Ten

April woke up in the middle of the night, she put on a robe over her usual bralette and panties, not bothering to tie it.

She was thirsty so she went to get water from the kitchen and drank. Just as she was drinking, her mind went to a few hours ago and she shut her eyes in embarrassment.

If not for Orion quickly rushing her to her bathroom, she would have emptied the contents of her stomach right on the dining table.

Apparently, she couldn't keep her food since she had unwillingly stuffed them down her throat.

She was glad her parents didn't make it a big deal, they just thought she was coming down with something. An assumption only Orion knows wasn't true.

She rinsed her cup, placing it back, before getting out f the kitchen.

She almost had an heart attack when she found Orion in the living room. She quickly brought then ends of her robe together, making the rope useful.

He was sitting there shirtless, his sword pendant necklace shining in the dim light, staring into nothingness.

April wasn't that careful with the sound of her feet or opening her door so she knew he knows she was out, he just looked too lost in his thoughts to care.

She wanted to mind her business but it was like a force was pulling her towards him, she couldn't turn her back.

She walked towards him, immediately gulping when her eyes involuntarily landed on his chest and abs. She turned her head sharply taking her seat at the end of the couch he was sitting on.

"You can't sleep?" she asked.

"Go to sleep, April," Orion said, ignoring her question.

"Is Iver's room uncomfortable?" April asked again.

"What were you even thinking?" he suddenly asked.

April's heart picked up it's beat.

She immediately knew what he was asking without needing him to expatiate. Now she regretted approaching him, she should have just sneaked back into her room.

"You don't know how hard it is," she replied him.

"That's an excuse. I don't think it is really that hard for a strong girl like you to handle," Orion said.

"I'm not strong," April countered and faced him, finally allowing herself to be vulnerable with him.

He turned his head to her and they just stared at each other for about a minute. April got self-conscious and looked away first, subtly covering her exposed thigh with her robe.

"You are. I think you just don't love yourself enough," he finally spoke.

April was upset with that statement.

She looked away from him, stood up and left for her room, going straight to her wardrobe. She brought out the wooden apple and threw it away, it landed on the bed, bounced and fell to the floor.

She was so upset she angrily threw her sheets and pillows against the wall. She finally collapsed unto the seat in front of her desk.

Her hand absentmindedly picked her pencil and she took out a plane white sheet from the stack, placing it in front of her. She began sketching, creating every stroke delicately.

Fifteen minutes later, she had sketched the image of the person she knew so well, but like her other drawings and paintings, it was incomplete.

Her mind went back to what her high-school bullies would always say to her. At this point, she thinks they might be right.

She may end up being a worthless person, a girl that doesn't amount to anything.

She walked to her bed and laid down, a tear slipped down and sleep took her immediately, not because she was really sleepy but because she was emotionally and mentally weak.

Orion spent twenty more minutes in the living room before standing up.

He walked to April's door.

His hand paused on the handle and he smiled at the threat she had made six years ago to cut off the leg of any male that enters her room.

He opened the door quietly and entered the room. He was surprised to see her sheets and pillows on the floor, he guessed what happened, his statement must have upset her.

He picked up the sheet and the pillow placing it back on her bed. Then he sighted the wooden apple on the floor.

He picked it up also, his jaw clenching at the fact that it wasn't enough to keep her on track, like he had intended.

He walked to her desk and placed the apple on it.

He saw the drawing and picked it up. He observed the headless image of a man seated comfortably with his arms resting horizontally against the back of the couch he was sitting on. He was only in a trousers, his top shirtless.

He wouldn't have known it was him if not for the necklace that was on the headless neck, his necklace. She had drawn him based on how he was sitting when she came into the living room earlier.

He smirked.

The smirk didn't last long when his eyes lowered to the writing that was scribbled roughly at the bottom of the image.

'He will never see me as more than the girl who came with the house.'

He frowned.

*

April has an outing with Kylo so she woke up early, did her hygiene and got dressed. She got the shock of her life when she realized that someone had came in her room while she slept.

For why would the things she had thrown in anger ended up back in their rightful place. And why is the sheet she drew on now ripped at the bottom.

Yes, she noticed the wooden apple is back on the desk and the area she had scribbled on below Orion's image had been ripped off.

It was obvious that someone came into her room while she was asleep, all her bet was on Orion and that didn't make her feel any better.

She was called for breakfast and she went out of her room. The others were already seated, she sat down and tried as much as possible to avoid Orion's eyes.

She felt so embarrassed at the possibility that he had entered her room and saw a drawing of himself. She knows he would surely know it was him because of his necklace which she had included.

"You have class so early?" Orion asked since April doesn't look dressed for school.

"Class?" April repeated in confusion, then her eyes widened.

Orion thought she was in school. She looked towards her parents for help, she didn't have enough courage to tell him the truth. Mr Caddel sighed and Iver was lost for words too.

"She didn't apply for college, Orion." Mrs Caddel revealed solemnly.

Orion was shocked. His head sharply turned to April, who looked elsewhere immediately, her hands wrung together on her laps nervously.

"You didn't apply?" Orion asked her for confirmation.

She kept quiet, she felt like disappearing. He sounded really angry and that even confused April the more.

Even six years ago, he hated hearing her say she didn't want to go beyond high school. He didn't go so April wondered why it was so wrong for her to make the same choice.

"Are you deaf?!" he thundered and April jumped in her seat.

"Orion," Mrs Caddel called, in an attempt to caution him.

Orion looked towards Iver, giving him a look of accusation. Iver sighed, remembering how Orion had told him before leaving that he should make sure April's wish of not going to university wasn't granted.

"I tried. She stood on her decision not to go," Iver explained.

"And you let her?" Orion scoffed.

He stood up, picked up his phone and walked away. Knox immediately went after him. Few seconds later, they heard the door slam.

"Orion!" April stood up and ran out after him.