The Beast of Fox Hill

Fifteen

After a showering of hugs and laughter, we make our way over to the couch. Axel sits at one end and I walk over to the opposite side, but I am quickly pulled down and land squished up next to Axel. I chuckle and allow him to pull me into himself and I cuddle into his side. 

"If you thought you were going to sit away from me after all this time you were mistaken, Jazzy," he says with a low chuckle. 

"My apologies," I say with a laugh. 

"How have you been living up here all by your lonesome? I heard Fox Hill is pretty sketchy. I can not imagine living this close to a place like that," Axel states. 

"I actually like it here. Everyone I have met so far has been exceptionally nice and welcoming. I mean for the first year the only person I really knew was the storekeeper Mrs. Penny and her husband but recently I have made some new friends," I say, smiling up at the curly haired man. 

"Oh really? My little Jasper has made friends? Gosh what has this world come to!" he says with exaggeration. I playfully hit his arm and go back to resting against him. His fingers make their way into my hair as they always did once upon a time, and I am instantly soothed and brought home. 

"Yes, I have made friends. Three in fact! Well okay, one and then he brought his friends along," I admit. 

"He?" Axel asks as I have perked his curiosity. 

"Yes, his name is Booker and his friends are Zane and Cassander," I answer confidently. I do not hear an instant reply, and sit up slightly and look to Axel. His face looks confused and a bit concerned, which made a strange anxiety rise in me. 

"What is Cassander's last name?" Axel asked, his face now hard and serious. 

"I think he said it was Oris or Osiris. Something that starts with an O," I say with a shrug. "Why?" I ask curiously. 

"I think you should stay away from that group, Jas," Axel's face remaining stern. 

"Why?" I ask again. 

"I think I know his name and as far as I remember from what I have heard, he is not the best guy. Please just promise you will stay away or be careful if you run into him or that group again?" he asks, concern covering his features. 

"Alright, I trust you," I say, snuggling myself into his side. He wraps a secure arm around my body and I feel safe as I always did when I was with him. I think to how safe Booker and Cassander felt too, but I have known Axel for years and I trust his word. 

"How's Mom?" I ask. Axel never left the apartment next to my mother's so I know from my mother's word that he has checked up on her. 

"She is doing well as far as I know. She seems like she has been quite busy though," he says with a chuckle. 

"Busy?" I ask as he has perked a suspicion inside of me. 

"Yes. She has a guy who comes over a few times a week. This has been going on for a few weeks now," he says with a chuckle. "Even your mom is getting some and you aren't!" he says playfully. 

I roll my eyes at his antics and think of my mom. It made sense that she had to go so quickly the last time I called her. Though it seemed weird to think of my mother with a man, I was happy for her. She put all of her time and energy into me and making sure we had everything we could need and all I could ask for was that she was happy in the end as well. 

"I'm glad she is. She deserves it," I say with a smile.

"Yes she does and so do you," Axel says, his voice going from a humor filled one to one of softness. I feel his arm move from around me and his long, masculine fingers begin to trace my arm.