Six Months Later – June
Megan came out of the shadows of the tent, holding up a dream catcher to show it off to April. "Look at how cute this is."
"Oh my gosh!" April spoke, going for the price tag. Before she could even read the numbers, Troy picked it up from Megan's hands, putting it in their basket. April gave him an annoyed look, but she couldn't help this bright smile on her face. "Stop it."
"I can't buy my girlfriend things?" He taunted before wrapping his arm around April's shoulders.
"Keep him." Megan loudly whispered into April's ear, loud enough for Troy to hear.
April rolled her eyes at her best friend before looking back to Troy. She didn't expect any of this to happen. After Mike, she didn't expect to fall for anyone ever again, but Troy was there at the right time and he was so sweet. She liked him, but she knew she would probably never fall for him, but then again, she probably wouldn't fall for anyone again. Not as hard as she fell for Mike.
Leah's arm was looped through Mike's arm as they walked through the flea market. "I like having you home more often." she whispered as Mike smiled at what she said.
He hated it. It had been six months since he was technically fired and he now had a desk job at the Treasury. He missed his old job, but mostly, he missed April. He was going to give up everything for her. He had the divorce papers written out, he was going to sit down with Leah and explain he had fallen in love with someone else, but then the accident happened.
April begged for him to stay, but after what Ben told him, he just couldn't. It broke both of their hearts, but he had to do it. Although, not a day went by that he didn't think of her or how she was doing.
Megan was fiddling with her new camera, testing out the lens. During the spring semester, she had really gotten into photography. She took one photography class because she needed a fine arts credit and ended up falling in love with it. She put the camera up to her eye, hoping to catch some artsy picture of all the people walking through, but she ended up seeing someone she hadn't seen in a long time. "Holy crap!"
"What?" April asked, appearing right next to Megan, Troy still checking out the rugs.
Megan looked to April, not at all sure how she would take this, but she couldn't just not let her know. "Mike!"
Megan pointed to where she had seen him, April following her finger to where the love of her life was standing. April felt herself stop breathing, watching him lean to the left with his right hand in his right pocket. His hair was getting longer, she figured he would decide to grow it out now that he didn't have to keep it military grade short. She could see that dazzling blue from where she stood, his cheeks still a little chunky, not matching the rest of his toned, muscular body.
That last kiss they shared was lingering on her lips, she could feel the pulsation and smell his scent all over again. She still hadn't taken a breath, thinking of it all. "Dude, breathe." Megan spoke, watching her best friend struggle to even take the breath in.
"That's really him." She spoke breathlessly, trying to focus on her breathing. How could she though when Mike Banning was right there?
Megan looked to April, seeing every inch of her face want for Mike, so she was going to do something drastic. She cupped her hands to magnify her voice before calling out, "MIKE!"
April immediately turned to her friend, talking negatively while Mike turned to where he had heard his name, seeing the back of a brunette head and Megan arguing. There was only unnatural brunette she would be around was, "April?"
April turned to look at him, her breath hitching at the same time his did. Neither of them knew what to do. Should they say something? Ignore each other? Run? April's heart ached thinking on how he blamed himself, the day he was transferred. She thought about all the crying she did, the days spent locked in her room mourning for her dead mother and her lost lover.
Ben's words just kept running through his mind. Please, Mike, don't bring my daughter into something she won't be able to survive. That didn't mean they couldn't be friends, did it?
Mike flashed her a smile, making her heart stop beating. He began to walk over, April turning to Megan in a panic, Megan seeming to have the same look on her face. "Dump him."
"What?" April asked in complete confusion, turning all the way around to look at her.
"Troy." April suddenly gave her an annoyed look as Mike got even closer. "Dump him. Pick Mike."
"This isn't the Bachelor." April hissed.
"April," Mike repeated, finally reaching her.
April turned around, not at all sure how to act. She wanted to punch him, yell at him for leaving her when she needed him the most. She wanted to cry to him, tell him how much she missed him. She wanted to jump in his arms and kiss him, tell him how much she loved him.
Instead of all of those things, she settled on a warm smile and a hug. "Hey." She almost sang as she moved to hug him. The moment they hugged, she had to stop herself from kissing him.
"Hey." Mike said back, returning her hug, remembering their passion on Thanksgiving Day. When they pulled away, Mike stared at her, remembering how great her lips tasted. Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw Megan with a big cheesy smile, knowing she was the one of the only people who knew about their affair.
"Hey, Megan." he spoke in an almost tired voice, but in all honestly, he missed how nosy and inappropriate she was.
"She gave him a head nod with her arms crossed. "What's up, Mike?"
He shook his head at her before leaning in to give her a side hug. "Some things never change."
"I'm a wonder." Megan spoke, looking up, very full of herself in that moment.
"Hello?" They all turned to see Leah coming up from behind Mike.
April immediately stiffened. She had never met her before, but she had seen her once through Leah and Mike's closet shutters. Although, April knew she was the "other woman" in all of this. She was shaking. How was she supposed to introduce herself? Hello, I'm April, your husband fucked me in your own bed while you were saving lives at work.
Mike was obviously terrified too. He wanted to please them both, but he just didn't know how. He put his hand on Leah's back, April now really feeling what it was like to be the other woman. She knew no matter what he felt for her, she was always going to be the side chick. "April, this is Leah. Leah, April."
April leaned forward to shake Leah's hand as Megan looked back and forth at the two, knowing the same thing April and Mike knew. "Nice to finally meet you."
"Likewise." Leah told her with a big smile. "And I'm so sorry for your loss. I don't know if it's too late…" she trailed off when she saw the look on both April and Mike's faces. "I'm sorry."
April shook her head, not wanting Leah to feel guilty. She should be the one to feel guilty. "Nothing to apologize about."
Mike looked April up and down, noticing she had let her bangs grow out. "How have you been, Showers?"
April smiled at her nickname she hadn't heard from his mouth in months. Everyone else around them was confused, but that name was everything to April. "I'm fine."
That's when Troy came up behind her. Mike gave him a confused look, April practically jumping when she noticed him. "Mike," she spoke, putting her arm around Troy's waist as he put his around her shoulders. Mike stiffened then, knowing what she was going to say before she even said a thing, feeling like a knife was in his heart. "This is my boyfriend, Troy."
Mike swallowed before leaning forward to shake his hand, April watching Mike better than anyone. "Hey," Mike spoke. "I was in the Secret Service, watching over April."
April smiled a little bit as all the dirty jokes began running through her head. "You're Mike." Troy spoke with a nod as they let go of each other's hands. "April has told me so much about you."
When no one was looking, Mike gave April a confused look, wondering if she had told him everything. She just shook her head quickly like it was the most obvious thing in the world before looking back to Megan and Troy. "We were just out doing some shopping." April added.
"Same." Leah and Mike spoke in unison. April gulped. They knew each other so well, and they always would. They were married and her and Mike weren't. Mike then turned to Leah, noticing the sad expression on April's face. "You know, April and Megan are working on getting into the nursing program."
"That is fantastic!" Leah spoke enthusiastically while looking back and forth at the girls. "There are actually some openings in my hospital for nursing assistants."
"What do you know?" Megan commented while turning to look at April. "Nursing assistants are being hired at Leah's hospital."
"Yeah," April spoke, looking over to her, slightly angry.
"You two should apply." She spoke again, not picking up on what Megan was finding so funny. With all of Mike's talk of Leah, this wasn't what she expected. She expected her to be cold and unreasonable, but she was sweet and warm. She felt herself hating Mike. Hating him and herself for doing this to Leah. "I could be your RN."
"That would be great!" April exclaimed, honestly wanting to get out of this situation as quick as possible. "Well, we should go. We have a test coming up we need to study for."
"Well, it was nice meeting you." Leah put her hand out, April taking it in hers almost immediately. When April looked at her, she felt like she was leaving the contestant that beat her on a game show. A game show Leah didn't even know she had won yet, but everyone seemed to know April had lost.
When they finally broke the handshake, she looked to Mike who had just broken a hug with Megan. The two looked at each other, knowing that if they didn't hug, everyone would know something was up. April almost fell into his hug, taking a deep breath in, missing his scent and the feeling of his arms around her. Mike missed how perfectly short she was. How their heights just perfectly fit together. How her hugs were almost therapeutic.
When they finally pulled apart, April held onto his arms for a bit longer, looking into his eyes with a smile. Mike looked to her, knowing they couldn't get back together, but they could still be friends. "I'll call you and we'll hang out." Mike told her with a nod.
April smiled just a little bit, feeling almost like they were back together. "I'd like that."
When she finally let go of his arms, she felt like she was breaking up with him all over again, but there was no way she could let any of them standing there know. "Bye."
"Bye." Mike told her, lingering a look at her a little longer before turning around with his arm going around Leah, that one thing hurting April more than anything.
"She wasn't what I expected." Leah told Mike, leaning into him a little more.
"Who?" Mike asked, leaning into her a little more. "April?"
"Yeah," she spoke with a shrug. "I just expected a spoiled rich girl."
"April's not like that." Mike spoke, defending her with an edge in his voice.
"Yeah," Leah spoke with a nod. "I know, but there's just some things you expect being in that position of power."
Mike looked to her, almost irritated and most definitely offended. He decided to ignore it and not talk about April Asher for the rest of their time shopping. Although, when Mike turned around to look at April, she looked so happy with her new boyfriend. He was happy that she was able to move on from him, but he couldn't disguise the fact that it hurt.
"Wow," Troy spoke as the group walked away. "He wasn't what I expected."
"What did you expect?" April asked.
Troy scoffed. "I don't know, some brain dead macho man."
April and Megan both looked to him, annoyed with what he had just said. This was Mike he was talking about. "Mike isn't like that." April defended.
"It's just something you expect from people who look like that." April looked to him, almost disgusted that he would say something like that about anyone, but it stung even more that it was Mike. April then turned around to look at Mike with his arm around Leah. She sighed, knowing Mike broke up with her and he chose to be with Leah. He deserved all the happiness in the world and if she was what made him happy, then he should be with her, but all of her wanted him to be with her.
Mike was sitting in his car, ready to drive home from work, but he just kept thinking about meeting April yesterday. There was nothing wrong with the two being friends. Ben didn't say anything about the two being friends. He looked at his phone, going to the number he hadn't looked at in ages. "Come on, Mike." He whispered to himself. "It's just April." He looked out the window, becoming suddenly nervous again. "The love of your life that the President of the United States made you leave.
On the other side of the spectrum, April was looking through the kitchen, trying to find something to eat since it was Monica's day off. She remembered there were pizza rolls in the freezer for days like this, making her get suddenly happy. That's when her phone began to ring. She looked to the caller ID, smiling a little bit. She couldn't believe it. She had saw him yesterday and now he was calling. She didn't expect them to get back together, but at least now she knew that he missed her as much as she missed him. "Hello?"
"April," Mike spoke, all of his nerves going haywire when he heard her voice.
"Hey, Mike." She chuckled out a little bit. She could hear it in his voice.
"What's up?" April furrowed her eyebrows together. She knew Mike. He wasn't one to call to catch up. When he called, it was to gather information, apologize or make plans. His phone conversations never lasted more than a few minutes.
"Um, not much. I'm about to eat. Why? What do you want?"
Mike chuckled a little, remembering how much they would flirt together. "Why do you assume I want something?"
"Because I know you, Mike." She challenged, adjusting the hold she had on her phone while Mike continued to smile through the phone. "Now I'll ask you again, what do you want?"
"I wanted to know if we could hang out sometime soon." April almost dropped the phone out of her hands. She couldn't believe this was happening. "You know, as friends."
"Um," That last sentence took her off guard, but they were friends before, they could be friends again. In all honestly, she missed him being in her life, and if he could be in her life again as friends, she would take it. "Yeah, that'll be fun."
"Alright," Mike sighed out. There was an awkward silence between the two, neither of them knowing how to continue.
"I have tickets to an art gala tomorrow, Troy can't come, wanna go?"
"Yeah, sure." Mike was getting excited. He was actually having plans to hang out with April which was something he hadn't done in a long time.
"Black tie event."
"Black tie event." He repeated, already knowing what he was going to wear, not like he had a million and one choices like April.
"I'll text you the address and we can meet there."
"It's a date." They let a pause take over, knowing how awkward it was to use that word in their very complicated situation. "Not a date." He corrected quickly. "Just a…" He could hear April chuckle on the other end of the phone, making him get a smirk, realizing she was enjoying listening to him fumble for words. "You know what I mean."
"Goodbye, Mike."
Mike took a moment, smiling at her. He really did miss her. "Goodbye, April."
When April hung up the phone, she looked down at the granite in the island in the kitchen, smiling to herself. Then she remembered she had nothing to wear.
"Oh my god." Megan exclaimed as April tried on her third dress. "You're going on a date with him."
"It is not a date." April groaned, fixing up the dress before she showed it off to Megan.
When she turned around, Megan's eyes got wide at the sight of it. "Wow, someone's trying hard."
April looked down to her chest, noticing her cleavage almost popping out of the dress. "I knew it was too booby."
"Way too booby for a married man."
April turned to look at her best friend, sighing and going back to her dresses with her head down, thinking about it all again. "Why do you keep throwing that in my face?"
"Because I was there when he left without a reason." Megan spoke, crossing her arms with a deep sigh. "And when you cried yourself to sleep without him." April turned back to her, biting her lip, remembering all about those devastating months, about how she was just getting back on her feet when he had rushed back into her life. "I don't want to see you hurt like that again."
April turned back to her with a new dress held up to her body, deciding to ignore her. "What about his one."
"April," Megan complained. "Promise me that nothing will happen between the two of you until he is completely, one hundred percent divorced."
April hurried to her friend, sitting down with her, holding her hands with the dress still lying on her body. "I promise you and myself I won't."
Megan smiled right back to her, looking her over before coming up with a final decision. "Get the little black dress out."
April's eyes got wide at that suggestion. "Are you sure that's not too sex – "
"It's not too sexy. I said don't do anything until he's divorced, I didn't say you couldn't speed up the process with your super-hot body." She hurried to her closet, pulling out the dress. "Just don't look into his eyes for longer than five seconds, I don't need that romantic brain to start falling for that tall, dark and damaged." April rolled her eyes, getting off the bed and looking to the dress. "This is going to kill him." April threw her head back in laughter before taking it from her and hurrying to put it on.
April looked through the art exhibits, pausing, taking in the silence the two shared to form some opinions about the different pieces. Really though she didn't want her and Mike to get talking about the old times. She knew Megan was right. Until he was an official man back on the market, nothing could happen between them. "That one's nice." Mike commented before taking a sip of his wine. "Very modern."
April began to chuckle, knowing it was more abstract than anything. "You have no idea what the hell you're talking about, do you?"
"No." Mike chuckled through another sip of wine. "I really don't."
"You know we could have done something else, right?" April turned to look at him, noticing he was still looking at the painting. "Something, you know," She thought back to their first date, getting a big smile. "Like burgers and beers."
Mike smiled down into his wine, knowing just what she was getting at. "You make me sound so uncultured." April smiled before looking back to the painting when Mike turned his head to her. He didn't know if she did it on purpose, but that black dress was killing him. It hugged every single curve she had and the top was respectable, but still held a fair amount of cleavage. He also really loved her hair like that. It wasn't all stuck in one place. It was free to fall down all the different sides of her face, shoulders, back. It made her look free and he loved that look on her.
"So tell me what a perfect night with me would consist of." April asked, looking around to make sure no one was watching before sipping some of Mike's wine.
Mike couldn't help all the dirty thoughts running through his brain. The perfect night with her would include a lot of bondage and foreplay. "I'll let you know when I fine it."
April turned back to him, taking a deep breath. This was so hard. Being "just friends" with someone you're in love with is so hard. Mike was her best friend. Always would be, but she missed lacing her hand through his. She missed kissing him until she was out of breath.
A few of the painters around them began packing up their works, catching April's attention to her surroundings again. "I think they're closing up. We should probably go."
"Yeah." Mike spoke, doing his safety checks before putting his arm on her back and guiding her out as April smiled to herself. Some things never change.
When they finally got outside, April began to draw into herself at how cold it had gotten. Mike looked to her, immediately beginning to take off his jacket for her. "You're cold."
"No." She refused instantly this whole thing starting to feel like an awkward first date, fumbling limbs and all.
"I insist." He spoke, wrapping the jacket around her before she could protest. When it was finally on her shoulders, he took a moment, looking in the eyes he hadn't been that close to in so long. They were so gorgeous like perfect little diamonds. April looking into his too, seeing the sea of damage swirling in the color, wanting with her all to jump in and fix it. That's when she remembered Megan's rule not to look into his eyes for longer than five seconds.
She broke away quickly, looking in the other direction before pushing a strand behind her ear. Mike did the same, looking off quickly, eyes cursing him for doing so. "I'm sorry." She spoke, fingers still fiddling with her hair.
"My fault." He spoke, throwing his hands up in defense.
April finally turned back to him as he did, smiling brightly. She hadn't left yet and she already wanted to see him again. "We should do this again." She told him, still keeping her smile.
"Maybe not an art gala next time." He spoke while walking her back to the car O'Neil was waiting out of.
"Burgers and beers." She told him, turning back to look at him as he rolled his eyes.
"Maybe something in the middle."
When they reached the car, O'Neil immediately stuck his hand out, the two hugging each other and sharing a small greeting as April just watched Mike. With every move he made, she wished she had him again. Mike finally turned back to her, giving her a smile before leaning in for a hug. "See you, Showers."
She rolled her eyes, but part of her made her hold on tighter because she was leaving him. "Later, Banning." She whispered before breaking away from him and climbing into the car.
Mike was the perfect gentleman, not leaving his spot until the moment the car was out of sight. April threw her head back before pushing her hair back from the beginning of her hairline. "Oh, I know that look." O'Neil retorted, looking to her in the rearview mirror.
She rolled her eyes at him, looking out the window with a sigh. "Oh, just keep driving, O'Neil."
He chuckled a little, noticing what she was still wearing. "Nice jacket."
That's the minute she realized she still had it on. She smiled to herself while leaning further into her seat and wrapping the jacket around her even further as O'Neil smiled to himself. It was only a matter of time before those two got together again.
Mrs. HappyAnarchy: I know! It will be a while before I will be over the death of someone that talented. Sorry I had to make you cry double.
Kagome309: Mike needs to pull it together. Thanks for your review, sweetie!
NGArmyWife: Thank you! Your review literally had me smiling all day.
Monse: Hehehe, thanks
MisfitCarter: I'm sorry I messed with your emotions, but I just had to. I hope you liked some of the April/Mike action in this chapter. And I hope it doesn't rain too much on your face.
Hey, guys. This chapter just came out really quick. I just couldn't stop writing once I started. I was drunk last night and still trying to write so you know there was a lot of editing today. I hope you all liked it and remember to review! See ya soon!