57- Clashes

"What happened to your lips?" April asked. "It's nothing." Lucifer replied. "Did you get into a fight?" April asked again. "I told you, it's nothing." His strained voice came. "Okay, okay but why did you come back? Don't you have any work?" April asked, filing her nails while enjoying her whiskey. Lucifer, who was working on his laptop, engrossed in his work, replied, "I wrapped my work for a month," He said with his eyes glued to the screen. "So you are here for a month." "And I need to talk to Red before it." He said. "She doesn't even want to see your face." April replied. "I don't understand why? She is not letting me talk or justify, being so unreasonable." He said in vexation. "By the way, Lucifer... I don't understand why I am still here? It's not like I could do anything for you now." April mumbled, having a sip of her drink, looking at him from the corner of her eyes. "I am telling you, it's no use. I will leave their lives before Erich tell Red everything-" Lucifer stopped and looked at her, "You are afraid to lose your friendship with Red, Don't you?" He asked. April lips formed a thin line, giving him an honest nod. "You thought Erich wouldn't enter her life and so you were fine being her friend. You never planned on hurting Red, it was all for Erich, isn't it?" He smirked and she gave him another nod. "Poor Erich, bore so much because of you." "And what if they came to know everything and Red gave him a chance?" April asked, turning to him. "It would be game over for me then." "Why are you doing this anyways? Try to talk to Red, she clearly loves you, she will listen." April tried to talk out. "She won't." He sighed. "I have to force it out." "Don't choose my path." April said, sadly. "I am not. I just want to talk to Red, know what exactly she thinks about me, what's in her heart. That's all." He smiled as his finger involuntarily took him to his older instagram posts where he and Red were utterly jovial and lived unforgettable moments. "You see that picture." Lucifer said, showing her the picture where Red was sitting on his shoulder while he was holding her broken sandals with a frown and she was radiant as always, "The last time I saw Red this happy was when she received her degree." April said, gloomingly. "I took her to a waterfall and she kissed me for the first time there." Lucifer grinned, telling her his most beautiful memory. "She kissed you?" April asked in disbelief. "Yeah... She kissed me unexpectedly and then I kissed her deliberately." He said, mesmerizingly. He sighed, leaning back on his seat, "April, I only want to talk to her openly. I want to know if she is angry at me because I didn't come back early or refused to recognize her when we met again. When her heart is still connected to mine then why is she hurting everyone?" "That's the answer only Red-" April was cut off by a ring. She stood up only to see Erich at her place. "It's Erich." She told Lucifer. "He must be here to get the pictures." Lucifer replied. April narrowed her eyes, putting her hand over her waist, "What?" Lucifer asked. "Go inside the room." She said, He sighed and went inside. After he left, April opened the door, being her usual unpleasant self. "Oh, Erich, what brought you here?" She asked in her monotonous tempting voice. "Give me back the picture." He said, deadpanned. April smirked, coming closer, "Why so early?" "Because I did what you told me, now give it back." He hissed. "No." She smiled wickedly, irking him. "Don't destroy my life." "My dear Erich, I was a part of your life, did you forget? Your addiction~" She cooed, letting out a quiet laugh. "Don't spout nonsense." He said, irritated. "I am your addiction, Erich. You can't even breathe without me." April mocked but then Red entered with an expressionless look and leaned on her door, closing her arms at her chest, "Addiction falters, April. Leave Erich." Red's entry took every amusement from April as the moment she was dreading to face came and there was no escape from wrath, detest and betrayal she gave Red. Flabbergast, April stuttered her name, "R-Red?" Red rolled her eyes, scoffing, "What staggered you?" "R-Red.. Please.. Listen to me." April tried to say, losing her posture instantly. "There's nothing left to talk about, April." Red shrugged. "I told Red everything." Erich said. April gasped, "W-What?" Her voice came out inaudible. "Yeah, Erich told me about every scar you gave him." Red said, straightening her back and coming closer with a piercing gaze, hissing, "I considered you a friend but you turned out to be the root of evil." Trembling with no hopes of escape, tears dwell in her eyes, "L-Listen Red..." "What justification will you give, huh? Everything happened because of you. I called Erich a stalker, treated him so badly because of you. I want to know what made you do all this!?" Red said angrily, raising her voice. "I loved Erich! And.. And it began to make me envious he loves you. Of all people, you! But, I never held any bad intent for you Red, I.. I only wanted to steal the person Erich loves from him." April bursted as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. "How could you do this?! All because of this stupid reason!?" Red asked in disbelief, not believing her dearest friend was this desperate and wrecked such havoc. On the other hand, Erich was shocked to see her this sensitive about him, it was unforeseen on his side. "April... if you loved me then.. Why didn't you ever tell me?" He tentatively asked. "How can I, when you never felt anything for me!?" April's voice broke as she began to cry, put her hand over her mouth to conceal the sound and in that moment, anxious about the loud sounds, Lucifer came, "April..." Lucifer called her. His presence created an awkward situation where all of them were present and were at the loss of words about this situation where everything was crystal clear and they were here. They all exchanged glances and soon Red's lips curved upwards, "We're four... You were right. There are four of us." She continued after a mocking laugh, "You are so depraved April. If not Erich then Lucifer. Wow..." "No..." April whispered in horror. "Look, Red. It's not like this." Lucifer tried to say but Red glared and pointed her finger at him in dismay, "Don't you dare to talk to me." And it pissed Lucifer off, "What have I ever done to you!?" "It irks me to see this face of yours." She hissed. "What did I do to you?" He asked sadly. "I am not here to talk to you." Red scoffed. "Red, stop." Erich said. "Why?" She said, closing her arms at her chest. "You are wrong." Erich said. "You are taking someone else's anger on someone else." he said sternly, knowing how much Lucifer meant to her but she is not showing it. "I am only here to talk to the person whom I considered my friend but she turns out to be a snake. First you used Erich, and now Lucifer. At least leave someone." Red humiliated her. April kept looking down with tears streaming down her face, not saying anything and Lucifer knew it was his fault that April is involved in this so he stood up for her, "The same thing could be said for you as well, Red." Lucifer hissed. Red raised a brow, "huh?" "Me and Erich know this better than anyone how you break hearts without thinking twice. You could hurt anyone's sentiments without a second thought. Isn't it right, Erich?" Lucifer asked. Erich pressed his teeth together, looking away, knowing he was right. "Erich, say something." Red said, hoping Erich would deny Lucifer's words but they were true and there was no running away from it. Red's eyes widened in dejection for a second and Lucifer continued, "See. When you can do this, why not April?" He taunted. "Lucifer. Stop." April whispered, holding his shirt, hiding behind his back, trying not to cry. "No. What do you think of yourself, Red? You are hurting everyone here by hiding your real emotions, why are you choosing pain rather than sorting everything out?"