Chapter 8: Finish What You Start

I was intent on finishing that conversation with Axel. When the day ended, I was considering waiting at his car but I was quickly relieved that I didn't when I saw him leave school with Victoria on his arm. I, on the other hand, was waiting for my mom. I'd texted her in last period asking when she was going to arrive but I didn't get a response. I had a feeling she forgot about me and was doing something she could do any other time, like grocery shopping or doing laundry.

"Do you need a ride?" Axel's voice asked as he pulled up beside me in his car. Victoria was sitting in the front passenger's seat, looking annoyed.

I glanced at my phone, noting that my mother hasn't responded to my texts in an hour. I realized that if I go with him, he'll drop Victoria off first and we could finish our conversation on the drive to my house. "Yeah," I responded, a bit too cheerful. Victoria snapped her head around to look at me and I offered her a smirk, which I tried to pull off as a friendly smile.

I pulled open the back door and got in, slamming it shut behind me, making sure to shake the car so that Victoria's face would bounce against the window. She removed her head from the glass, holding it with a look of annoyance written across her face. I buckled my seatbelt, sitting directly behind the evil girlfriend. I propped my legs up so my knees were drilling into the back of her seat, watching as she repeatedly adjusted herself.

"Can you get your legs off my seat?" she snapped once we were fifteen minutes from the school.

"Sure," I responded cheerily before placing my book bag on my knees, allowing it to rest against the back of her seat. This earned a frustrated groan from her and a quiet chuckle from Axel.

"It's not funny!" she snapped. Axel bit his lip in an attempt not to laugh. As we continued driving, she looked out the window. "Why are you dropping me off first?"

"Because you're closer," Axel answered as if it was obvious.

"How far is her house?" she retorted.

"From here? About forty five minutes," he replied, earning a scoff from Victoria.

We continued driving, pulling up to a cute blue house with wind chimes decorating the portico along with a porch swing. If you were to just drive past, you wouldn't guess that its home to the devil and her family. Already anticipating her actions, I looked down at my phone as the sound of kissing filled the car. I felt a knot in the pit of my stomach and I repressed the urge to sigh. I simply scrolled through my messages, responding to my friends as slowly as I could; waiting for their make out session to come to an end. The kissing noise stopped and I waited for her to get out of the car.

"I love you," she announced and my head snapped up. It seemed as if Axel was just as shocked as I was. Victoria didn't catch on to his surprise as she shut the door and walked towards her house. I got out of the car and slipped into the front seat, looking at Axel as he stared at the steering wheel in some kind of trance.

"So I guess that's a new thing," I mumbled as he slowly took off down the street. He nodded in response and I looked out the window. "And you didn't say it back."

"I didn't," he agreed with me, turning down the street.

"Do you love her?" I questioned, genuinely curious. I wasn't sure if I was ready for the answer. But then again, why wouldn't I be?

He opened his mouth to speak before closing it. "I don't think I do," he confessed.

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief course through my chest. I stared at him and he looked like the world was falling apart around him. "That's okay, you know? To not love her back, I mean. Some people's feelings develop faster than others. I'm sure she'll understand. Just don't beat yourself up about it. And definitely don't say you love her if you don't, because that's bound to get you into trouble."

He nodded his head quickly, as if taking my words into consideration. The drive to my house was slow and I knew that even if I brought up our friendship, he probably wouldn't even be able to talk about it. He didn't seem very responsive. I sat in silence, mentally swearing at Victoria for ruining our time together.

When we arrived at my house, he got out of the car and followed me up the stairs, waiting patiently while I unlocked the front door. "Dylan's in his room," I told Axel who made his way up the steps. At least he was when I left this morning. I reached into the fridge, grabbing a soda for myself before I made my way up the steps, entering my room. I plopped down on my bed, taking out my homework.

I sat with my folders and notebooks spread out around me but I could only focus on Axel and that idiot Victoria. I was halfway through my Pre-Calculus homework when someone knocked on my door. I stared at it before sighing. It better not be Dylan asking me to go get him something to eat. If he's well enough to walk down the hall to my room, he's well enough to head downstairs and get himself some food. The knock sounded again and I looked down at my lap. Too lazy to get up and mess up my neat set up, I decided to just tell the person to come in.

The door slowly creaked open and Axel stood in the doorway, treating the wood floor of my room like it was lava. I remembered the times where he'd practically run and jump on my bed, mumbling into my pillows about how comfortable it is. "Yes?" I asked when I realized that we'd just been staring at each other for a few seconds.

"Our conversation," he started and my ears perked up.

"Yeah, I'll just..." I trailed as I looked at the mess that was my bed.

"I'll be in the basement. I'm ready whenever you are," he told me and I nodded, waiting until he closed the door. I practically leaped out of bed, shoving my stuff off of my lap. I yanked my jeans off, switching into a pair of comfortable sweatpants and exchanging my top for a loose fitting t-shirt. I grabbed my soda and made my way downstairs, entering the kitchen. I grabbed a soda out of the fridge for him before heading to the basement. He was sitting on the couch and I walked over, plopping down on the opposite end with my knees bent and my arms resting on my kneecaps. I tossed him the soda and he thanked me, opening it.

"She asked me, you know," he blurted and I simply stared at him. What'd she ask him? "She asked if I'd stop talking to you for her."

"What'd you say?" I inquired as I stared at my opened soda, allowing my finger to circle the rim.

"I told her no," he responded and I nodded. "I said that she can't tell me to stop talking to my friends."

My eyebrows shot up and I momentarily stopped circling the can. "Friends?" I asked him. "That's what we are now?"

"I guess," he replied.

"You guess?" I furthered.

"That's if you want to be," he told me and I shrugged. I mean, of course I do, but I feel like there's something he's not saying. "You said that I cut you off before right?"

"Yeah, you did," I responded.

"I apologize for that," he started. "I wasn't thinking straight and at the time, I was so mad because the guys had told me the same thing, and I took it out on you. And I shouldn't have. I wasn't the bigger person like I should've been, and I didn't call you or text you or even try to talk to you about it and apologize. I summed it up to jealousy in my angry state, even though deep down I knew you were right when you said that I wasn't spending time with my friends. I was just upset that no one seemed happy for me. I should've drawn a line with Victoria separating time with her and time with friends; I regret not doing that now."

"I accept your apology," I told him after a moment of thought. I nibbled on my upper lip as I contemplated my next sentence. "But I have a question."

"Yeah?" he responded, waiting as I stared at my soda.

"Why didn't you try to talk to me after that? After your anger passed and you realized that you were wrong?" I asked him. I could've done the same thing, but I didn't want to. I felt like he'd done what he wanted to do for a while - cut me off - and he finally found a good enough reason to do it.

"I thought you wouldn't listen," he responded. "I thought about it; I really did. And I never really stopped thinking about it. I considered it a lot over vacation, just texting you and seeing if you'd respond, but I figured that, since you're stubborn, you wouldn't bother to give me the time of day. I would've understood had you ignored my message or even send a profane one back, because that's something you'd definitely do. In fact, I'd understand now if you decided to stop talking to me forever."

"I was mad, but not that mad," I informed him. "I was more hurt than anything."

"I'm sorry, Alexis," he apologized and I stared at my soda. "And I'm sorry for telling you that you didn't know anything about relationships. I know that you're insecure about that and it was a jerk thing for me to do. Besides, it seems like you know a lot more about them than me."

"It seems that way, doesn't it?" I asked him with a smile.

He nodded. "Oh yeah, and I'm sorry for telling your business. I shouldn't have told the guys about Holden and I shouldn't have told them about our fight. It was yet another jerk move." I just nodded, not really caring too much about it.

"One more question..." I trailed and my stomach was tied in a knot so tight that even a boy scout couldn't undo it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him nod and I released my lip, which I was biting so hard I was sure I'd draw blood. "Did you miss me? At all?"

"Every day," he responded and I felt the knot unweave itself. Relief poured through me and I found myself growing less and less tense. "You know, most times, I'd miss you more than I missed Victoria." Something in my heart burst and I felt triumphant. My stomach seemed to clench as my mind began to race. "Don't tell her that, but then again, maybe you should just to get a kick out of her because I know you like that."

"One last thing," I responded as I prepared myself for a confession. He nodded again and I looked at the cushion separating me and him. I wondered what it'd be like if it wasn't there. "You know how I went to the mall with Victoria, right?"

"Yeah," he responded.

"And you know how we got into that...debate?" I replied.

"Yeah," he said in a tone urging me to talk faster.

"Well, you know how she accused me of doing the thing..." I spoke, unable to bring myself to say 'making it seem like you cheated on her with me.' A feeling of embarrassment raced through my body and I felt my face begin to burn.

"Accused you of what?" he asked. "Oh...you did do it, didn't you?"

I nodded my head in shame before sighing, wishing the couch would yank me in and swallow me whole. I was suddenly grateful for the cushion separating us. "It was only to get a kick out of her! I didn't do it for any other reason, I swear. And don't hate me. I would've told you sooner but you were so mad at me. I mean, at first I thought it was a good idea- get her to seem like she was crazy, which she is, but Oliver made me feel so guilty. He was calling me crazy!" By the end of my rant, I was breathing heavy and I was sure my entire face was bright red. If he hadn't noticed it before, he definitely did now.

I looked up at him to see that he had an amused look on his face. "Alright."

"Are you mad at me?" I asked him quietly and he shook his head.

"It was a clever joke. I will admit that," he responded and my ears perked up. "I mean, everything you said was true; it was just very susceptible to out of context use. But you were the one who used it out of context, not Vic."

"Yeah..." I trailed. "I did."

"So what do you say?" he asked me. "Friends?"

"Friends," I nodded with a smile. He mirrored my reaction, actually allowing himself to relish in his happiness for the first time in a long time. "So what now?" I asked. "Are we going to pick up where we left off? Or are we going to start all over?"

"Well, if we started over, that'd be a waste of four years, don't you think?" he asked me and I nodded.

"It would be," I responded. "So we're picking it up where we left off?"

"Yeah, I think that's the best idea," he responded.

"So everything's the same?" I asked him. Will you start telling me stuff again? Will I be able to confide in you? Will you start spending the night again? Can we actually hang out without Victoria calling every five minutes? Will you sneak over at night and talk to me on the roof about whatever's bothering you? Will you call me and keep me awake until 2 in the morning?

"Well, no..." he trailed and I felt my heart sink lower in my chest. "I'll make time for you now, and I won't let Vic's opinion on you mess with my mind."

"You promise?" I asked him and he nodded.

"Yeah," he responded. "I promise."

"So do you want to play video games or something?" I asked him as I put my drink on the table next to the couch and he nodded.

"Yeah, but can we get food first?" he inquired, earning a nod in response.

He stood up, and I remained seated, holding my hands out. He grabbed them, yanking me up. When I was standing, I was surprised when he wrapped his arms around me in a hug. I didn't bother wasting any time and I swung my arms around his neck, holding him to me. He smelled like he usually did— like Axel. That's the only way I can describe it. It has a way of disorienting me, especially after long periods of time. So, as you can probably guess when I pull away from this hug my minds going to be gone.

"I expected you two to be down here but not in such a compromising position," my brother called as he basically limped down the stairs. I wanted to throw the couch at him for interrupting, seeing as Axel pulled away and I had no choice but to do the same. I stood there for a moment, regaining myself as my brother reached the ground. "So I'm guessing you two are friends again?"

"Yeah," Axel and I said simultaneously.

"Does Victoria know?" he inquired and we shook our heads in chorus. "It's going to be fun to see how this plays out."

I resisted the urge to glare at my brother. I followed Axel up the steps, feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket. I held it in my hand and was surprised to see that it was my mom. "Hello?"

"Lex, where are you?" she practically cried.

"I'm home, where are you?" I responded casually.

"How'd you get home?" she asked.

"Axel gave me a ride. What happened to you?" I asked her.

"Julie asked me to stay a few more hours and I completely forget that I had to pick you up. I didn't realize it until I looked at my phone," she ranted.

"Well, it's okay. I'm home safe," I replied.

"Tell Axel I said thank you so much," my mom asked me and I sighed.

"My mom says thanks for giving me a ride home, Axel," I informed him.

"Tell her that I said it's no problem," he responded as he raided our refrigerator. I propped myself into a chair, spinning around wildly. "Also, that I said hi."

"Ask him how he's doing," my mother responded and I slowly stopped spinning.

"Do you just want to have a full conversation with him?" I asked her sarcastically.

"Matter of fact, just put him on the phone," she replied and I gaped at the table.

I slowly handed my phone to Axel, who accepted it. "Hey, Mrs. McAllister," he greeted her. "I'm fine. How are you?" he asked her. "Yeah, it's no problem," he told her and I had a feeling she was thanking him again for bringing me home. She's so embarrassing. "She sure is lucky to have me around," he replied as he smirked at me.

"Okay, I think that's enough. Give me the phone back," I blurted as I reached my arm out to grab my device.

"She wants to talk to you," he explained as he dodged my hand, holding his arm up as high as he could while still conversing with my mom. I reached for my phone as I stood on the tips of my toes. "Yeah, I know, right? Anyway, I'm going to have to let you go," he trailed. "Only if you insist, Mrs. McAllister. Baked ziti? My favorite."

I grabbed the phone from him and brought it down to my ear. "Mom," I stated.

"That Axel—such a sweetheart," she expressed.

I stared at him with a wrinkled nose. "Yeah, he's a sweetheart all right."

"Anyway, I'll be home at seven. I'll see you then. I love you honey," she spoke.

"I love you, too, mom," I responded before hanging up. I looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"I'm such a sweetheart," he said with a grin as he lifted his shoulder, lightly resting his head upon it. "I love your mom more than you. Unlike you and me, your mom and I have stayed friends throughout my relationship. She deserves my unconditional love, unlike somebody."

"You're disgusting," I announced as my heart fluttered and my stomach clenched at the mention of love.