Learning From The Bad Boy

Save The Dramatics

I didn't want to go back to my house. God knows it was the last place I wanted to be. Unfortunately, my fate has already been predetermined. Maybe it won't be as bad if Axel is there.

Yeah right.

When he pulled into the driveway, I had tried to talk him into leaving. He didn't need to be dragged into this. Even if it was his fault...

He had ignored any and all of my attempts to make him reconsider. Now we were walking up the front door. They seemed more like gates to hell today than they had before. Here goes nothing.

I twisted the doorknob open and shoved the heavy door with my shoulder. Aaron and Sarah were cuddled together on the couch, and at the sound of the door closing, they looked up at Axel and I.

A sense of hostility plagued the air as Axel glared at Aaron. If looks could kill, I'm afraid they'd be hauling Axel off in handcuffs right about now.

I nudged Axel in the side with my elbow, drawing his attention away from Aaron.

"Mom and dad are looking for you." Sarah said plainly, before turning her attention back to the movie playing on the tv.

"Come on." I huffed out, grabbing onto Axel's arm and pulling him with me to the kitchen.

As I suspected, both of my parents were in the kitchen. I cleared my throat and they both looked up from what the were doing.

"Why is he here?" My mom said first, glaring up at Axel.

"Well ma'am, I wanted to tell you that none of this is Celia's fault and-"

She scoffed, cutting him off mid sentence. "Did she put you up to this? So she wouldn't get into trouble?"

Axel's eyes narrowed in irratation, "Actually she didn't want me to come here and talk to you-"

"Don't make her out to be innocent." She gave me a look of disgust.

"But she is-" Axel argued, taking a step towards her.

"Axel." I warned, trying to pull him back to me.

He let out a breath, but stepped back to me.

"Look, Celia didn't do anything and doesn't deserve to be treated like sh-" He cleared his throat, "Doesn't deserve to be punished." He corrected himself.

My mom opened her mouth to argue back, but my dad beat her to it.

"That's enough, Joanna." His stern voice made her go quiet. "Will you two come upstairs?" 

I nodded. Better he handle this rather than her.

"Great. I'll be there in a moment."

"Come on." I said to Axel again, leading him upstairs to my father's office.

He was pissed. This much was clear. I closed the office door behind us. Axel wouldn't look up even when I called his name.

"You're not mad at me are you?" I whispered quietly. I wasnt sure how I would react if he said yes.

Axel's head shot up. He gave me an incredulous look, "At you? Hell no. At your mom? Maybe."

He shook his head. Dark strands of hair fell out of place and onto his forehead.

"It's okay." I said gently.

A look of disbelief took over his face, "Okay? No. That's not okay."

Perhaps it was instinct. Perhaps it was insanity. A moment of weakness maybe? But I inched forward, slowly enough to pull away if necessary. And I put my arms around him. For a spilt second he stood frozen, probably confused at why I was hugging him, before he wound his arms tightly around me. I let out a relieved sigh.

"Thank you." I said, even though my voice was muffled by his shirt.

"You don't have to thank me for anything, Red."

I held onto him tightly. Everything about him comforted me.

The door swung open, reveling my dad. A from formed on his face. I jumped away from Axel quickly. I cursed my pale skin when I felt heat radiate from my face.

"I'll pretend I didn't see that, but keep your hands to yourself young man."

Axel nodded.

Well that got awkward.

My dad situated himself in his desk chair, looking back and fourth between Axel and I. He gestured for us to take a seat.

"Now, tell me exactly what happened. From the beginning."

Axel recounted the events, repeatedly stating my innocence.

My dad nodded, "I believe you both, but unfortunately Joanna isn't easily swayed."

I slumped back into the chair. She wasn't ever swayed easily and, from the sound of it, dad wasn't going to even try to make her think differently. Axel didn't want to accept that as a final answer.

"Sir, your daughter was a bystander. If every bystander got into trouble, half of the school would be in detention tomorrow." He leaned forward, his dark eyes glowing with irratation.

"I understand that but Joanna-"

I'd finally had enough.

"Why won't you fight against her? For me? It's not even a big deal, so why can't you try to change her mind?" I was shocked at the venom lacing each syllable.

I suppose I wasn't the only shocked one. Axel watched on with a smile on his face, and, dare I say, pride in his eyes. Dad, on the other hand, sat with his jaw unhinged. He looked at a loss for words.

Finally he put together a sentence  "It's not that easy, Celia."

My hands formed fists, and my knuckles turned white. "It never is easy, is it?"

I stood up quickly, "I'll be back before 10." and I turned on my heel, straight out of the door.

I heard Axel say and few things to my dad before I heard his footsteps close behind me.

Nobody dared stop us on our way out. I wanted to scream. Tear my hair out. Ask them why. Ask her why. But most of all I wanted to get away.

I wrapped my arms around me, hoping that none of my irrational thoughts were showing on my face. Axel's warm hands landed on my arms, turning me to face him.

"Let's get out of here, yeah? You still owe me proper Literature lessons." He teased, coaxing me out of my own self pity.

I nodded, "I guess I do."

"Damn right, Ginger. Let's get the hell out of here."

A smile rose on my lips, as I willing followed him back the the Harley parked in the driveway.

What will I do when he's not around to take me away from this?

I pushed the thought out of my mind.

I'm not the dramatic type.

I repeated that over and over. Everything was going to be fine. With or without Axel.

A wry smile formed. It'll be fine, just far less entertaining and... endearing.