Clash

Chapter four - India

I slip out of the house, through the French doors into the garden,
"India," a voice says from behind me. I turn around. My mum stands in the kitchen with one hand on her hip, "What are you doing?"
"I'm just going in the garden," I say innocently,
"Ok," she says, "What time will you be back from April's?" Well that's my secret out the window.
"I don't know, whatever,"
She sighs, "India," she says in her mum speech voice,
"Mum," I say,
"India, listen," she walks towards me, "I don't mind you going to April's, but I was talking to her mum the other day,"
"Were you? That's interesting,"
She shakes her head at me, "Vanessa said that April's not been having a great time at school lately. Have you been leaving her out of things?"
I try and speak, but she holds up her hand and cuts me off before I get the chance, "It's just, recently you've made a lot of new friends, and I hardly ever see April round here anymore,"
"Mum, I'm in a rush," I remind her impatiently, "Can you just let me get on with my life the way I want to? God, just leave me alone for once!" I slam the door and run down the garden, through the loose board in the fence and into April's garden. She is standing at the door to let me in, "Hey!" I whisper. She puts her finger to her lips and leads me upstairs to her room. I sit on the bed and she sits on the floor, "So," I say, "First day of school!"
"Yeah, first day of hell," she replies. She doesn't bring up the library incident.
"Did you have a good day?" I ask her awkwardly,
"Not too bad," She replies. Neither of us speak for what feels like hours. Eventually I can't stand it, "Look, I'm sorry about earlier!" I say,
"What's there to be sorry about?" She says,
"I don't know, but I can tell you're mad at me about it, which is kind of unfair since you don't even know the whole story," I take a deep breath after my speech,
"No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me," She rolls her eyes. I hardly notice her,
"I was in the library with some friends after school looking for some movies to watch at the weekend, since its Serenas birthday and we're having a movie night, and these guys from the year above came along and started talking to us and oh my god they were so hot and actually really nice,"
She nods. She seems to understand. So I continue,  "And basically this guy Ashley was being really nice to me and he asked if I wanted to go help him look for some books he needed so I said ok and we went to look for some books, then we were behind a bookshelf, you know the one by the beanbags. Anyway, it was like a love story. It was amazing, we were reaching for the same book and our hands touched on top of the book. Then he just said, "India, I think you're really beautiful and a really nice girl." And I went crazy because he's so nice as well, and then he kissed me and it was amazing, and then..."

"You ended up making out on a beanbag," April finishes the sentence for me.

"Well, I wouldn't have put it like that. But yes, essentially. Yes,"
We both stare out the window for a bit, "And we're going out this weekend," I say absent-mindedly,
"I thought it was serenas birthday," April shoots at me,
"On Saturday," I reply, "On Sunday we're going to a movie,"
"Isn't there something you're forgetting?" She asks. I think for a minute,
"Ok what is it?"
"My birthday is on Sunday."
My hands fly to my face, "Oh god, sorry April,"
"It's cool," she says, "I'll just do something with Ben instead,"
"Do something with Ben?" I say, surprised, "I didn't know Ben was back?"
"Well, he is," She stands up and looks at the clock, "I think my parents will be back soon. You should go."
"Wait... April,"
"India, I don't know about you, but I don't want to get grounded,"
"April, it's only 8 o'clock,"
"I know, but they're about to be back. Go," she shoos me out of her bedroom door and closes it behind me. I stare at the door for a second, then shrug and head to the stairs. On the way down I meet halfway with April's younger brother, Ben. "Hey India!" He says,
"Hey Ben!" I say, then push past him, run down the hall and out of the house.