Axel

24

We made it to Starbucks a couple of minutes ago. Axel wanted to be different and go to the Diner we went to last time because it was much closer to school but I wanted Starbucks.

And Axel is basically my pet...so he had no choice but to follow me in the direction of Starbucks.

"Do we have to walk all the way down there?" He practically whines.

He's like a six year old. I'm sorry, but no one can convince me otherwise.

"I'm not forcing you to follow me, am I?" I asked, giving him a quick glance.

That question made him frown and made me smile because he is just the cutest grumpiest man I've ever seen.

Moving on.
I'm now standing in this annoyingly long line. I know what drink I'm getting already—

"What drink are you getting?" Axel asks. I look to my left where he's towering and shrug.

"Caramel Frappuccino. You should get that too, it's so good!"

He looks down at me frowning yet again.

Would it be weird if I bit him?

He's so cute until he says, "I don't like caramel."

I stop moving. "What did you just say?"

"I said I don't like—"

I rise on my toes and cover his mouth over with my hand before he spews more bullshit.

"I heard what you said, dumbass," I hiss.

"Then why did you—" he starts when I remove my hand but fortunately, I interrupt his stupid question.

"Shut up."

"I'll just take a water and a cake pop," he says after giving me a slow blink.

I'm not one to judge but I'm definitely judging right now. A water?

I bump my hip into his thigh. "Axel, Can I ask you something?"

I already know he's going to say no. I just enjoy annoying the shit out of him.

He looks down and gives me his expression for 'shut up'.

I shrug and continue, "Have you ever felt the urge to murder someone?"
I assume I whisper it but the looks I earn say otherwise.

"I think this is where I should be majorly concerned but since it's you," he dramatically sighs like the dramatic pussy he is. "A dumba-"

I elbow him in the ribs before he can finish his rude comment and he groans.

"I actually want to murder you so I suggest you shut up."

"Next in line!" I move forward but I get yanked back like i'm some type of puppet.

"We're not next, slow down, Amora."
I hear that name almost everyday yet I still get all tingly in my toes hearing it.

I groan, exaggerating. "I'm gonna die if I don't get to the front, Axel. I physically can't breathe!"

He snorts. "Because your asthmatic."

"Fuck you, Delilah."

***

I'm sitting, going down on my drink and staring at Axel from across the table. We're upstairs, which is empty because rarely does anyone come up here.

I made it obvious that I know about our little meet and greet that happened three months ago. What's odd is that he didn't address it. He either doesn't remember a thing about it or he wants to ignore it and pretend it never happened. I figure it's the latter but I still want to talk about it.

I clear my throat rather loudly, and he stops sipping his awfully plain cup of water.
"I know...that you know that I know that you know about three months ago."

Silence.

He leans back in his chair casually. "I don't want to talk about it."

"I saw you there at the plaza and you were alone. Why were you alone? Where was Matteo?" I ask, all too much questions flow into my brain like, Why was he there? Why was he crying? And why am I flying past the fact that I caught him on drugs?

Should I be asking these questions. Are almost friends this nosy? I should stop.

His jaw clenches as he rudely pushes away his water. It splashes up a little by the harshness. "Astrid, this is really and truly none of your fucking business. But if you must know, Matteo was home." He pauses. "In San Diego."

"Well ouch, I know it's not any of my business but I was just curious. I just want to know one more-"

He pushes out of the chair and it screeches on the ground. I flinch, I try to hide it but it doesn't go unnoticed. "Jesus, Astrid, what the fuck is your problem?"

My heart beat increases and I'm scared. I'm not supposed to be scared around him. It's like that one screech triggered my fight or flight senses.
"What are you talking about, I'm just askin-"

"That's your fucking problem, you're always asking!"
Silence once again.
"Astrid, I'm-"

"I'm sorry for trying to figure out at least some piece of the 'mysterious' Axel. You dodge most of my questions left, right and centre, meanwhile I've probably spilt more than half of my life with you!" I don't care that I'm shouting at him right now, all I care about is getting rid of all of this frustration, and being here right now is not helping.

"I'm sorry Astrid, but your excessive talking is not my fault."

The laugh I let out is so pathetic I feel like crying.

"Goodbye, Axel." I get up and walk down the stairs like my life depends on it. I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to scream. I'm going to go back to school, attend the rest of my classes and act like nothing happened.

I can do that. The buzz of a notification from my phone distracts me. I tap my black phone screen and the yellow theme illuminates the phone screen.

Reminder : Today's the day.

Great move past me, since I'm having the shittiest day.

And me ignoring the crack in my chest as I slowly make my way to school is sadly a major part of that.

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