Axel

57

I S A B E L L A

Ronan is surfing.

The waves are violent beneath him, the sea swallowing him under the surface and my heart skips a beat each time.

"Woohoo!!" His laughter dances with the waves, and i spot his wild red curls blowing in the wild wind as he climbs back onto the board.

I huff out a laugh, and fall back into the warm cushion of sand. The bright rays of sun blind me, pushing me to shut my eyes.

One moment my face cooks in the summer heat, the next, a dark shadow takes away its life.

I peel my eyes open, immediately met with Ethan's crotch above me, as he stands with his chin tucked down. "You're covering the sun."

He sends me a charming smile, ignoring my comment and instead looking out into the distance. "He's been out there for two hours."

I shut my eyes, and continue sunbathing. "I've already tried getting him out, he's determined to learn."

He hums, "And Noah?"

I smirk at the mention of his name, and Ethan kicks sand at me. Sitting up on my elbows, i send him my meanest scowl. Ethan chuckles, bends down and ruffles my hair in attempt to get the sand out.

"If you must know, he's visiting Axel." Ethan merely raises an eyebrow at the comment, crouching down beside me.

"You didn't go?" He asks, surprise lingering in his tone.

"He's coming back next week after being locked away for 3 months, i just felt Noah would do a better job at easing him back to real life."

Ethan hooks a finger on his shades and pulls them down the bridge of his nose, watching as Ronan flips under the board.

"You haven't been to visit him in an entire month." He mutters, and lowers down to my level as he leans back on his elbows.

I swallow back the guilt, remembering our last phone call conversation.

"I spoke to my therapist this morning." Axel voice is rough, but there's always that lingering softness when he speaks to me.

"What did he say?" I lean back into the couch, throwing another chip into my mouth.

"That I've presented significant change in my behaviour. It got me thinking, actually."

I smile at the news, muttering a quick "About what?"

For a moment there's a long silence and i hate that i'm not there to see his face. "About being released early."

I pause, the chip hovering over my mouth. "But you have an entire month left?"

"I'm aware. But i'm okay, i feel better and i wouldn't be saying this if i didn't feel like i was ready."

When his words leave behind an awkward silence, he speaks up again as if to seek reassurance. "Don't you think i'm ready?"

I place the chip back in the packet, my appetite gone when i can't bring myself to reward him with the reassurance he's asking for.