Ben smiled and his heart swooned as he watched the remarkable smile on April's lips. His smile faded as he remembered that she was smiling at Chris, not him. He'd do anything to be in Chris' present position. Ben got angrier when he saw that Chris had no intention of letting go of April's fingers so he decided to interfere.

'Hey guys', Ben said as he approached their table. Chris let go of April's hand to meet the gaze of his brother and Ben grinned in satisfaction. 

'Ben', April said, 'join us'.

'It's nice to meet meet you,step sister ' Ben told Monica with a wink as he sat down next to her.

'Pleasures all mine', Monica said 'not everyone can see ghosts'.

'So what do you do on Fridays?', ben asked Monica.

'Anything. I don't have a daily routine or something'.

'we've been meaning to ask you something'.Ben  said 

'Who's we?' Monica asked 

'Chris and I', Ben answered. 'We just wanna ask you to make sure our dad and our sister are okay'.

'No problem' April said. 'Monica lives here, she'd do that'.

'Thanks', Chris said.

'Yeah we appreciate it', Ben said.

***

'Should I expect this every time I come back from school?', April asked as she dropped her bag on the bed. She rested against her dressing table and stared at Chris and Ben.

'We're sorry If we're intruding', Chris said softly. 'it just feels go to know that someone can see us'.

April studied his expression as she imagined what it felt like to be invisible.

'I didn't mean it that way', April said. ' I like being around you guys. It's just that am not used to having people around. Monica is my only friend'.

'Not anymore', ben said. 'We're your friends now'.

April nodded. She looked at them thoughtfully for a moment

"Do you guys eat?", April asked. The twins glanced at each other and burst into laughter.

"What's funny?", April asked. They ignored her question and continued laughing. Infuriated, she grabbed a pillow from her bed and flung it towards them. The pillow flew through Chris and hit the picture frame on her table. The picture frame fell and broke. April's hand flew to her mouth as she made a mental note never to throw things at ghosts. She rushed over to the picture frame, brushing past the twins. She knelt on one knee as tears fell from her eyes. The picture frame was a birthday present from her father, alongside her car. She picked out the picture from the shards of glass and set it on the table. She bent again to pick up the glass and Chris joined her. As April gazed into Chris smiling face, she knew it was going to be hard to keep herself from falling for him.

April was alone in her room after Chris and Ben had left. Tomorrow was Saturday and she was happy. She was going to see her dad. Excited, she got up and ran downstairs, singing a a song. Josslyn was sitter at the dinning table, eating. Still singing , April settled down on the sofa in the living room.

'Stop singing', Josslyn said.' It's horrible'.

'Dad likes It when I sing', April exploded.

' I'm not your father', Josslyn said.

' Right', April said. ' Fortunately for me, tomorrow is Saturday.I'm gonna see my dad again.

'No you're not', Josslyn said, staring straight at April.

April got up and walked towards her mother. 'What.... on earth.... are you talking about?'.

'You're needed tomorrow ', Josslyn said.' At the studio'.

'What studio?', April asked. ' What do you mean?'.

'My studio', Josslyn answered. 'I need an artist. We need someone to draw our models for exhibitions'.

'I can't draw models', April said. 

'Come on, baby girl,' Josslyn scoffed. 'We both know you can. You're a great artist.

'Okay, let me rephrase that', April said. She cleared her throat before continuing. ' I don't wanna draw your models'.

Josslyn stood up and walked towards her

'You my dear, are gonna do as I say', Josslyn said. ' or else'.

'Or else what, mum?', April asked sarcastically. 'You're gonna sell me into slavery?'.

Josslyn smiled wickedly.' I wish that were an option but I have something much better in mind.

'Which is?'

I'll make sure you never see your father again', Josslyn said going back to her sit. ' And I know how much you lové him. You'd do anything'.

'You're crazy', April said with tears falling down her eyes. " You are threatening you own daughter. Why do you hate me this much?! What did I do to you?'

April shook her head bitterly as more tears fell. Unable to stand her mother's presence anymore, she ran upstairs to her room and continued crying.

"What happened?"

April rose up suddenly to see Chris leaning against her window. She wiped her tears as Chris came closer to the bed. She lowered her gaze and bit her lower lip. He took her hand in his.

"What happened?"He asked again 

April looked at him.'My mum doesn't want me to go to my dad's tomorrow'.

'Why?' Chris asked. 'I thought she didn't care about anything you do '.

April was finding it hard to concentrate. All she could think of was the feel of Chris' hand against hers.

'Well she wants me to do something for her tomorrow'.

'What? '

'She wants me to draw her stupid models for exibitions', April said.' If I don't, I'll never see my dad again. Her words, not mine'.

'So what are you gonna do?' Chris asked

April exhaled sharply.'i guess I have no choice but to do what she wants'.

'its okay ' Chris said.'You're gonna be okay'. He said pulling her against his chest.

April nodded against his chest. ' I hope so'.

There was silence for some seconds before April raised her head.

'Thanks for being around', she said smiling. 'And for being my friend'.

Chris said nothing. He just kept staring at her. He leaned closer and April closed her eyes waiting for him to kiss her.She felet his lips brush gently against her forehead. She opened her eyes to find out he was gone . She felt a little disappointed at his departure. She let out a breathe she didn't realise she was holding.

"What the hell? " April whispered to herself.