Close To Me // The Cure

I spent all night trying to keep things casual with April. She obviously wasn't interested in kissing me. I got that vibe real strong when I leaned in and she backed off. So I let things simmer. I teased. I flirted. I winked for fuck's sake and I.Don't.Wink. But for this girl I will break all the rules. I will look like a fool and trip over myself if that's what it takes. I will offer her the world and never blink twice.

But it would be nice if she would warm up just a little.

I've had glimpses. Little hints have popped up that she might be softening up. I get it. She's been jaded, hurt, disappointed. I'm not about that at all. I don't want her just to get something in return. I want her because, damn, she is everything I ever thought I could want in a girl and more. Everything.

I pull back down our long driveway after dropping April off for the night, pass the house and park next to dad's Challenger. I've given that car side glances more today than I have in seven months. The second April focused on it, it's like I became hyper aware that the car was there. It's like every cell in my body was begging me to get behind the wheel again. I shake off the urge and climb out of the cab. Normally I would spend another hour or so in the garage working on whatever car I have at the moment. But in this moment the car I have is April's and honestly, I think I need a break from thinking about her for a while. I'm in so deep already, I can admit that much, but a guy can only take so much before he feels like a loser.

I trudge into the kitchen with heavy steps and reach into a cupboard for a glass. Once I fill it with water from the tap, I guzzle it down, the water dripping off my chin as I do but I hardly notice. My thoughts are still wrapped up in April, watching her walk away from me and into her house, trying to list what it is about her that has me so hooked so fast. Gorgeous. Bold. Determined. Tough. Insightful. Caring. Sensitive. So freaking beautiful I lose my mind whenever she's around...

There are too many things. The list is endless. I stop trying to spell it all out and put the glass into the sink.

"The dishwasher is right there." My mom's voice catches me off guard as she walks right to the counter and pulls open the dishwasher.

"Look! It's not even full. And these are dirty! You can totally put that dirty glass right in here. All by yourself!"

Her sarcasm is noted.

"Bad day?" I ask as I heed her suggestion and put the glass into the dishwasher. Honestly, I could have used it again for more water but I don't want to piss her off.

Mom just shrugs. "There was a difficult situation tonight at the shelter. But it's not like that's never happened before."

My mom puts her heart out there for people, especially for women in tough relationships. She wants to save them all because we couldn't save Lisa. My cousin's tragedy took a toll on the entire family, me included.

"Is everyone okay?" I reach out to rub her shoulders, something I can picture my dad standing here doing after she'd been through it. Damn I miss him.

Mom nods. "She got out. That's the important thing. But it might be a long road for her. Women deal with the effects for years. This one is reluctant to talk to a counselor, but if she doesn't, she might find herself in the same situation. She needs to learn how to protect herself from controlling personalities. They are so insidious it's hard to spot right away."

I think of April, of the story she told me earlier about that asshole, and my jaw clenches. I'm so proud of her for standing up for herself. It's just a freaking shame that it ended up the way it did. The rumors. The whispers.

I want to change all of that for her. Even if she doesn't end up mine, I don't want her to have to deal with that at all.

"I see you already have a new project in the pit." Mom's semi-affectionate nick name for the garage slips out as she asks. I know this is her way of saying she doesn't want to talk about the shelter anymore tonight, by changing the subject, so I let her. But I haven't heard her call the garage 'the pit' since before Dad died.

"Yeah, I told you about it last week. The classic Mustang that needed some love."

Mom nods, looking out the back window that faces the garage door, and Dad's Challenger.

"I seem to recall that there's a certain girl attached to this car. Does she need some love as well?" The wink in her tone is clear.

I shake my head. "Give a guy some space, mom. It's not always about a girl."

Except in this case it really is.

"Alright. I'll leave it alone. For now. But I will demand an introduction if your...friend...will be hanging around again."

"Again?" Today was the first time April was here, and mom wasn't home.

Mom turns to me and pats my cheek. "I stopped home to change before heading to the shelter. This window gives me a real nice view of the garage when the door is open." Mom turns to leave the kitchen. "Smooth moves, my son. Next time maybe she'll be more receptive."

I groan. Great. I had an audience. It's not the first time I've had a girl in the garage. But it is the first time my mom had a play by play of my rejection.

"It's late and you have school tomorrow. Go to bed!"

"Sure thing, mom!" I feel like a thirteen-year-old. Bedtime and an awkward talk with mom about girls. What has happened to my life?

***

Lunchtime. Something I don't usually look forward to for so many reasons, but today I'm into it. Back lot, shitty food, too many freaking students watching my every move because it's gotten around like wildfire that I gave April a ride. But fuck all of that because I've got a plan in motion and I'm already seeing results.

It was like the world stopped when April opened the passenger side door of my truck and set foot in the front lot. Everyone in our vicinity froze, eyes on us. Because they were standing still, the next layer of students froze in place. Like a ripple effect, within seconds the entire lot was silent and still, watching. April walked with me, but we said nothing. I didn't even attempt to hold her hand, because her fist in my face was not the narrative I was going for. But the intended effect of our joined presence was a success. April oozed confidence. Her black leather boots, the ones she wore the day we met, clicked on the black surface the entire walk to the front entrance. We had everyone's attention and became the biggest show of the year.

I knew it the second she stepped away from me. First the eyes around us followed her. Then they turned to me. I felt them. The hard stare with the giant what-the-hell-did-I-just-witness eyes told me all I needed to know. Wheels were turning in pea-sized brains. Key puzzle pieces were still missing, but the questions were forming with every step we took.

Why are they together? That is today's burning question. I heard it behind me in each class. I noticed a couple of teachers giving me a second look as well. Just like I predicted—no one was talking about April's past. She's now tied to me, and this entire school knows that I don't put up with that kind of shit.

"Day going okay?" I ask April as she takes a spot on the grass next to Emily. Close enough to me that people will get the impression we are together but far enough that I can't feel her heat. Someday.

April looks around before answering. "Not bad, I guess. No one but the glitter girls had any words for me about this morning. Mostly people just stayed out of my way."

"The glitter girls?" I ask. I'm not familiar with that title.

"You know, those girls with the sparkles everywhere. Can't go anywhere without the other two and think they own everything here. They are the royalty and we are their peasents." April rolls her eyes.

"Ah. Deena, Farrah and Kara. They do love their sparkles." And they love squashing everyone they consider beneath them. "What did they say?"

She shrugs. "It was more like a warning. They didn't say it to me, but I knew they were talking about me. 'Some girls think they can tame the wolf when really it's the wolf getting ready to strike.'" April mimicks their tones perfectly. "'Right? It's like she wants to be eaten alive!' As if I couldn't figure that one out."

"I'm surprised the third one didn't pipe up." I shake my head and laugh.

"That's because she smirked at me the entire time her girls were chatting. The silent, 'hey, we're talking about you' kind of look."

Those three girls are the worst. But I'm not worried. Eventually they will back off when the rest of the school reminds them who I am.

April, however, surprises me with her next declaration.

"I straightened her right out."

"What? What do you mean?" I lean closer to her, catching a hint of something flowery and sweet that I've come to recognize as all April.

April surprises me again by doing the same, leaning in even closer, letting me in on her conspiracy. "I smirked back and said, 'You three must be dumb as rocks if you think a ride to school equals me being on the menu. Nico is going to laugh his ass off when I tell him.' Then I sat back and laughed as I pulled out my phone and faked a text to you."

My jaw drops. "You name dropped me?" I can't belive she did that. I thought she wanted no association with me whatsoever. Now this. I'm floored.

April just waves me off. "Eh, I wanted to see how much of a rep you really have." Then she goes back to her lunch as if this isn't a huge deal.

"And?" I prompt her for more.

April finishes chewing, in absolutely no rush to enlighten me.

"And—by the way the color drained from all three of their faces I guess you weren't exaggerating." Then she looks at me, really looks, and gives me a smile. A real one. Bigger than I've seen on her before.

And it's fucking beautiful.

If it weren't for all of the freaking eyes watching us, I'd lean a little closer and finally get that kiss I've been dreaming about.

"Oh my god, just get it over with!"

And...moment ruined thanks to Emily. April jumps away from me. I, on the other hand, groan internally. Outwardly I smirk and run my hand through my hair.

"Um...so what's everyone doing this weekend?" April seems nervous as she changes the subject.

"The Lot." Emily declares it like it's obvious. "Place is really kicked up lately. Of course, it's that asshat Matt and his cronies putting it on, but still worth the time."

"What's the lot?" April asks, then glances around.

"Your sitting in it." I hate the thing but I tell her anyway. Better I do it with a warning than Emily and her glowing five star review.

"The back lot crew started using this at night on the weekends to hang out and get rowdy without drawing attention to themselves. It's pretty secluded in the dark. But Matt and his football buddies swooped in like European explorers and staked their claim. Now it's full of meatheads and glitter girls."

April narrows her gaze and turns to Emily. "And why would you want to be surrounded by that."

Is it weird that I'm turned on by her disgust?

"Did you not hear the part about getting rowdy in seclusion?" Emily is laughing, then stops and eyes April. "You're coming." It's not a request.

"Whoa...whoa...whoa...I don't think that's a good idea." I wave my hands in protest then turn to April. "Unless you want more attention. Because going to the Lot is the surest way to get it."

April pats my cheek, exactly the way my mom did last night. "Haven't you noticed that I tend to do what I want, not what everyone else tells me?"

I swallow hard. One, because she touched me and my cheek is on fire. And two, because I have a really bad feeling about this. But if I say anything else, April is sure to go just to give me the finger. I make a quick decision to keep my mouth shut just so I don't push her any further than I've already pushed her.

Emily does the dirty work for me, unfortunately. "Give me your address. I'll pick you up at nine."

"Oh, well...I can't actually. We're hosting an exchange student and she'll arrive on Friday morning."

"She can come. Might as well dive right in, right?" Emily smacks April on the back with more force than April expects. She starts coughing and instinctively, I reach over and rub the spot on her back. That earns me a glare. Then she turns to Emily and drops a bomb.

"Yeah, sure. Sounds good."

Crap. Looks like I'll have to make an appearance at the Lot on Friday.

April glances back at me with an odd look, as though she read my mind. I wink and take another bite of my lunch. Then I lean back against the truck tire I'm sitting next to and remove my eyes from the girl I can't help myself around. This should be interesting.

What a chapter, yeah?? And what a day for me...so busy all day long that this is the first opportunity I've had to post. Nico is goals for me, y'all!! I just love his relationship with his mom. And the way he's moving forward with his plans for April...guys I can HARDLY WAIT for what's coming!!!

Ok this song is so high school to me that I had to use it here. Plus, Close to Me is what Nico's waiting for am I right?

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]