#featuring april

Levi had a bag of takeout with him along with a movie as he and April had planned to hang out tonight.  He made his way to the door of her new apartment.  The one she shared with her best friend, Jackson Avery.  He had been here a few times already, especially since he had helped bring some of her boxes over.  He had been working on the actual moving day.  He knocked softly at the door and waited for her to answer.   

Somehow, April had managed to escape Seattle without officially saying goodbye to Lexie, and the woman had no idea how it happened.  She figured April would be here being her biggest cheerleader as she took over the role of Chief Resident.  Lexie settle into her chair in her office and picked up her phone, selecting the Facetime option and then April’s name.  Lexie drummed her fingers against the desk and sighed softly as she waited for April to pick up.  Maybe the other woman didn’t want to talk to her.  Maybe that’s why there had been no goodbye.  Maybe she wasn’t even going to answer Lexie’s call now.  

“Hey Apes,” Jackson greeted as he came into their apartment with grocery bags.  “I think I got everything on your list for the recipe we are making tonight.  If I didn’t?  I can go back out for whatever you need,” he promised as he set the bags down on the island.  “How was your day?  Good?” Jackson questioned as he began to unload the bags for her, hoping he had selected all of the right items. 

Jackson wasn’t stupid.  He knew that April was avoiding him after everything that had happened between them in San Francisco.  He wanted to understand her need to avoid him, but he couldn’t.  He had asked multiple times if she was okay, and she had said yes, but why did he feel like he had done something wrong?  Jackson noticed the red head high tail it for a supply closet, and followed closely behind her.  He hated to do this to her, but they needed to talk.  April had become a master at avoiding him.  He let himself in behind her, and closed the door.  “Apes, can we talk?” 

Jackson came through the back door of the frat house and grinned when he saw April in the kitchen, at the stove.  “Please, please tell me you are making something amazing for dinner,” he insisted as he set his bag on the counter and took off his jacket.  It had been a long week at the hospital already, and he just wanted to relax tonight.  He didn’t want to think about patients or boards.  “How was your date?” he asked.  

It had been a long flight with far too much time to think, but he was here.  Finally on the ground in Ohio, with a notebook paper in hand, April’s address written on it.  Jackson looked up at the farmhouse.  He had arrived at the Kepner homestead a few moments before, and honestly?  He wasn’t sure if he should go knock on the door or not.  What if everyone was doing farm chores?  What if they had gone out?  

But, Jackson hadn’t come here to chicken out.  He squared back his shoulders and undid his seat belt, climbing out of the car before he could change his mind.  He needed to do this.  He needed to know April’s answer, and if it was a no?  He would hold his head high when he went back to Seattle.  

Jackson made his way to the door and knocked softly.  He had a date with destiny.  Whatever her answer was.  

Jackson stood in front of the mirror, his fingers working to bring his bow tie into a knot.  He had gotten used to the suit and tie business of the foundation, but he wasn’t sure he would ever get used to seeing himself in a tuxedo.  “You almost ready Apes?  Because I am probably going to need help with this damn bow tie,” he called out to his wife.  He hoped she was close to ready anyways because they couldn’t be late to his own dinner.  The dinner he was hosting.  The biggest foundation event he had hosted at this point.  Jackson took a breath.  He had worked through all the details with his staff and the hotel.  Everything was going to be alright.  It would go off without a hitch.  He hadn’t spent the last 10 days in Seattle for nothing.  

“Long time no see April.  How are you?” Levi asked sincerely when he saw the woman standing in the lobby.  “Did you have much to do with the event planning because everything is beautiful,” he told her.  He had already gone into the ballroom and found his and Nico’s table.  “How is Boston treating you?” Levi asked, his questions like rapid fire.