Pretend (33 page)

             
"Yeah," I said as I struggled to look away from Aiden.

             
"See you ladies later," he said before walking out of the door.

             
"So?" Crystal asked as she ran and shut the door in.

             
"So, what?"
I asked in a state of confusion.

             
"Well, you didn't think that I was really looking for hairspray all that time did you? What happened?"

             
"Happened?" I stuttered.

             
"Yes, with you and Aiden? I left you here on purpose. At first I was a little confused as to why you'd have him in here in your room asking about advice on your date but then I realised what was going on," she said.

             
"Going on?"

             
"Yes, you were trying to find out about the mystery girl. So, what did you find out?" She asked eagerly.

             
"Girl, oh yes,
the mystery
girl
, of course that's what I was doing," I said as a feeling of relief came over me.

             
"Well?" She replied.

             
"Nothing.
He didn't mention anything, sorry," I said as I tried to avoid eye contact.

             
"Well that sucks. Oh well
,
at least we've got all we
ek to find out more, I suppose."

             
"Yeah," I mumbled.

             
"So you still haven't told me about the night that you went to see Mimi," she said as she began to brush my hair and spray it with her hairspray.

             
"She was great, she was talking and joking just like her old self," I said.

             
"That's good news, so she'll be out soon?"

             
"Yeah, tomorrow," I replied.

             
"Are y
ou going to see her tomorrow then?" She asked.

             
"No, I'll give her a day to settle in and then go on
Thursday if Kyle doesn't mind."

             
"Good, you can help me get ready for my date with Cameron then. Oh and why would Kyle mind?" She asked as she sprayed my hair again.

             
"Well to cut a long story short, he tried to kiss me," I said.

             
"He what?
Oh
,
he is such a super jerk. I felt sorry for him as well but not if he's going to pull a stunt like that. Someone
should have punched him the no
se!" She grunted as she put down her brush, picke
d up her can of Pepsi and started to drink it.

             
"
Mmmm
," I replied as a thought of Aiden and Kyle's little run in crossed my mind.

             
"So, what are you wearing?"

             
"My black skinny jeans and my blue tank top," I replied, waiting for her opinion.

             
"Cute," she said before jumping on my bed and switching on the TV.

* * *

             
By quarter to seven, I was dressed and clued up on everything to do with Cameron. Crystal obviously thought that it was necessary to spend the rest of the evening talking about Cameron...Fun!

             
"So,
are
you all set and ready?" Crystal said as she gave me the once over.

             
"Yup."

             
"You look hot," she said with a smile on her face.

             
"Why thank you," I replied as we both walked down the stairs, giggling.

             
"Oh, I left my phone upstairs, I'll be back in a sec," she said before spinning
a
round and running back up the stairs.

             
"Ok."

             
"Nice," Aiden said as he walked into the living room.

             
"Pardon?"
I asked as I walked down the stairs and entered the living room.

             
"You look nice," he said as he threw himself in
to the chair, bit i
nto a piece of candy
and
started to flick
through the
TV
station
s.

             
"Thanks," I said as my cheeks began to blush. I don't know why but I felt slightly embarrassed whenever Aiden complimented me, it was weird.

             
I didn’t want to bring up what he said upstairs and so I tried to start a conversation.

             
"Are y
ou staying in tonight?" I asked.

             
"No, I'm meeting Taise, Anthony, Murphy and a couple of chicks later," he said as a smile slipped onto his face.

             
I knew that he wanted to make me jealous and believe me I was but he was the last person that would ever know that.

             
"Cool,
sounds like fun,
" I said as I took my lip gloss from my bag and began to spread it across my lips.

             
I could see him watching me from the corner of my eye but I refused to look.

             
"Aren't one of you going to get that?" I heard Crystal shout down the stairs.

             
"Huh?" I said as I stepped into the hall and looked up the stairs.

             
"The door!"
She shouted.

             
The door?
I didn't even hear it.

             
"Hey," I said as I opened the door and saw Jake standing there, smiling.

             
"Hey beautiful, you ready?"
 

             
"Yeah, sure," I replied before turning to look at Aiden who was now heading towards the door.

             
"Hey dude," Jake said when he spotted Aiden.

             
It was clear that there was a lot of tension but everyone seemed to be pretending that it wasn’t there.
This was awkward.

             
"Hey," Aiden said as he looked at Jake.

             
Maybe I was seeing things but I could have sworn that he looked jealous. I had never seen him act jealous before so maybe it was just in my head.

             
"Ok, bye," I said as I stepped out of the door and followed Jake to his red truck.

             
"Bye," I heard Aiden say before the door closed.

             
"So, ready to bowl?" Jake asked as he held the car door open for me.

             
"Yup," I lied before stepping in and clipping my belt in.

             
"That's a shame because we're not going," he said as a smirk filled his face.

             
"Huh?"

             
"Well a little birdie told me that bowling wasn't really your thing, so I thought
that
we'd skip it and go for something to eat instead," he said as he began to drive.

             
"Crystal?" I asked as a smile filled my lips.
 

             
Thank God, she saved me from a night of embarrassment.
 

             
"Try the other Daniels," he said.

             
"Aiden?"

             
"Yup."

             
Aiden, told him? I didn't understand. That meant that when he asked where Jake was taking me, he already knew that I wasn't going bowling. I couldn't help but let a smile spread across my lips.
 

             
I slipped my phone from out of my pocket and began to type a message to Aiden.

             
Thanks
x

             
"So, I heard about your a
unt, sorry to hear that she's unwell," Jake said as I slipped my cell back into my pocket.

             
"Thanks, I don't re
ally know her that well but my g
randma's pretty cut up about it," I replied.

             
"It's never a nice thing to go through," he said as he pulled into the parking lot of Danny's Diner.
I love this place! I couldn't help the smile that had now spread across my face.

             
"Good choice?" He said as he examined my face.

             
"Yeah, did Aiden tell you that I liked it here?"

             
"No, this one was all me," he said as we both stepped out of the car.

             
"Cool," I said as I smiled at him.

             
Something just told me that this night may just be better than I thought.

AIDEN’S POINT OF VIEW

             
As I read April's text
,
I couldn't
help but smile, I knew what she was saying thanks
for.
Jake had spoken to me yesterday
about taking her bowling. At first I was going to let him, just to ruin
their little date but then I thought about April and I suppose, I just didn't want to ruin her night. I wasn't sure where he was taking her now but hopefully she would have a good time.

             
I had no idea what it was about April but I got a weird feeling every time that I thought about her and the strangest thing of all was that I actually liked it.
 
That's why I wasn't really looking forward to tonight. Anthony had some chicks that we were supposed to go
and
meet, apparently they were hot but mine and Anthony's taste was very different. I suppose it would be a good distraction since April was with Jake anyway. I hate to admit it but I was slightly bothered about this date thing. Jake was no virgin to the dating game and he had enough charm to have enough girls queuing. Kissing her again, didn't exactly help either but every time
that
I'm around her it's like something just comes over me. Kissing April feels, well...Good.

             
Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted as the doorbell rang.

             
"You ready dude," Taise said as soon as I opened the door.

             
"Hello to you too," I said.

             
"Sorry man but I'm eager to go see these chicks that Ant's been talking about," he said with a big grin on his face.

             
This dude liked the ladies but the ladies didn't like him. We had all tried so hard to teach him how to ge
t a girl to like him and failed. N
ow it was Anthony's turn.

             
"Crystal, I'm gone.
Where are
Anthony and Murphy?" I asked as I stepped outside of the door.

             
"Sitting in my
car but they’re
coming now," he said as he waved an arm at them, signalling for them to come out.
The other thing a
bout Taise was that he avoided spending money on everything, including gas
. Driving his car was never an option hence why my keys were already in my hand.

             
"So, I was thinking that we could take your car. I know that you like to drive and all," Taise said as we continued to walk down the path.

             
"Yeah, sure," I said as I let out a slight laugh.

             
"
Yo
, my main man," Anthony said as he gripped my hand and slapped my back.

             
"What's up," I said to both him and Murphy.

             
"You guys ready to meet the ladies?" He said as he rubbed his hands together.

             
"Dude, I was born ready," Taise replied.

             
Suddenly we all burst out laughing and walked towards my car.