Beyond the Ordinary

Chapter 55

AXEL 

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

I sighed loudly, swinging my bag over my shoulder. "Coming!"

"What's up, mom?" I asked, sitting down at the table.

She looked back at me, her eyes bright and happy, before sliding a few papers across the table at me.

"The army is looking for new recruits," she said, smiling.

"Mom, I've told you-" I exclaimed, but she cut me off.

"Obviously, you won't go this year, you're only a sophomore. But, Axel, this could be your future. Do you know how many opportunities can be offered to you after you serve?" She said.

I shook my head. "I need to get to school."

"Axel-" My mom called behind me, but I was already gone.

❂ ❂ ❂

"Yo, dude, you coming to the game?" Tyler asked me.

I shook my head. "Not likely."

Tyler elbowed me gently. "Axel, what's up with you? You love soccer."

I shrugged. "I have to work."

It was a lie, but it was a believable one.

"Axel-" Tyler says, but I cut him off.

"It's okay man, I'll catch you later," I said and headed to the front office.

"Axel, what are you doing here?" The receptionist asked me, smiling politely.

"I'm here to sign out," I replied, "where's the sheet?"

She looked surprised, but she handed me the sheet anyways.

I walked out of school, skipping class for the first time in my life.

I hopped into my car but hesitated to turn the key.

The conversation I'd had with my mother had more of an effect on me than I'd expected it to. But I wasn't surprised that she'd brought it up again. My mother had been trying to get me to enlist in the army for ages. It wasn't ever anything I was interested in and I couldn't help but feel like she wanted me to join it simply because she wanted me out of the house.

My mother and I hadn't always had a bad relationship. She and I actually used to be quite close at one point, but then she went and had another kid with another man, and so that all changed. My father had left once he'd found out, and the man she'd cheated on him with left her too, leaving the son they'd made behind. Jace.

I hadn't realized I was crying until I felt the wetness on my cheek. I quickly wiped it away and started my car, pulling out of the parking lot and heading to the one place I knew I'd feel better.

AXEL - I'm at ur school, can I see u?

Kate responded seconds later.

KATE - What for? R u okay?

I let out a sigh.

AXEL - Not rly. Can u sign out?

The dots appeared before she'd responded,

KATE - I'll be right there.

Within minutes, I saw her soft blonde hair and her brown eyes that were wide in worry and confusion until she spotted my car.

She jogged up to me, her backpack swinging behind her. I couldn't help but think that she looked so beautiful. Her eyes looked brighter beneath the sun and her skin looked much tanner than it had the last time that I'd seen her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked me, hopping into my Jeep.

"Too much on my mind, I guess," I replied honestly.

Kate dropped her bag at her feet and flipped her hair casually over her shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked, her eyes soft with concern.

She cares about me, I thought to myself, wow, that's a first.

I shook my head, erasing the thoughts from my mind. "Not really. Can I take you somewhere?" I asked, hoping I didn't sound too needy.

But Kate just smiled and responded, "Yeah, sure."