Love: It Began with a Single Stare of Hatred

Because I Like You

Axel POV:

I sat in my seat during lunch as I watched Victor and Alice walk into the cafeteria. I just broke my promise to Nikki saying that I'd be her date but I wasn't anymore. Earlier today I had gotten myself a new date but I don't care. I don't want to her. I want Alice.

I gritted my teeth as I watched all the guys ogling her. Especially her legs. They looked soft and creamy. They appeared short when she used to wear pants before coming to this school but now that she and Victor were dating, she wore skirts for him and they looked long. I shook my head as I saw Yumi laughing with Alice and Victor. Apparently she liked them together. I scowled, turning away.

"Dude. What's wrong with you?" Eric asked, shaking my arm to get myself a grip. I threw his arm off.

"I don't know man... I just don't like today." I lied. Of course I didn't feel good. Every time I tried to talk to Alice, I couldn't. I needed to talk in private but there was no time alone. Victor was always with her!

Later that day, at night, I got up from bed. I tip-toed to the other side of the room. I leaned forward a bit as I looked at Eric's sleeping face. I sighted. I didn't need someone tagging along with me. I turned around as the floor creaked. I froze. Behind me, Eric grabbed my arm.

"Where are you going.." Eric asked, voice slurred. I held my breath as I slowly turned around. "Marshmellow..?" Eric asked, finishing his sentence. I blinked as my breath exhaled. I punched Eric's head, frustrated at him.

"Don't be scaring me already!" I mumbled. Eric cried in his sleep as I think he mumbled, ' Ow! Marshmellow bit my head!'.

I grabbed the door handle as I turned the knob.  Before I opened the door, my hand flew to my pocket, checking for my flashlight. I opened the door that would fit my body size as I slipped out into the dark hallway. I turned on my little flashlight as I slowly went down the hall. Seeing a teacher coming out of his room, I turned off my flashlight and connected my back against the wall, breathing disrupted. When he left, I turned to go back to my room as I opened my room window. A gush of wind slapped against my body as I gulped. Not looking down, I stepped on the edge of the building.

"Okay.. Don't look down.." I whispered to myself. "Just imagine yourself walking fine on clouds instead of falling to your death..." I inched myself slowly, body tight against the wall as I clung onto the bricks. As I finally found Alice's room, I opened the window. I crept in as I landed on the floor with a small thud. I looked up to see Alice turning in her sleep towards me. Her long eyelashes nearly touching her cheeks as her soft skin gleamed bright white in the moonlight. Her red and soft looking lips. I touched her cheek as her eyebrows twitched. they knitted together as I laughed lightly. I fixed myself as I breathed heavily.

I grabbed her mouth and her body twitched, waking herself up. Alice's eyes widened as a small muffle scream came from her mouth.

"It's me. It's me." I said, reassuring her that she wasn't in danger and that I wasn't going to die by her hands. I let my hand go of her slowly. She moved away from me as she faced me.

"What are you doing here?" she cried, whispering.

"I needed to talk to you." I whispered back.

"Can't it wait? It's.." she checked the clock besides her. "It's 4 in the morning! Are you crazy?! How'd you even get in here!?" she whispered, looking over my shoulder, making sure Yumi wasn't going to wake up.

"I know it's crazy. I just needed to talk to you-"

"Couldn't you do it later-"

"No. I needed it to be in private." I said, voice rising. she covered my mouth.

"Shut up Axis. You're gonna wake up Yumi." She said. I felt my heart soften. It's been a long time since I heard her call me Axis.

I pulled her hand down. "I need-"

"Get out Axis. I want to sleep. Just tell me later-"

"No." I said.

"Axel- No. Prince Axel. Please get out. I told you myself that we were going to be strangers didn't I? So please stop being a pervert and get out of this room-"

"No!" I cried as I grabbed her hand, pushing her down against her bed. I held her down as our eyes met. Her hand was everywhere as her wonderful smell of fresh candy came to me. I swallowed.

"I didn't say we could be strangers. I didn't even agree to it. I don't want to be strangers with you. I-I can't be strangers with you.. B-Because I-" 

Alice's knee flew to my stomach as I leaped off her, clenching my stomach. Her hand rose as her hand connected with my cheek. My gaze stayed on her pillow as my cheek stung with the blow I had just received.

"Just stop Axel. We're always going to be strangers. Nikki. She's your date to the ball. Go do this to her. I have a guy Axel. Can't you be happy for me and leave me alone." Alice said, her voice now penetrating my soft heart. My chest began to hurt and cloud as I felt my eyes burn. My ears felt red.

"Alice. You're misunderstanding. That night when I came.. I wanted to see you. I didn't want to go with Nikki. I wanted to go with you. That's what I came to tell you the other night. Even now. Alice.." Alice looked as though she was confused but I went on, knowing I sounded like I was speaking gibberish to her. Finally.. I got my final words out, "And it's all because I like you!"  I looked at her as my breath began to become haggard. While I was explaining, I didn't realize that my breath was going hay-wired.

The room remained silent as I looked at her, her eyes still processing what I had said. 

"Well?" I asked. "Say something-" She grabbed my arm as she pushed me off the bed. I staggered to my feet, barely, when she pushed me to the door. She opened the door as she pushed me out. I stood in the darkness as I heard her lean against the door.

"Go to sleep Axel..." She said. "...and don't say that to me ever again..." She said as she left the door. 

My eyes widened as it suddenly softened. My heart that I always thought was fine, being mean to girls that I didn't care about... Was now breaking. It wasn't just breaking... I was breaking. My knees slid to the ground as I found it suddenly hard to breath. My eyes burned as felt my eyes becoming wet. I.. Was crying. I was crying for the fist time in my life.