Axel

27

I S A B E L L A

Today was the last day at the beach house, tomorrow early in the morning we would leave and life would be back to normal.

And although i should be having fun, enjoying my last day here before i have to go back to my boring normal life, here i was, sitting on the couch in mine and Axel's bedroom.

The same couch where Axel blew smoke into my mouth, the same couch where i watched him look out into the sunrise, the same couch i watch him sit on and smoke a cigarette every time i wake up and every time before i go to bed for the past week.

This morning, i am the first to wake up. After Axel lashed out at dinner last night, he left and didn't come home till late last night.

I knew this because when i fell asleep last night i was on this couch, but when i woke up in the middle of the night Axel was carrying me to my bed.

Now, i stare out the window whilst he's soundly asleep behind me, trying to figure him out. Trying to figure why he acted the way he did yesterday, over a question.

I hear him groan behind me as he stirs awake. The bed sheets ruffle before it turns silent again. I feel his stare on the back of my head suddenly, the air grows thick with uncomfortable tension between us.

Every fibre in my body aches to turn around, to look at him, to examine his entire face like i haven't already done that millions of times. To count each and every little freckle that's almost invisible to the eye unless you are up close.

Instead i stay staring out the window, at the clear blue sky and the water that flows underneath it peacefully, it's not nearly as pretty as him.

30 seconds. I feel him staring at me for 30 seconds, like he's thinking of the best option to get out of here without having to say a word to me. Those 30 long seconds feel like a century.

"Morning." Axel speaks, his voice heavy with something.

"Morning." I reply, it comes out far harsher than i intended it too. I made myself seem like i was angry at him, but i wasn't.

In fact, i was far from it. I agree- maybe what he did at the table was very mean. But i knew he was struggling, i knew part of it was anger. He was full of it, i could tell he could barley even control it.

It is back to quiet now , i feel his presence approach behind me slowly, his aroma lingering around me as i felt him close.

Axel moves his hand to my arm, the rough pads of his fingers finding the nakedness of my neck as he gathers my long hair and places it all to one side of my neck.

I inhale sharply at the feel of his skin on mine, he brings his lips down to ghost over my ear, his warm breath fanning the side of my neck.

"What wrong?" He asks, his raspy morning voice sounded so good i almost forgot about the heavy tension.

"Nothing" I replied, much softer now. He hummed, as i finally turned my face slightly to the side to look at him. My belly fluters.

My heart skipped a beat when i found my nose brushing against his, he was much closer than i thought he was. I shift away a little, but even then there is barley any space between us.