Chapter 5: Chapter 5

April's POV.

Heartbreak Hotel exists.

And for me, it's Splitz.  The restaurant that specializes only in anything chocolate, cream, sugar and mostly desserts.

I am at the booth near the window, scanning over the writing in my book while I take another huge scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of my fudge brownie.

Oh, God.

Its like heaven in my mouth. I savor the taste as I try to summarize what I've read in the other book. If I can finish this book on time, I'd probably finish my project today and face the last one this weekend.

That has been my routine for 2 weeks now.

Read, projects and chocolate.

I can't....I just can't keep dwelling in all that drama.

From getting heartbroken.

To getting drunk.

To losing my phone.

To getting a hangover.

To shutting Gretchen out.

I needed to be alone, it had been to much to take in that hangover morning. I'd lost my phone and my only relationship and Gretchen had brought coffee.

Trying to help, asking what went wrong, what the voicemail said. Then I told her off, I didn't need her help but I just wanted to be alone.

I wanted to get myself back alone.

I was tired...so tired of people and the drama they brought.

Shaking my head, I flip a page and sit back, spooning some brownie into my mouth as my eyes scanned over the letters. With the two years I'd spent in this school, I had not paid so much attention to projects as I did now. Then my focus had been on someone...but now it was time to build up more on school work.

Then I felt it.

Or rather...I felt him. Even before I looked up, I knew.

"Two weeks." He says, hands in his pockets with his intense grey eyes not leaving mine.

Oh, God, I didn't need this now. I had already embarrassed myself around him at the bar...and then Gretchen said he brought me back. I don't even remember anything...I probably threw up on him too. And now here he is.

"What?"

"You vanished for two complete weeks." He said and sat down across me, eyes never leaving mine.

"What, are you tracking me now?" I say trying hard to avoid his eyes, eyes that felt like he could read me.

"No."

"Or you want to save me from having a sugar rush? What do you want?"

I say. I didn't need any more boy drama in my life but here his intense eyes were already probing through my defense already.

"Would you calm down, I just-" He begins but I cut him off.

"I'm not calming down. I can't have coffee, or alcohol or ice cream without you around."

Shut up, April. He helped you....remember?

"The last thing I need is your presence." I say and the muscles at his jaw and temples flex.

"And the last thing I need is your bloody arrogance." He says and gets up then tosses a white object on the table as he storms out.

My phone.

By the time I look up, he is already out the door, marching over to a BMW.

Ethan's

POV

Women.

Somehow I knew this wouldn't work out. Every time we met all we did was bite at each other and I shouldn't have expected better.

I was going to give her the phone, ask her what exactly had happened since she had already spilled everything. By two sentences into the conversation, I could tell she didn't remember.

So much for finding out.

"Wait!" I hear her voice just as I unlock my car. When I turn around, she is already there behind me, phone in hand.

"I don't want it." She says, her head down, gaze planted to the ground.

"What?"

She can't be serious.

"I was looking for it but I don't want it now...just take it." She says then shoves it in my hand and then she is walking away, fast.

"April!" I yell just as the phone starts buzzing in my hand.

Jay. It reads.

Frowning at the phone, I debate whether to pick it up or chase after her and demand what the hell is going on.

At the end, I chose none and switch off the phone. I already have to catch up on work and lectures as it is.

****

April's

POV

Gretchen was applying mascara when I walk in and our eyes meet briefly in the mirror before she looks away.

Sighing guiltily, I drop my bag and sit down. I had been searching for my phone for 2 weeks and when I get it, the first call that I receive belongs to Jay.

Just what I need.

Seeing it, I had a flashback of the voicemail, everything I had gone through, getting drunk. I had come so far now in letting them go, I couldn't just let one object take me back that dreadful road.

So I handed it back to him, the enigma of a guy that was always around even when our past had no good experiences.

"You okay?" Gretchen asks, capping her mascara as she looks at me through the window.

I bite back a smile.

Classic Gretchen. Never giving up on a sad face.

"Yeah, I just didn't have much of a good day."

"Chocolates not working out for you?" She asks and I take a deep breath before saying,

"Not exactly." I mutter and realize she has curled her hair. As she puts on a pair of black 4 inch heels and a light coat of lipstick, I can't help but probe.

"Going somewhere?"

"Yeah, I just got invited to a party..." She says then with a blush, she adds,

"I might not come back tonight."

My jaw suddenly weighed a thousand tons.

She might not come back? What had I missed?

"I can stay if you want." She says warily with her hand lingering on the doorknob but I shake my head frantically.

"What? No. You go and have your fun. I'm fine Gretchen,  don't worry. Geez, I'm 20 not 5." I say and she laughs then leaves.

My smile disappears immediately. Two weeks. Wow.

I had been stuck with my routine I hadn't even gone anywhere apart from that darned club. And I'm here on a Friday night eating pizza and doing a project.

Which is good. Very good...right?

***

12:45 am.

Yawning, I rub my eyes and try to conclude this chapter. I'd finish the rest of the project tomorrow. Just as I click save,

Dum, dum, dum!

I freeze and turn to face my door. Surely, there was a shadow there.

Dum, dum, dum!

Please, let it be Gretchen.

Oh please let it be Gretchen. I silently pray as I open the door and look a good 6 inches above me to the familiar grey eyes that have haunted my thoughts.

"Griffin?"

Was that whimper my voice? He was there, broad shoulders, chest, that black hair and those eyes.

"I...I shouldn't be here." He says, walking towards me, forcing me to move back as he shuts the door with his foot.

He looked unsteady, tipsy. Moving back, my hand searched frantically behind me for something--anything--to hold as a weapon.

What if he harms me?

My hand comes in contact with Gretchen's tennis ratchet and I hold it up.

"Put that thing away." He says and walks over and before I even blink, the ratchet is flying over and hits the wall. His hand is over my mouth in a minute and my scream comes out muffles.

"Calm down." He says sternly, grey eyes piercing.

I'm trashing my hands but he uses his other hand and holds both my hands above my hand.

"April."

He says and I'm still. I don't know why but the way he said it, so carefully.

Like it was fragile...special.

I look up at him now and I can't help the shock I feel when I see how dilated his pupils are.

"What's wrong?"

"Please, I just..." but he trails off and looks down.

"What is it?"

"You...you won't like what I'm going to ask....."

"What?" I demand, fear clouding my thoughts. Was he wounded? Sick?

I couldn't bear to see pain in those eyes that had been so sharp.

"You won't understand." He mutters.

"Tell me!"

"I need to sleep next to you!" He says looking at me now.

Wait...what??

Ethan's POV

She was going to refuse...I could see it.

"What? Why?" She asks and I move back.

"I told you, you won't understa--"

"Of course I don't understand. You need to sleep next to me?"

She is staring at me now and defense kicks in, despite the pain.

"Okay. I get it." I say with a sarcastic laugh and continue,

"You help someone when they need help and then you ask for a freaking favour--"

"I was just a little drunk!"

"You were just a little vulnerable, April. Maybe, I should have just left you there with those guys eye humping you."

Just like I am...when you're in just a t shirt and panties...with all that redhair

Shut up, Ethan.

"Then why did you help?" She asks, feisty eyes challenging.

"Because you needed it! And all I'm asking is just one in return."

"You're asking to sleep next to me!" She yells, like I asked her to jump off a roof.

"And so. Fucking. What?!" I yell, emphasizing each word loudly.

"You won't understand, April! Or what exactly is bothering you? You've never seen two people share a bed before?"

Her eyes water suddenly and she stares daggers at me while my words echo in my head.

You've never seen two people share a bed?

Dammit. I had completely forgotten about her ex boyfriend incident.

"April,--"

"Get out." She says silently, tears running down her face.

When I don't move, her eyes spit fire as she pushes me.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY ROOM!"

She screams as I stumble back,

"Get out!!!"She say once I'm out and slams the door in my face. Leaning my back on the door, I slide down to a sitting position and bury my face in my hands as I hear her sobbing on the other side.

Great.

Now we are both in pain.

April's POV

I crumble to the ground as the tears roll down uncontrollably and my heart shatters all over again.

Stupid. So stupid to cry in front of him, to let him know that those words were my greatest weakness.

Why had I even cared? Why did it bother me that he looked like that.

You won't understand.

His words echo in my head and I remember how pained his eyes looked. What kind of pain brings a man knocking at my door?

Wiping my tears, I can't help to notice his shadow is still on the other side. He needed help.

A favour...according to him.

I was supposed to get over this by now...this ache.

But who am I kidding, the first heart break is the one that hurts the most...that stumps your hope.

And then comes a pair of grey eyes.

The way he said my name,...so much care...so much pain.

One favour.

A favour for a favour...and then we can both stay away. One night is all he's asking for,...besides, if he wanted to take advantage of me, he would have done it when I was drunk.

Slipping on a pair of shorts, I wipe my eyes and open the door.

Ethan's POV

Creaking.

I can hear the door creaking open and sure enough when I look up, she is standing there. All that red hair down, eyes puffy, in a t shirt and shorts...most of all, her feisty green eyes.

"April."I say, getting up.

"You ask for a favour and I don't know why it has to be me."

"April--"

What was I going to say? Your touch takes away the pain I've felt for years?

"But you are in so much pain...I can see it." She says looking directly at me.

"You helped me, and now I want to help. One night...and then you leave." She says, pushing the door wide open.

"You do realize I will be sleeping next to you?" I ask fearfully but she nods.

"I never got to thank you for helping me." She says as she walks in and climbs into bed.

I couldn't wrap this around my head...I just made her cry, and she was letting me stay??

"Changed your mind?" She asks, studying me and I shake my head, still speechless as I take off my shoes and shirt while she turns away to face the wall.

One night. And I would sleep without the pain...one night next to April. I climb into bed with her and no matter how hard I try, I can still feel her, every bit of her next to me.

In her small bed, it's hard not to get close and the moment out bodies touch, I feel her warmth radiate through me...

And there it is....the melting feeling. Slowly, and then it's gone. Accepting all she is offering me for tonight, I close my eyes and enjoy every moment of it.

Every moment next to April.