Pretend (59 page)

             
"Right I'm just going to see what Anthony
's doing," Jess said as she
began to stand up.

             
"
Ohhhhhhh
!"
Both Crystal and I sang in unison as we all burst out laughing.

             
"Oh be quiet you pair," she said as she squinted her eyes at us and exited the room with a big smile spread across her face.

             
"So, how did it go with Ed?" Crystal said in a more serious tone.

             
"Good and
Bad
," I said as I looked at her.

             
"I'm listening," she replied.

             
"Ok
,
well it turns out that he's not quite the dead beat that I thought
that
he was all
of these years."

             
"How so?"

             
"Well to cut a long story short he loved us and wanted to be with us, it was his family that stopped him. That and a few twists and turns in life," I said sadly.

             
"Oh
,
well that's good I suppose," she replied as though she was asking a question.

             
"Yeah kind of."

             
"Why kind of?"

             
"Well he's a great person and I want to get to know him-"

             
"Well then you can, if he's as great as you say and has come back to ask for a second chance then don't waste time April," she said in a gentle tone.

             
"I know and I want to get to know him," I said as I held back the tears.

             
"But?"

             
"He has cancer Crystal, he's dying. He's come back into my life and I won't even get the chance to really know him," I said as a tear strolled down my cheek.

             
"Oh
,
April I'm so sorry," she said as she threw her arms around me and held me tight.

             
"Look you've got to think positive. Think about all the medicine and treatment out there, he stands a good chance of fighting this for a few more years yet," she said gently.

             
"I know,"

             
"And remember what your g
randma always used to say to us?" She said with a soft smile on her face.

             
"What?" I asked.

             
"She used to say that God works in mysterious ways and that if he brings you something then
take
it and enjoy it because it's there for a reason. Maybe that applies to Ed. Maybe God has sent him to you so that you can share the best years of his life with him. Don't worry about how long you have left just take what you have and make the most of it, don't waste time thinking about it," she said as she stood back to look at me.

             
"How can you say somethin
g that smart and still fail in E
nglish?" I asked as we both began laughing.

             
"Oh be quiet. Feeling better?" She replied.

             
"Yes, thank you. I can alwa
ys count on you no matter what."

             
"That's what best friends are for,
it's
part of the job description now come on let's go have some fun," she said as she wiped the tear from my cheek and pulled me up.

             
"Oh
,
I love you Miss Daniels," I said as I gave her a tight squeeze.

             
"You too but I can't breath
e
," she said as we both began to giggle.

             
"Come on," she said as she took my hand and lead me into the living room.

             
"Wait," she said as she turned to face me.

             
"What's the matter?" I asked in a confused tone.

             
"I think that we should have a girly day tomorrow, just the two of us, like we used to. What do you say?"

             
"That would be lovely," I said as I smiled at her.

             
"Great, it's a date," she said as she winked at me.

             
As we entered the room no one except
for
Aiden looked up at us. I smiled at him and then sat on the couch to see what was going on.

             
"Twister?"
Crystal asked as she raised her eyebrows at Murphy.

             
"Yeah, these dudes wanted to play a game so I picked the one that I'm best at. Get to show my
flexibility
," he said as he prolonged the word flexibility and winked.

             
"Such an idiot," Crystal said sarcastically before sitting down next to Jess and Anthony.

             
"And I hope
that
you two don't think that this is a chance for any funny business, this is strictly a game, a clean one," Crystal said as she stared at Anthony and Jess.

             
"Funny," Jess said as she gave her a sarcastic look.

             
"Hey, would I do that?" Anthony asked.

             
"Yes baby, you probably would," Jess said as she turned to look at him.

             
"Ha dude you got told!" Taise said as he burst out laughing.

             
"Ha dude so would you if you could get a girlfriend!" He replied as Murphy and Aiden burst out laughing.

             
"Hey
,
stop being mean," I said as I tried to hold back the laughter.

             
"Yeah April's right
,
be nice. Now are we going to start this game because I'm ready to wear the winner's crown," Aiden
replied with a huge smirk on his face as he crouched down and looked at the game.

             
"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 who
se
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
. Y
ou think that I have somehow magically changed the dynamics, it's n
ot 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 phon
e 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 othe
rs remained engrossed in the
m
ovie
.

             
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 tha
nks 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 tow
ards Crystal who was l
ying on the back seat of his car.