Pretend

by Charlene Antrobus

  "Yeah, I spoke to her earlier after Cayce came and told me the same rumour that you two morons are spreading and it turns out that she broke it off with him," I said.

  "I wasn't spreading rumours dude, I was only letting you know," Murphy said.

  "I know, I'm messing with you. Anyway I'm going to see where April is so I'll catch you up later, ok?"

  "Yeah, cool. Catch you later," Murphy said even though his eyes were still fixated on my sister's table. Something was up with him, I just had no idea what it was but I'd find out.

  "Laters," Taise said as his fist met mine before I walked away.

  "Listen you moron, it doesn't work that way!" Jinnie or Erica shouted. I still couldn't tell the two apart, how April, Crystal and Jess managed was beyond me.

  "Whatever, you're just in denial," the other twin responded before I cleared my throat to let them know that I was stood there.

  "Oh, hey," they both said in their fake, innocent voices as they took in my presence.

  "Hi," Jess said as I smiled at her, tapping away on her phone, probably to Anthony.

  "Looking for the love of your life?" Crystal said with a smirk on her face.

  "If you are referring to April, then yes," I replied as I tried to ignore the 'awws' and 'ohhs' that came from the twins.

  "She's not here," Crystal said before turning back around to her plate of food.

  "Obviously, where is she?" I asked, sarcastically.

  "Depends who's asking," she said with a sly smirk on her face.

  "The only person that knows who was responsible for Mom's vase breaking, that's who's asking," I said as I lowered my head so that my mouth was right next to her ear.

  "You know, blackmail is an all new low even for you," she sniggered.

  "Well a guy’s got to do what he's got to do. Now can you please tell me where my girlfriend is, dear sister?" I said as I winked at her.

  "Anything to make you disappear, dear brother," she replied, sarcastically.

  "She went to find out where Kyle was," she said as though she wasn't sure about my reaction.

  "Ok, cool," I said as I turned away, towards Kyle's group of friends.

  "Hey Aiden, wait," she said as she ran behind me and grabbed my wrist.

  "What's up?" I asked with a confused expression on my face.

  "It's just, erm, maybe you should let them talk first," she stuttered in a voice that was only low enough for the two of us to hear.

  "Crystal it's ok, trust me," I said as I watched the worried expression on her face.

  "But-"

  "I know about the baby," I interrupted her before she could say anymore.

  "Oh, she told you about that?" She asked with a shocked look on her face.

  "We talk about everything," I said as though it was the simplest thing in the world.

  "Wow and you were ok with it all?" I asked.

  "Look, Crystal, things are different with April. She means a lot to me and I wasn't about to let her past ruin our fut-" I was suddenly cut off as she threw her arms around me and squeezed tight.

  "I love you Aiden and I know how good you are for her," she whispered in my ear.

  "Thanks, I love you too sis. Now let go, you're killing my rep," I said as we both burst out laughing.

  "Yeah mine too," she giggled as I watched her trying to hold back the tears. I didn't enjoy seeing my sister cry even if it was out of joy which is why I wanted to lighten the mood.

  "Right, I'll see you later, ok?" I said as I smiled at her.

  "Yeah, laters moron," she said as she winked at me and then went and sat back down with her friends.

  Gosh, I did love that pain in the butt that was my sister. I also loved the fact that she and April were so close. There was something really special about their relationship that I admired.

  As I approached the table where all of Kyle's little followers were sat I noticed how some of the girls were looking at me as though they were ready to pounce.

  "Hey," I said to Jamie.

  Even though he was the year below me he had quite a name for himself around our high school. He was known as Janeson High's next Richard Branson. If there was anything that you needed to buy then he was the man you would go to.

  "What's up? Are you here to buy some of this new makeup? “He asked, going straight into business man mode.

  "No actually, I'm looking for April, my sister said that she's with Kyle," I said as more of a question than a statement.

  "Oh, yeah she came to me earlier. I just told her that he was on the field at a spot we used to hang out at, by the art room. I'm guessing they've finally decided to try and fix their problems. About time too, they make a hot couple," he said playfully.

  "Is that what she told you?" I asked, although I already knew the answer.

  "No but-"

  "But nothing, you shouldn't jump to conclusions," I stated as I tried to keep calm. For some reason it seemed that Kyle still had me on edge whenever it came to April.

  "I'm not but those two always get back together, it's just how it goes. I spent enough time with the two of them to know that they are completely in love. If they don't come back in here in the next ten minutes hand in hand I'll be surprised," he said as I felt my blood begin to boil as the image of them hand in hand played in my mind.

  "I doubt it," I mumbled.

  "How can you be so sure?" Jaime asked with a smug expression.

  "Because she's my girlfriend," I grunted before walking towards the cafeteria doors.

  "Oh, erm, maybe I was wrong," I heard a nervous Jaime mutter as I walked away.

  That moron was always running his mouth so I don't know why I was letting it get to me. I had no reason not to trust April and I wasn't going to start jumping to conclusions based on what some idiot said based on the theories in his head. The only reason that I'm going to find April right now is so that I can make sure that she is ok. I know that she is always trying to please everyone but I know that the one thing that nearly ripped her apart was losing that baby. I didn't know how Kyle would react to their little 'talk' but I needed to make sure that everything was running smoothly. If I get there and all is well then I will just disappear as though I was never even there but I need to check first.

  April and I were good lately and every time that I thought about her I just couldn't shake the smile that she put on my face. I really was in love with this girl.

  As I got close to the spot that Jaime had told me about, I tried to be as quiet as I possibly could. I just wanted to check that things were ok and then quickly disappear before any of them even saw seen me.

  As I got to the edge of the art room I gently peeped around the corner to see Kyle and April with their backs to me. I couldn't hear them clearly but as I watched April pull Kyle into a warm embrace my stomach dropped. Just as I went to turn around and run away in a fit of anger, I remembered what had happened last time that I had seen then hugging and jumped to conclusions, so instead I stood still and listened. It was what I heard next that made me angry.

  "We've been through way too much to just throw it all away. I love you too," April said as I watched the two of them hold each other tighter.

  I may jump to conclusions about a lot of things but I had just heard it as clear as day. April was still in love with Kyle. After everything that we had been through, after all that we had said it was still him. I guess I was an idiot to believe that I could ever compete with him. He still had her heart. They were mourning a baby together, they had history and all I was, was an act at a party that became a little too real. I punched myself internally before walking off in anger.

  "Aiden, wait!" I heard April shout from behind me. I wasn't about to allow her to see that she had affected me and so I just kept on walking. She had made her choice so she can drop the pathetic act.

  "Aiden please, it's not-"

  "What it looks like, of course not," I said, interrupting her stupid attempt at trying to make me feel better. What really annoyed me is that ev
en now, even when I had heard it with my own ears, she couldn't just be honest. I guess Jaime was right, maybe they were meant to be together.

  "Aiden please," she pleaded one last time as she stared at me with the most sincere look in her eyes that I almost fell for it.

  "I thought you meant it but I guess I was just kidding myself. It will always be him," I said as I looked her straight in the eyes. I watched as the tears began to roll down her cheeks. Every part of me wanted to take my thumbs and wipe them away, to kiss her and say that it was ok but it wasn't. None of this was ok, she loved him and to be quite honest I couldn't deal with that right now so I did what I do best, I walked away.

  "Woah, woah, what's got you in such a hurry?" Murphy asked as I stormed past him in the hall way.

  "Nothing," I spat back angrily.

  "Dude, this is definitely not nothing. What the hell's going on?" He asked as he followed behind me.

  I ignored him and instead headed towards my car, got in and drove away. I needed to let off some steam before I actually hit someone.

  * * *

  After spending the rest of the day driving around like a maniac, I finally pulled back up at Janeson High. I had skipped the rest of my lessons but I didn't care, I needed some space and driving allowed me to let off some steam. I was going to head home but why the hell should I. Why should I go home, feeling sorry for myself when those two were probably skipping down the hall hand in hand. No, if she can move on then so can I. Screw being in love, I'm done with it!

  I was suddenly dragged out of my thoughts as I heard a bang on my car window.

  "Hey," I said as I stepped out of the car.

  "Hey Aiden, where have you been? Did you skip the rest of the day because that's what everyone's saying?" Kayley asked as she stared into my eyes.

  Now honestly, Kayley had been flirting with me for as long as I could remember. I knew that I could have her in a second if I wanted to but I was never interested until now that is.

  "Yeah I did. Did you miss me?" I said as I threw her a smirk that I knew would drive her crazy.

  "Did you want me to miss you?" She asked as she fluttered her eyelashes at me. I could see the shocked expression on both hers and her friends faces as they watched me in action. By now I would have politely turned her down and walked away but hey I'm a free agent now, so what the hell.

  "Maybe I did. How about I give you girls a ride home, maybe we can even catch up on all that 'missed' time," I said as I winked at them both, causing them to giggle like little kids. Although their laughs were annoying what I found most annoying was that even though I didn't want to, I was still comparing them to April.

  Just as I went to carry on flirting I heard a voice that caused me to freeze.

  "Crystal don't," I heard April say as she followed my sister as she stormed towards where I was stood. Oh boy, she was mad.

  "Goodbye," Crystal said as she eyed up Kayley and her friend.

  Before I got the chance to argue Kayley had jumped in.

  "Erm...We'll catch you later then," she said nervously as she tried to avoid eye contact with me. It took everything in me not to look at April even though that's all that I wanted to do. This wasn't my fault this time, she did this and she had to pay.

  "No, I'm giving you guys a lift, remember? Stay there," I said, firmly before snapping my head back around to face an even madder looking Crystal.

  "What the hell are you doing?" She growled at me.

  "Talking, what does it look like?" I answered, sarcastically.

  "Really, just talking? Well can I just remind you that you have a freaking girlfriend!" She screamed in my face as I tried not to look at April.

  I could see how uncomfortable poor Kayley was and I was slowly regretting dragging her into this. I was also annoyed at Crystal for automatically taking April's side. So much for blood is thicker than water.

  "Really? Do I? Because as far as I know she is in love with someone else, oh and speak of the devil," I said bitterly as I noticed Kyle heading towards me. Great! Why not add a little salt to the wound? I can't believe that this moron has the nerve to even walk over here.

  "Can I have a word please?" Kyle asked in a voice that told me that he didn't really want to be doing this right now.

  "I'm busy," I spat back as my eyes glanced back to Kayley.

  "Are you really this big of a moron?" He said, causing my fists to ball up. He was just pushing it now.

  "Kyle, just leave it," April whispered as I watched her hand touch his arm.

  "Yeah listen to her Kyle, it's the smartest thing that she's said all day," I sniggered as I kept my eyes on April this time.

  "Look, I'm doing this for her not me. For some crazy reason she loves you, so are you going to listen to me or end up being a stupid jerk like me and lose the one thing that you want because of a mistake?" He said, catching me a little off guard. Why was he still saying that she loved me when it was obvious what had happened earlier? Although I wanted to walk away, a small part of me needed an answer to that question. A stupid and small part of me still needed her no matter how much I wanted to deny it. As my eyes looked at her sad face for a second my stomach dropped. I was mad at her but I never wanted to see her like that, it hurt me too much.

  "Five minutes and then get lost," I said angrily before turning to Kayley and her friend.

  "Could you just give me a second?" I asked politely as I watched April and Crystal walk off towards where Jess was stood. No doubt she was waiting on Anthony. She better get comfortable because that boys middle name is late.

  "Yeah sure," Kayley said before her and her friend disappeared, leaving me and Kyle alone.

  "Now I'm going to cut this short because quite frankly I don't want to waste much time talking to you especially when you're being a jerk," Kyle spat out as he stared at me with venom in his eyes. I went to interrupt but he quickly continued, killing any chances of that.

  "I love April and I will always love her but she has made it perfectly clear that she is in love with you. I don't understand why but I am not about to question it because as far as I'm concerned she's happy and that is all that matters. What you witnessed today was April saying goodbye to our relationship but telling me that she would always love me as a friend. Now, you can either continue to be a moron and lose her like I did or you can be a man and fix it. Whatever your decision is just remember that someone is always willing to do the job that you failed at, trust me, I learnt the hard way," he continued before walking away and leaving me completely speechless.

  As I took in the words that he had said, I suddenly felt an over whelming guilt wash over me. How could I be so stupid? I was supposed to love this girl and trust her not treat her the way that I did today. She must hate me right now for what I put her through. I didn't even consider how hard it must have been for her to have to face Kyle alone about the baby. Selfish didn't even begin to describe me right now but I knew one thing, Kyle was right, I couldn't lose her and I wasn't about to. I quickly slipped out my phone and opened up a new message.

  I'm sorry, I was stupid. I love you. Can we talk? x

  I felt my stomach drop as I watched her pull her phone out of her pocket and read the screen. I prayed that she would forgive me for being such an idiot. I loved this girl and I couldn't lose her, I just couldn't. Not today, not ever.

  "About time you jerk!" I heard Crystal shout to me after she'd finished peering over April's shoulder. Yeah, I definitely deserved that one. I looked down at my feet, feeling rather embarrassed.

  As I waited patiently for April to react in some way, I caught a glimpse of Kyle looking my way. Either I was dreaming or he just smiled at me. It was very small and almost so fast that I nearly missed it but no doubt it was a smile.

  "Thanks," I mouthed to him as I smiled back and nodded my head.

  As I turned my head to look at April I was completely distracted as I heard the loud screeching of car wheels. Suddenly I saw a red pickup truck heading full speed towards me. It w
as as if everything around me had gone into slow motion. I saw the terrified expression on different people's faces, I saw the scared look on Jess' face as she screamed something in my direction and I even heard the fear in Crystal's voice as she screamed my name. As I whipped my head back around and watched the evil smirk on Jake's face as he sat in the driver’s seat, heading towards me that wasn't what scared me the most.

  As the impact hit my body and sent me crashing to the ground and as I struggled to keep my eyes open as the pain shot through my body, the thing that terrified me the most as my eyes finally closed was knowing that I would never see April again...

  APRIL’S POINT OF VIEW

  "Is she ok?" I heard Jess say as I struggled to open my eyes.

  "I don't know," Jinnie replied, frantically.

  "Wait, I think that she's opening her eyes!" Jess screamed in a panicked voice.

  "April, April, it's ok," I heard Erica whimper next to me.

  I could hear the fear in all of their voices, I could hear that they had all been crying and that's when it came back to me. I had fainted.

  As my eyes slowly flickered open and I took in all of the terrified expressions around me it all came flooding back.

  Aiden...

  Jake...

  The truck...

  I needed to get up, I needed to get to him.

  "Aiden," I said frantically as I tried to get the strength to stand to my feet.

  "April, don't-"

  "No, where is he!" I screamed as I tried to push the different hands away as they tried to hold me down.

  "Please, April," A lady dressed in what looked like a paramedic's uniform said gently as she looked at me with sad eyes.

  "I need to get to him," I shouted as I began to try and get to my feet and ignore the banging that was currently taking over my head.

  "April, just wait," Jess said as she looked at me with so much sympathy that my heart broke in that second.

  My eyes scanned her tear filled face for a moment before I turned to look at the scene to my left. I don't know how long I had been out for but things had definitely changed.