Pretend (41 page)

             
"Yeah, nothing compared to what could have happened if Anthony hadn't been there," he mumbled.
I knew that talking about it was making him mad. I would find out more another day but for now, I would just let it go.

             
"Ok. You said you wanted to talk to me?" I asked.

             
"Huh?"

             
"Earlier, you text me saying that you wanted to talk, what was it about?"

             
"Oh, that.
Erm
...It was about what happened at the diner. I wanted to apologise and just say that you were right," he said.

             
"Right?"
I asked in a confused tone.

             
"Yeah, about what you said. It isn't fair and people are going to get hurt, tonight was a perfect example of that," he said as he allowed his eyes to find my wrist again.

             
"Oh, yeah," I said in a disappointed tone.

             
We sat in silence for about two minutes. I didn't know what to say, I guess it was over.

             
"Thanks for waiting up for me," he said as he stood up from the chair.

             
"It was cool, thanks again for what you and Anthony did. I'm really grateful that you'd
both stick up for me like that."

"Of course, we'd always do that for you or Crystal, it's nothing, really," he said. He stood still for a few seconds as though he had more to say.

             
"Are you going up to bed now? You must be tired?"

             
"No, I'm just going to finish watching Liar
Liar
first," I replied, quietly.

             
"Good film."

             
"Yeah it is," I said.

             
"Ok then, night," he said as he headed towards the door.

I don't know why but a feeling of sadness came over me as I watched him walk towards the door. It was like he was saying goodbye or something and I didn't really want that but what else could I do? He had made up his mind. He was right, everything was just a mess since Crystal's party and yet everything felt so right at the same time. Nothing made sense anymore.

             
Oh April come on!

             
It's now or never!

             
I took a deep breath and stood up from my chair.

             
"Aiden, wait," I said.

             
He turned around as though he had half expected me to call him back.
I walked towards him and threw my arms around him like a little child. It was nice to I feel his arms holding me too.

             
"I just wanted to say thank you again, I really appreciate what you did for me," I said as I let my arms slip from around him and took a step backwards.

             
I was such a chicken.

             
"Oh, ok. It's fine, honestly," he said as he stared at me.

             
"Well, thanks," I said as he turned back around and started to walk out again.

             
"Aiden, stop.
Sorry, that's not what I called you for," I stuttered.

             
"It's not?"

             
"No," I mumbled as I tried to stop my eyes from staring at the ground.

             
"Then, what?"
He whispered as he kept his eyes fixated on mine.

             
Then before I could try and chicken out like
I
always
do
,
I took a step closer to him.

             
"For this," I said as I let my lips touch his.
It was literally seconds before I felt his strong hand slip around my waist and pull me closer. It felt amazing and until that moment, I had no idea how much I had missed kissing Aiden. It was as if his lips had been the missing piece to a puzzle that I had been trying to solve for years. It felt great, it felt right.

             
"I was so counting on you doing that," he said as a smirk filled his face.

             
"You knew that I was going to kiss you?" I said as I began to smile.

             
"No, but I just hoped that you did before I a
ctually walked out of the room."

             
"So why say all that about me being right?" I asked in a confused tone.

             
"I
had to know that you wanted me
without me kissing you first," he said as he smiled again.

             
Damn that smile, my heart was literally melting.

             
"Oh, so you had a little plan did you?"

             
"Yup," he said with a smirk on his face.

             
"And what if your
little
plan had failed?" I asked as I tilted my head and stared at him.

             
"Then I would have gone to plan b," he said as he let out a little laugh.

             
"What was plan b?" I asked.

             
"This," he said as he pulled me into another kiss. I could literally feel the tingles flying up and down my spine as his lips hit mine. I know that they talk about feeling fireworks in fil
ms but they lied, this was much,
much better.

             
"And if plan b had failed?" I asked as I let my head rest against his, leaving the tiniest gap between our lips.

             
"It wouldn't have,” he said as he kissed my lips gently.

             
How is it that Aiden made me forget about everything else just by being him?

             
Is that crazy or what?

             
As he held my hand and led me back to the chair, I noticed the serious expression on his face as he sat me down.

             
"What's up?" I asked.

             
"Look, I want to say that I’m sorry," he said in a sad voice.

             
"For what?"

             
"Letting you down.
Jake should have never been given the chance to do what he did and I'm sorry that I wasn't there to stop him," he said as if he were angry with himself.

             
"Aiden
,
that wasn't your fault," I said as I squeezed his hand gently.

             
"Well I promise you that no one will
ever
hurt you again, ok?"

I nodded my head to say yes as I sat back in the chair a little.

             
"What's up?" He said as he gently drew me closer to him.

             
"Crystal," I said.

             
"Look, I don't know what's happening here but I do know that I like it, a lot. I'd never mess you around April, so when you're ready to tell my sister I'll be there," he said.

             
"It's ok. I need to do this alone. I will tell her but I just need a few days to prepare myself," I said as I turned to face him.

             
"It'll be fine," he said as he stroked my face with the back of his hand.

             
"I hope you're right," I replied.

             
"I am, now
is
there any chance that I co
uld actually kiss my girlfriend?" H
e said as my eyes increased in size.

             
Did I just hear right?

             
"Your girlfriend?"
I asked as a smirk filled my face.

             
"Did you see all that just happened tonight? Do I look like I'm willing to share you with anyone else?" He said as a smirk filled his face.

             
I let out a girly giggle as I felt my cheeks turn red.

             
"Good, now will you shut up and kiss me," he said before laughing and then pulling me towards him.

             
"Well since you asked so nicely," I said sarcastically before being shut up by the feeling of his lips against mine again.

             
Tonight I experienced
the most passionate, mind blowing and amazing kiss of my entire life and what's better? It was with my
boyfriend
, Aiden Daniels.

It sounds crazy but I actually woke up this morning with a smile on my face. It was true to say that after avoiding Aiden so much, it felt great to finally give in. However, I knew that all the smiling and acting all girly would have to be put on hold whilst Crystal was around.

             
Murphy
sent Aiden a text
last night to say that he was having a party on Saturday, so I've given myself that as my deadline to tell Crystal. I don't think that I could really deal with all those girls at Murphy's party being all over Aiden and pretending not to care, so that would be the night. Until then I just had to be careful.

             
"Morning!"
Crystal said as she swung open my bedroom door with a smile on her face.

             
"Someone's in a good mood," I said as I examined her big smile.

             
"Yep, well you know what day it is, don't you?" She said as she began twirling her hair around her finger.

             
Of course I knew. It was her date with Cameron. Like she would ever let me forget.

             
"
Erm
no, what?"
I asked as I faked a look of confusion.

             
"Oh
my gosh
, are you being serious?" She asked with a sad expression.

             
"Yeah, what's happening?" I asked as I jumped out of bed and started looking through my wardrobe for something to wear.

             
"Well I’m glad to know that my life is so important to you," she grumbled as she went to walk out
of
the door.

"Oh smile
,
of course I know what day it is," I said as I threw my pillow at her head and began giggling.

             
"Ouch! What then?"

             
"It's the amazing date with none other than
Cameronnnnnn
," I said in a baby voice.

             
"Oh
ssshhh
," she said as she began to giggle and then jumped onto my bed.

             
"I'm nervous you know," she said as she looked up at me with a scared expression.

             
"Seriously?
Why? You're amazing Crystal, if he doesn't like you, then he's crazy," I said as I sat next to her and placed my hand on hers.

             
"Are you sure?" She asked, innocently.

             
"Positive and if he's stupid enough not to want you then you'll always have me, forever," I said as I threw her
a
smile.

             
"Thanks," she said as she threw her arms around me.

             
"Right, I better get ready for school," I said as I stood to my feet and headed towards the en suite in my room.