Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Silence seemed to be the theme after last night.

I didn't even know where he slept. I just saw him having breakfast with my aunt as if nothing has happened.

The day went by so fast and I felt like a breeze passing through a moment; as if my body was on auto-pilot.

I barely remember how I said goodbye to my family. My mind was occupied with other things, actually. For example, at how they treat Axel like he is a fine specimen to walk on earth; like we are so blessed to even breathe the same air as him. I can't blame them though. I, too, was once fooled by those eyes.

Well, not anymore.

So, I let them think he's the perfect little actor they all love and adore for one last time.

I don't have the heart to shatter their rose-colored glasses.

Innocence is bliss, as they say.

When the time came for Charlie to drop us off at the airport, I was itching to ask her to drive four more hours just to drop me off at a commercial one. Good thing, I realized how weird and suspicious it would seem if I did.

I know she would gladly oblige but that also means I'd have to face questions I'm not ready to answer. I just couldn't do it.

I dug my grave, now I gotta lie in it.

Seventeen hours.

Seventeen hours in a plane with Axel James.

How am I supposed to survive that?

It should be a YouTube challenge and I'd get a million dollars if I managed to not kill him. I think that's motivation enough to stop the urge to throw a shoe at his face.

I can't stand it.

I can't stand how close he is, yet I still can't see the reason why he lied that night at the gala.

If there's one thing I understood from our conversation last night, it's that the story about his lost sister was real. So why couldn't he defend himself that night?

I can't stand how whenever I see him, I'm more reminded of the hurtful things I've said than the hurtful things he's done.

I shouldn't feel bad for the things I've said because I've done it rightfully so. He deserves it. He has to know that what he does hurts people.

I can't stand him.

He is such a nuisance in my life.

My blood boils at the sight of him!

But as he's sat with his eyes closed on the other side of the plane, all I could see is the damaged boy – hurt and fragile – and this strong urge in my chest to come close, like a moth to a flame, and tell him everything's gonna be okay.

I shook the thought out of my head.

Yuck.

I must be out of my mind.

Yes, that's the only reason - I must be out of my mind because this isn't logical.

I shouldn't feel sorry for him. I was the aggrieved one.

He deserves the worst.

No, I shouldn't say that. I shouldn't wish ill of other people. I am just confused. This is normal guilt. I'm just not used to telling people off.

That's it!

Yes, that's it.

I tried to sleep it all off for the rest of the flight. But it's just too much time to sleep. And it didn't help that Axel kept on glancing my way as if he had something to say.

I stared at the clouds by the window and I took solace in the fact that time will eventually pass. And true enough, after more silence and dead airs later, we're landing.

As we moved past the inspection, Axel spoke for the first time. "Do you have a ride home?"

Wow, he talks.

I raised my head to answer, but I saw Dean holding up a sign that says 'Lauren Grant', looking as charming as ever with his lopsided grin.

"Dean?" I made my way towards him.

His smile widened as he lowered the cardboard.

"How did you know?"

"Hailey told me."

My brows raised, "Oh, really? I didn't know you two were friends."

His nose crinkled, "Technically I asked her and she told me."

"Ah," I nodded. My eyes wandered around his face, there's something different.

"You grew a beard," I said as soon as I realized.

He chuckled, running a hand on his jaw. "Yes, it's for a casting call my agent booked me for today. Do you like it?"

"Yeah," I smiled. "It suits you."

"Oh, be careful when you say things like that, Lauren. I might just keep it for always."

"You said 'today'?"

"Yeah?"

"Did she book it today or is the casting call today?"

He laughed, "Lauren, I can't grow a beard within a few hours."

"Oh, psh." My fingers touched my temple, "Right. Silly. Well, you should prepare; I shouldn't be keeping you."

"Oh, come on now, Lauren. I didn't come all this way just to be sent back."

I chuckled, "I'm just worried I'm taking up too much of your time. You know I could just go get a cab."

"Yeah, well, don't do that now. I'm here, I drove the car, I'll drop you off on the way."

"Alright," I nodded. "Then let's go? We don't want to waste time."

"That we don't." he smiled and I began to walk with my suitcase, but he put his hands on my shoulders and stopped me.

"Hey," he looked me in the eyes and squeezed my shoulders.

"What?" I stared back at those warm hazels – big mistake.

"It's okay. I'll always make time for you," he continued and it felt like my heart skipped a beat.

What just happened?

I blinked slowly, out of words.

He's so close and his eyes traveled down my lips.

"Ahem," an aggressive voice snapped me out of trance.

"Axel." Dean gave a nod.

I turned to see Axel behind me.

"Dean," he smiled with his brows raised. "What a nice surprise."

"Oh, I just came to pick up Lauren," he wrapped his arms around me.

Axel's eye traveled to Dean's hand. "Mm-hm."

"I missed her so much," Dean said as he kissed the top of my head.

Axel inhaled deeply, looking away. His jaw visibly tightened.

I chuckled and looked away. There my eyes found Katie walking towards us.

She began jogging then attacked Axel from the back playfully. Axel stumbled as Katie wrapped her arms around his neck. He turned around to face Katie – she took the opportunity to kiss him right at the mouth.

Axel backed away, "Katie. What are you doing here?"

She pouted, "Oh, come on, is that a way to greet me?" She clung to his arms like a Koala, "I just missed you, nugget."

Nugget?

His demeanor became uneasy. She turned then looked at me up and down with a sweet smile plastered on her face.

"Laura, right?"

"Lauren."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, kind of forgettable. And who's this?" Her glinting eyes stopped at Dean.

"Hi, I'm Dean," he stretched his hand out.

She looked at his hand for a while before deciding to shake it. "I'm Katie. So how are you two related?"

"Oh, um," Dean looked at me, he squinted infinitesimally and our eyes did the talking for us. He exhaled a smile then looked back to them, "I'm her boyfriend."

Her brows raised in surprise, "Oh, really? I didn't know you were in a relationship."

I straightened my spine. "I am."

My eyes glanced at Axel who's staring at me with confusion in his eyes.

I faced Dean with a smile, he grinned back.

I leaned closer to kiss him just for show. But as I stared into his eyes, all the animosity melted away.

There's something about him. Something that excites and calms me at the same time. I cannot quite put it into words.

My mouth parted and he kissed me. His mouth moved in sync with mine and everything else became a blur.

"Ahem," Axel cleared his throat once again and it was enough to bring us back to reality.

I blinked slowly as I tried to catch my breath.

"If you'll excuse us," I nodded to Katie and Axel. "We have somewhere to be."

"Oh, please, don't let us keep you," Katie said, amused.

"See you around." Dean gave a nod then we walked away hand in hand.