How It Began (Axel x Olivia)

Chapter 20

Axel's PoV

"One more step!" Jesse called, as a blindfolded Olivia stumbled her way through the woods. "This feels like lots more steps, Jesse." Olivia murmured, but still walking forward, holding my hand. I tried not to have sweaty palms but I guess it wasn't working since Olivia kept smirking and wiping her hands on her shirt.

"Why are you so nervous?" Olivia asked me, still blindfolded. "Wait, you're not bringing me to a gang hideout, right?" she asked, suddenly sounding worried. Jesse burst out laughing, making Reuben run around us, barking. "Yeah Olivia, we're bringing you to a hideout, which involves money, food, and drugs."

Olivia grinned. "I kinda like the food part, and the money. But maybe not the drugs." she called, and I looked behind me in case there was something for her to trip on. "And.. here we are!" Jesse called, making Olivia reach up to take off her blindfold. "Aw come on Jesse," she grumbled, trying to untie the scarf. "What kinda knot did you even tie?"

I pushed down her hand without a word and silently untied the knot. When the cloth was removed from her face, the sunlight shone on her face, making her dark skin brighter and her dark eyes shine. "Whoa." she said, looking at the treehouse.

Reuben looked up at me and I swear he winked. But he quickly bounded ahead to look for Jesse. "Jesse built the base... I just helped a little, here and there." I said, feeling awkward in the silence. The golden rays of sunshine was still shining on her, turning her hair into brilliant shades of black and dark brown.

"Axel.. it's beautiful." she said, still looking ahead at the house. I smiled a little. "It sure is." I looked at her, as she turned to me a little. "HEY!" Jesse called, making Olivia and I jump. "Aren't you two lovebirds going to come in or what?" Olivia and I turned a dark shade of red as Jesse smirked, up in the treehouse.

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I closed my laptop, grinning happily. Jesse was smart to invite Olivia to the treehouse. "What are you smiling about?" I jumped and turned to see my mom, holding a cup of fruit juice (my mom doesn't like coffee) and making cookies. Even though we were rich, my mom liked to do the cooking, since she says it helps her to relax.

"Me? Smiling?" I quickly flattened my smile into a straight line. "No one is smiling." I said in a monotone voice, making my mom laugh. "Is it a girl? You're too young, honey." my mom said, turning to the counter, giving me time to look surprised. Too young?

"Mom I'm old enough to ride a bike around town." I said, poking at a sugar cube she had left on the bird table out on the windowsill. "I know Axel. Your father doesn't seem to want to support my idea of keeping you safe, unfortunately." my mom said, waving a spoon in the air.

"For he record, he even said that if you had a girlfriend, he didn't really mind as long as she was pretty, smart and also loyal. Something along that line. I'm just relieved that you're talking to someone, darling." my mom slid a plate of cookies towards me.

I picked up a cookie, almost burning myself because it was hot. "I am talking to someone." I said, trying to juggle the cookie, "A girl. But she's just a friend. A classmate." My mom nodded but didn't say anything. "Okay Axel." she said and turned to leave the kitchen, making me sigh, and open up my laptop again.

I was on Olivia's instagram page, just looking at her pictures of Florida and some beaches I've never heard of before. Jesse didn't have a phone, which seemed a bit strange to me. I looked down at my own phone and frowned. Was Jesse poor.? If he was, why didn't he tell me?

Because not so wealthy people like Jesse wouldn't appreciate you showing off your wealth and money and your perfect life. I scolded myself, hitting my hand against my head. "You don't have to beat yourself up about it Axel." I jumped, and turned to see my dad, pouring himself a cup of coffee. The exact opposite of my mom. It was a wonder how they got along.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked, unplugging my laptop from the power socket and standing in the kitchen, waiting. "About five minutes after your mom left." my dad said, opening the fridge. I waited awkwardly. "Oh. Well, I better get going then..." I said quickly, leaving the kitchen. After walking up the stairs, I leaned against my door, wondering if my parents would approve of Olivia..

-End