"Okay, so which one?" Emma's voice floated through the open door.

"I can't see you, come out." I called back, unfolding my legs from underneath me and wincing slightly at the numbing sensation you associate with sitting in the same position for too long.

A fiery mane of auburn hair appeared at the doorway as she peeked her head through the door, a cherry blush creeping onto her cheeks and neck. She made a face and slowly tiptoed around the bathroom door until she came into full view.

"Emma, that looks beautiful! Wear that one! Definitely." I added onto the end for sincerity; she wore a white dress that looked as though it floated in the sunlight, embellished with lace sleeves and a triangular cut-out from the back.

"Don't lie to me – I look old in this dress." Emma moaned, swiveling around to face the mirror, her hands instinctively moving to smooth down the sides of the dress. I pulled a face.

"Emma, stop worrying so much – Carlos loves you either way and dressing up is just an excuse for people to believe in 'beauty' because they're too self-conscious and naive to realize that them, just the way they are, is beauty within itself. It's your three-year anniversary Emma, I think Carlos would love you even if you wore a frickin' paper bag!" I protested.

She raised both hands to the air, grinning. "Okay, okay don't get all philosophical on me."

She then proceeded to fuss over perfecting her hair and I settled back on my bed, glancing down at the pages of the book I was reading. I was released from hospital four weeks ago and was currently starting an early summer break. Having missed 6 months of your life really messes a girl up and I wasn't prepared to start making amends for it straight away and nor was I in any physically fit state to either.

"Okay Ap, I'm going to be late – he's here!" Emma squealed a goodbye and I responded with a compulsory good luck, have fun before I was left in silence. Nina and Kayla were at the annual high school football match and I guess you could say I was secretly envying their position. Staying home all day simply accentuated how much time school took up of your life.

"How are you feeling, honey?" My mum's voice came from the kitchen – I paused, recoiling for a moment before remembering. My parents had insisted on staying with me for a while after the accident, deeming that I was in no fit state to be alone. I'd just about managed to persuade them to not make me move back to England. Olivia had returned for her studies and my dad had gone with her after much discussion although he promised to check up on me and my mom regularly. It seemed like that 3,870 mile difference between the two continents was no longer a problem.

"I'm fine!" I yelled back, picking up my phone from the table. My mum was staying with me in my apartment – Elena and Lola didn't make a fuss about the impending bills but my parents helped me pay them regardless. "I'm going for a walk!"

"Will you be okay on your own? Or do you want me to come with you?"

"Mum, I need some space... and some independence!" I huffed, completely and utterly unaware how childish I sounded.

She backed away slowly, smoothing back her curls with one hand – I watched her retreat, returning her smile. I missed my family so much but it felt like my mum was trying her very best to suffocate me and protect me from everything. I guess I just needed some air.

20 minutes later and I was walking down the street, the late afternoon air warm and sweet. A horn tooted from behind me and I jumped, immediately leaping to one side. After the day I was kidnapped by Aiden Knight, I guess you could say I was paranoid. A laugh sounded across the empty street and my heart tugged at the sound.

He sat in his car; the windows rolled down to reveal him lounging in his car seat, dark sunglasses shielding his eyes. He looked a lot healthier now – the muscles in his arms were becoming leaner and more defined and his skin had resumed its glow - like a nice pregnant women I always teased.

"Careful, wouldn't want anyone kidnapping you now would we?" I scowled back at him and carried on walking at snail pace, his car humming along just as slowly besides me like a bee to a flower.

"Hey! Don't keep walking!" He yelled after me incredulously.

I turned my head and continued, adamant not to give him any attention – it was very fun winding Aiden up. After a few moments I heard the car door open and the next thing I knew, two strong arms encircled my waist and a chin was placed neatly between collarbones.

I pretended to huff. "Now what did I tell you about personal space?"

"Hmm... Let me think... I don't recall you saying anything about personal space – well, not that it counts for my girlfriend anyway." He grinned wickedly, his teeth gleaming in the sunlight.

"Uh-uh, no PDA's – that grosses me out!"

He frowned, turning his head side to side to assess the near to empty street aside for an elderly man watering his lawn several houses down from us. "1. We're on an empty street. 2. I'm hugging you. 3. We are not acting like a couple, especially since you always end up rejecting me or I end up insulting you."

I smiled at those points. "Good."

He scoffed and lifted his sunglasses. "No, not good. Well, not for me anyway." He grumbled, as we made our way to his car. I slipped in the passenger door and Aiden followed, closing it for me once I was comfortable.

When he got in, I grabbed his face and kissed him gently, before breaking away and smiling. As much as I loved irritating him, I also loved kissing him. He let out a little noise when I broke away and pouted at me.

"Why do you love torturing me Evans?"

"It makes me happy."

"Well, you're not the only one who can tease." He smirked. "I can dish it out way worse."

"Try it," I snorted.

"Oh, I will." He grinned wickedly at me, his eyes gleaming. Ah crap. He really can and will tease me to the point of madness - god knows he's way better at it then me, I though to myself unhappily.

He started the car and we drove in a comfortable silence.

"Why aren't you at the football match?"

"I had some stuff I needed to do."

"So... Who sent you to come and find me?"

"Ap, can I just talk to you without it being about something serious?" The mood changed within seconds.

"Well it seems like everything is stupidly serious nowadays," I mumbled to myself, leaning my cheek against the cool window glass.

His hand came out and poked my arm playfully – I shifted in my seat to face him. "I'm taking you to the game. Just because you're on an early summer break, doesn't mean you're not part of the school. You seem well enough to be out and about and I went to your apartment earlier and spoke to your mom – even she said it was fine!"

At this, I jumped forward in my seat completely, my eyes widening with disbelief. "She said it was okay? But... but, she keeps treating me like a baby!"

"Or you keep giving her excuses to treat you like a little kid. She's your mother April, what do you expect? She hasn't seen you in such a long time and when she does, it's because her daughter had gotten into a life changing accident." I paused after his statement, my mind reeling.

"I guess."

"Hey," he pinched my cheek lightly. "Cheer up babe. We're have to have fun. So stop looking like you're the Grinch reincarnate," he smirked.

I burst out laughing and smacked him across the back of his head, making him grumble at me. "Don't ever call me babe again, Aid. It's so creepy."

"Babe, babe, babe, baby, babe, baby, baby, babe." He yodeled childishly, his voice getting louder with each word. I tried to shush him as we entered the school, but to no avail, because I just ended up snorting with laughter too much to even speak.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Kayla's cheer leading call was easy to hear, even from at the top of the stadium. We made up... Kind of. Things were still awkward at times – I mean, I was never one to hold grudges and I was more than happy to accept her again, but I also didn't let her go without an earful. We were becoming friends again slowly, especially since she explained that it was her intense dedication to Noah that forced her to hate us because of the incident between Noah and Aiden.

Nina giggled besides me, the sound of a camera clicking sounding right in my ear. I glanced over, chuckling at the sight of a poor Diego wrapped under Nina's arms whilst she insisted on 'making memories' and 'seizing the moment.' In other words, they were taking selfies. I grinned and poked my head in behind one shot.

"Hey." My head jerked up at the sound of that familiar, softly-accented voice, my eyes widening in surprise. Barbara stood there, smiling tentatively at me, her blue eyes uncertain.

"Hi," I managed to squeak out almost inaudibly.

She clearly wasn't able to hear my sorry excuse for a greeting because she nodded and shifted on her heel as though to walk away. I quickly pushed my bag from the seat next to me, grabbing her attention and I patted the seat.

She stared at me for a moment. Then, she slowly turned and lowered herself into the plastic seat. We sat in silence, Aiden's penetrating stare making me shift away from him uncomfortably. I racked my mind for things to say.

How are you? Your hair looks nice today. Well, I mean your hair always looks nice, you could model for Pantene for goodness sake. Alright, April , say something women, say something!

"How have you been?" Her voice finally broke the silence and I started at the sound.

"Well -" I paused, unsure of how to answer. Oh, I'm good, just woke up from a coma. You know, chilling. "I'm decent. How have you been?"

"Yeah, I've been well." We fell into an uneasy silence.

Aiden's eyes were blaring black and grey in the sunlight in anger, his jaw quivering. He looked past me and gently pushed me back into the seat so he could lean forward and rest his elbows on his spread knees.

"Barbara." His greeting was an angry clench of the teeth.

"Aiden." They sound like two little kids fighting. Maybe they still are.

"What are you doing here?"

"Me? I'm just trying to enjoy a football game – yourself?" Her reply came back cool and collected, and this clearly angered Aiden – it was like she knew exactly which of his buttons to press.

"Sure, and fucking angels are raining from the sky too. 6 months. You come back after 6 goddamn months and not even a hello? Not even a greeting? Just a oh-I'm-Barbara-and-I'm-trying-to-enjoy-a-goddamn-football-game? You don't even go to this fucking school!"

She left?

For 6 months?

"What did you expect me to do? You were so worried about April, I couldn't just waltz in and take you mind off things could I?"

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to make an appearance every now and then would it?" He sounded hurt.

"Maybe I can't just come and talk to you like normal all the time! Maybe things are changed Aiden! Maybe it's because I l-" She cut off, her voice becoming choked.

I froze. It felt like I froze as soon she began saying her last sentence – I knew what she was going to say. You knew that all along though; they were childhood friends, favourites to become mates, an all-rounded couple. I swallowed hard, fearing to look in the direction of Aiden where he was frowning. The idiot still doesn't get it.

Barbara fell silent and twisted her body away from me. She looked angry and hurt and sad. I feared to look in either of their directions so I kept looking straight at the players buzzing across the field, not keeping score of who was winning or losing.

I cleared my throat as quietly as I could, but it ended up sounding like a weird mix of a sneeze and a hiccup – not a good combination. I stood up. "I'm um, going to get a glass of water."

I literally went as fast as my legs could carry me down the stairs, rounding the corner sharply and knocking into several people along the way.

Barbara is in love with Aiden.

And the worst part?

He is totally clueless about it.

A strong arm pulled me back suddenly, my breathing catching at the sudden contact. I swivelled around and unsurprisingly enough, Aiden stood there, running a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Why did you run off so quickly? Are you okay?" He asked, his eyes assessing me from head to toe for any signs of damage. I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze and rubbed my arm, turning slightly as a group of gawking students passed us. They're not used to seeing you and Aiden interacting like normal people in a normal conversation.

"Fine, fine." I muttered hurriedly. "Just thirsty." I mentally calculated how long it would take me to run to the water fountain line and hide out there for the rest of the game. He seemed to sense this because his tall frame blocked my way again, his face scrunched up into an adorable frown. Well, adorable if he wasn't so oblivious to people's emotions. Barbara's to be specific.

"I can tell when you're lying to me."

"You can't!" I snapped. I hated people being able to read my emotions. "And I'm not, scouts honour."

"April, I literally stared at your face for 6 months. I know it well enough by now." We both paused to stare at each other and I couldn't help snorting at how creepy, but cute, that sounded.

"Yeah, but I wasn't exactly expressive during that time," I pointed out.

"Don't joke about it like that." He sounded hurt.

I sobered up, pinching his cheek slightly to lighten the mood. "Honest. I'm fine. Like I said, I'm just thirsty. I don't drink enough water, you know." I pointed out, shrugging.

"April..."

"Aiden I'm not 5! I can go to the water fountain alone, you know?"

I paused at his hurt expression and instantly felt bad. "I'm sorry."

"No, you're right." He replied. My brain was buzzing - all I could think about was him and Barbara, Barbara and him, him and her. I could barely hold a conversation with him without wanting to scream.You need to tell him April – it's not fair on him or Barbara – tell him the truth! He'll never work it out on his own. He might end up breaking her heart...

"Okay Aiden here's the thing," I blurted out quickly, my mind taking over my mouth. "Something is up. Barbara – that conversation you had with Barbara. It was... weird, right? Well, there was a reason for that... You see the thing is, you've been friends with Barbara since you were children, you know each other like the back of your hand. Well... The thing is –"

"Get to the point and say whatever you're trying to say Cruella." I grimaced at the nickname and took a deep breath, struggling to word it. "Barbara..." He prompted doubtfully.

"She's in love with you." I said quickly, my words merging into one long word so it sounded like gibberish. He frowned and I mentally face palmed myself. How hard does he have to make this? "She. Loves. You. She's in love with you."

"What?"

"Are you actually going to make me repeat myself?"

"I heard... That's... That's really –" He broke off nervously, his hand automatically going back to run through his hair.

I nodded in agreement. "You need to talk to her Aiden. Don't leave her in the dark about this – goodness knows how long she's been in love with you and she's clearly hurting. You need to talk to her about this; she's just like you – too proud to come right out and admit it." I urged softly to his seemingly unfazed expression.

"Um... Ap, I don't think she's in love with me." For once, he didn't look like he was joking or being sarcastic. He was dead serious.

"Are you an idiot?"

"What?"

"Stop saying what and listen to me! She is in love with you - of course you can't see that - you're too.... oblivious at times. You would never be able to read the signs."

"Ap-"

"Don't argue with me on this, Aiden. You can just tell."

Just as he was about to leave I grabbed his hand again, pulling him towards me and kissing him quickly, silently telling him that-you-are-still-mine-and-if-Barbara-gets-in-the-way-of-that-I-will have-to-go-batshit-crazy-on-her. He finally nodded absent-mindedly and gently released his grip on my arm leaving me cold all over. I watched him go in silence as he slowly ascended the stairs, that cute crease in his forehead still there. Boys; I finally understand why they can be so clueless sometimes.

I guess I never realized how many girls were in love with Aiden. Donna, Barbara, those blondes, brunettes, red-head's and just girls in general. I admitted I loved Aiden before the car crash; that took a lot out of me and I still hadn't told him. And I wouldn't. Love ruined things didn't it? It complicated things, put a label on simple friendships, made you into an emotional wreck and changed you in ways you didn't want to be changed.

I found myself walking absent-mindedly into the small, tented bathroom near the back of the stadium and I drifted aimlessly behind the several girls taking up the sink area.

"Is it true you're going out with Aiden Knight?" A voice asked, close to my ear.

I looked up in a daze, my body suddenly overcome with a wave of tiredness. My vision blurred slightly, the coloured flags fringing the bathroom tent distorting like the effects of opium in my bloodstream. I stumbled to the side, unable to reply.

My aimless mumbling and confused speech was cut off abruptly by a high-pitched voice which turned to an inhumane growl.

"Yes, yes she is. Now fuck off." A tanned arm adorned with dangling bangles looped around my shoulder lightly, hovering as though they respected personal space just as much as I did. The girl muttered an insult under her breath but Donna gave her one look and she fell quiet.

I looked up tiredly at my saviour: Donna. The girl who hated me during my kidnap, was most likely also addicted to Aiden had now just defended me. "Seriously? I thought people who nearly died had to stay home?" Her tone was so serious it made me burst out laughing.

"N – No! I was allowed out for a certain amount of time." I spluttered, my vision coming back to me and my breathing evening out.

"Right, well who was taking care of you?"

"....Myself?"

"Seriously? I know Aiden wouldn't let you out of his sight alone, especially after your accident. What was up with that awkward moment just then?"

"I just felt dizzy for a moment. My brain decided to stop working as well."

"Well, you're not going to die on me are you? Because I'm not good with handling corpses – I just came here to do my make up."

I smiled and shook my head; it surprised me how easy myself and others were able to talk about me as though I was dangling my legs off heaven's doorstep. Or hell. Which one?

"Thanks for helping me." I gestured to where the girl had exited. "Was there - was there a reason you did?"