Adding as she tried to keep the laugh off of her face, Kaitlyn said "Besides, I'm pretty sure it'd be awkward if you dated your cousin."
Hearing Kaitlyn say the word 'cousin', April blinked a couple of times before saying "Wait. What?"
Bet you guys weren't expecting Phil and Amy's relationship to be a familial one. ;) Nothing says closer family than cousins (well, siblings are even closer, but that's beside the point...). Now for the follow-up with April's reaction to the news. Enjoy. =)
"Yeah. Fun fact with Phil and Amy. They're actually cousins," Kaitlyn said, rather nonchalantly. "Although, with the way they act, you'd never really think that they were anything more than cousins."
"But, but, how?" April asked, still trying to process this new information. She knew Phil and Amy were close, but April never knew that they were cousins.
"Um, if memory serves right, Amy's mom is Phil's mom's sister. From what Amy tells us, she and Phil have known each other since they were toddlers," Kaitlyn said. "If that explanation makes any sense to you."
"I think it does, in a way," April said, the gears in her head slowing down some. Finally feeling like she had a good handle on what she was just told, April said "So, just to smooth this out. Amy and Phil are cousins that are pretty much like brother and sister."
"That is correct," Alex said, nodding. Seeing the look on April's face, Alex laughed and said "If it makes you feel any better, Phil and Amy aren't the only weird family connection in our group."
"Really?" April asked. Seeing Alex nod her head, April said "Wow. Sounds like there are a lot with you guys."
"A lot that they'll have to explain some other time," Eve said, cutting into their conversation after checking the time on her phone. Looking up, Eve said "I've got to be headed back to school soon, you guys. I've only got a couple of hours to get dressed in my cheerleader uniform before it's time for the game."
"It's gotten that late already?" Kaitlyn asked in disbelief. Checking the time on her phone, Kaitlyn said "Crap! Me and Alex have to get home and change for tonight too."
Hearing the urgency in Kaitlyn and Eve's voices, April asked "Do you guys have to really leave so soon?"
"Hate to, but yeah," Eve said, standing from April's bed and grabbing her backpack. "I've got to be a perky cheerleader tonight for the football team's last game before the season ends. If our team wins this one, they get to go to the state championships."
"And since Matt's me and Alex's brother, we've got to go to show him support," Kaitlyn said as she and Alex stood from April's bed. "Plus if we don't go, Mary'll kill the both of us."
"I take it Mary's a cheerleader too?" April asked.
"And a pretty good one at that," Eve said, nodding her head. "She isn't co-captain of the squad for nothing."
"Whoa," April said, amazed to hear this.
"Can we come with you guys?" Bayley asked. "We want to cheer on Matty too."
"Of course, Bayley. No need to ask us," Eve said, smiling at the younger brunette. While Bayley cheered, Eve looked to April and said "You want to come with us, April? It'll get you out of your room for a while."
"Are, are you sure it's okay if I do?" April asked. "I've, never really been to one of our school's games before."
"Of course it's okay," Eve said. Taking a seat back on April's bed, Eve rested a hand on April's shoulder and said "It'd make me feel a lot better if you did."
"Yeah, April. Come with us. Please?" Bayley begged, flashing puppy dog eyes and a pout at April.
"Well, I can't exactly say No to that face, Bay," April said, giggling a little as Bayley laughed. Nodding her head, April said "OK, you guys. I'll go. I just need to get dressed, which means you guys need to leave."
"Oh. OK!" Bayley chirped, hopping up from April's bed. Looking over to the other three girls as Josh got off of April's bed, Bayley said "Come on, guys. Let's go so that April can have privacy."
"OK, Bayley," Josh said, laughing at his twin as he followed the girls out. Looking back to April, Josh said "I'm glad you're going out tonight, April" before closing April's bedroom door behind him.
Finally getting off of her bed and walking over to her dresser to find an outfit to wear that night, April decided on a white The Nightmare Before Christmas shirt that had purple and black long sleeves stitched into the shorter sleeves of the shirt, a pair of skinny jeans, and her purple high-top Converses. Changing out of her pajamas and into her fresh outfit, April let what she had just recently learned sink in. 'So, all this time I thought Phil and Amy were sneaking around behind my back, it was nothing. They're just really close cousins. I feel like such an idiot for making those assumptions. And, to think, it's all because of my paranoia that this whole mess between me, Phil, and Amy even happened in the first place. I just feel like I should find some way to make up with them. I'll do so after I go out with Bayley, Alex, and Kaitlyn,' April thought. After doing something to her hair and grabbing her hoodie, April put on her glasses as she thought 'I'm going to make things better with Phil. With Amy. With everyone that I've hurt. This, I promise.'
...
"And you're sure that this will be a good idea, Eve?" Mrs. Mendez asked.
"Yes, Mrs. Mendez," Eve said. "I felt April just needs time out and away from her depression, so I think this'll be just the thing to really help get her back to normal."
Looking over to Alex and Kaitlyn, Mrs. Mendez asked "Do you two promise to help Eve and Bayley keep April safe and out of harm's way?"
"Yes, ma'am, Mrs. Mendez," Alex said, nodding her head.
"Our older brothers and our dad are going to be home all weekend, so there'll be people there to keep an eye out for us," Kaitlyn said.
"You can trust them, Mrs. Mendez," Bayley said. "Alex and Kaitlyn are really great at keeping promises and looking out for their friends. You have nothing to worry about."
Hearing this come from Bayley, Mrs. Mendez felt a bit reassured that she could trust Eve's plan. Looking to the oldest of the teens, Mrs. Mendez said "OK. I'll allow it. But, I want you to promise that April will be kept safe."
"I promise, Mrs. Mendez," Eve said. Looking over at Bayley, Kaitlyn, and Alex, Eve said "We all do. We'll make sure April's kept safe."
Getting nods from the other girls to confirm this, Mrs. Mendez said "I'm holding you four to this."
"Holding them to what, mom?" April asked as she came down the stairs.
Turning to her daughter, Mrs. Mendez said "Eve was just telling me about a suggestion for something that you could do over the weekend."
"What was the suggestion?" April asked, feeling a bit uneasy at hearing this as she stopped on the bottom step.
Trying but ultimately failing to hold in her outburst, Bayley said "Eve wants you to have a sleepover with us at Alex and Kaitlyn's house!"
"Yes. That. Thank you, Bayley," Mrs. Mendez said, getting a slightly bashful laugh out of Bayley.
"Me? Go to a sleepover?" April asked, a bit nervously.
"Yes, dear," Mrs. Mendez said. Walking towards her daughter, Mrs. Mendez said "April. You've been worrying your friends and they just want to do something to help cheer you up. Besides, I think it's great that you have such caring friends."
Looking around her mom to see Eve, Alex, Kaitlyn, and Josh sending her smiles, and Bayley smiling while sending her a thumbs-up, April smiled and, looking back up at her mom, said "OK, mom. I'll go with my friends. Are you sure it's alright with you and dad if I go?"
"Of course, April. Who are your father and I to keep you from your friends?" Mrs. Mendez said, smiling warmly at her daughter. "Go with them. Have a weekend away from the house. And, most importantly, try to get over your depression."
"OK, mom," April said, smiling over the fact that her mom was allowing her to stay a weekend away from home; her smile also seemed to stem from the fact that her friends actually wanted her-April Mendez of all people-to spend a whole weekend at their house. Turning on the step she was on, April said "I'll be ready in a minute, guys. Just let me go pack some clothes" before heading back up the stairs to her room.
Standing from his seat as he walked over to embrace his wife, who was smiling as she wiped at her eyes, Mr. Mendez turned to look at the five teens and, smiling, said "I don't even know how to begin to thank you five."
"No need to thank us, Mr. Mendez," Josh said. "April's our friend and we just want to do what we can to help her feel better."
"Does that mean you're going to be with the girls this weekend, Joshua?" Mr. Mendez asked.
"No, sir. I figure it'd be best to leave April to let her spend time with Eve, Bayley, Alex, and Kaitlyn," Josh said. "At any rate, I have plans of my own this weekend with some of our other friends."
"I see," Mr. Mendez said, nodding his head. Turning to look at the four girls, Mr. Mendez said "I'm sure Elizabeth just told you four to make sure April's kept safe. I'm holding you four to this."
"We promise, Mr. Mendez," Eve said. "Like Alex and Kaitlyn said, their brothers and their dad are going to be home, so there'll be supervision over us."
"Good," Mr. Mendez said, nodding his head just as April came back down the stairs.
"OK, guys. I'm ready. I also decided to bring along my make-up work, just in case I need any help with it," April said, readjusting the strap of the duffel bag on her shoulder. Turning to her parents as she hugged them both, April said "Bye, mom. Bye, dad. I'll see you guys Monday."
"Have fun, April dear," Mrs. Mendez said, returning her daughter's hug while she told her many times to be safe and to be on her best behavior.
"Have fun with your friends, híja," Mr. Mendez said, returning April's hug when she hugged him. "Do feel better when you come back."
"I will, papá," April said, pulling away and looking up at her dad. Turning to head out the door with her friends, April said "I'll feel better. Just wait."
Stepping outside as she closed the door behind her, April soon found herself caught up in a tight hug from Bayley. Tapping on Bayley's arm, April gasped out "Bayley. You're, choking, me."
Pulling away, Bayley blushed and said "Sorry, April. I'm just, I'm just so happy that you decided to come out with us."
"I just didn't want you all to keep worrying about me. Now that I've pretty much heard the whole story and everything else, I feel bad that I've caused so much trouble and hurt with my decision," April said. "I just want to apologize and let everyone know I'm okay; more than anything, I want to make up with Phil and Amy."
"And you'll get that chance, April," Kaitlyn said. "But, first thing's first. Your weekend away from your worries with your friends."
"I need to get clothes for myself first, Katie," Bayley said.
"Same here," Eve said. "I mean, I'm sure it'd be pretty weird if I just wore my school and cheer uniforms all weekend."
"Good point," Alex said, nodding in agreement. Turning to look at Kaitlyn, Alex said "I'll go with Eve and Bayley to their houses so that they can get a bag of clothes and stuff. You and April can head on home. And, if Jeff and Trish ask, tell them I'm exploring a new frontier."
"Understood," Kaitlyn said, nodding her head as she and Alex bumped fists and split off, going their separate ways with Alex walking off with Bayley, Josh, and Eve and Kaitlyn walking off with April.
Walking along with the two-toned girl, April asked "So, was it some kind of crazy plan of yours to have a sleepover at your place?"
"No, actually. Credit for this plan goes to Eve," Kaitlyn said. "Crazy as it all still feels, Eve freaking Torres is actually going out of her way to help you."
"Yeah. She is," April said, starting to feel a little better that her friends were doing so much to help her out of her depression. She and Kaitlyn had been walking on and talking for another few minutes when Kaitlyn stopping in front of Chrono Comics caught April by surprise. Confused, April asked "Um, Kaitlyn. What are we doing at Chrono at 6 o'clock on a Friday night?"
"Because, April. If we keep walking, we're going to go right past mine and Alex's house," Kaitlyn said, laughing. Laughing even more at the confused look on April's face, Kaitlyn said "Fun fact about me and Alex. We live above Chrono with our brothers and our dad."
"So, you guys actually live above a comic book store?" April asked, surprised to hear this. Seeing Kaitlyn nod to confirm this, April said "That's so crazy."
"It's only as crazy as you want to make it," Kaitlyn said, laughing. Lightly grabbing April's arm as a chilly wind blew past the two, Kaitlyn shivered and said "Now, come on. It's too cold to just be standing in the middle of the sidewalk at this time of evening."
"OK," April said, letting herself get pulled along behind Kaitlyn. Following the two-toned teen, April let herself get pulled into the front entrance of the store after Kaitlyn finally managed to unlock and open the door. Waiting for Kaitlyn to close and relock the door, April then followed behind Kaitlyn as she headed to the back room she saw Alex disappear into one of the times she had come to Chrono with Phil. After reaching the back room, April followed Kaitlyn up a flight of stairs that was right in front of the two teens. Walking behind Kaitlyn up the stairs, April soon found herself coming up the stairs and, after Kaitlyn opened another door, standing in an entryway. Surprised to be in what was pretty much the entryway of a house. Looking around as she stepped further in, April amazedly said "Whoa."
"Yeah. That's one way to describe our humble home," Kaitlyn said, grinning. Walking forward, Kaitlyn said "You can come sit on one of the couches if you want. I need to change, but it won't take me long."
"OK," April said, taking her first steps into Alex and Kaitlyn's home. Looking around as she stepped forward, April took in the way the house-and she used that term loosely since they were above a comic book shop-was decorated: Pictures of Matt, Jeff, Alex, and Kaitlyn, along with a lot of the other freaks at different ages and some including an older man who April guessed was their dad, covered the walls, the walls were painted a light sky blue color with a white trim along the floor, a few framed certificates were on the wall, and a good number of drawings covered the walls. Taking in how the house was decorated, April couldn't help but get vibes from how Phil's house was decorated. She had gotten snapped out of her thoughts when the sound of excited barking followed by Jeff chasing after the source of the barking filled the living room.
"Lucas. Lucas! Sit boy!" Jeff commanded of the white ball of fur. Scratching the dog behind its ear as the dog wagged its tail, Jeff said "April. You're quite the sight around here."
"Yeah. Bayley wanted to have a sleepover with Alex and Kaitlyn wanted me to come too. It's part of her master plan to help me get over my depression," April said, looking up at the older boy. Biting her lip, April said "And, I just want to apologize. I really didn't mean to make you guys get so worried about me."
"Hey. You don't have to be so sorry," Jeff said, resting a hand on the younger brunette's shoulder. "From what Alex and Kaitlyn have told me, Phil's your first real boyfriend. It's normal for some girls to have different reactions to seeing their boyfriend with another girl."
"That much, I knew," April said, nodding her head. "I just feel bad that I broke up with Phil over a little misunderstanding. If only I knew that he and Amy were cousins, we wouldn't be in this mess."
"No need to beat yourself up so much," Jeff said, reassuringly. "You didn't know. It's not your fault."
"I just can't help but feel like it is," April said, looking down at her shoes as the door swung open behind her and the sounds of two voices could be heard coming up the stairs.
"I'm still amazed that you guys live above a comic book shop," Bayley said, looking around the entryway of the Hardy 'house'.
"There was extra space above the shop," Alex said, grinning over at the brunette. "Better we find somewhere to live in the city so that we'll be near Chrono than stay somewhere on the other side of town."
"It's still pretty cool," Bayley said. Looking ahead of her, Bayley chirped "Hey Jeff!"
"Evening, Bayley," Jeff said, smiling over at the younger brunette. "April here tells me that this sleepover you girls are having here this weekend was all your plan."
"Actually, it was all Evie's plan," Bayley said as she and Alex walked over to where Jeff and April were standing.
"Evie?" Jeff asked, cocking an eyebrow in confusion.
"Believe it or not, the Evie Bayley's talking about is Eve Torres," Alex said. Seeing the look of surprise on Jeff's face, Alex laughed and said "Yeah. That's about the reaction me and Kait had too."
"I think it's going to take a bit of getting used to. After all, you two don't look like the type Eve Torres usually hangs with," Jeff said, pointing between April and Bayley.
"We were friends with her a few years ago. It took me finally telling her off to make her see that her being a bully wasn't good for anyone," April said.
"Oh, really? That's pretty impressive, April," Jeff said, smiling at April which caused the younger brunette to blush as a shy smile spread across her face.
Seeing the exchange happen between the two, Alex said "I need to go get changed. April, you and Bayley can sit in the living room with Jeff while me and Kaitlyn finished getting ready."
"OK!" Bayley chirped while April nodded. Once Alex headed down the hall, Bayley happened to look down at Jeff's feet and see Lucas sitting. "Ooh! You guys have a dog?! He's so cute!"
Laughing as he scratched Lucas behind the ear, Jeff said "Yep. This guy here is Matt's dog, Lucas. He's friendly and a bit of a jumper, so watch out if he tries to hop on you."
"OK," Bayley said, nodding her head. Patting her legs, Bayley said "Here, Lucas. Come here, boy." She was then rewarded with the calf-high dog running over and placing his front paws on her legs. Laughing as she rubbed Lucas's head and Lucas nosed her hand, Bayley said "He's so happy."
"Told you," Jeff said, smiling at Bayley.
April couldn't help the smile that went across her face as she watched Bayley play with the dog. Looking over to Jeff, April asked "Is, it alright if I go sit down?"
"Sure, April. Alex and Kaitlyn oughta be ready soon, so you can sit and wait for them until they're ready," Jeff said.
"OK," April said as Jeff walked over to help make sure Lucas didn't get too rambunctious with Bayley. Heading into the living room area, April took a seat on one of the couches as she looked around and tried to keep her cool. 'It'll be alright, April. Just a weekend with your friends. Nothing bad here. Now to just deal with how to make things right with Phil and Amy. Shouldn't be too hard once I can really apologize to them,' April thought as she picked at one of the sleeves of her hoodie.
...
So far, Phil had been getting through his two week suspension from school as best he could without succumbing to any real boredom; the only real time he had to worry about getting bit by the boredom bug was when 9 came around and he couldn't play his XBox. When this time came around, he'd watch a few movies before he eventually decided to call it a night. During his suspension, he had gotten visits from a few of his fellow freaks, with most of these coming from Alex and Kaitlyn coming to deliver and help with his homework. But, even with all these visits, Phil couldn't help the pit that he still felt in his stomach that came from April's hurt over seeing him and Amy together. The Friday of the following week, deciding to be the first, Phil sent April a number of texts with messages that ranged from a simple 'Hey' to messages that seemed to be a bit more on the emotional side with Phil saying that, if April'd give him a chance, he'd make things right with her by telling her everything. Setting his phone aside as he settled in to watch Silent Hill, Phil thought 'Wherever she is and how she's doing, I just hope April's doing okay. I promise that if she gives me a chance to, I'll fix everything.'
Weird thing about me is that I grew out of the whole sleepover phase of my childhood in middle school...but, I felt the girls having a sleepover would be just the right thing to help April with her depression issues. Now for the rest of the recap. April lets the news of Amy and Phil being cousins sink in and learns from Kaitlyn that there are some rather interesting family ties among the freaks. With Eve getting ready to leave to go cheer, Bayley asks to go to the game and April agrees to go along with Bayley and the girls (no one can say no to Bayley when she's flashing puppy dog eyes...can't be done). One talk with los padres de April (translation = April's parents) later and April finds herself invited to a sleepover with Alex, Kaitlyn, Bayley, and Eve (nice Eve is best Eve) at Alex and Kaitlyn's house. Walking along with Kaitlyn after splitting off from Alex, Bayley, Eve, and Josh, April soon learns that Alex, Kaitlyn, Matt, Jeff, and their dad live above Chrono...in what is a surprisingly homey space. One chat and apology to Jeff later, April soon finds herself joined by Bayley, who's just as amazed to find out that the Hardy siblings (and yes, Kaitlyn is a Hardy sib in this...she just chose to keep her birth last name) live above Chrono with their dad, and Alex. And while Bayley plays with their dog Lucas, April takes a seat on the couch and tries to calm down as she embarks on one of the biggest hurdles she's ever had to leap over in her life...having a weekend sleepover at a friend's house. Switching over to Phil, we see that he's been getting through his suspension without losing his sanity and that he still feels bad about what happened between him and April. So, being the Casanova he is, he sends her a string of texts while making a silent promise to make things right. The theme of Chapter 39 = sleepover fun and how the girls spend their weekend. Expect some bonding/pep talks, fun, and just general craziness from the girls with their first stop being the home football game at their school to cheer on Matt. Until next time, don't forget to R&R please. =)