?" Jinnie asked Jess.
"Oh great he's like a brother too!" Crystal said as she threw her hands in the air and laughed.
"Yeah I feel your pain actually," I said as I mocked her actions and laughed.
"Ok, well I kind of have something to tell you all actually," Jess said, making us all give her one hundred percent of our attention.
"Go on," Crystal prompted as we all stared at a now, smiling Jess.
"Remember that day when we all went to the park?" She asked.
"Yeah," me, Crystal and Erica said.
"What day?" Jinnie asked.
"You were sick now be quiet," Erica said as she nudged her.
I would have laughed had I not been more interested in what Jess was about to say.
"Well, that kind of wasn't the first time that I had met Anthony," she continued.
"What? But I introduced you and you looked shocked," I said.
"Yeah shocked to see him again," she answered.
"So, if the park wasn't the first time then when was?" Crystal asked.
"Ok, it was about two years ago, I came round to your house to see if you wanted to come to the mall with me," Jess said to Crystal as we all nodded our heads and waited patiently for the next part of the story.
"Yeah," Crystal said.
"I think that it was a Saturday. Anyway, I knocked your door just as I usually would but only this time you didn't answer. Instead this tall, hot, cocky guy did," she said as she smiled.
"Anthony," we all confirmed.
"Yeah, well, I asked him if Crystal was in and he said that I had to give him the 'password' first. He was flirting of course but I ignored it and instead got quite impatient and told him to either go and get her or move so that I could find her myself. He of course laughed, being the big headed, player that he is-"
"Was," Erica said with a smile on her face.
"Yes, was. Anyway, after about five minutes of putting up with his comments and chat up lines, I turned around and walked away," she said.
"Is that it?" Jinnie asked.
"Sssh," we all said, loudly.
"Sorry," she said.
"Anyway," Jess continued, sarcastically, looking at Jinnie.
"As I tried to walk away he pulled me back by the wrist and just kissed me!" Jess said with a small smile on her face as though she was reliving the moment.
"Oh my gosh, that was brave even for Anthony," Crystal said with a shocked look on her face.
"Then what?" I asked eagerly.
"Well, I got lost in the moment for a few seconds but then I came to my senses and kneed him right where I knew that it would hurt," she said with a smirk on her face as we all burst out laughing.
"It serves his right! I bet he was in shoc
k," Crystal said.
"Yes I think he was," Jess said as she carried on laughing.
"So what happened then?" Erica asked.
"Well, I told him that if he ever kissed me without asking permission first then there would be plenty more where that came from and then I went home," Jess replied.
"Does he ask permission now?" Jinnie asked as we began to laugh.
"Hell yes! He covered his 'manhood' the first few times that we kissed, it was hilarious," she said as we all burst out laughing yet again.
"How come you never told me this before? I could have teased him about this for years you know," Crystal asked with a smirk on her face.
"I don't know, I was kind of embarrassed," Jess answered.
"Why?" I asked.
"Well, one, because I actually liked the kiss and two, because the idiot stole my first kiss," she said.
"Oh my gosh it was your first kiss?" Jinnie asked.
Jess shook her head to say yes. Wow Anthony was her first kiss, how ironic.
"Awww and now you're together, that is so sweet," Erica said.
"No it wasn't sweet, I was annoyed because after that all I could think about was him and his stupid kiss, even though I didn't want to, I just couldn't help it. I didn't know his name or anything and I never seen him at Crystal's house again after that, it was like a weird dream that I started to believe had never happened until that day at the park," she said.
"That is so crazy! What happened when you finally met again at the park?" Crystal asked.
"I was shocked of course but I had to play it cool. It was obvious that he was a player but at the same time there was just something about him that was different, like only I could see it. I know that sounds crazy," Jess said as she looked at us.
"Believe me it's not crazy," I said reassuringly.
"Well, he knew who I was straight away and made it known as soon as you walked away, April. I asked him not to say anything and he said he wouldn't but only under one condition."
"What?" We all asked.
"That I give him my number and go on a date with him," she said.
"So you went on a date with him?" Jinnie asked.
"Hell no! I said that giving him my number was my limit, take it or leave it and so he took it. We exchanged a few texts, then I started to ignore his texts to teach him a lesson and eventually we got chatting properly and the rest is history I guess. After waiting two years just to see him again I didn't want to have to wait another two and everything just seemed to move really fast after that. I guess we just clicked, ”she said with a big smile on her face.
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