In The End

Last Resort

Dad made fresh coffee and disapeared to take Axel another cup, leaving me and mom awkardly staring at each oter across the table. We talked it out for another hour or so, rehashing most of what my Dad had already told me, with my mom filling in some of the gaps around her life whilst she was away. I brought my parents up to speed on what exactly had been happening in LA. Although they knew most of it, they knew the 'safer' version, not the uncensored reality, and after nearly 40 minutes of calming my mother down and fighting for her to accept that I was going back to my life in LA, we sat silently around the table. Exhaustion had hit us all. My eyes stung, my neck, back and butt ached, all I wanted was a hot bath, a warm pizza and to be laying in bed with Axel's arms wrapped snuggly around me.

"Axel." I groaned, remembering how I'd just abandoned him several hours ago. I rose from the table scrapping the wooden legs of the chair across the hardwood floor and spotting my mother instantly wince as she held in her need to tell me off for not lifting the chair. I said nothing as I corrected my mistake and lifted the chair, slipped it back underneath the table, and exited the room. The front door was wide open, letting in a welcome breeze that cooled my burning eyes and flushed cheeks. I headed towards it, not sure if Axel was out there, or my mother had left it open in her haste but I was desperate to see him nonetheless. The sun had almost set, leaving a warm orange glow on the horizon and I imediately spotted Axel sat on the porch in my dad's chair, his attention firmly fixed on the worn leather notebook resting on his knee. The evening glow kissed his face making him look angelic rather than angsty.

"Hey." I croaked causing his head to instantly snap up in my direction.

"Hey." He half smiled before dropping his eyes back to the book.

I let out a deep sigh as I walked over and took the empty seat next to him. I don't know what I was expecting to be met with, but this slightly frosty reception wasn't it. "I'm sorry I left you alone for so long," I whispered, rocking back slightly to place my hands underneath the bend in my knees. I always resorted to this position when I was unsure about a situation.

"That's okay." His eyes remained on the book for a little longer before finally moving to acknowledge me. "You had a lot to talk through, it was expected."

Again I felt myself shift with an unease at his offish response. "You must be starving, you haven't eaten or drank anything." I quickly rambled, jumping to my feet.

"I'm fine. I finished off what was left in the car, and your Dad has keep me caffinated."

"Oh." I paused. "Like, do you need the bathroom or anything?" I tugged at the fraying hem on my sleeve.

"Nah, I'm good." His eyes remained on mine, but there was an emptiness there, it was like how he looked at me with annoyance in those early days. "So, I'm gonna head back to LA. You have a lot to work through here and... well I just wanted to make sure you were okay before I left." He stood up, cracking his back and his neck before hitting his full height and towering over me.

"What... you can't just..." A nervous laugh escaped as I got to my feet. "Axel, you can't just drive straight back, you need a good night's sleep, to rest, eat, take a shower..."

"It's fine, Sullivan has his jet waiting for me and he's going to get the car brought back." He tapped the notebook into the palm of his free hand. "We'll talk when you get back."

"We'll talk..." I scoffed, "Talk about what? We can talk right here right now.

He shook his head and looked to the sky as if searching for some help or divine intervention.

"Axel!" I snapped.

"Look, you're going through a lot right now, you've spent hours talking and... its just not the time, okay."

"The time for what? For you to be here and support me when I need you the most?" I felt my knees shake beneath me.

"Look, you need this time with your family, you don't need some guy you're fucking awkwardly hanging around."

"Wow!" My eyes nearly popped out of my head as my eyebrows shot to the top of my forehead. "Just some guy I'm... wow."

"Liv, you know what I..."

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Axel?"

"Liv..." He called after me as I turned away and headed towards the door. "I just don't think me and you are a good idea whilst you have all this going on, you know... you need..."

"So much for you got this and I got you, huh." I scoffed before taking a deep breath and straightening my back. "Thank you for the ride here, have a safe trip back and I'll get Eden to pick my stuff up." The sound of him calling my name once more was cut short by the loud slam of the door as I stepped inside the house.

"Liv, what's going on?" My Dad came hurtling out of the kitchen followed by my Mom. I looked at them for a second before the tears burned my eyes once more and I darted up the stairs to my room. My dad went to follow but was immediately pulled back by my Mom.

It felt like my heart was about to break my ribcage as I reach my room. I slammed the door shut behind me and fell onto my bed. The pain was getting worse in my chest, I forght for each breath as I sobbed and the sound of his car drifted off into the distance. The room began to spin, the pain in my chest continued and I suddenly felt like my throat was closing.

"Olivia." My mothers soft voice carried through and I strained to call out to her but no sound followed.

"Olivia, please." She spoke again as my mouth siliently made the words I wanted to say and the last thing I remembered was her calling for my Dad as the room went black.