Axel's Daisy

44 • Destiny

Maybe Dad was right. He was the one who warned me not to get caught up in the Axel Effect. The advice came too late; it had already broken my heart. But there were bigger things in life than love—like my dreams and aspirations. I wanted to work through everything to be by my dad's side. I had a feeling I needed to leave Wisconsin. He had made me hate it.

Jade still didn't know what had happened, and I wanted to sleep until morning. My body was exhausted when I woke up to get ready for school. I didn't want to worry Dad, so I put on my best show: a baby blue dress that I hoped would hide the pain on my face.

My eyes were still damp, with dark circles under them. I applied double coverage foundation and concealer to mask the hollows beneath my eyes. A swipe of blush painted my cheeks, which should have flushed with laughter but now bore a porcelain smile. Bold lipstick decorated my lips, which should have whispered secrets but were now sealed with a gloss that reflected my emptiness.

I stood before the mirror, a vision of beauty marred only by the cracks in my soul. Behind the veil of makeup, my pain was buried. It was the newest version of me. I slung my bag over one shoulder, checked myself one last time, and went downstairs to kiss Dad goodbye.

"Have fun at work," he said, hugging me.

"You too," I croaked. I told him it was due to how much we'd been yelling, but he didn't know the real reason.

School was just... school. A prison for creativity. I was desperate to retreat to my secret place and be alone, but priorities came first.

In the busy hallways, I walked with a thoughtful air, my eyes wandering as if lost in deep contemplation. Even amid animated classmates, I seemed to retreat into my own world, occasionally pausing to ponder quietly before moving on to my next class.

Classes felt bland, and Jade was a no-show. She was probably still catching up on sleep after the high with Brady. I texted her but got no reply.

I dropped the apple I was holding when my eyes accidentally met the guy who broke my heart. He was with his team in the cafeteria, and a blonde girl beside him tried to catch his attention. His eyes were bloodshot, fixed on his table. I grabbed my apple and, ignoring the nervous tremor in my heart, opted for the library.

•••

I had the last free period.

Then the furious Jade appeared before me, blocking the sun as she placed her hands on her hips. I had told her to meet me in the garden overlooking the cafeteria.

Behind her was Brady, with a determined stance and exhausted eyes. I connected the dots and knew what they wanted to talk about.

"Who are you, and what the fuck did you do to my best friend?"

"Jade, calm down. She doesn't know."

My throat constricted at the sight of a livid Jade and a collected Brady.

"Know what?" My voice was still scratchy, and his pitying look was something I couldn't tolerate. "Don't look at me like that. Just tell me."

"Violet was the bad guy here. She tricked Axel; she wasn't pregnant in the first place," Jade screamed out the harsh truth. "Yes, they slept together, but she wasn't having his baby. Look for yourself." She threw the paper at me, and it fell to the ground. I picked it up and saw it was a DNA test.

The name didn't have Axel in it—not one bit.

I stared at it until tears began streaming down my face and my shoulders shook violently. Jade's barriers came down as she hugged me, and Brady held my shoulder for comfort.

"Oh my god, I messed everything up," I choked out, heaving on Jade's shoulder.

"I should have known. Axel was a mess yesterday, and I found out too late. I should have told you earlier," Brady admitted truthfully.

"It's okay. The damage is done," I whispered.

"No, you need to take your man and fight," Jade encouraged. I let out a dry chuckle before hugging her again. "Take the chance while you can," she murmured in my ear, and I nodded.

It was worth a try. I took the paper and walked away from the couple.

The disheveled guy stood against his locker with a frown, looking like a mess. He didn't notice me—or if he did, he didn't want to.

I took a daring step, reaching for his hand. He flinched and pulled it away.

"You found out the truth again, right?" The hurt in his voice made my lips tremble and my heart hiccup.

"I really didn't know," I whispered.

The empty hallway began to crowd, and I needed to talk to him alone.

"You didn't know—you fucking want to keep running away and use that excuse."

In the midst of a bustling school courtyard, his voice erupted like thunder, cutting through the ambient noise. His words were sharp and piercing, each syllable charged with frustration and hurt.

His eyes blazed with intensity, locked onto mine with an unwavering glare that seemed to bore into my soul. His fists clenched at his sides, trembling with raw energy that mirrored the storm within him.

Around us, students paused mid-step, drawn by the spectacle. Conversations faltered, replaced by hushed whispers and curious glances as they witnessed the unfolding drama.

I stood before him, wide-eyed with shock and hurt, my hands instinctively rising to shield myself from the verbal onslaught. My breath caught in my throat, each accusation landing like a blow to my heart.

I closed my eyes, shutting off my world from the damage.