Strong ✅

SLOW ME DOWN

A

xel walked back and forth in his bedroom, trying to wrap his mind around everything. A knock was heard on his door.

"Axel?" Everett's voice came to light.

Axel opened the door and let him in. He continued walking around his room.

"Axel? What is going on?" Everett asked, cautiously.

Maybe it was the nerves or all the thoughts circling his mind, but Axel broke down. He fell to the chair in his path and broke down in cries. Everett didn't know what to do. He hadn't seen Axel cry since their father left and that was twelve years ago. Everett bent down to Axel's level and grabbed his hand.

"What's wrong?" He asked again.

"Just, it's everything. With all that's happened. It seems like ever since Morgan went to Uni that everything's started to fall apart. I mean, today's my wedding day and I'm only seventeen. You cannot tell me that's normal. Aaliyah and I got engaged, then Jordan showed up and stole her heart, and I kissed Ashley. Then you got involved with Ashley. Then Isabelle showed up and we started getting in fights. Now neither Aali nor I want this wedding to happen. I messed everything up." Axel sobbed.

"Oh, Axe. None of this is your fault. If anything, it's mine. I'm the one that keeps on messing everything up." Everett said, looking at Axel in pity.

"What did you d-do?" he sniffled.

"I got involved with Ashley while you were with her. I wrote Little White Lies about her playing with my heart. And just an hour ago, I kissed Isabelle and Ashley saw. She forgave me, but I always wonder how many more chances am I going to get?" he said.

"You kissed Isabelle?" Axel asked. He nodded.

"Why?" Axel asked.

"I was confused. She was alone and I don't know really, I just did." Everett said in remorse.

"I kissed her too. I kissed her because I actually like her. I think she's cool and sweet and geeky and perfect. She's absolutely beautiful and she has a great personality and when we kissed, a thousand fireworks went off in head. Is that what you feel with Ashley?" Axel questioned his twin.

"Yeah. Ashley makes me a better person, yet she makes me worse too. I don't know, she just clouds my better judgement. I always find myself agreeing with everything she says. She's perfect in my mind. Her smile lights up my world. She was basically my first everything. She is the world to me. Do you feel that around Isabelle?" He asked Axel.

"Yeah. I just want her to be happy and even if that isn't with me, I'll support it." Axel said, smiling a bit.

"You love her." Everett said.

Axel's eyes widened. Even if it was what he expected to hear, he didn't want to hear the truth. "What, no! Pssh!"

"You're a horrible liar. You know that, right?" Everett questioned.

"Yeah. It's just, I don't want to fall in love with her. But at the same time, I do. It wasn't supposed to end up like this. Aaliyah and I were supposed to be in love. You and Ashley weren't supposed to have met. Jordan wasn't supposed to be a part of our lives, and neither was Isabelle. But no matter how much I want things to be different, I can't because I wouldn't change what has happened over the past few months at all." Axel said shakily.

"I know, Axe. But for mom, Richard, Morgan, and Rosa, you need to do this. I know you don't love Aaliyah and she doesn't love you. I know that you love Isabelle and Aaliyah loves Jordan, but for your family, can you do this?" Everett asked Axel, eyes full of curiosity and assurance directed toward his nervous brother.

Said man nodded, "Yeah. For mom. For Rosa. For myself."

"Good, Axe. Now, you stand at that alter with confidence, poise, and class and say your 'I Do's' and show everyone that you can be the guy that everyone thinks you're not." Everett heightened his brother's mood, straightening out Axel's blazer and smiling at him.

"I can do this. Thanks, Ev." Axel thanked Everett and he smiled and walked out of the room, leaving him alone in his thoughts.

Throughout it all, Axel had to do this. He promised. Promises may be meant to be broken, but Axel wouldn't let them. He would marry Aaliyah. He would.