They all walked inside, Julia still pulling on Claire's hair and Claire looking like someone was pressing on a bruise. They all sat on the couch and Julia sat at the end, with Claire on the floor beside her. April started the coffee machine and sat down.
"What I was going to tell you is, I have no idea how to say this."
Claire closed her eyes and bowed her head a little, not wanting to see how everyone reacted.
"Alright, here goes. Me and Claire have been dating long before the attack happened. It wasn't actually her fault though, she was being forced against her will to be the face of the destruction. She never actually did anything. If she stayed in the park with you guys she would've been found by them and they would've killed her and you guys. She came to me because she wanted to say goodbye before she turned herself in to them to be killed. Its not easy to just shake hands or say the words goodbye when your girlfriend is being sent to her death, so we kissed. That's when you guys came in."
April shrunk back into a ball in her seat.
"I'm really sorry, I just wasn't sure how to tell you guys or what to do."
Everyone was silent and still. It was Beth who moved first
"Wow, so is she telling the truth or are you threatening her with something?"
Claire shook her head
"Its true, all of it."
There was water in her eyes now. She had been hiding the truth from them for so long, and because of her own selfishness she had no idea what would happen to April next. Julia sat up straight and looked at Claire.
"I think that we should put it to a vote. April and Claire can go downstairs, so if it is a trick Claire can't get past us, and we can all decide what will happen next."
April stood and Julia let go of Claire's hair. They walked beside each other to the stairs and both walked down to the basement bedroom that used to belong to April's little brother. The door was shut and April sat on her brother's bed.
"I didn't think you'd actually tell them."
Claire said and sat next to her
"I had to. I've been lying to them for so long, and how can you hide something like that?"
Claire put her head on her knees and pulled out her ponytail with a small sigh of pain
"If that's Julia half asleep I don't want to see her awake."
"She's actually a really nice person."
"Then why were you so afraid of telling them?"
"You-"
"Even before what I did. We were together long before what happened. You were afraid because not who I was, because I was a no one, but who I am."
"I guess so. I'm sorry. I should've been honest, but now I have a whole other fear to worry about."
"Being rejected by them."
"Yeah."
A tear crept down April's face and she sighed
"I don't know what I was thinking this whole time. Maybe if I told them they would've known that you wouldn't do something like this. And you wouldn't be in this mess. They wouldn't have hurt you as much."
Claire let April lay on her lap and let out a weak laugh
"As much?"
April closed her eyes and sat up
"What if they decide its my fault? They'll kick me out and I'll be alone, and you won't be able to see me again. They'd think I was plotting with you or something."
"You have friends."
"They won't want to be around me once they hear that everything I say is a lie."
"Listen to me, maybe if I tell them that you are actually lying, that all of this is my fault they'll let you stay."
"There's no way I'm doing that to you."
"We could write letters."
April couldn't hold back her tears, Claire held her close and stroked her hair
"Its going to be OK."
"How do you know?"
"Because no matter what you'll still have something. You might lose me, and you might lose your place in the Troop, but you aren't hurt and you aren't in danger. You're strong, so I know you'll be alright."
"What about you?"
"I guess I'll just be back in prison."
"But it wasn't your fault."
Before Claire could reply the door opened and Alexander was standing in front of them. April sat up and Claire held her hand. Alexander's face was expressionless, there was no telling what the final decision was.
"Come on."
he said calmly
"We've decided."
--two years later--
The steam from the shower had fogged up the bathroom window so much April couldn't see her own nervous expression in it. She wiped it with her towel so she could at least see where she was putting her makeup on. It was a special occasion and she wanted to look her best.
"Hey!"
She shouted down the hallway
"Can you grab my wallet for me? I'm not sure if all the bills have been paid for this yet and I have no idea how expensive it all is!"
She listened to excited footsteps skip down the hall
"Thanks."
April said and took the wallet, smiling at her
"You ready?"
April shrugged
"I'm nervous. This is a pretty big step."
"I guess so, but I'll be with you the whole time, so don't worry."
Amy gave April another reassuring smile and walked back down the hallway in her heels. April opened the wallet and sighed, inside was a picture of her and Claire on their first date. It was old and torn and a bit wrinkled, but it was a beautiful picture. She tucked it in her purse and made sure she looked alright.
"Ready?"
Amy called and April hurried towards the front door. Amy drove the van, wearing a beautiful white dress that almost matched April's. When they reached their destination April was shaking, but Amy held her hand.
"Relax."
The group was all waiting outside, talking and drinking the complementary beverages that April had paid for.
"You're early."
Beth said and April nodded
"There's no way I'm going to be late for something like this."
Rose jogged over wearing a blue blouse
"Excited?"
She asked and April nodded, and after a few minutes they all went inside. The room wasn't very crowded, only people very close to April were attending.