In The End

Crimson Sky

I sat on the edge of my bed and tightened the laces on my panda dunks. I'd forced myself to comply with Axels instructions regarding 'suitable' attire, opting for my skinny light blue jeans and a plain white T-shirt and purposely gone for the minimalist amount of make up along with a messy high ponytail. Although I wanted to look presentable, I certainly didn't want him to think I'd made an effort. I checked the time again, and exhaled a calming breath seeing that I still had a good 20 minutes to actually change my mind before he would be picking me up.

"It's not too late to back out you know." Eden appeared at my bedroom door, startling me from my thoughts as she casually leaned against the frame, clutching her steaming coffee.

I let out another heavy breath, this time puffing out my cheeks for added effect. "It's fine," I lied. "the sooner I do it, the sooner it's over and done with and we can all get on with life as normal."

Eden matched my earlier sigh of despair and shook her head before retreating back to her room and leaving me to wallow in my pity party. I checked my phone again, I'd never felt time move more slowly yet feel like it was closing in on me. I shook myself, cursing quietly under my breath as I rose from the edge of the bed and went to my wardrobe in search of a small bag for my belongings. A few moments later I found exactly what I was looking for and placed the pocket sized bag across my body filling it with my keys, phone, and lip balm before a final check in my full length mirror and I moved my agonising wait to the sofa.

Just breathe,  just breathe. I replayed over and over in my head as another 10 minutes ticked slowly by. I stared helplessly at my phone watching another minute pass, and another, and several more, lost in an alarming panic that he might not actually turn up. What would I do if this was another one of his games and he stood me up, left me hanging, sitting in my living room like a foolish child waiting for him? As I started to rehearse my damage limiting response the sharp buzz of my phone against the table shocked me back into the present.

Axel: I'm outside.

The message simply read, yet my stomach flipped with nerves and self annoyance over the hypothetical embarrassment I had entertained.

"I'm leaving now." My voice croaked as I called out to Eden.

"K, keep me updated and if you need me to come get you, SOS me." She shouted back from her room.

"Will do." I inhaled and exhaled as slowly as I could before grabbing my black leather jacket from the coat rack next to the door and solemnly plodded out of the apartment.

The full length glass doors to my complex allowed me to see Axel before he could see me. I paused as I took in his lean frame leaning casually against a large matte black motorbike. Realisation kicked in and I quickly found myself storming forward and pushing the doors open with such ferocity that they clattered into the hand rails next to them.

"I'm not getting on that." I hissed marching towards him with a scowl etched on my face.

"Hello to you too." A lazy half smile formed as his eyes moved to mine.

"Hi." I quickly snapped, eyeing the pristine black matt death trap before me. "Let me get my keys, we'll take my car. I'm not getting on a motorbike Axel."

"Why?" He eyed me, but a hint of amusement twinkled as that irksome smirk lifted the corner of his mouth, causing me to pause from my dramatic storming off.

"Because they're dangerous. There's no seat belts, what if I fall off and die?" Annoyance dripped from my words as a gentle laugh fell from his mouth as he shook his head.

"I would not put you in danger Olivia. You have a helmet." He paused and presented me with a smaller version of the glossy black helmet that was resting next to him. "And as long as you hold me you wont fall off and die. I'm a great driver." He added with another smirk as my lips pushed together forming a harsh straight line.