06 | Who's Adam?

Going to the backyard again, I find Axel holding Adam's hand as he talks to Jaden, Caleb, and James. It's a weird sight considering that Axel might have a son, but at the same time it reminds me of the person I fell for. The Axel that cared for others.

Now I'm not sure he cares for others like he used to. I don't even know him now.

As if sensing me, Jaden looks up. His eyes connect with mine and widen as he realizes something. He looks from to Axel and then to Adam.

The panic in his face tells me everything I need to know.

Adam is Axel's son.

It's like a heavy and dark cloud has taken over my emotions. I turn around quickly, heading back to the spot Olivia and I had talked earlier. The tears threaten to fall down my face, but I try to keep it together until I get to the bench.

A bunch of thoughts start to enter my head once I sit down. Ones I'd been blocking out for a couple of days now.

Did Axel cheat on me? Did he get a girl pregnant and break up with me so he could be there for her and Adam?

If Adam isn't older than three, that means Axel had to have cheated on me nine months before he broke up with me.

Had our entire relationship been a lie?

My head is spinning as I press my hands against my skull, trying to stop the thoughts from swirling around in my head. And then the first tear rolls down my face.

"Vienna?"

I lift my head and spot Jaden standing there. He looks sad, sad like I've never seen him. He's watching me with pity written all over his face.

"He cheated on me and you knew, didn't you?"

Jaden's jaw drops. "V, it's not what you think."

"It isn't?" I whisper as more tears stream down my face. "Cause it sure looks that way."

Jaden walks closer to me, hesitant to sit beside me. "I promise you it's not."

"Then why does Adam look just like him?"

His head falls. "Vienna, it's not my place to tell you."

I grit my teeth, trying to keep my voice level with him. "Funny, Olivia said the same thing." It's a lot easier for me to get upset with him because he's always been like a second brother to me.

"I don't know what to tell you," he says, not making eye contact with me.

"Hey guys," a familiar voice says.

I wipe my face with my hands before turning towards Axel, knowing that he'll know I've been crying.

Turning around, I look at him. Adam's hand is holding his as he watches me. Instead of facing him, I watch Adam who stares up at him in admiration. I can't help but feel some type of tug.

Heartache or longing tugs at my heart, but I can't tell which one it is.

Finally, I let my eyes wander to Axel's. His eyes are the piercing blue they've always been, but they seem a little duller now, like some of the light in his life has disappeared.

"Uh, hey Axel," Jaden says, looking at me. The look he's giving me is him asking whether he should leave or stay.

I nod my head for him to go. He gives me the tiniest smile before nodding his head back at me and leaving. As he passes Axel, he whispers something to him.

Adam finally looks at me and let's go of Axel's hand, taking Jaden's instead. "Isn't that the girl who fell out of the tree?" Adam whisper-yells to them.

My face reddens. Of course Adam wouldn't remember the part when I tried to help him.

Jaden and Axel try to suppress their smiles, but they both fail. I narrow my eyes at them and Jaden takes it as his cue to leave, taking Adam with him.

Axel stands the few feet away from me, both of us just watching each other for several moments. His foot kicks at the dirt underneath his shoe, a nervous habit of his.

"What do you want?" I ask him, wanting to get the conversation over with.

He smiles to himself. "I see you're still always one to jump right in."

The way he says it makes it seem like he's reminiscing on the times we've had.

I force the thought out of my head, not wanting to think that he could possibly miss me.

"Axel," I whisper.

That's all I have to say and he knows it too. All I want is the truth. I'm tired of avoiding it.

"May I?" he asks, pointing to the spot on the bench next to me.

I hesitate before responding. "Sure."

He comes to sit down next to me, his arm brushing mine and sending a jolt through my body. I remove my arm quickly, putting more space between us.

Axel's jaw tightens as his lips move into a thin line. He looks away from me and it stings for some reason, like he can't stand looking at me anymore.

He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees and running a hand through his hair. "Do you hate me?" he blurts out.

My mouth falls open. "Hate you?"

He nods his head. "Ever since you got back you've been avoiding me. And when I touch you, it's like you can't get away from me quick enough."

Gulping, I grab my necklace and play with the pendant on it. "Axel, you broke my heart." I let the words hang in the air for a couple of seconds before continuing. "I loved you and you broke up with me for no reason. It was out of the blue."

He stares at the ground, staying quiet for a couple of beats. "You loved me?"

I could be wrong, but it looks like he's hurt. He can't even look at me.

"Axel," I whisper, "I had to move on." The lie comes out easier than expected. Though, I have been lying to myself and everyone else. Truth is, I didn't move on. I learned to deal with the pain, but I had never found anyone like him.

He nods his head slowly, his jaw clenching even more. "Are you seeing anybody right now?"

My eyebrows furrow. "Do you even get to ask that?"

There's a slight tug in one of the corner's of his mouth. "No, but I thought I'd ask."

Before I can stop myself, I start rambling. "I don't have a boyfriend. I haven't since you broke up with me." His eyes flicker, like he can't believe it. "I've been on dates," I add quickly, "but they were terrible. One guy asked me if I played any video games, and I said yes and told him I play Just Dance. This dude had the nerve to tell me he had to go to the bathroom and walked out of the restaurant when he thought I wasn't looking. He never came back. The nerve of that guy." I huff when I finish my spiel.

Axel's eyebrows are raised, his lips twitching into a slow smile.

The realization of what I'd just told him makes me clamp my mouth shut. I'd forgotten how easy it is to talk to him. It makes me miss having him in my life.

"Conley-"

Laughter erupts, causing both of us to glance up. Jaden and James are chasing Adam around, who's laughing hysterically. Olivia is smiling, holding her glass of champagne. The person standing next to her causes my heart to drop even more.

Elea.

It feels like a punch in the gut when I see her. All the pain I've experienced in the last three years piles up in my head, making me angry but also worried for Hudson.

Axel must sense me start panicking because he asks, "what happened between you two?"

I yank my head in his direction. "Why do you care?"

He stares at me intently, moving closer to me. "Because I do. I always have."

A laugh escapes my mouth, but there's no humor in it. "Really? Remember when you broke my heart?"

Axel's head jerks back a fraction. His eyes travel all over my face, like he's trying to figure it out just by watching me. "Conley," he says, reaching for me.

I stand up quickly, dodging his hand. "You don't get to do that, Axel."

He stands too. "Vienna, come on. We weren't only a couple, we were best friends. We told each other everything," he whispers.

"If we were so called best friends, why did you cheat on me?"

"I would never do that!" He walks closer to me. "Vienna, you have to believe me. I would never do that to you."

"Then explain him," I say, pointing at Adam.

Axel's eyes follow where I'm pointing to. His mouth drops open. "Vienna-"

"Axel." I cut him off. "Did you or didn't you break up with me because of him."

This time Axel keeps quiet. "It's not what you think."

So he did break up with me because of Adam.

"He looks just like you, Axel."

He steps closer to me. "I didn't cheat. I never did and I never would have."

I cross my arms over my chest, stepping closer to him as well. "Then who is he and who's that blonde lady who dropped him off earlier?"

A/N: Vienna finally asked the big question...who do you think Adam is to Axel?

Also, I've been working on a short story called 'I See You.' It's a mystery/thriller that takes place on Halloween. Would love it if y'all checked it out. :) Thanks for reading! <3