Learning From The Bad Boy

Real Family

Celia:

I didn't feel anything. Feeling just didn't seem possible at the moment. Of course everything made sense, but I was so overwhelmed. Exhausted from my emotions, I slipped into a dreamless sleep.

What felt like seconds later I was being woken up by April, Axel's mom. Not recognizing my surroundings I looked around the room before settling my gaze back on April. And then Axel. And then April again.

They said a few things to eachother before she left the room.

Then I looked at Axel, really looked at him.

The look of pure concern in his shadowy eyes made my heart stop completely.

Wordlessly, he stood up and vacated the room; leaving me to myself.

I looked down at the bedding I was sitting on top of. Small stitchwork in the shape of small flowers were spread across the surface of the duvet.

What did I do to deserve Axel?

As if on command, he stepped back into the room. Much to my dismay, he had a bottle of isopropyl alcohol in one hand and a few cotton balls in the other.

I voiced exactly how much I hated the antiseptic. He merely frowned and told me he knew. He only wants to disinfect the claw marks on my cheek, but God help me if I wasn't dreading it.

In a gentle motion, he swept the cool cotton against my cheek. I hissed out the pain lowly.

He grimaced and apologized before discarding the used cotton ball.

Examining my face, his eyes narrowed, he said that the cuts were shallow and wouldn't scar but I'd be bruised.

I fought the urge to giggle at how he sounded. "Thank you, Doctor Calderes." I said sarcastically; watching a smile lift onto his face.

After a few seconds his smile dropped. He asked me what happened. Of course he would. I was expecting this. So I told him I'd tell once I was cleaned up.

So here I was, thirty minutes later. Clothed in Axel's shorts and shirt that I practically swam in and wrapped up in the duvet on Axel's bed, I faced him.

I recounted the events up to my dad, well uncle, throwing his wife out of the house before pausing.

"I knew something was... off." I said carefully. "The way everyone had acted around me..." I shook my head.

"I'm not their child. I guess I should have known. It explains why Joanna hates me so much, why I look different." His eyes widened a little.

"My dad, Steven." I corrected myself. "Is actually my uncle. He had a twin, she died giving birth to me and put him down as the first person I'd go to if something were to happen." I hugged the blanket closer to me. "I don't think she really planned on me killing her."

I was drained emotionally. By now my voice cracked every time I talked.

Axel's hands gripped onto my shoulders. "You didn't kill her. Bad things happen all of the time, none of that was your fault." He spoke passionately, and I wanted to believe the things he was saying, but was it not my fault?

It was. And it always will be.

I shrugged.

He let out a sigh.

I glanced back at ghe guitar leaning against the wall. "Will you play something?" I asked quietly.

He followed my gaze. Seeming to think it over a few times before he stood, Axel walked hesitantly towards the corner.