Axel's Daisy

25 • Axel

  Fourteen unread text messages from me.

  The agitation prickled my skin as hundreds of thoughts whirled like the wind in my mind. I was worried sick as we started our morning classes. Brady kept poking me to talk to him, and if he weren't my best friend, I would have flipped the table over him.

  "Who shit on your cereal?"

  "I don't eat cereal," I protested as my eyes glanced at my phone screen.

  "Don't worry, your girl is with mine. They won't come to school today." Brady scratched the back of his head, another sign that he was hiding something.

  That made me concerned. It wasn't like Destiny to miss school, especially since we had a chemistry final in the afternoon.

  "Why?"

  "She told me they needed girl time—is there even such a thing as girl time?" The incredulous tone in his voice made me skeptical, too.

  Mrs. Bourne, the depressed lady in rattling skirts, gave us the stink eye and got back to her limits. At least she didn't make us switch seats.

  "We need to check up on them after this class," I decided.

  We had English Literature next and time to sneak out; I couldn't wait for the end of school. I had to know why she missed her classes, especially since this day was the final exam.

  After the lesson dreadfully finished, Brady and I wove through groups of people who came to motivate us for the practice tonight to get to our cars. We were tight on time and had to get back to school quickly.

  Or it would look bad for us with Coach Landon. We didn't want to be on his brutal side.

  We sped up in our cars, one behind the other, taking a shortcut through the crowded areas as if we were in a high-speed chase.

  I caught her at the last moment as she was about to get in her car. She shrieked in surprise and turned to face me with her bloodshot eyes, which made me worry. I tried to touch her, but she distanced herself, escaping from my gaze.

  "What are you doing here?" she asked.

  "I came to check on you," I rushed my words as she sniffled. "What happened?" I questioned, and she still didn't meet my eyes.

  "I'm not going to be able to study. I have a full-time job now."

  "No way. You won't give up on your studies. You can work part-time, but you aren't bailing on your education." I grabbed her by the arms as I leaned on her car to stop her from getting in.

  "I don't have a choice," she whimpered.

  "You do. There is always a solution. Just tell me the whole story." I pleaded with her, wrapping my arms around her fragile body.

  "We don't have enough money. I need to work full-time to help my dad keep the house."

  That was why she couldn't look me in the eyes. She was ashamed to tell me this, so I hugged her tightly, resting my head above hers.

  "Just give me today; I will find a solution," I promised her as she shook her head.

  "No, you've already done enough, Axel." She rejected my offer.

  Brady stepped in, offering his help to Destiny.

  "I can help you. Consider it a loan if you want. I can buy you the whole house without rent and cover your education," he said tentatively, as if he didn't want to offend her.

  "No, Brady, this is too much. Thanks for the offer, though."

  "You have to take it," Jade interrupted, coming to her side to cheer her up. "You can always pay Brady back when you work part-time."

  "Are you sure?" Destiny asked Brady, who smiled and nodded.

  "It's easy, just a second," he said as he dialed another person and provided the address of Destiny's house. "Yeah, I want to buy this house under the name of Destiny Sanders."

  All three of us stared at Brady in surprise. All it took was one phone call to get the house, and he grinned at us with a thumbs up.

  "And done. That's how you do it, girls and guys," he said, bowing.

  "I have to tell my dad before he has another breakdown," Destiny told me, then looked at Brady with newfound respect. "I don't know how to thank you, Brady. I promise I will pay you back."

  "Don't worry about it."

  She ran back to her house with uplifted spirits as Jade jumped on her man and kissed him passionately, as if they were ready to get on it right there in front of me.

  "Please, guys, not here," I exclaimed.

  They were out of breath as soon as they finished making out, both with lovestruck smiles on their faces.

  "Wait until the date, Axel. You don't want to freak her out."

  My cute Daisy returned in her creamy flower dress, carrying a bag as she approached us.

  "You're taking a ride with me," I told her, and she blushed as she timidly nodded. I loved how she reacted as if it was the first time I spoke to her.

  We drove off to school, and she pulled out some revision papers as she bumped her knees up and down.

  We had a good five hours before the exam. She was ready to go with a brain like hers and her charm bracelet adorned with roses and lilacs.

  "I told Lena that I changed my mind and wanted the part-time offer," she admitted.

  "That's great. I will drop you off and go to practice."

  We both gleefully beamed at each other as we got out of the car, hand in hand, as it should be.