Beyond the Ordinary

Chapter 32

AXEL 

"Axel! Can you come down here, please?" My mother called from down the hall.

I rolled off my bed with a groan, stuffing my phone into my back pocket.

I headed down the hallway, my brother, Jace sitting at the kitchen table eating a bowl of cereal.

"Yes, mom?" I asked her, taking a seat next to Jace.

He rolled his eyes when he noticed my presence but said nothing.

"Axel, what the hell?" My mother asked me, showing me a pack of cigarettes.

I glanced at Jace, knowing they were his, but he said nothing.

"Those aren't mine!" I said honestly.

My mother stared at me, clearly not believing me. "Then why were they in your room?"

I glanced at Jace once again, longer this time, but he still pretended as if he was oblivious to the whole situation.

"I don't know, mom, but I need to get ready for school," I said, getting up from the table, making the chair scratch loudly against the floor.

"Axel, what's going on with you? This isn't like you," my mother said, sounding frustrated.

I looked at her. "They're Jace's," I said, before heading back into my room to get ready for school.

I pulled on a pair of khaki shorts, a black t-shirt, and a light jacket. I checked my phone, silently hoping that Kate would text me. Disappointed to see that she hadn't, I tucked my phone into the pocket of my shorts and pulled on my favorite pair of Vans. I grabbed my car keys off my dresser and my backpack before shutting off the light and closing my bedroom door and locking the door so my brother couldn't get in. I quickly decided to head out to my car through the back door to avoid both my brother and my mom.

❂ ❂ ❂

"Hey, Axel, over here!" A girl yelled, waving me over.

"Axel, is that your girlfriend?" My friend, Tyler, said.

I rolled my eyes. "C'mon, Tyler. I hardly even know her."

"Dude, go over there. Don't be rude," Tyler said, giving me a small push.

I rolled my eyes then flipped him the bird. "You're a real asshole, you know that right?"

Tyler waved me off dismissively and walked away, leaving me stranded in the middle of the hallway. My first period didn't start for another ten minutes, so I headed over to the girl reluctantly, trying to remember her name.

"Hey..." I said, my voice trailing off.

The girl popped her gum, looking frustrated. "Taylor," she said harshly.

"Sorry," I said, putting up my hands in mock defense.

"We're in band together..." She said as if I paid attention in band.

I nodded, pretending I now knew who she was, even though I still didn't have a clue. "Right... Taylor..."

Taylor popped her gum once again, looking bored before she said, "Listen, there's a party at my house this Saturday if you want to come..."

I nodded, finally remembering who she was. She was one of the popular girls in my school, though oddly enough, no one really knew her name. She was pretty, but I didn't see her in a romantic way, like Kate, my conscience echoed. To be honest, I never really found any girl attractive enough to date, until I met Kate. My heart skipped just slightly at the thought of her name.

"Hello?" The girl I'd been talking to asks, waving her hand in my face.

Shit, what was her name again?

"Sorry..." I said, my voice trailing off again.

"Taylor!" She exclaims, sounding frustrated. She took a deep breath and exhaled softly before saying, "So you coming?"

I raised my eyebrows, confused. "Coming where?"

Taylor chewed her gum loudly, clearly frustrated. "My party! Jesus, were you even listening to me?" She asked, sounding even more frustrated than she had before.

I shook my head. "Not really..." I said honestly and left her standing there with her mouth hanging open. I heard her mutter "how rude" as I walked away, deciding to go to math early.

I took out my phone, still no texts from Kate. So, I decided to just text her.

AXEL - Hey, I had fun with u yesterday ;)

Is that too cheesy? I thought to myself. Well, too late it's already sent.

Eventually, the teacher walked in and I reluctantly put my phone away and took out my notebook instead. As the class started, I knew it was going to be a long day.