Axel

13

I was excited about my parents leaving when they told me they were, but when they actually left and I woke up to an empty house, it brought back memories I didn't want to replay in my head.

It took me back to that day I thought the house was empty.
The day I thought I was alone.

I couldn't stay home alone by myself for two weeks.

That's why I'm staying with Matteo.
Last night while Jordyn and I were talking on the phone— until 4 a.m she said she's going to convince Matteo to throw a party at his and Axel's house to celebrate.

She texted me at five in the morning saying he suggested I stay with him because he "Can't breathe without when I'm not in his presence". I know he mostly wants me there so I can spend time with Axel— which is not going to happen.

I have no idea what his obsession with Axel and I is but it's huge and unhealthy.

"Hello?" I hear a deep voice echo in the hallway and I swear my soul just left my body. "Astrid?" I hear the familiar voice again.

Axel pops in the door frame to my bedroom and I freeze.

Did I lock the front and back door?

"Hey sunshine," I say with fake enthusiasm. "Mind telling me how the fuck you got in here?" I ask.

"Spare key," he answers shortly as if it isn't a big deal.

I turn around to grab another piece of clothing to add to my gym bag. My bed dips from the weight of Axel sitting next to my bag.

Putting the bra in my bag, I pick up the closest thing to my bag. And great, it's a thong. A plain, black, lace thong.

My eyes glance up to meet his own and the intense stare he's giving me makes my knees feel like jelly.

I shove the thong in my bag and clear my throat. "Since you seem to be a fan of breaking and entering, I'll make sure to get rid of that spare key next time," I suggest, giving him a hard glare.

After a while of me packing in silence and his eyes burning into my skin, he breaks the silence. "What are these dark bruises on your forearm and your thigh?" he asks curiously, getting up and walking around me and picking up another thing to shove into my bag.

I quickly snatch the underwear from him. "Of course you pick that up."

He holds his hand up in defense with a small, lazy smirk plastered on his face.

"Stop changing the subject, Amora."

His accent tingles with my brain. 

"My dad and I were playing in the backyard. I took a pretty hard fall, bruised my thigh and my arm at the same damn time. Definitely didn't cry," I lie with ease.

Then I realize he can only see the bruise because I'm in the shortest pair of shorts to ever exist.

"Oh. You and your dad close?" He asks, still helping me pack. I stare at the tattoos displayed all around his arms.