The Pop-Up Shop

Chapter Ten

RUEL'S POV

I stand outside Dane's house as my dad pulls up and I open the door to hop into the passenger seat. 'Hey mate. That was quick' he says, starting the car

'Yeah, everyone was already drunk and I'm tired. Can you do me a favour?' I ask hopeful.

'What is it first?' my dad presses further and I sigh. 

'Can you drop me off at April's hotel?' I mumble but still loud enough for him to hear. 

'Ruel...' my dad sighs with concern but I shake my head at his thoughts.  

'No, dad. We're not gonna do what you think we're gonna do. Gross' I mumble and he sighs again

'Then what are you gonna do?' he questions and I take a deep breath in

'Ask her to come to America' I admit and my dad keeps his eyes on the road.

'You really like this girl don't you?' he says and I nod

'She's not any girl dad. She's special. I could actually see myself falling in love with her' I admit to him and myself for the first time out loud

'Ruel, you're 16. I doubt you know what love is' 

Ouch, dad. 

'I won't know if I don't give it a shot. Please, dad. I need to ask her tonight or my chance will be gone and I might not see her until November, maybe December.' 

'Fine. If your mother asks, this isn't my fault. You guilted me into it.' he smiles and I chuckle

'That's what happened though?' I smile back as he sighs

'Mate, don't rush into this. We don't want you to get heartbroken' he smiles and I shake my  head

'She's not using me dad' 

'I know but...just be careful' he mumbles as he pulls up to the hotel and I open the door

I knew her room number because she sent me a really cute video an hour ago of her room and gave me a tour over messages. I knock on the door and she opens it wearing one of my oversized merch tee shirts and some pyjama pants underneath

APRIL'S POV

'Oh shit. Just wait. I look like shit'  I quickly pull the door close to my body, covering myself. 

'What? No. You're gorgeous' he shakes his head, making me smile.

'Thanks...Come in' I open the door back up before he follows me to my single bedroom

I lie down on my bed as I already was before he came in. Ruel comes and joins me, wrapping me in his arms after closing the door. 

'So why are you here? Not complaining but I thought you were at the party' I ask in full confusion and curiosity

'I needed to talk to you' I shift a little bit, he sounded serious

'OK, talk'

'I really like you. Like shit, you drive me crazy. I just- you get the point. You probably know that I'm going to America for the next, I don't know. A couple of weeks and then I'm going to Europe and then Asia and I can't bare not seeing you for 2, 3 months' he speaks and I nod, still confused and now slightly concerned.

'Where are you getting at here lanky boy?' I ask with a slight smile and he takes my hand in his. 

'I want you to come to America. Just until school comes back.' he asks, hopeful.

'I-I don't know what to say' I say, completely taken aback by the surprise

'How about yes?' I sigh and look into his beautiful eyes but help into break into a smile.

'Yes...' Ruel instantly smile and wraps me tighter into a hug as he pulls me on top of him, our lips not breaking. 

His arms tightly wrapped around my waist, pulling our bodies closer. Our kisses grow stronger and quicker but we're interrupted by Ruel's phone ringing.

RUEL'S POV

I pick up my phone as April rolls off me and pays attention to the tv

'Where are you?' Nate's blunt voice comes through the phone

'I'm with April. Relax' I say as I can imagine him shaking his head

'I will not relax. You know damn well the rules about girls' I give April a quick kiss in the cheek before going into the bathroom and closing the door

' I don't really care right now. April is different. And she-'

'And I don't really care right now. Are you staying the night?' he cuts me off and asks

'If she's comfortable with it, yeah, I am. You're not my dad Nate' I say as bluntly as he had been for the last minute.

'Yeah but I'm your manager. It's my responsibility to take care of you during tour' he argues and I sigh

'Look, I'm staying here. We're not gonna do anything. Please let me stay' I plead, now acting if he was my dad I was trying to convince and I hear him sigh.

'Fine but you need to be up by 10 and ready to drop April off to the airport. Did you invite her to US?' he asks and I smile at the thought

'Yeah...'

'And she said?' he asks and I look at the ground with a blush.

'Yes'

'Alright. Goodnight' he sighs

'Thanks Nate. Love you'  I could imagine Nate rolling his eyes through the phone as I hung up and go back to April who was under the doona, ready to go to sleep. 

Her eyes were already shut so I turn off the tv and slip into the bed next to her. She rolls over resting her head into my chest and I pull her closer as I kiss her head goodnight

Leaving April was the hardest part of the morning. 

Not getting up, not apologising to Nate a thousand times, walking April to her gate was by far the worst thing. I wrapped her in a tight hug as the final boarding was called for her plane. I give her a quick peck on the lips and she smiles before walking down the runway onto her plane. 

I was definitely counting the days until the US.