Secrets

Episode 5

This was it, this was either going to make me or break me. I was staring at my reflection in the mirror of my bathroom. I had my dark brown wavy hair rest on my shoulders covering the straps to my beige tank top that was tucked into my light blue jeans and paired with 2 inch clear colored sandals that strapped around my ankles. I didn't do too much as far as my makeup went, just slight eyeshadow, mascara, and finished it off with lip gloss. I also added a necklace of a cross on top of my collarbone with matching earrings and a brown colored watch on my wrist. Sage knew I was just going to have brunch with Ashley while we brain stormed some ideas for a- and I quote- "history project".

I soothed my nerves and grabbed my purse making sure I wasn't missing anything and walked downstairs to the living room where Sage was waiting for me next to the door. He smiled once he saw me and took the car keys out from his pocket, "ready? Do you have everything?" He asked pulling the door open. I nodded and we walked outside and got in the car. "So how long will you be there?" Sage asked putting on his seatbelt and proceeding to pull out from the driveway. "I don't think I should take long, maybe an hour and a half," I said. I quickly texted Ashley telling her I was on my way, and she replied back in seconds letting me know she already had a booth for us inside. "Okay, well I'll have my phone on me so just text me once you're paying so I can come pick you up" Sage said.

I zoned out remembering all the times during the week that I opened up my locker at school and found the beautiful flowers standing there in the corner still blooming, making me smile and remember how they'd gotten there and who had given them to me, hopefully they survive the weekend. Axel and I had been texting throughout the week, first we talked about the brunch date and how it would all go down, then just sweet, casual talk up until this morning when I had to mute the conversation and didn't even reply to his good morning text. I pulled myself out of those thoughts and went over the plan one more time in my head, I was going to get off of the car, walk over to Ashley at the booth she reserved, wave Sage goodbye and once he was out of sight, Ashley would switch places with Axel, who, would be seated in the back in a seperate booth with Adrian, Ashley goes to Adrian, Axel comes to me we eat, talk, and then I call Sage to pick me up, the guys head out and Ashley and I stay at the booth until Sage gets there. Nothing can go wrong.

Sage pulled up to the entrance of the restaurant and looked over me to spot Ashley, once he did he gave me a side hug, a kiss on the forehead and we said our goodbyes. Sage stayed in his spot until I sat down with Ashley and the waiter came to take our orders. I shifted my gaze to the corner of my eye and saw that Sage had driven off, I turned my head completely to be sure and I nodded to Ashley as a cue. "Are you nervous?" She asked smiling at me taking out her pocket mirror to retouch. "A little, I hope Sage doesn't come around again or something. But I'm also really nervous about meeting Axel, what do I say? What do I do? What if I
embarrass myself?" I panicked. "Shhh, calm down, you'll do fine, just get to know him and stay calm, act as if you were talking to one of the guys" she reassured. She smiled, squeezed my hand, we wished each other good luck and then she was off.

I immediately felt my heart begin to pound in my chest and I felt my legs start to bounce as a nervous tick I've always had ever since I was young, I rested my hands on my lap to try to make it stop, and before I knew it I had Axel sitting in front of me, his aroma hit me first and it was heavenly. I took a big whiff discretly then took in all his features, he wore a white button up shirt with the sleeves pulled up to his elbows, black pants with a black belt around his waist, and he had a watch on his wrist. "Hey princess, you look stunning" he whispered sliding over a red rose over to me. I picked it up in awe, it was beautiful. "I would've brought more but Ashley said one was enough, I didn't think you wouldn't be into roses, a lot of women are" Axel chuckled. "Thank you, I do like roses I just can't show up to my house with them my brother will go crazy" I said setting the rose down next to my plate. "Ah, yes, I remember the brother, well what about your parents? Will they flip out?" Axel asked looking at me. I raised my eyebrows and took a breath, "I don't live with my parents" I whispered breaking the eye contact. "Oh," Axel remained silent, well, I might as well get it over with.