Switched: The Complete Series

Chapter Twenty-Three- We need to talk

~~Cherish's point of view~~

I wake up to a lump in my bed. I immediately know that it's Axel. I quietly try to get up to go to the bathroom. He grabs my arm.

Axel: "Where are you going?"

Cherish: "To the bathroom."

He lets me go; I use the bathroom and come back; I'm not leaving this room.

Axel: "We need to talk."

He says as soon as I sit down.

Cherish: "No, we don't."

Axel: "Yes, we do. I will lock you to the bed if I have to. You're going to sit and listen to what I have to say."

Cherish: "What other choice do I have, Boss? You kidnapped me, remember?"

Axel: "I kidnapped you to protect you. Some men want to kill you. Those men work for me. I am the only one that can keep you safe."

Cherish: "They want to kill me because you told them to."

Axel: "It wasn't me; it was my dad. My dad ordered the hit right before he was killed; I can't change what he did. I can only try to make it safe for you. This isn't what I wanted to talk to you about. You also don't need to know everything."

Cherish: "What is it then?"

Axel: "I want to talk about us."

Cherish: "There isn't an us Axel."

Axel: "That's why we need to talk."

He sits up and looks at me.

Axel: "We can't do this."

Cherish: "I know."

Axel: "So, you can agree that we can't keep going the way we have? That something needs to change?"

Cherish: "Axel..."

Axel: "Just listen to me. Please?"

I don't say anything.

Axel: "I want you Cherish. From the moment I saw you on the floor, I wanted you. Being with me is dangerous. It could make you an even bigger target. I wouldn't be able to live with that."

Cherish: "I'm willing to take that chance, Axel. I trust you. I know that you won't let anything happen to me."

Axel: "There are so many reasons why we shouldn't do this."

Cherish: "Why?"

Axel: "I'm too old for you."

Cherish: "Age is just a number."

Axel: "I have secrets."

Excuses. He is just giving excuses.

Cherish: "That's been made clear."

Axel: "Some could make you want to run when this is over."

Cherish: "Let me decide that."