Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Ethan's POV

I watch as she rolls her eyes at me and I lean back and watch her eat. Somehow, I had expected her to slam the door in my face, but her shocked expression had remained and the food had done the trick.

The way her eyes had brightened and here she was, in my shirt, gobbling down the noodles.

With her hair still packed and wearing short briefs and a t shirt, she looked a different type of beautiful.

Sighing, I look away and try to occupy my mind with other things when I notice her laptop.

"Study much?" I tease as I reach over and grab it while she finishes her noodles and digs her hand into the pack.

"I'm just getting a headstart." She says as she pulls out the plate of dumplings and sticks her tongue out at me when I raise a brow.

"CARMA?" I ask, suddenly remembering the annual event we hold along with other sponsors to raise money for the association.

"I'm doing a news report on charity and a friend suggested it to me." She says and continues,

"It's huge. Everything about it. The way they put in so much to help different types of charities including Alice's Lemonade Stand and many others. I mean children around the world without parents get the opportunity to live and enjoy each and every special occasion and holiday thanks to CARMA and their sponsors."

The glint in her eyes, that is always there when she is passionate about something is bright with interest and I can't help but laugh at her excitement about the news report.

She nudges me on the shoulder,

"Don't laugh! Its not funny, it's actually very thoughtful and great."

"Of course it's not funny, you're just so excited about this."

"I am!" She says, eating another dumpling, then she frowns at me and adds,

"I didn't know your family company was a major sponsor at this. I would really love if I could ask you or anyone at the head some questions." She says, hope burning brightly in her eyes and I have so much to ask her.

"You know about my family company?"

"Yeah, my roommate told me. I hope you don't mind." She says then suddenly looks down.

"No. I'm just surprised. I didn't know you had so much interest in research and news."

"I've always wanted to be a journalist. Travelling the world, reporting drastic and wonderful yet sudden changes, bringing notice for help to other people. That's why I'm in the press and magazine department." She says.

I can't help observing how her green eyes have lit beyond wonders. Who knew she had all these desires?

"So, pleeeeaaseee Ethan, you won't mind if I could ask whoever was in charge of it some questions of how it came about? I mean the CARMA annual event idea. Why they wanted to help, and how the owner of the CARMA association had reacted. What inspired his dream to make and association that helped other Charities?"

I smile at her eagerness and I realise...she doesn't know. She doesn't know I am a co-owner of it along with my uncle, Trevor's dad. And here she was pleading for just a chance to ask.

"April, you have a lot of questions and-"

"Should I put it in a recorder so you can give it to them? So I wouldn't be a bother--"

"No, it's not that." I say with a laugh. She really was interested in this.

"Why don't you just come for the Annual CARMA event on Saturday? You can ask all the questions you want there?"

It's not a date.

I laugh as her eyes widen and she stares at me,

"But I thought it's by invite and how would I get in?"

"With me. That's, if you don't mind. We'll go together with you as my plus one and then you can ask whoever you want, I'd be right there to help and introduce you."

If possible, her eyes get brighter and she stares at me.

"No way."

I nod.

"No way!" She squeals and next thing I know she dashes across the space between us and wraps her hands around my in a tight hug.

"Oh, my God! Thank you! Thank you! Thank youu!!!!" I laugh as her hug pushes me down and she is on top of me.

"You have no idea how much this means to me. None." She says and pulls away a little as her face is directly in front of me.

"Thank you." She whispers.

Be patient.

"You're welcome." I say, staring at her green eyes. Suddenly too aware of her full breasts pressing against my chest and dammit she is not wearing a bra.

Her face is too close and searching desperately for a change in topic, I clear my throat and turn my face.

"Umm, I thought your bedside lamp was Mickey mouse?" I say, ignoring how deep my voice suddenly is or how stupid the change of topic also is.

She turns to look at it then pulls away as she sits up.

"Yeah, it smashed the day you left after your tantrum." She says and I laugh.

"Tantrum?"

"You slammed my door so hard, it broke my lamp. And I loved it. That's pretty much a tantrum." She says shaking her head.

"You love Mickey mouse?" I tease and she wraps her face in her hands while I laugh at her, thankful that the change of subject worked.

"He is cute." She says peeping at me and then my phone buzzes.

Trevor.

"I have to go. I have some work to do with Trev." I say, getting up and taking the tank and balloon as I head for the door while she gets up and follows behind me.

"Thank you so much for food and gas." She says, giggling a little at her words and I fill up the balloon with hydrogen and put it to my mouth.

"You're welcome." I growl out and she laughs, every decibel of that laughter pulling me back to sit next to her and listen to her talk and talk about everything that excited her.

It wasn't the fact that the same thing excited me, but listening to her getting excited was what excited me.

"Goodbye April." I say and I head for the stairs.

April's POV.

As I watch Ethan leave, I bite my lip as thoughts consume my head.

Here we are again, jumping into the same type of trouble, except with a different route.

And it's either it was going to blow up again or.....

Or whatever will happen if we don't argue.

Weird that the last time he left here, we were both in rage and yet here I am.

He brought food and laughter just when I needed it. Sighing, I shake the thoughts off my head and shut my laptop as I get ready for bed.

He just brought food.

No big deal.

Its just like any other person helping me to eat and laugh...

Just like Gretchen.

Right?

And yet no matter how many times I recited those words before bed, I couldn't get myself to believe them.

****

"Thank you so much for the CARMA flier. I've been buzzing with ideas about it, it's crazy!" I say to Zack as we leave class and head for my dorm.

He shrugs and says,

"I didn't know what to do with the flier anyway. I'm glad you like it. Get any useful ideas?"

"More than I thought. I get to ask the owners questions, I get take pictures and well, thank you." I say as we get to the front of my dorm.

He laughs as he adjusts his glasses,

"It's okay. I wish I could sound this excited about my report on politics."

"It's politics. There is always something going on. Just dust off your glasses and look harder." I say to him, and he laughs.

"See ya, April." And he is gone. I enter my dorm, still buzzing about everything.

I was going to a Charity Event tomorrow night, not just any charity event but CARMA. I would get to see how this actually plays out. If it was really just a group of chin high, pompous people or wealthy people willing to sacrifice for charity.

Plus I get to do it on a news report--

I spot the small package on top of my bed when I walk in, ceasing my thoughts. Its in a box covered with wrapping paper.

Gretchen looks up at me from her bed,

"Oh, thank God you're back. I saw it in front of the room when I got here with your name on it and I was worried the thing would start beeping a countdown." She says from where she is toying with her ukulele and I laugh.

I pick up the light package and slowly open it, with excitement and shock tearing at me.

I had never gotten a surprise gift.

The paper comes undone and I open the the box to see a Mickey mouse lamp shade and bite back a smile.

"Why are you smiling? What's in it?" Gretchen asks as she walks over to my bed and sits next to me.

"Mickey mouse?" She says and stares at me but I'm in complete awe at the gift.

As I pull it out, and there is a small paper under, folded in squares. I drop the lamp aside and take the paper, opening it.

You said he was cute.

Not to be a pessimist,

But I hope he looks ugly when you put it on the lamp.

-Ethan.

"This is supposed to be cute right? I don't get the Mickey mouse but this is cute." Gretchen says, staring at the paper with me.

I immediately take off the Winnie-the-Pooh lamp shade and replace it with the Mickey mouse, still surprised that he had noticed what my lamp shade was.

"Why did you change it the first time?" Gretchen asks, watching me as I turn on the bedside lamp.

"I didn't. It broke when he slammed the door the first time he came and I had to replace it."

"Then how did he know it broke?" She asks, arching a brow at me and I shrug.

"He came last night."

"He came last night?" She squeals.

"Yes, but didn't sleep here. Just brought food and made me laugh..."

"Do you see what's going on here?" She asks, eyes wide with excitement.

"What?"

"Seriously, April. He brought food last night, made you laugh, sends you a surprise gift to replace your lampshade just like the last one."

Her voice is increasing with excitement but I can only feel the blood pounding in my ears at her words.

We were jumping into trouble indeed.

Headfirst.

Food, jokes and gifts?

Oh God.

And then there was the CARMA annual event.

The last time we argued I could barely come back to my dorm because his clothes were here and even other things reminded me of him. And now there were more.

I might never eat Chinese again when this blows up.

And I'll hate Mickey mouse.

Gretchen is still talking when I snatch the lampshade and put it back in the box.

"What are you doing?" She asks, staring at me.

"You're right. Food, jokes and gifts? I'm returning it."

"What? No!" She says and snatches it from me.

"Why not? There are too many things about him already in my life."

"So what? There are too many things about me in your life."

"This is different." I protest

"No. Its not. April for God's sake it's a lamp shade he replaced and your going to refuse it? It's not a diamond ring!"

"It's not just the lamp shade, but coming over with food, and then there is the CARMA event tomorrow night."

Her jaw drops.

"You're going to the CARMA event?"

"Yes, he invited me. But only because I'm doing a news report on charity." I add when her eyes go wide.

"It doesn't matter. My roommate is going to the CARMA event. Then what the hell are you doing here?"

I frown at her.

"What am I supposed to be doing?"

"Oh, April. Poor, sweet, little April. Its a charity event. Not just any charity event but CARMA! The biggest that holds with people in their fancy gowns and suits. Do you have a gown?"

She says the last sentence in a rush.

"I was going to wear my black gown. Plus don't get any ideas. I'm just going there to ask questions and get information for my news report."

She rolls her eyes at me.

"How did Ethan put it?"

"He said I could come with him as his plus one and--"

"We're going shopping." She says and puts the Mickey mouse lamp shade back as she grabs my hand and her bag.

"What? Why?"

"April. Dont protest. I love your black gown but this is different. And the lampshade stays." She says as we leave the room.

And somehow, I know going shopping is another trouble I am jumping into...

And I love it....

Author's Note

No intense drama, please don't be mad :') I just want to show how well they relate when they're not passionately arguing or kissing.

More is to come.

So much more.

Vote and comment. :D

Xoxoxo... Buttercup.

← Previous Chapter Back to Novel Next Chapter →