You had been sat on the floor for almost 2 hours throwing the ball against the neighbours fence and catching it again as you waited for your brother to let you back in the house. He had locked you outside in retaliation to your first ever April fools joke.
You had been delighted that day in school, when they told you that every year, on the 1st of April, it was totally acceptable to play pranks on anyone and everyone you knew. Your little brain had spent the rest of the afternoon scheming for the perfect prank to play on your family, until Sure enough, when the time came for your mum to pick you up, you had sprinted outside as fast as your chubby legs would carry you to the car, and up the stairs once you arrived home.
You had rummaged through your arts and crafts box to find some balloons before rushing to the bathroom to fill them with freezing cold water. You carried them carefully back to your room, balancing them softly on the floor. Your tiny arms had strained to drag your toy chest across the room to underneath the window, where if you stood on your tiptoes you could just see your brother out in the garden.
Gathering up your balloons you had stood on the toy chest, grinning happily to yourself and counting to three
1….
2….
3!
“APRIL FOOLS”
You yelled, before launching the first balloon out the window, giggling hysterically.
You had thought you were hilarious, unfortunately your nine year old brother didn’t think so.
He had stormed up the stairs, dripping wet, before lifting you. It wasn’t hard to do, you were 5, and small for your age already. You had squirmed as the water soaked off his skin onto your clothes while he ran down the stairs and into garden, where he promptly dropped you on the ground and left you there.
You had tried banging on the door, shouting, threatening to wee yourself. Just about everything. Before finally collecting the ball he had been playing with and sitting opposite the neighbours fence, settling patiently for your mum to come home from across the road and let you in.
Boredom set in quickly and in a short burst of anger you had thrown the ball too hard, launching it over the fence, disappearing altogether.
Sighing, you flopped down onto your back, with nothing left to entertain you.
After another half an hour, you had reached your limit. Recklessly you decided to see if you could climb the shed in the corner of the garden.
You had fallen at least 6 times before you had finally made it, skinny legs dangling off the edge as you sat proudly on top of the wooden shed. Carefully you had examined your news scratches and bruises before glancing into the next door neighbours garden.
You noticed a boy, around the same age as you, playing. Dark brown hair bouncing on his head as he sprinted around the garden.
You had sat watching him a moment, before noticing your ball in the corner of the garden.
“Hi” you had called, but the boy ignored you. You waited a second, before trying again, louder.
“HI”
The boy stopped running, mid step, turning to face you, mouth frozen in a round O shape.
“Hi” he grinned up at you, blowing some of his curls out of his face so he could see you better.
“Can I have my ball back?” You asked, pointing at the blue ball.
“No.” He had replied, staring at you, with a straight face.
Your tiny cheeks had flushed red with anger and you opened your mouth to speak.
“April fools” he said, before running to the ball and throwing it back over the fence for you.
“Thanks” you grinned at him.
“Want to come play?” He had asked you, hazel eyes gleaming up at you.
“Sure” You crawled towards him, and lowered yourself to a hang on the edge of the fence. Letting go you dropped to the grass, in a crouched position.
“I’m Shawn” he said sticking a hand out to you, whilst impatiently blowing more hair out of his face.
You had wrinkled your nose before grabbing his warm hand and shaking it. “Y/n” you had replied.
Even though Shawn was 7 and you were 5, you became inseparable. You had stayed for tea and if Shawn’s mum was surprised to find that she had another child that night she didn’t show, only shaking her head and smiling as she prepared the food.
You tried to stifle a laugh as Shawn took the bait.
“I do not fancy her!”
“Do too” you replied smirking.
“Do not!” He yelled flushing slightly.
He pushed you gently, just like you knew he would, but that was the plan, you rolled yourself off the edge of the shed and landed on the floor with a thud.
You started crying immediately, knowing your mum would come outside in a second with Shawn’s if she didn’t run to get them quickly. Just like you had all planned. Shawn panicked and hopped of the shed, shaking you gently. “Y/n…. I’m sorry…. Y/n”
He stood staring at you for a second, before scooping you up in his arms, for a boy of 11 he had become quite strong. He carried you through to the kitchen where your mums were and you buried your face in his t shirt trying to hide your flushed face, as they exchanged knowing glances.
They knew what to do, you had let them in on the secret months in advance, but you had been expecting Shawn to call for help, not carry you bridal style into the house.
Your mum played her part well, asking what hurt, helping you stand and allowing you to lean on her as you hobbled to the car to go to the “hosptial”. Shawn had tried to come with you but eventually you had managed to convince him to stay, saying you would be back soon and you could watch a film like normal.
Your mum started the car, looking at you sprawled on the backseat through the mirror. “Don’t you think your taking this abit far?” She asked you. You shook your head laughing. “Did you see his face? Oh my god. This is gonna be great” you cackled. She smiled at you and continued with the plan, driving round the corner, waiting five minutes before driving back home.
You waited exactly 2 hours and 43 minutes before sprinting through to your mums room. “I can’t wait any longer, put it on, put it ooooon” you whined. “Hold still then” she murmured grinning at you.
10 minutes later you were stood outside Shawn’s house with a pair of crutches and a fake cast on your leg. “Shawn” you shouted.
You heard him sprint down the stairs to unlock the door.
“Y/n! Why didn’t you come over the fence like you norma….” He trailed off as you noticed the cast on your leg.
A flurry of oh my gods, and I’m so sorry followed, each one making you want to laugh even harder. But you kept it together, pushing past him and into the living room so you could sit on the sofa and “rest” your “broken leg”.
Approximately two hours later, after being fed take away pizza, you and Shawn were arguing over what to watch on tv. You using the excuse of “Shawn… You broke my leg” and him replying with “that was hours ago”. He reached forward to grab the remote, pushing your leg off the table in the process where the cast banged noisily on the floor.
His eyes started to fill with tears as he began streaming apologies for the 3rd time that day, you could barely contain your laughter.
When the tears actually started to fall you realised how harsh it was, and could take it no longer. You stood and slid the cast off your leg grinning at him. “It’s fake, Shawn stop, it’s fake”. He froze for a second, at a loss for words before tackling you back into the sofa “you are so dead”
You had just finished setting up your prank for Shawn when your phone vibrated rapidly, with the special vibration that matched only with Shawn.
You smiled and glanced out your window.
“No, I’m lazy, you come here”
You put your phone back down as you made sure everything was in order. This year you had prepared your best prank yet. Your phone buzzed again and you grinned, knowing you would be seeing him soon.
Okay, you thought, well, one hour won’t hurt. You jogged down the stairs and slid on some shoes before wandering over to his house.
“Shawn” you called as you opened the door.
“Cookies are in the living room, be down in a sec” he yelled back. You toed off your shoes and padded down the hall. You opened the door only to be confronted with a bucket full of powdered paint tumbling down onto you. You shirked loudly and Shawn’s head poked round the door. “Gotcha!” He laughed, staring at you, phone in his hand as he took a photo.
“You -” you sputtered at him. You grinned and took a few steps towards him “how ‘bout a hug?” You cackled trying to close the distance between you.
You were stopped in your tracks by a bombardment of more powder paint. This time of the blue variety as opposed to the yellow from before. You screamed, which only made you get the powder into your mouth.
You sprinted across the room catching Shawn just in front of his sofa, fingers leaving little green fingerprints across his warm tanned skin. You tackled him down, both of you falling dramatically onto the cushions.
You were both laughing exhaustidly, and remained where you were. Eventually you came to your senses and realised you were still on top of Shawn. A flush crept across your cheeks and you hoped Shawn wouldn’t notice as you were covered in paint. Slowly you untangled yourself so you were lying side by side.
He grinned up at you, oblivious to your sudden shift in mood, he shifted quickly so that he was planking over you, stealing your breath away. You could feel his breath warm against your cheek, “you got alittle something…” He licked the pad of his thumb and brushed it over your cheek.
A loud cough sent Shawn scrambling off the sofa as his dad entered the room
March 31st.
Shawn was 19 now, and you were 17. Shawn had been on tour for 3 months now, and you were feeling the familiar ache of missing him. He wasn’t going to home for April 1st this year, and that saddened you more than anything. But it did leave you with options. This was the first time he wasn’t going to be home, and a small part of you was relieved, after last years paint encounter it was becoming difficult to hang around Shawn as “friends”. You had always liked him as more, but never had the courage to tell him. Until now.
You swiped your keys off the counter and sent out to texts.
To Em: “I’m coming over, got news”
You grabbed a pair of shoes off the rack and pulled them on.
You arrived at Em’s house and banged on the door. “OPEN UP”
“COMIIIIIINNG” came the reply
“What’s the news?!” She asked immediately.
You laughed at her eagerness, before replying. “I’m gonna tell him.”
Her eyes widened in shock and she pulled you into the kitchen releasing a squeal.
“… And if I tell him tomorrow and he tells me to back off, I can just say it’s April fools right?” You trailed off, glancing up at her over your cup.
“THIS IS GONNA BE AWESOME.”
April 1st.
You re-read the message one last time.
“ Your the most annoying, ridiculous person I’ve ever met. The way you run your hand through your hair, and the fact that your never silent, always humming or singing or tapping something. It drives me insane. And I love it. I love you. I love your laugh, your smile, the way you can tap songs out onto my leg when we watch tv. I want to be with you. I want to be able to call you mine, for as long as you let me.”
You bit your lip, squeezed your eyes shut and hit send.
The panic hit you almost immediately. What if this ruined your friendship? What if he didn’t feel the same?
Your screen lit up as a message came through. You held your breath.
Oh it’s just em, you thought
You place your phone on the counter face down, waiting for the familiar vibration that signalled Shawn had messaged you.
You waited, and waited and waited.
You began to get worried and shakily you pulled your phone back towards you. Maybe you missed the vibration? You thought. You tapped the screen. No new messages.
Well one phone call couldn’t hurt could it ?
“Hi, can I speak to Shawn please?”
You asked as you connected with his team manager.
“Who is this?”
They asked you politely, if alittle coldly.
“Y/n?” You replied frowning, usually they put you straight through.
“One moment please” you heard shuffling in the background as the speaker went to talk to Shawn.
“Y/n’s on the phone for you, Shawn.”
“I don’t want to talk to her.”
You gasped unsure if you had heard him correctly.
“Shawn…”
“Fine. Pass it here.”
“What do you want y/n?” He asked in a barely contained irritation.
“Ummm… I was just checkin in on my best friend.. You uh you weren’t answering your messages?” You stumbled out.
“Had you ever thought that’s for a reason?” He snapped at you.
“I -I um” you tried to form a coherent sentance as you racked your brain for some explanation.
“Look y/n. I don’t want you around anymore. Your so needy. Texting me all the time.” He spoke harshly
“Shawn…” You murmured shocked at his sudden outburst.
“Always trying to get my attention. Just leave me alone. I’ll change my phone if I have to. We are done”. He continued ignoring you completely.
You were interrupted by the siren that signalled he had hung up on you.
Your mind reeled, as you pitched forward to lean against the counter. Tears began pooling in your eyes as you choked down sobs.
Your mug of hot chocolate fell to the floor, forgotten and cold. You allowed the tears to spill out, leaving burning trails down your cheeks and dripping off your chin to mingle with the contents of your mug below.
You moved away from the mess, catching sight of yourself in the glasses in the open cupboard.
Anger made your blood boil, how dare he. How could he do this to you after all this time? Just when you finally got the courage to tell him how you felt about him.
In a moment of blind fury you grabbed a glass and threw it against the wall. Watching it shatter into pieces. Broken. Just like you. More followed, until every glass in the cupboard Lay in a heap on the floor.
Rage fueled you as you continued into the next cupboard.
After smashing all the glasses in the house you moved to the living room, slumping onto the sofa in exhaustion.
You were awakened a few hours later the sound of a knock on the door.
