Pretend

by Charlene Antrobus

  "Oh please, get over yourself," Crystal said as she shoved him in the chest and made him lose balance and fall on the floor.

  Everyone burst out laughing of course.

  "Whoops," Crystal said before running to safety which was as far away from Aiden as possible.

  "Just remember whose car you've got to ride home in lil sis," he said with an evil smirk on his face.

  * * *

  Ten minutes later and the game was in full swing. We had already experienced Murphy accidently sit on Taise's hand, Crystal elbow Murphy in the eye and Aiden well...Winning, much to mine and everybody else's dismay.

  "I win!" Aiden finally screamed when Anthony couldn't reach his final colour.

  "No way dude, I swear you cheated. Did you move the circles around or something?" He asked as he tried to act serious.

  "We go through this every time I win a game. You think that I have somehow magically changed the dynamics, it's not possible. Face it I just win...A lot!" Aiden said as he burst out laughing.

  "Oh shut up man!" Anthony said as he walked over to where Jess was sitting.

  "Aww that's it, let your girlfriend kiss the wounds better," he said as Murphy and him smashed their fists together as they roared with laughter. Men!

  * * *

  Once Aiden finally got over his moment of victory we all calmed down to watch a film, a horror. I hate horrors! It was one called Case 39 with a creepy little girl in it. I would love to describe it but I hid behind the cushion for the majority of it.

  Suddenly I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket which made me jump even more than usual. That fear soon turned into a smile when I saw Aiden's name pop up after pulling it out of my pocket. I looked over at him and smiled before opening the message.

  Scared?

  I read the message and then gave him a sarcastic look. I quickly scanned the room to see if anyone was watching our little exchange but they were all far too engrossed in the movie to even notice me so I continued to type, behind the cushion.

  Yes, which is why I am squeezing the life out of Mr Cushion here! Which idiot picked this movie, I hate horrors!

  I sent the message and then looked up to continue watching the movie, well hiding from it actually. It wasn't long before I felt my phone again. Aiden typed so fast.

  Well I would love to come over and hold you but we know the rules regarding that....lol But I am getting mighty jealous of Mr Cushion!

  I tried to hold back my laughter as I re-read Aiden's message. I looked up at him and smiled as I rested my phone back in my lap. Suddenly it vibrated again. He really was fast! I looked down at my cell to see two messages, one from Jess and the other from Anthony. Both of their messages read....

  Wow you two are so discreet! :)

  As I looked up to give them both a sarcastic look I noticed that Aiden was looking too, he obviously received the same message. I tried not to laugh again as I watched them both giggling quietly as the others remained engrossed in the movie.

  They're cheeky but they do make such a cute couple. I can't wait for me and Aiden to be able to be like that.

  * * *

  "Right I'm ready to go ladies," Aiden said to me and Crystal as the film credits began to role.

  "Ok," Crystal and I both answered as we stood to our feet.

  "Yeah and us," Anthony said as Jess jumped off of his lap so that they could both stand up.

  "Us," Crystal whispered to me as she wiggled her eyebrows.

  "I know, it must be love," I said as we both giggled quietly.

  "I can hear you, you know," Jess said.

  "Whoops," both Crystal and I said before laughing, again.

  "Need a lift or are you catching a ride with the lovebirds?" Aiden asked Taise. He had a car but for some reason he never seemed to use it, 'saving gas' he always said.

  "No I'm staying here tonight, but thanks anyway bro."

  "No problem," Aiden replied before saying his goodbyes and heading towards the door.

  "Night," I said to everyone as I gave them each a little hug.

  "You take care of her, don't mess her around," I whispered in Anthony's ear as I gave him a hug.

  "Never, she’s too special," he whispered back.

  I looked at him and smiled before heading out of the door, towards Aiden's car.

  * * *

  The journey home wasn't long but Crystal somehow managed to fall asleep.

  "Someone's tired," Aiden whispered as he gestured towards Crystal who was lying on the back seat of his car.

  "Yeah, it must have been the game of twister," I said as we both laughed, quietly.

  "Must have been, who's that?" He said as he pulled up outside of his house. There was a car parked there, I recognised it but just couldn't think who it belonged to.

  "I'm just going to check if anyone's in it," Aiden said as he opened his car door.

  "I'm coming with you," I said as I unbuckled my seatbelt.

  "No, stay there," he said in a protective tone.

  I ignored him of course and jumped out anyway. I think the slam of the car door must have woken Crystal up because she was soon outside of the car asking what was going on. None of us answered her as we examined the car further. Suddenly someone stepped out of the driver’s side.

  It was Rachel.

  "What the hell does she want!" Crystal asked, angrily.

  "I just want to talk to April, for a minute," she said as she tried to avoid eye contact with me.

  "Why?" I asked quietly as the shock took over my body.

  "I have to tell you something," she said as she finally managed to make eye contact. Aiden looked at me and I gave him a gentle nod to say that I would be ok.

  "Come on Crystal," he said as he headed towards the front door.

  "No I want to know what she wants!"

  "It's ok Crystal, honestly. I'll be fine," I said as I threw her a small smile.

  "Sure?"

  "I'm sure," I said before watching her walk in as she gave Rachel a dirty look.

  "Look I'm sorry to just show up like this but I've been meaning to do this for a while and I finally plucked up the courage," Rachel said without taking a breath.

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

  "I want to apologise, for everything," she said as she looked down at the ground.

  "Why?" I asked in an annoyed tone.

  "It was wrong, what I did was selfish," she replied.

  "And you've only just realised that?" I said sarcastically.

  "No, look let me explain. I know that this sounds pathetic but I've always been jealous of you."

  "Of me?" I asked in shock.

  "Yes. You're pretty, smart and you had Kyle."

  "Yeah and you took him," I reminded her.

  "Yeah because I always wanted him and I was mad that you had him, you have everything, it just didn't seem fair."

  "Believe me Rachel I do not have everything," I replied.

  "I know that now, it just took me a while to figure it out. Look, I wanted Kyle so bad and when he gave me a little bit of attention, I jumped at it. I know that it was wrong but I just wanted that feeling. It didn't matter in the end though," she said sadly.

  "What do you mean?"

  "You. He just couldn't stop loving you, no matter how perfect I tried to be it was just never good enough. It used to make me so angry and we'd argue all the time about it."

  "Why are you telling me this now?"

  "Because he broke up with me and told me that it was because he still loved you, that he was in love with you and in that moment when he said those words and walked away I realised something."

  "What?"

  "That the way that my heart was breaking, the pain I went through must have been exactly what I put you through and I didn't want to know that I was responsible for doing that to somebody else. Not without trying to at least make it right. I guess I'm just trying to say that I finally get it and I'm sorry," she said as she played with the ends of her blonde hair.


  I sat silent, actually not knowing what to say to her.

  "I know that you hate me but I just had to say that. For what it's worth I can see how nice you are and if I was Kyle, I would have picked you too," she said as she walked back towards her car.

  "I don't hate you," I finally managed to whisper.

  "What?" She asked.

  "I don't hate you Rachel. I was hurt, yes but I get what it's like to just love someone so much that you do crazy things to get them. I get it."

  "You do?"

  "Yes, believe me I do. I don't want to be angry with anyone or hate anyone. I just want to be happy. I'm glad that you spoke to me," I said.

  "Me too. I wanted to do it before but there was never a right time and I just thought tonight or never. I drove up here and waited a whole hour and I thought if you weren't back in the next five minutes then I would go. I guess fate really wanted it to be tonight because then you pulled up."

  "Yeah, fate has a funny way of doing things like that," I said as I thought about Aiden.

  "Yeah."

  "Well thank you," I said.

  "No, thank you. See you around," she said as she went to get into her car.

  "Wait, are you going to the party tomorrow?" I asked.

  "Party? Do you remember what I did at the last one, I don't think that your friends would be as forgiving as you, especially not Crystal," she said as she looked at me.

  "No, probably not but I'm inviting you anyway," I said as I threw her a smile.

  "I don't know, I'll think about it," she said as she smiled back at me.

  "Ok," I said as I watched her get into her car.

  I turned to walk up the path and inside of the Daniels' house when I was interrupted.

  "And April," Rachel called from her car window.

  "Yeah?"

  "Thank you," she said before finally driving off and leaving me smiling to myself. Maybe fate does have a strange way of working things out...

  "Hey," I said as I walked into the living room and saw Aiden sat watching TV.

  "Hey," he replied as he smiled up at me.

  "Crystal gone to bed?"

  "Yeah, she tried to stay up but kept falling asleep so I told her to go up and I'd wait for you."

  "Thanks."

  "No problem. So what was all of that about?" He asked as I walked over and sat next to him.

  "She wanted to apologise for everything that she's ever done to me," I said still shocked by my strange encounter with Rachel.

  "Wow, that was big of her," he replied.

  "Yeah it was, I guess today just keeps getting weirder," I said as I thought about Ed.

  "Yep. So I guess a little normality is what you're looking for now?" He asked.

  "It would be nice, yeah," I replied in a quiet tone.

  "I think that I can help you with that," he said before planting a kiss on my lips.

  "Yeah that may have helped just a little," I said as I smiled.

  "I've wanted to do that all day. You have no idea," he said with a smirk on his face.

  "Oh, I think I do," I said as I let out a small laugh.

  "Come here," he said as he used his head to gesture that I come towards him.

  He took me gently into his arms so that my head was resting on his warm chest, it felt nice.

  "It's been a crazy day hasn't it," he said as he allowed his fingers to stroke my hair. I nodded my head to say yes as I closed my eyes and took in the calming sound of his heart beat.

  "Crazy or not you'll always have me, you know that, right?" He said as he kissed the crown of my head.

  "Yes and you'll always have me too Mr Daniels," I replied as I snuggled deeper into his chest.

  "I think I might just like the sound of that," he said.

  "Me too, me too," I said as I began to drift off into a sleep.

  "Good morning sleeping beauty," I heard a voice say as I slowly forced my eyes open.

  "Mmmm," I mumbled as I tried to focus my eyes since the light coming through the window seemed to be suffocating them.

  "Crystal?" I asked, confused by my surroundings.

  "Yes, who else would it be you doughnut? Come on, get up, girly day out!!" She said in an excited tone that in my opinion was far too loud for first thing in the morning.

  When I was finally able to open my eyes I realised that I was lying in the guest room bed much to my surprise. I guess that Aiden must have carried me up last night after I fell asleep. The fact that I was still dressed in yesterday's outfit also told me that he had tried to be the 'gentleman' again. He made me laugh.

  "Ok, I'm coming just give me a minute," I muttered as I watched the huge grin on Crystal's face as she left the room.

  After about thirty minutes I was dressed, ready and on my way down the stairs.

  "Hey," I said as I walked into the living room where Crystal was sat waiting impatiently.

  "Finally! I've been waiting forever!" She replied as she jumped up from the chair and switched the TV off.

  "Ok, so where do you want to go?"

  "Well, I was thinking that we could go to the park, chill out for a bit and then go to the mall," she said as she looked at me.

  "Ok, sounds good, hope food is included somewhere in this little outing though," I replied as we both began to head towards the front door.

  "Of course! Oh, hang on, I left my bag in my room, I'll be two seconds," she said as she quickly leapt up the stairs.

  "Ok," I said as I pulled my vibrating phone out of my pocket.

  "Hello," I said as I answered the phone.

  "Hello sweetheart," a happy and excited sounding voice answered.

  "Mom? I didn't recognise the number."

  "Oh, I'm calling off our your Aunt May's phone with one of them calling cards," she replied.

  "Oh ok, well it's great to hear from you, I've really missed you."

  "I've missed you too baby. How is everything?"

  "It's great, I have a lot to tell you when you get back," I said, thinking about me and Aiden.

  "Good I hope?"

  "Yes mom," I replied as I let out a little giggle.

  "Good."

  "How's Aunt May?"

  "Not great but we're doing all that we can to keep her comfortable and make your grandma happy," she replied in a sad voice.

  "I'm proud of you all and I can't wait till you get back. I think the guys owe us a game of charades," I said as we both began laughing.

  "Yes they do except this time we need to win. Well you take care of yourself and make sure that you're helping around the house, it was good of Susan to let you stay," she said.

  "I will, tell everyone that I said hi. Love you."

  "I will. Love you too sweetheart," she said before hanging up.

  A smile crept onto my face as I realised how good it was to hear her voice.

  "How are they?" Crystal asked, interrupting my day dream.

  "They're good. Aunt May seems to be slipping but I think that they are making her last days as good as possible, so all is well," I replied as I threw her a smile.

  "Well that's good to hear. So are you ready?"

  "Yeah, let's go," I said before turning around and walking out of the front door.

  "Aiden still sleeping?" I asked casually as we started walking down the road.

  "Yeah, you know how lazy he is when he has nowhere to go," she said as she slipped her phone out of her bag.

  "Hasn't he got music school?"

  "I think he's skipping today," she replied as she began smiling at her phone.

  "Cameron?" I said as I began smirking at her.

  "Yeah," she said as she giggled.

  "Are you two still getting on ok?"

  "Yeah, he's different. I like him," she replied as she smiled at me.

  "Good, he's a nice guy," I said as I continued smiling at her typing away on her phone. I became distracted when my phone vibrated again. This time it was a text.

  So I carry you upstairs to bed, tuck you in and n
ot even a good morning kiss? :p

  I tried to stop myself from chuckling as I read over Aiden's message.

  Well if you weren't so lazy and had been awake before I left then I could have. I'll make up for it later xxx

  I typed quickly as I knew that Crystal would only be distracted for so long. I felt the familiar buzz again and looked down at the phone in my hand.

  Can't wait x

  This guy made me smile so much.

  "Sorry about that, Cam was just asking what time I was going to the party later and if he could see me before," Crystal said as she looked at me.

  "Awww, what time you meeting him?" I asked.

  "I'm not, I told him that I'm spending time with you all day," she replied as though I had just asked the craziest question ever.

  "Crystal, you better text him back now and tell him you'll meet him."

  "Huh?"

  "He is cute, sweet and wants to spend time with you. You can see me anytime, tell him that you'll see him before the party, you can even go together," I said as I smiled at her.

  "Are you sure?" She asked with a guilty expression on her face.

  "Of course I'm sure, silly. We'll go to the park for a bit and just skip the mall, we can go anytime, now get to texting."

  "You're the best! I love you April Reinhart!"

  "Yeah, yeah, I know," I said as we both started laughing and she typed her message to Cameron. I loved seeing her happy like this, could I really ruin all of that by telling her about me and Aiden?

  "So, we need like a major catch up, seriously," Crystal said as we finally got to the park and sat on the swings in the empty play area.

  I liked it when it was quiet like this and no matter how old I got the swings were still my favourite thing.

  "Yeah, we really do," I agreed.

  "So, what did Queen Bee want last night?"

  "Queen Bee?" I asked as I began to laugh.

  "Well, she likes to think she is anyway," Crystal replied as she pulled a funny face at the thought of Rachel.

  "Believe it or not, she came to apologise."

  "What!"

  "I know, crazy, right?"

  "More than crazy, did she hit her head or something?" Crystal replied.