April's POV

The rest of the week seemed to have gone in a blur. I hadn't spoken to Aiden again since Monday and I hardly saw him in school either – not that it mattered to me much.

Flopping down on the sofa, I sighed and stretched out my legs. I'd finished the piles of homework on my desk, eyes aching and brain wheezing after the marathon it had just run. I had changed into something comfortable and switched on the TV – this was my usual Friday evening. Kayla was at one of her cheer squad member's parties and Nina at home, babysitting her little sister.

After getting bored of watching my movie, I turned on the radio, shutting my eyes and getting into the swing of the songs that belted out, one after the other. Maybe I should clean my room now. I'd avoided it for the past two weeks, and it was an absolute dump.

I could be brown, I could be blue

I could be violet sky

I could be hurtful, I could be purple

I could be anything you like. I twirled around, banging into the couch on the way before dropping to my knees and sliding across the floor smoothly, broom in hand.

Annie are you okay? Annie are you okay? Are you okay Annie?

Hey hey, you you, I know that you like me

No way, no way, you know it's not a secret

Hey hey, you you, I want to be your girlfriend

I was half way through doing an air guitar riff and chugging down red bull when I heard knocks coming from the door. I quickly turned down the stereo and dropped the broom, frowning. I flung the door open, panting and an expression of surprise painted my features. It was Noah.

"I've been knocking on your door for 5 minutes now. I heard the music." He explained, his mouth twitching.

"Sorry," I apologized, smiling sheepishly. Then, my eyebrows furrowed together. "What are you doing here? What I mean is - how do you know where I live?"

He raised his hands, palms upwards. "Don't worry, I'm not a stalker. Kayla was at the same party as me - they recognised me from the woods." He explained. "I noticed you weren't there and Kayla forced me to come and get you, so they gave me your address."

"She forced you?" I laughed.

Noah paused, smiling to himself. "She's hard to argue with."

"Hear hear," I agreed, stepping back to seem more welcoming.

"So..." he trailed off awkwardly, shooting me a weird look. "Are you coming? Or did I drag my ass out here for nothing."

I raised both hands. "Sorry Noah, you dragged your ass for nothing."

"Damn it."

I grimaced and apologised again, feeling horrible that I'd wasted his time. Instead, he brushed it off, leaning against the doorway curiously, both eyebrows raised pointedly at me. "Were you singing?" He asked, a grin already tracing his face.

"No!" Only I'm allowed to hear myself singing – it's not for other people's ears.

We stayed in silence until he broke it. "Okay come on April. Kayla sent me all this way to come and get you and you're still not going to come?"

I shook my head. "Parties aren't my thing. Never liked them, never will." I shuddered as I remembered the incident with the drunken man.

"Okay," he mumbled, shifting his feet and looking upset. I felt really bad but what could I do? I was not going to tell him how awkward I was or how I was never invited or how I was scared someone would take advantage of me like the drunken man.

"Well you can go back to the party if you want," I offered, shrugging my shoulders.

"I can stay if you want?" He asked, but I quickly declined. I don't even know him that well – sure he saved me from that wild animal in the woods, but that doesn't mean he's not some kind of sadist. I licked my lips, not knowing what to say.

"Um, maybe not today, Noah. Go back to the party," I tried encouragingly.

"Okay, well if you ever want to hang out I'm down near Honorius Farwell High School," he smiled sadly and I felt a flutter of excitement. This is the first time a guy has ever asked to 'hang out' and I'm pretty sure that's a good thing, right? But my illusion was shattered when he said: "And bring along Kayla and Nina - they seem pretty cool."

Yay.

So this was to gain their attention, not mine. My unhappiness lasted not even three seconds because I shrugged and brushed it off. I don't really think I cared to be perfectly frank – flirting with boys really wasn't my cup of tea. With all its awkwardness and beating around the bush, it just felt like a grand waste of time.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I heard a voice say from behind Noah. I tiptoed and glanced over his head to see Emma, Daniel and Carlos glaring at the boy in front of them. Noah swivelled around and his eyes instantly turned cold. I could have sworn he growled. I shook my head in daze – how some of us homosapiens have developed baffles me.

"Emma. Daniel. Carlos. I was just leaving," he snapped.

I frowned at the scene – they all seem to know each other – more so than just acquaintances. Noah muttered a farewell, but he didn't stop to look me in the eye – I stared after his head incredulously, still in shock at the sudden arrivals effect on the atmosphere.

"April, what are you doing, talking to him like that?" Emma glowered, pushing past me into the room.

I shook my head, shaking myself out of my daze, frowning at how she made herself welcome. "He came round saying Kayla sent him to take me to some lame party."

"Didn't we tell you to stay away from him?" Daniel asked, raising his eyebrows.

I cleared my throat. "Actually, Aiden told me to stay away from him... And when do I ever listen to Aiden apart from when he tries to be threatening."

"April, we're only saying it because we care," Daniel sighed dramatically, flopping his golden hair back.

I laughed incredulously. "Noah seems sweet. And plus, he's helped me before - just because you guys don't like him doesn't make him a bad guy."

"Sweet?" Daniel actually began laughing out loud. "Far from it. He's – he's trouble okay? He belongs to another pack – I mean gang - and his 'nice guy' act? That's all it is – an act." I flinched. "The boy has seriously unresolved anger issues and a major grudge against Aiden – and if he can hurt Aiden through hurting you, he'll do it. He's capable of stooping that low."

"What the hell did you just say?" I ended up spluttering out between laughs. "That sounds ridiculous. We're not in some teen movie, Daniel. This is real life – where people aren't just plain villains or heroes. Well, apart from Aiden. He is just pure villain." I commented.

Carlos rolled his eyes at me and I instantly sobered. When Carlos spoke, he was serious. When Carlos spoke, you know he was going to say the truth. "April, believe it or not, we do care about you. We're giving you advice. Take it or leave it. Either way, we're not letting you get hurt by Noah. You can be friends with him all you want – just do that from a safe distance."

"Okay, okay." I mumbled, looking downwards. Carlos had that effect on people – he made you feel diminutive in his presence, simply because he spoke sense. He made it sound so easy.

"Thanks for understanding, Ap." Emma said, her expression still serious.

A few moments of terse silence passed.

"You drank all of this?" Daniel asked, gesturing to the red bull pack that was nearly empty save for a couple of cans. I'd drank that much? No wonder I couldn't sit still.

I didn't want to sit down so I stayed standing, fidgeting every now and then. "You need to come with us back to the house in the woods. You're meeting Aiden's dad this weekend." Carlos stated patiently, shooting accusing glares at Emma who was glaring at him.

"No, Carlos. April you can decide if you want to come with us, okay?" Emma said slowly.

"I'm not sure I can. I mean, I have a Spanish essay due Tuesday, which I'm failing by the way, and an English presentation. It counts for 30% of my final grade."

Carlos looked at me, his expression clearly reading: seriously?

I quickly added. "And I'm horrible at meeting new people - I can't lie to his Dad like that - it's too – too real." I stated seriously, "I'll never pull it off."

"Please April! Just do this – otherwise... remember what Aiden said he'd do." I flinched. Emma gasped and even Daniel had paused to assess the scene.

"Carlos, how could you even stoop to that level? I know we're desperate but you didn't have to say it like that," Emma hissed, her green eyes blazing.

"It's for the best Emma, you know it is. We can't always be nice about it," he said desperately. He turned to me and his blue eyes were begging for forgiveness. "Look, you'll only be gone a week. It's the Falls annual float competition next week anyway so you won't miss much at school. Don't worry, they'll just be building floats in teams – you hate that stuff right? We'll help you prepare what to say to his dad – we'll be there with you, every step of the way." Carlos spoke, staring at Emma who was currently turned away from him, fuming still.

"He's right," Daniel added, his mouth full of my favourite packet of crisps. "So... what do you say?"

"So let me get this straight – I have to go meet his dad and then the deal will be half over?"

"Maybe... yes I guess," Emma replied uncertainly, chewing her lip.

"Hmm." Was my only response. I didn't want to do this – I felt bad for doing that to his dad - what would my parents think? No April. They'll never find out. I stayed silent, clenching my hands to stop them from shaking.

"Look April, Alph – I mean his dad has smelt you on him now – he knows you. You have to meet him now – it's not your choice." Carlos said determinedly.

"I have a smell?" I asked curiously as I tried to smell my armpit inconspicuously so that no-one would notice.

"Yeah. You smell like... icing sugar." Daniel interrupted quickly. I frowned and took another whiff of myself. "I smell bad then," I stated dryly, spraying some air freshener around quickly to eliminate my smell.

"Doing that won't cover your smell silly, we're wol-" He was cut of by Emma hissing at him.

"Are Nina or Kayla going to be there?"

"No."

"Good. They don't need to be dragged anymore into this mess than they already are."

She looked hurt for a minute. "We've covered for you saying you've gone to New York for the week to sort out your visa." I raised my eyebrows at the excuse but carried on anyway.

"After this, half the deal is over and you'll leave me alone?"

"Y – yes," she said hesitantly.

I nodded happily. "And you'll help me with meeting him – I mean even though it's just one person, I hate betraying his father's trust – it just feels wrong." I whined, tugging at my hair.

Emma nodded, smiling at me brightly. I raised an eyebrow and sighed. "Fine. Let's just get this week done and dusted then, yes?" I said, walking over to my room and opening the door, glancing back at their surprised expressions.

"You're not going to put up a fight? You're just going to pack, just like that?" Daniel asked suspiciously.

"Yes."

If this is what it took to get away from this stupid deal then I was willing to do it, even if it made me feel vulnerable and definitely not in my comfort zone. I started packing my clothes into a little suitcase and Emma wandered into the room, gazing around with her mouth open. She ran about the room and helped me pack, stuffing my clothes into the suitcase whilst commenting on the various personal pictures I had stuck to the walls.

"Emma? Why didn't Aiden come himself?" I asked, keeping my eyes down.

I could feel her eyes burning the side of my face. "I don't know. He was busy with... things – he had to sort out the meeting with his dad."

"Why is he doing this? I mean it's all a bit desperate for someone who just needs to introduce a girl to his dad isn't it?" I heard her sigh.

Her green eyes were tinged with sadness, a poignant memory passing through them. She gently pushed the door shut, blocking out the noise of the TV the boys were watching. "April, you can't tell anyone this, understand?" I nodded, curious. "Aiden lost his mum. It was 6 years ago now. Today was her death anniversary. Her death – it changed him in a really bad way – he was alone for a very long time after that, April. What child has to go through that alone? His dad expects a lot of him now. Aiden just wants his dad off his back – his – his childhood again."

I couldn't speak. That was the worst thing that could ever happen to a child. I could feel my eyes burning and she squeezed my hand. For once, I didn't feel weird about someone comforting me. I just felt like giving the child Aiden a hug, a really tight hug, silently telling him it was okay, that he would be safe, that he would be loved. This explained so much about him. But it didn't excuse his behaviour.

"And..." she continued but cut off. "No. That's enough – it's not my right to say. He'll tell you if he wants to."

"B- but-" I broke in. I wanted to know more. But then I also understood why she stopped. It wasn't her story to tell – if anyone should say it should be Aiden. Maybe talking will give him closure. We carried on packing in silence and I walked out of the apartment after the finishing up, leaving a note explaining my absence to my roommates and taking a last look at my room.

I have no idea what this week had in mind for me, but I knew it wasn't is going to be easy – or pretty. Thoughts of Noah storming off angrily vanished from my mind and was replaced with my gentle concern for Aiden – that surprised me more than anything. I touched my face, remembering the ghost of a touch lingering on my skin at night and shivered at the memory, but couldn't help the smile that broke out on my face either.