Pretend (62 page)

             
"I know that I always say that he is a jerk, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone," she said.

             
"I know, I remember how that felt and I didn't want that for him but I couldn't lie to him either and then when his mom came and seen us both crying I just ran away
like I always do. I was scared."

             
"I can imagine."

             
I was going to tell Crystal everything
,
about running into Jake that night and Aiden but looking at her sad face right now I knew that this wasn't the time. We may have our ups and downs but I
knew that when I hurt she did and the very idea of me losing a baby that would have definitely been her God child would be ripping her apart right now.

             
"Come on," I said as I stood up and extended my hand towards her.

             
"We really do need this party tonight
,
don't we?" She said as she took my hand, stood up and gave me a small smile.

             
"Yeah, I think we do," I said as I smiled at her.

* * *

             
Crystal and I spent the journey home holding hands in silence. Anybody watching would have probably thought we were some weird, depressive couple but none of us cared, it was as though a barrier had been broken down and that silence was us understanding each others
’
need to think.

             
"Hey," Aiden said as he looked at me strangely as we walked through the door.

             
"I'm just going to
go
up
and get ready
to go to Cameron's," Crystal said in a quiet voice as she walked up the stairs.

             
"Ok," I said as I walked into the living room and slumped down on the chair.

             
"What happened? Did you tell her?" Aiden said as he followed me inside, closing the door behind him.
I shook my head to say no.

             
"Then what's the matter with you both?" He asked in a worried tone.

             
"I told her about the baby," I replied as I watched him take a seat next to me, gently.

             
"She take it badly?"

             
"She cried.
I felt awful. I couldn't tell her anything else," I said as the tears began to surface again as I thought about my friend
’
s pain.

             
"It's ok," he said as he gently wiped the tear off of my cheek with his thumb.

             
"Do you want something to eat?" He asked.

             
I nodded
my head to say yes before watching him exit the living room and head towards the kitchen.

* * *

             
"April," Aiden whispered as he gently shook me awake.

             
"How long have I been sleeping?" I asked as my eyes focused and I realised that I was still in the living room.

             
"Come on
,
we're going out," he said.

             
"Huh? I thought
that
you went to do
some
food?" I asked in a confused tone.

             
"No
,
I asked if you wanted something to eat, I went to get ready. I'm taking you out, come on," he said as he smiled at me.

             
"Where's Crystal?" I asked.

             
"Cameron came and got her about ten minutes ago. She's ok, I had a talk with her, she left in a pretty good mood actually," he said as I finally stood up.

             
"Ok good. Where are we going?" I asked as I walked towards the living room door.

             
"Somewhere that you'll like," he said with a smirk on his face.

             
"Oh
,
really?"
I said as I let a smile slip onto my face.

             
"Yeah and somewhere that I can do a lot of this," he said before kissing me so passionately that I nearly lost my balance. In fact had it not been for his hand around my waist, I probably would have lost my balance completely.

             
"Thanks," I said as he gently pulled away.

             
"For what?"
He whispered.

             
"Always making me feel better," I replied as I smiled at him.

             
"It's my job beautiful now come on we need to get back with enough time for you to get ready," he said with a smirk on his face.

             
"Me?"

             
"Yeah, you girls take forever," he said as I raised my eyebrow at him before
we
both began laughing.

             
"So
,
what
are
you going to do about telling Crystal?" Aiden asked as he started to drive the car.

             
"I'm still going to tell her today, I can't hide it from her anymore, today proved that I shouldn't do that," I replied.

             
"You know that she's going to the party with Cameron, she's not coming back home?" He asked.

             
"Yeah
,
I'll pull her up to one of the many rooms in Murphy's mansion sometime tonig
ht. I've got to tell her though.
I
can't hide it from her anymore."

             
"I agree," he said.

* * *

             
It wasn't long before Aiden had finally brought the car to a stop after about ten minutes of driving.

             
"Where are we?" I asked as I looked out of the window at an unfamiliar location.

             
"It's my music school," he said as he jumped out
of
the car.

             
"Really?"
I asked in shock. He didn't even like telling anyone that he played music let alone bringing me here.

             
"Yeah really, come on," he said as he began to laugh.
He locked his car door, took my hand in his and headed towards the large grey building. It wasn't how I'd imagined
it
at all in fact it was beautiful. There was a large wooden door entrance, huge glass windows and the widest steps that led up to the largest door that I had ever seen in my life.

             
"It's beautiful," I said as I looked up
,
excitedly.

             
"Yeah
,
it's really something isn't it?"

             
"Yeah
."

             
"Hey Sandy," Aiden said as he approached a silver de
sk with a white haired man sat
behind
it
. This place just
got better and better. The black, marble flooring
decorated what appeared to be the whole of the foyer area. All the fixtures and lighting where a beautiful polished stainless steel just like the desk that Sandy was sat behind.

             
"Hello son," he said as the most genuine smile slipped onto his face.

             
"And who's this beautiful young lady?" He asked as my cheeks began to heat up from his compliment.

             
"This is my girlfriend, April. April this is Sandy," he said in a very happy tone.

             
Even though I knew
that
I was his girlfriend I wasn't yet used to hearing it and it sounded, well...Great.

             
"Well
,
hello there April it's a pleasure to meet you," he said as he stood up and offered me his hand.

             
"Hello," I said as I extended my hand to his.
I was a little surprised as he lifted my hand and placed a gentle kiss on it. I see this is where Aiden was taking his notes on being a gentleman from. I smiled, shyly before watching him sit back down.

             
"Everyone's just gone through to the buffet, have fun," he said as Aiden started to drag me towards a big wooden door.

             
"Thanks Sandy, see you soon," Aiden replied.

             
"Bye," I said as I waved at him.

             
"Bye and good luck," Sandy added.

             
"Thanks," Aiden said before we disappeared through the door.

             
As I went to ask why he had said good luck I was cut off as an excited looking woman came rushing over to where we now stood.

             
"Oh wonderful, you're here," she said as she threw her arms around Aiden.
She was an extremely attractive lady, her shiny brown hair was tied up in a neat bun and she had on a discreet and flattering amount of make-up. She wore a tight black dress with a pair of patent black heels and looked very elegant.

             
"April this is Alison, Alison this is my girlfriend, April," he said as he gently pulled himself out of her arms.

             
"Oh,
she really is as beautiful as you described. It's lovely to
finally
meet you," she said as she threw her arms around me
,
much to my surprise.

             
"Hi, it's nice to meet you too," I said as she stood back a little so that she could take me in completely.

             
"Manners too, she is a definite keeper," she said as she smiled at Aiden.

             
"Yeah," he said as he threw me a small smile.

             
"I'm glad
that
you could make it tonight, come on I'll get you a plate," she said as Aiden's attention was taken by a tall guy, with curly red hair. He gave me a look that said 'I'll catch up soon' so I followed Alison toward
s
a table full of food. I would be lying if I said that the thought of this didn't excite me.

             
"Now, you help yourself, don't be shy," Alison said as she pushed a plate in my direction.

             
"Thank you," I said after retrieving the plate from her hands.

             
"So
,
it's nice to finally meet the girl that seems to make him so happy," she said, gesturing towards Aiden who was now looking over and smiling at us.

             
"He said that?" I asked with a smile on my face.

             
"He doesn
't have to darling, actions speak
much louder than words," she said as she winked at me, causing a giggle to escape my mouth.

             
"It's quite cute actually
,
very Romeo and Juliet like, although I would av
oid the whole killing yourself
in the name of love bit," she said with a smile on her face.

             
"Yeah I think we'll skip that bit," I said as I laughed.

             
"Well I'm glad that he finally had the guts to tell you how he felt. It's not often that childhood crushes become more than a memory
so I would say that it's definitely fate."

             
"Childhood?"
I asked in a confused tone.

             
"Well
,
yeah
,
to have feelings for somebody for so many years and to finally win their hearts is an
achievement
within itself," she said as she looked at me.

             
"Oh gosh, you didn't know....Oh my big mouth!" She gasped as she saw the confused look on my face.

             
"Aiden has liked me since we were little?" I asked as I tried to contain the excitement.

             
"Oh
,
I thought
that
you knew otherwise I would have kept my mouth shut, my husband always says that I talk to
o
much, maybe he'
s right. It's just so romantic."