April's POV

"You look terrified. What's wrong with you?" It's just Ron. Thank god, it's just Ron. The man in the office who actually does look out for me like a father. Except Ron doesn't care about anyone. Or anything. I can't let him know anything is wrong. He would do one of two things, either A) Kill him. or B) laugh it off and tell me i'm being ridiculous. or maybe I should tell him because if I tell him then it will stop. But what if he takes his side. I can't risk it. But it's been a while so you need to say something for Christs sake April.

"Why do you care? You don't like to get involved in people's' personal problems." There, throw his own words back at him. He can't argue with himself.

"Fair point, but you look as if there's an armed robber hiding in the office." Dammit Ron just stop with the questions.

"As fun as that would be, there isn't. And i'm fine, okay?"

"Okay. I will be in my office. Make sure no one bothers me. Please and thank you." He walks into his office and pulls out a piece of wood and a knife. To each his own I guess. I look down at the clock on the computer screen. Still 13 minutes. But if I wait then everyone will come back, and I can't get rid of everyone as easily as Ron. Maybe I should just leave. Ron wouldn't care. Besides, he was busy with his wood. He wouldn't even notice. I leave my jacket on the chair and take my phone and wallet. I shove my nearly empty purse in the desk drawer and head out. Hoping to make my quick and inconspicuous getaway. I won't even say hi to Andy. I just need to get out of the building and away from that tiny piece of yellow paper.

Andy's POV

God does anyone actually look like this? This guy has a fucking 8 pack, the shit? I thought it was 6? Whatever man i'm still great. I mean, I bet mister 8 pack can't even sing. or play the guitar.

"Shoe shine." I yell it out enthusiastically and flip to the next page of the magazine I found.

"Shoe shine." I look up quickly and see April walking somewhere. That's weird. she usually says hi.

"Oh! hey!" She turns around hesitantly and looks at me, and I can barely hear her say hey. I put the magazine down kinda hard on the stand to get her attention. she looks kinda lost, maybe annoyed. yeah that was probably it.

"I've been thinking about your gay boyfriend all day." wait, that sounded super wrong. And I can tell by the look she gives she thinks so too. Oh well, she knows what I meant.

"I have got, some awesome ideas." I was super confident about these too, they were great.

"Okay." She sounds a bit off. Maybe it was just how she was today. She gets like that sometimes.

"Spray tan gift certificates?" I mean, hello! She looks up like he's thinking about it.

"Ugghftf, no." She says it with a little head shake. Okay whatever, better ones where that came from.

"Trip to Germany! Germany is awesome."

"And expensive." Shit, right.

"Good call, I, didn't think of that." I say as I look back at the list. I'm about to say another one when she cuts me off.

"Okay, uhh. You know how people say that you should give gifts you would want to get yourself? What would you want?" What I would wan-

"Oh easy, Indianapolis Colts Reggie Wayne jersey, number 87, double XL, home blue, signed by Reggie Wayne right after he catches a touchdown to win the Superbowl." Duh, who wouldn't want that? She just kinda stares at me blankly before she says okay and turns around to go back to where she was initially going.

"No? Hip hop abs dance fitness dvd!" That probably existed somewhere. But she just keeps walking. It looked like she was headed towards the exit. But that makes no sense? She has no coat or purse and it isn't even 5 yet. Oh well, maybe She left something in her car. I'll ask her next time I see her. I hope that's soon. Woah, that thought kinda came out of nowhere. Whatever, it was true. And April is awesome. Everyone should be happy when they get to see her. even if she doesn't like that. She was great.

April's POV

I can't help but smile to myself as i'm leaving Andy's stand. I hadn't meant to stop but it did help calm me down a bit. Maybe I can make it until five. And besides, I did leave my coat on my desk chair. I should just go and stop being pathetic. I turn the corner sharply to go back around to Parks and almost collide with Tom.

"Hey watch where you're going, I almost dropped my phone."

"Oh you poor thing." He was way too obsessed with that thing. Maybe I should hide it and see how many seconds it takes him to find it. That could be fu-

"Hey look you found April." I instantly feel myself tense in spite of myself.

"Yeah, she almost broke my phone." He said it in his whiny Tom voice but I barely hear it. My eyes are focussed on the guy who just walked up behind him.

"Cause that would be the worst thing to happen" He said it trying to be cute. And then I can see him look me up and down. God he was repulsive.

"Hey April, where you headed?"

"My house." I try to sound sharp but even I can hear how weak I sound compared to my usual self.

"Where's your sweater? It's kinda cold out." God don't say shit like that.

"I didn't wear one." Lie. Why can't he just leave me alone?

"You sure? I coulda swore you did." Yeah because you stare at my chest all day creep.

"Nope. I didn't. End of story. Goodbye." I turn back around again to my original location. The exit.

Tom's POV

"She seem, weird to you? Not just like April weird, but weird?" She was half whispering a few answers. And when she almost bumped into me I think I saw goosebumps on her arm.

"Not any more than usual I would say. Hey did you finish all your stuff for Leslie?" That was a quick conversation change. Whatever, she was probably fine.

"Yeah I think so. You?"

"Yup. I am gonna go to my office and then head out. Night Tom."

"Night man." He turns down towards his section of city hall as I walk towards Parks. When I get in I quickly glance at April's desk, and there was definitely a sweater on the back of her chair.

end of chapter 3