Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Ethan's POV

Breathe....slowly.

But it's no use, the pain is stretching and tightening around my chest and ribcage.

I hadn't been thinking about it, not at first. Then April had gone and Trevor had still been at the roof, so I had tried to watch TV to get my mind out of what had happened in the elevator. The CARMA event had been on.

With the newscaster saying the event had taken place successfully, she had gone ahead to add,

"With special thanks to the Griphen & Griphen company who are originally the first sponsors. The idea to sponsor the CARMA was by the co-owner, Late Mr Gregory Griphen...."

And then I couldn't hear a thing, because there it was.

Dad.

His picture.

Clear and precise....With that smile.

Then I remembered, this was why we never watched tv after the CARMA but stayed at the roof.

And then my chest began tightening by the minute, pain piercing every part.

I had tried endlessly to sleep but I couldn't. All I could see was his face on tv, bright and happy.

And now I here I am.

I move away from the kitchen where I had been trying to drink tons of water but nothing happened.

Grabbing the living room chair for support, I take my phone from my pocket and dial.

Please.

Please pick up.

April's POV

Buzzing.

Was that my phone?

Buzzing?

Groaning, I put my pillow over my head to stop it but it's still buzzing on my night stand.

I raise the pillow to stare at the time.

02:37am.

Who could be calling at this hour?

It probably isn't anything important. I put the pillow back on my head to block it out but it keeps buzzing and buzzing.

Dammit.

Angrily, I snatch the phone.

"Hello?" I moan into the speaker, not bothering to look at the ID.

"I need you." The voice on the other line strains with so much pain, my heart stops and I sit up straight suddenly wide awake.

I look to the other side of the room and sure enough Gretchen is there, asleep.

Oh no.

Then this familiar voice belongs to...

"Ethan?" I say, fear clouding my voice.

"Please April. Please." His voice strains with every word and hearing my name like that tears at my soul.

"I'm coming." I say quickly and end the call. I quickly grab my robe and put it on, taking my wallet and cell phone, I rush out of the room.

In a blurr, I head out and grab a taxi, silently praying that it's not so bad.

I need you. His voice had strained like he had no breath left in him.

Please be okay.

Please be okay.

Ethan's POV

I'm waiting next to the door, when I hear the sound of running footsteps, stopping at the door.

Before she can knock, I swing it open. Her hair is down and her green eyes are filled with so much fear and worry.

"April."

"Oh, my God, Ethan." She gasps, grabbing my face in her hands,

"What happened? Are you okay?" She says and the feel of her hands on my face sends warmth but I want more than that..

Need more.

"Please say something." She says and I hold her shoulders and look directly into her eyes.

"Please, just stay with me. Please. Just stay with me tonight." I strain.

"It's okay. Its okay, I'll stay with you tonight." She says pulling me into a hug and I bury my face in her hair.

Pulling away, she holds my hand and leads me up the short stairs into my room.

I lie down, pulling her close and she doesn't resist as she covers us both with a blanket.

Her eyes don't leave mine as I wrap my arms around her.

"Please. Dont go."

"I won't." She whispers, touching my face.

"April." I say her name again, staring into her green eyes as I feel her warmth envelope me.

"I'm here." She says and I feel fatigue take over as her warmth soothes me and I fall asleep with the feel of her next to me.

*****

Everything feels different when I wake up.

The bed is familiar, and the body next to me is incredibly warm and familiar....but together, it feels completely different.

So when I open my eyes and see her, my first reaction is how the sun makes her skin glow. Her red lashes were still and her hair was cascaded in great contrast against the white pillows.

"April."

The name slipped out in a silent whisper, as I slowly ran my hand through her hair, like I was in a trance.

Her eyes flutter open immediately and she looks up at me, eyes searching.

I run my fingers along the side of her face, enjoying the feel, and every bit of her reaction.

She closes her eyes as my fingers run along her lower lip and back to her hair.

With my fingers in her hair, I pull her closer, needing to feel the taste of her lips. She pauses just a breath away and looks up at me,

"Are you okay now?" She whispers, eyes searching mine and my mind is reeling, trying to figure out why she was asking.

"Do you feel better?" She asks and then I remember.

Last night.

The pain.

The phone call.

She came.

And here she is on my bed, asking with caution in her eyes.

She is here.

I pause and look at her now. She is wearing a beige silk robe in my bed.

In my bed.....With me.

April was in my bed.

With me.

Oh no.

I suddenly move away as fast as I can and get up, avoiding the look in her eyes as I try to pick my words carefully.

"This is wrong. You shouldn't be here." The words spill out more defensive than I thought.

April's

POV

"This is wrong. You shouldn't be here." His voice is echoing in my head like a bad dream.

Just a minute ago I had heard him whisper my name in the softest way....or had I been dreaming? And then I had felt his fingers, in my hair, on my face, my lips and back to my hair.

Exploring every part of my face like I was new to him, and then he was leaning in, pulling me closer and I was ready to surrender.

So completely.

But there had been so much pain in his eyes last night, I had to find out.

I just had to ask.

And then I had felt the warmth tearing away from me before I even saw him dash out of the bed.

Like I was repulsive.

Like I was venom.

"This is wrong. You shouldn't be here."

And now he was looking everywhere but me.

I feel something vanish in me and as I try to speak, my voice comes out in a whimper,

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you can't be here. In my bed."

"Why?" I demand, feeling my anger rising.

"Because you just cant, okay?" He says and runs his hand through his hair.

"That's your excuse? I just can't?" I say, my voice rising as I get up from his bed now, glaring at him.

"What do you want me to say?"

"I don't fucking know! Anything but telling someone that you called at night that they just can't be here!" I yell.

"April will you calm down--"

"Calm down? Its okay for me to rush here for you by 2:37 but when the sun is up its wrong?!"

"It was for a reason!"

"What bloody reason is it?" I demand and he turns with his back to me.

"The same reason you came knocking at my door three weeks ago?!"

He is still quiet with both his hands on the window pane.

"Answer me!" I demand, running out of patience with his silence.

He still doesn't answer or move.

"Fine. I get it. Call April when you need a warm body to sleep next to and ditch her when the sun hits!"

He is still quiet and I want him to speak, dammit.

Defend yourself.

Tell me I'm wrong.

"What is it, a coded booty call? Is that what you call it?! How about next time you just save your self the trouble and drop some cash on the nightstand after you sneak out?!"

"Will you stop it! Do you hear yourself?" He yells, turning around now.

"Loud and clear!" I yell out my reply and continue,

"You know what? This is all my fault, all of it. Calling you when I'm drunk or waiting on you to help me out when I'm in danger or vulnerable. My fucking fault! And you took it as a go ahead to repay yourself whenever by just using me to warm your bed!" I yell, as I march up to his face.

"So it's done now. I stop seeking you for help and we just stay away from each other. I'm so over this." I say and turn around, grabbing my phone and wallet off the nightstand as I leave.

Trevor is at the stairs when I march out.

"Whoa, April--"

"Goodbye Trevor." I say as I rush out the apartment and slam the door.

Ethan's POV.

"I'm so over this." She says and I watch helplessly as she grabs her phone and wallet off the table as she marches out.

In two seconds, Trevor rushes in, staring at me in shock.

"What the fuck just happened? Why was April here? I thought she left yesterday."

I run my hand through my hair, trying to gather my thoughts.

"I called her."

"You called her?" He asks in a flat confused tone.

"Yes. My chest was aching and I called her around 2 in the morning and then I woke up next to her this morning and...."

I let my voice trail off as realization dawns on Trevor's face.

"You didn't." He says.

Sighing, I sit on the bed.

"I just couldn't handle it. The scenery and everything just struck a nerve, I couldn't handle it." I say.

It had all felt too good...

yet too realistic.

Too much all at once.