Beyond the Ordinary

Chapter 18

KATE 

My father had the man drop the rental off at his realtor's office, while we'd driven our new car behind him. Once he was done, and my father had paid the realtor, the man came into our new car so that we could drop him back off at his dealership. Everything worked out perfectly in the end.

When we got home, my father got a phone call that he had to take so I was left alone to watch some Netflix on the television. My phone buzzed beside me, and I saw that it was a Snapchat from Axel.

He'd sent me a picture of what looked like homework and he'd typed, 'Facetime me pls?'

I smiled and found his contact card, hitting the button for FaceTime. He answered right away.

"Thank God you said yes! I'm dying here," he stated dramatically, his voice sounding oddly hotter over the phone.

I quickly took my phone upstairs to my room and shut my bedroom door.

"Ooh, am I in your bedroom now? Give me a tour," Axel said, crossing his arms under his head.

I rolled my eyes but flipped my camera around anyways, first showing him my bed. "So, this is my bed," I said.

"Really? I thought it was a bathtub," Axel remarked, making my cheeks flush.

"Not my brightest moment," I replied.

"I thought it was cute," Axel said, sounding serious. "But I had to be serious, 'cause I need the money."

I smiled and continued the room tour, skipping my dresser so he wouldn't see all the pictures of a family that no longer existed.

"And that's my shower," I said, which happened to be the last part of the tour.

"That's where you sing off-key and you're naked," Axel said with a chuckle.

My cheeks flushed bright red, but thankfully, the camera was still turned around.

"Shouldn't you continue your homework, Axel?" I asked, changing the subject.

"I would, but it's so hard. Why is math so hard for me?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Math's actually my best subject, what do you need help with?" I asked.

"I don't know, Kate. Aren't you in algebra, too?"

I turned my camera back around so that he could see my face and pretended not to notice as a small smile crept onto his face when I did. "Actually no, I'm in pre-calc, so come on, tell me what you're stuck on."

Axel sighed. "Can't we talk about something other than homework?" He asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Nope. Either I'm here helping you with your math or I'm not here at all," I declared, pretending to be totally serious but even I could hear the smile in my voice.

"Come on, Kate, it's not even due until Monday," Axel whined.

I smiled, my facade falling. "Okay."

Axel smiled back gratefully. "Thanks, Kate."

I watched as his screen shook and suddenly he was on his bed. "So, what's your favorite color?"

I laughed. "That is so cliché," I said, "Come on, ask me a real question."

Axel laughed easily. "Okay, fine. Are you a virgin?"

I felt my cheeks flush pink. "Um, pass."

Axel shook his head. "Nope, no passes. Either you answer this question, or I pester you about it every day until you answer. Your choice."

I laughed. "Fine. Yes, I'm a virgin," I whispered the word "virgin" in case if my father were listening in on this conversation.

Axel smiled. "See? Was that so hard? Okay, your turn. Ask me something."

I nodded, the blush slowly fading from my cheeks. "Okay, are you?"

Axel smirked playfully. "Am I what, Kate?"

And just like it'd gone, the heat returned to my cheeks. "Are you, are you a virgin?" I asked, whispering the last part once again.

"I'm sorry, Kate, I can't really hear you, what'd you say?" Axel asked, humor in his voice.

I shook my head laughing, then headed to the Messages app, making his face disappearing for a few moments.

KATE - R u a virgin?

I looked down to see that he was typing and I could feel the vibration of his laugh through my phone. Suddenly, he stopped typing and just said, "Yes, Kate. I am."