A dismayed Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) realises he’ll be playing second fiddle to Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) on April Windsor’s (Amelia Flanagan) sweet 16th in Emmerdale, although he’s left reeling upon discovering April’s actual birthday plans…
Dylan returned only a few weeks ago and April was elated to be reunited with the person who supported her throughout her homelessness and pregnancy, especially after the dramatic circumstances he initially departed in.
April’s elation upon being reunited with Dylan was short-lived, however, when she realised that Dylan’s leg wound, a result of the attack on Moira Dingle’s (Natalie J Robb) farm, was infected.
After attempting surgery to close the wound themselves, they were discovered by Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt), who took matters into his own hands by fixing up the wound and offering Dylan a place to stay.
While things seemed to be on the up for the teen, dangerous Ray remained lurking in the background.
As things settle between the lovebirds, despite Dylan stashing a large amount of drugs at Paddy and Mandy Dingle-Kirk’s (Lisa Riley), April decides she wants to sleep with Dylan for the first time on her 16th birthday, though they panic when Mandy discovers them shortly after consummating their relationship.
Motor mouth Mandy angrily tells Marlon, who, although deeply rattled, is soothed by wife Rhona (Zoë Henry), who explains that, at 16, April is free tomake her own decisions.
When Mandy despairs at seeing Marlon and April acting ‘normally’, April is left cringing when Mandy admits that she told Marlon about her sleeping with Dylan.
When April later learns that Dylan is still involved with drug dealer Ray, she’s horrified, which is only compounded when Dylan reveals that Ray actually wants her to do a drug drop.
She agrees, on the condition that Dylan stop his involvement with Ray’s dealing.
As April returns home, she’s met by her Dad, who explains that he’s accepted her new relationship, completely oblivious to the danger she’s now in.
As Marlon wraps April in a hug, her eyes fall to the rucksack full of drugs she’s brought home.
