Bex

Chapter 33:

I woke up the next morning in my hospital bed; my eyelids couldn't decide if they should stay open or closed. They stay closed. A yawn escaped my lips as I searched for Axel, eyelids still closed and my arm patting down the rest of the mattress. I expected Axel's body not too far from mine on the bed; I just felt empty space next to me.

My eyes flew open, and I sat up, twisting my head around to find him. The room was empty.

For a split second I panicked- where is he? Is he okay? Did he leave me too? No, I told myself, Axel wouldn't do that. He promised.

My worries were soon subdued when Axel strolled into my room carrying a tray of what looked like hospital food. He shut the door slowly behind him, so the only sound the door made was the soft click of it shutting. When he caught my eye, he gave me a rueful smile.

"I was hoping to be back before you woke up."

I didn't ask him where he went- it was obvious he got the food from the Hope Mercy cafeteria.

"What were you doing?"

"Well," He paused as he pulled up the little table attached to wheels towards my bed and placed the tray of food on it. "I was trying to surprise my girlfriend with breakfast in bed."

I bit my lip. He said that word again.

Girlfriend.

He called me that last night, and it caught me off guard, but I didn't want to say anything in front of everyone. I know he loves me- and I love him, too- but I wasn't use to him calling me his girlfriend- well, having him calling me his girlfriend and meaning it, anyways. When we were pretending, I got use to him introducing me as his girlfriend to others. But now when he called me that, it sent butterfly armies that were going to war with each other in my stomach.

I think he took my silence as apprehension over the meal. "I know it's not the best breakfast in the world, but you should eat something. You haven't ate anything in a few days."

I stared down at the pink, ceramic tray; there was a small bottle of apple juice, a bowl of oatmeal, and a cup of different chunks of fruit. Overall it didn't look too bad. I glanced back at Axel.

  "It looks like a good breakfast."

  "Then what is it?" His eyebrows furrowed in concern.

  "I don't know what you're talking about."

Axel gave me that same look he gives me every time he knows I'm lying. Seriously, does this boy have ESP or something? I sighed, tearing my eyes away from his accusing gaze.

"You just called me your girlfriend." I shyly looked up at him through my lashes.

And what happened next shocked me. Axel started blushing. The Axel West blushing! Boys like Axel don't blush. Boys like Axel would smirk at my remark and tease me endlessly for acting like a shy schoolgirl. Through his blush, he came up next to me, grabbed my hand, and seriously looked me in my eyes.

"Bex Woods, would you do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend- my real girlfriend this time?"

  "Like you have to ask." I laughed.

  I reached my hand up around his neck and brought his lips down to mine, sealing our new deal with a kiss.

After a few seconds the kiss became more persistent. Axel lowered himself down on the bed without breaking the kiss. He gathered me up in his arms; his heart slamming against his chest and mine. And here came those damn butterflies again. My heart started slamming in my chest, too. The stupid monitor started beeping like crazy again.