Chapter 1: The Wait

Present Day

“All Done” I muttered as I stared at the square-shaped box wrapped perfectly with wrapping paper. It took me a while to get it just right.

If it was for someone else, I probably wouldn’t have bothered. But, this needed to be done perfectly as it was Axel.

Axel Graves.

The name itself brought a smile to my face.

Axel was my everything. He was the boat that kept me afloat. The only reason that still made me want to smile. He was my boyfriend. But, more importantly, he was my best friend. And pitifully, my only friend.

I didn’t know why but my mind kept drifting back to the past, the day I first met him. Maybe it was because of what tomorrow implied. Maybe not. But, I let myself sink into those memories.

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“Ouch” I cried out as Devin pulled at my pigtails. He always did that.

I didn’t know why. I never hurt him. I even tried becoming his friend. But, he just laughed at me.

“Crybaby” he taunted and started laughing with his friends. His words just made my sobs ring louder,

“Why do you keep crying? Crybaby.” he taunted again.

My mom’s words rang on my ears. She said to always be strong. To always fight for what is right.

So, I tried to be brave then.

“Why do keep hurting me? I didn’t do anything to you. Mama says that people who hurt others are mean. You are mean” I told him, folding my hands behind my back. I did tell mom that Devin hurts me at school but she said that he was mean and I should be strong and not let it bother me.

A flash of anger passed through Devin’s face and suddenly all my confidence was gone.

“What did you say, crybaby?” he shouted as he walked towards me.

“I-I said that you are me-mean” I stuttered out. I was scared because I knew that when Devin was angry, he became meaner. But, I had to stay strong. Otherwise, he would keep pulling my hair.

He grew angrier at my words and pushed me harshly. Not able to maintain my balance, I fell.

My knees scraped against the hard surface and started to bleed. My knee started to burn badly and I started crying at the pain.

“Don’t call me mean again, got it?” he demanded and walked away, but his friends stayed back. They were all laughing at me.

Suddenly, I felt a hand, larger than mine, on my shoulder.

“Does it hurt too bad?” a warm voice asked me. I looked up through my teary eyes and saw a cute boy looking at me. He had mahogany hair and cool gray eyes.

I nodded my head. A look of anger, similar to Devin, settled on his face. The look scared me. Maybe he was also gonna hurt me like Devin. The thought made me whimper and I tried to move away from him.

He didn’t let me move away. Instead, his angry face changed into a happy one. “Don’t worry I am not going to hurt you. What is your name?”

“Adelaide” I whispered, smiling a little.

“You're cute. My name is Axel” he said with a grin.

I looked down but didn’t say anything. I was really shy around new people.

“Do they hurt you often?” he asked again. This time his voice didn’t hold the warmth it held before.

The question brought more tears to my eyes. I nodded.

He didn’t seem to like that bit of information. He turned to all the other children who were still surrounding me and glared at them. Devin was also standing there.

His harsh glare settled on Devin. He stood up and walked toward Devin. The boy looked scared.

“If you ever hurt her again, I am going to punch you, and break all your teeth, okay?” he sounded really angry for a boy who looked my age.

Devin nodded his head vigorously and ran away. Axel walked back to me.

“He will never hurt you again. I will go and call a teacher now” he told me. His tone was completely different from before.

“Thank you. Do you want to be my friend?” I asked him quietly, the hope clear in my voice. I didn’t have any friends. Everyone told me that I was a crybaby and they didn’t want to be friends with me. I really wanted a friend.

“Yes. We are friends from today, okay?” he said with his huge grin. I smiled back.

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Snapping out of my reverie, I sighed. We have been inseparable since that day.

Our friendship was one of a kind. With time, our bond only grew deeper. And as we grew older, I felt my feelings go deeper than friendship.

Of course, at the time I was too scared to voice out my love. I thought my feelings were unrequited and I didn’t want to risk losing such a meaningful friendship. But, a few months later, I learned that he felt the same.

We’ve been a couple for nearly a year now. Well, tomorrow a year would be complete as it wasn’t only his birthday but our first anniversary.

He was only a month older than me.

The thought made me smile.

It was weird how fast time went. Axel was turning eighteen tomorrow and I will follow in his footsteps a month later.

It’s crazy to think that prom was already over. It was a miraculous night. A night I would remember for a long while.

Graduation was coming soon too. I was really excited to graduate. I had applied to many colleges and been accepted in some of them. I wanted to major in journalism. It had always been my dream.

“Adelaide, come down for dinner” my mother’s voice informed me. I sighed and walk downstairs.

My parents were already seated and had started eating their dinner. I took my place and served myself, ready to finish my dinner and hurry upstairs.

“Where is Kathy?” I asked, cursing myself the second the question left my mouth.

“She is out with her friends. Maybe you should try to do that sometimes too” my mother told me rudely.

“Clara” my father warned. I just looked down and continued eating.

My relationship with my parent was always like this. I was older than Kathy by almost three years. But, compared to her, I was a huge disappointment.

She was a true beauty with long blond hair and green eyes. She was a social butterfly and adored by every person she met.

She was basically everything I was not.

In fact, I was the exact opposite of her. I had long black hair and weird violet eyes. I barely went out and had no friends. I also looked nothing like my parents.

It really wasn’t a secret that I was the black sheep of the family. But it still hurt to have it pointed out on every occasion by my parents.

I knew I was always going to be the second-best.

Maybe I wouldn’t have minded their behavior too much if it wasn’t for Kathy’s attitude. Being perfect in every way possible made her very arrogant. She never wasted a chance to belittle me.

I finished my dinner and hurried to put the plate in the sink and walk upstairs. I opened the door and walked inside my room.

My room was very simple but had an Attached bathroom to it. The room was completely brown. My bed, study table, wardrobe- everything else was also in different shades of brown.

I walked to my bathroom and completed my nightly routine. After coming out, I tidied my room a little and got ready for bed.

I didn’t usually sleep this early, but tomorrow was Axel’s birthday. So, I wanted to wake up early tomorrow.

Turning to my side, I looked out of my window. The sky was dark with no sign of the moon today. The stars covered every inch of the sky.

It was weird to think that even the stars had a place they belonged to.

But, I didn’t.

I never felt that I belonged. Not in school, not in my house, not anywhere.

The feeling of being an outcast always haunted me.

I knew that there had to be a place where I belonged. Where I ruled. Where I walked like a queen instead of hiding in the shadows.

But, I didn’t know where it was.

Suddenly, I felt a tug at my heart. Placing a hand over my chest I looked out at the sky again. A shooting star passed by and I couldn’t help stop myself from making a wish.

‘Please take me to where I belong.’