Daily Archives: June 8, 2005

(From College Roomies from Hell!!! Click on image to see full-sized image.)

April’s fall from grace was surprising to many fans. For years, April just was there. She was the “normal” one of a group that ranged from panicky laser-eyed Dave to gun-nut survivalist Margaret to manga-eyed cute stalking Marsha. But the one thing that has remained constant throughout the series is that she’s been alone.

This was what led to her fall, a fall that was heralded by a couple small stones clattering down before the entire cliffside of April’s life just slid away into the gully. April fell in love… with Mike. And she fell hard and fast.

To be honest, I don’t like the new April. I miss the old April who was quick to smile and loved to tease and joke around. But like the craftswoman Maritza is, there have been signs of April’s inner darkness (for one thing, she’s a surly drunk). All it took was Mike saying the wrong thing (in his eternal quest to find out everyone’s secrets) when April tried wheedling information out of him to start her on a dark path of self-destruction.

And naturally, like any horror movie fan shouting “don’t open that door!” or “don’t go off alone!” at the screen, we Boardies shouted at April to stop, to let go of her anger and sense of betrayal. Several times she’d pause and we’d think that she’d finally had enough, realized that she’d hit bottom… and then she’d leap off the ledge and go further down.

Fortunately, that seems to be over. Through hook or by crook, April managed to get Mike to listen to her while she talked. And she knows there is no chance for her and Mike. She doesn’t want to love him. But she can’t help it.

I know what that’s like. And there’s little advice that Dave (or I, or anyone else) can give. Time heals these wounds. But it takes forever. The alternatives, rebounding to be with someone else or focusing all your attention on something else… these aren’t cures. They’re only stopgap measures.

Of course, the kicker is this: April’s asking Dave how he stopped loving Margaret. But the truth is… he hasn’t. He still loves Margaret. I suspect he always will. And while the ardor that he held for Margaret may have faded, now that Blue has wormed her way into his affections, it’s still there. It’s now embers, glowing under a blanket of ashes… needing but a little stirring to flare up again.

(Of course, one thing that Dave has done is grow up a little. The old Dave would leap at what Margaret said to him there. But now… he’s showing spine, and maturity. He’s not going to chase after Margaret. Instead… even though he loves her, and it shows, Margaret’s going to have to earn his trust back.)

One thing that is interesting is the body language of both Dave and April here. After what April has done, he’s naturally cautious around her. He doesn’t want to get on Mike’s bad side… and April is a bit of a loose cannon now. They sit, back to back, glancing at each other over their shoulders. It’s an initial denial, pushing April away… preparing to run, if necessary.

And then we’ve April’s question. Dave’s naturally confused by it… but what’s more, he turns toward her, and she toward him. But what’s more… April’s opening up again. She was inadvertently betrayed by Mike when she turned toward him, and that helped lead to her fall. And each of the others have, in turn, hurt her, one way or another, when she tries to talk to them. But Dave… he’s another constant. Yes, he freaks out at the drop of a hat, and isn’t the most mature of people… but he can still be relied upon.

So. How do you stop loving someone?

It’ll be interesting to see what Dave’s response is. No doubt we’ll hear him admit he hasn’t, that he’s torn between Blue and Margaret… but maybe, just maybe, Dave and April will mend their own fences. You can’t stop loving someone… but it helps when you have friends there to help you to your feet when you stumble, and lend an ear when you need to talk.

In the end… that’s all any of us can hope to have.