Learning From The Bad Boy

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Celia:

It would be a lie to say I didn't enjoy spending those few moment with James. Maybe I had misjudged him. I let myself out of the car, not expecting him to follow. He stepped toward me, a hesitant smile on his lips.

"So maybe we could, I don't know, hang out sometime?" He said, looking into my eyes.

James was funny and handsome, sure, but no amount of these traits could override the ones Axel had. Even when I looked at James, I subconsciously wished his eyes were darker, his skin smoother, his hair more disheveled...

I smiled at him, "Yeah that sounds great James."

He smiled back, showcasing perfectly straight teeth. Then he leaned forward to hug me. Not over thinking the action, I returned his hug. When his hands reached my hips, I felt the urge to pull away from him. Suddenly I didn't have pull away from him, he was torn away from me.

Aggression flashed in the dark, intense depths of Axel's eyes as his clenched fist flew forward. It made contact with James' jaw with a sharp pop.

Gasps and screams filled the air, when what we thought would be a fight broke out. Instead of fighting back, James' eyes closed and he landed on the ground with a thud.

Holy shit. Axel knocked him out.

The skin on his right knuckle was split, blood staining Axel's hands.

"What the hell Axel?" I yelled in fright, taking in James' unconscious form. His eyes snapped over to me.

"What the hell? Really, you're asking me that?" He growled out, "Don't be a fucking idiot! Did you forget what I told you about him?" He kicked at James with his foot.

My stomach bottomed out, "He told me the truth."

"Truth?" Axel laughed out harshly. "I told you the truth. He spoon fed you bullshit and you bought it." He shook his head in disbelief.

James let out a low groan, finally coming to. His hand went to his jaw as one eye cracked open.

Blood dripped from Axel's hand onto the grass. He stood stiffly, glaring down at James in disgust

"Axel..." I trailed off trying to catch his attention, "You cant just go around hitting people." I looked around for a teacher to come and haul us away to the principals office.

I bent down to James, taking the side of his face in my hands, inspecting him for bruises or cuts. Axel gave a derisive snort.

I glared up at him for a moment before turning my attention back to James.

"Can you stand?" I questioned him softly. James grimaced, but nodded and began clamoring to his feet.

The crowd that had gathered quickly began to disperse at the sound of a angered voice.

"You two, go to the office!" Mr. Avery, the Algebra 2 teacher shouted out. He glared at James, pushing his glasses further up. "You go to wherever you're supposed to be."

James floundered, looking for something to say. He opened his mouth, only to close it again.

"Now!" Mr. Avery shouted at the three of us. I jumped slightly, but began hurrying to the office. I knew Axel wasn't following. This much was clarified when I heard Mr. Avery growl out his name.

I on the other hand, didn't need to be told twice. My heart sunk at the realization that this would be the first time I had been sent to the office. They were going to call my parents for sure...

Dammit!

My feet grew heavy when I was within ten feet of the door to my doom. I'm going to kill Axel.