Ring of Love

Just Us

Ally's pov:

After standing with Axel in the living room for a couple more minutes, we decided to step outside since it was getting hotter in the house by the second, to the point where it was becoming a bit unbearable to just stand around and talk.

So Axel found us a spot in the secluded part of the backyard where there was no one else around us to watch or eavesdrop. Back here, there was a small, wooden bench where he pulls me to sit close beside him.

After getting seated, we sit in comfortable silence, watching students go in and out of the house. There weren't many people back here, just a few groups of friends standing around to catch some air.

I already know that this right here will probably be my favorite part of the night. Being able to spend time with Axel as just the two of us. No drunk students pushing into us, no need to shout in each other's ears over the loud music, and no one casually trying to jump into our conversations to talk to Mr. Popular, aka, Axel.

Just us.

"You still haven't guessed it yet, you know," I say, breaking the silence between us.

He looks over at me with a raised brow, "You're still on to that?"

I nod, giving him a cheeky grin, "If you give up, I won't hold it against you. Not everyone is good at guessing games."

He squints his eyes at me, clearly aware that I'm just egging him on in this little game of ours that I was clearly enjoying.

"Fine, give me one more hint." He says, before turning his body towards me to hear it.

Again, I have to take a second to think of a good enough hint, because I feel like my last two were pretty spot on.

At this point, I'd finished the water that Axel gave me, and was starting to have a bit more reasonable thoughts. Which was a pity, because I could use the confidence that alcohol gives me to do things that sober Ally wouldn't.

But tonight was different. I could just feel it in my bones.

We are different.

Something about last night changed something between us, and there is no way that he didn't feel it too. Watching those movies, talking, snuggling, and waking up together. Just to meet again later at this party to basically flirt?

He has to feel something for me, this can't be one sided.

I refuse to believe that it is.

"You said that none of the guys here had any good taste tonight, right?"

As if I was testing him, he slowly nods his head, unaware of the rapid-fire I was going to unleash on him in the next few seconds.

"But that wouldn't be very realistic, would it, Axel?" I ask, giving him an innocent grin.

"No, it wouldn't, Ally." He says, mocking me.

He wouldn't be mocking me now if he just knew what he was about to find out.

Which makes this fun.

"So that means those guys in there must have looked tonight. Do you agree?"

"I agree." As he says this, his face twists up in what looks to be annoyance, which makes me have to hold back a giggle.

He clearly doesn't like the thought of me bringing up that small fact, but if it means that I would get over-protective, grouchy Axel, then I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

"But why would they look but not touch?" I ask, tilting my head to the side to add extra effect.

So I like being a bit dramatic, sue me.