Chapter 2: The Beginning

The ringing of the alarm clock woke me up abruptly. Turning off the irritating thing, I crawled out of my bed and walked to my bathroom.

Turning on the shower, I let the water wash over me. The shower finally woke me up from my drowsy state.

I got out of the shower and walked to my wardrobe in search of something to wear. Though I didn’t own anything too fancy, I still wanted to dress up. After all, it was a special day.

After finally choosing something I was satisfied with, I wore my chosen garments and walked towards the mirror. A smile grazed up at my lips.

A girl with waist-length, raven black hair and bright violet eyes stared back at me. Her lips were plump and had a pinkish tint to them. Her skin was a milky white and her light grey dress suited her quite well.

Pleased with myself, I looked at the clock only to realize that if I didn’t leave now, I’d certainly be late for school.

I walked out of the room only to return in a hurry as I forgot to take Axel’s gift with me. Picking it up, I rushed down the stairs.

I entered the kitchen only to find my parents sitting with Kathy, eating breakfast. Without saying a word, I grabbed an apple from the table and started to make my way out of the house.

“Aren't you going to have breakfast?” my mother asked from behind me, making me stop and turn around.

“No mom. I want to go to school a little bit early today” I replied and continued to make my way out of the house.

I walked to school every single day. My home wasn’t too far from the school, so it really wasn’t an issue. It was only a ten-minute walk.

Kathy, on the other hand, got a lift from her friends every day. I guess that was one of the perks of having a big social circle.

When I finally reached Raven’s high, my school, a smile automatically came up to my face. I fastened my pace so I could enter the school quickly.

I already knew where Axel would be which took away the problem of finding him. He was always near my locker or his in the morning.

That was the reason why when I made my way towards my locker and saw Axel standing there in all his glory, I wasn’t surprised.

He looked deep into his thoughts with his back against my locker and arm folded across his broad chest. His mahogany was as messy as it always was but didn’t take away his image of perfection. In fact, weirdly, it only added to it.

His eyes, which were not visible from where I was now, were a starking grey. I loved staring into them. They always had the ability to change my center of gravity.

I slowed my pace and walked closer to him. Once I reached him, I threw my hands around his neck and whispered “Happy birthday Axel. Oh and happy anniversary too.”

I felt his body relax in my embrace and a chuckle escape my throat. The beautiful sound sent a shiver to run down my spine. His arms went around my waist. A sense of content filled me up immediately.

“Thank you, Adel. I knew you wouldn’t forget” he said.

I removed my hands from around his neck and smiled at him. “How could you even think that? It's your 18th birthday for crying out loud.”

The smile playing on his lips slipped off his face and a frown replaced it. The change in his expression was so abrupt, it was almost comical.

His gray eyes that gazed at my face with adoration suddenly became unreadable. But, then it occurred to, what was being displayed in his eyes.

Fear.

The way he looked at me made me feel like he desperately wanted something to happen. Like he is waiting for something to happen. And no matter how he stared at me, it wasn’t happening.

Not able to take the unsettling feeling anymore, I inquired “What's wrong? Is there something on my face?”

My question successfully brought him out of his thoughts. He covered up his frown with a forceful smile that looked so fake, it was almost painful. “Nothing. Its ju-” he stopped before completing his statement and looked at something behind me.

Frowning, I followed his gaze and saw him staring at Janet, a senior like me.

But she was nothing like me.

The school’s golden girl, she was called. She had as much beauty as she had brains. She was the head cheerleader and an honorary student. She was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, even if we weren’t friends.

And, at the moment, he was staring back at Axel with a bewitched expression on her face. Turning around, I saw Axel too supported an expression that looked similar to Janet’s. A tight knot settled in my stomach and I felt bile rise up at my throat. For some reason, I felt something very bad was going to happen.

Raising a shaking hand, I nudged Axel and called his name a few times before he finally registered it. The dazed expression on his face dulled but didn’t leave.

Looking at me with unfocused eyes, he said “I have some work, Adelaide. I’ll meet you at recess. Bye.” And then he walked away without another glance back at me.

Staring at his retreating back, I felt a sting at my heart.

I was not unknown to the pain, but this time the pain wasn’t anything like I was used to. And I wasn’t even sure what made me feel this hurt.

Maybe, it was the fact that he never called me Adelaide. My full name sounded too foreign on his lips. Barely, recognizable.

I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself, ignoring the prickling sensation behind my eyes.

I didn’t even give him his present. I didn’t get the chance. And I had a feeling I won’t get that chance any time soon.

Taking a deep, I tried to banish those thoughts from my mind. Nothing bad was going to happen. I was sure of it, even if my gut screamed otherwise.

I opened my locker and took out my books. I closed my locker once I was done and started walking to my class.

But, not before noticing that Janet was walking in the same direction Axel went.

………………………………………………

He lied.

He didn’t come to the cafeteria during lunch. It was the first time since I met him he kept me waiting without a warning.

I was sitting in my English class which was my last one for the day. I also shared this class with Axel. But, he wasn't here.

And I couldn’t help but notice that neither was Janet present in any class I shared with her.

I tried to not think about it. After all, I’ve never seen Axel hold any interest in Janet. And Jenet never spoke to him other than to share pleasantries. So, I shouldn’t be so suspicious when all they’ve done was share a glance.

Either way, the tight fist clenching my heart didn’t seem to relax.

Axel had promised that we would celebrate his birthday together. He said that today he was going to take me to his home and finally introduce me to his father, which he still hasn’t done for some unexplainable reason. His mother passed away sadly.

The last bell rang shrilly, breaking me out of my thoughts. Gathering my things, I directly started to walk home. Near the exit door, I saw a few girls talking in hushed tones. Their voices were really low and it was supposed to be impossible for me to hear. Yet, I did.

“Did you see him? He was holding Janet by her waist and pulling her towards his car. I was so shocked” a girl whose back was only visible to me said and I froze.

An image of Axel holding Janet passionately and leading her to his car invaded my mind. I shook my head, to dispel the image before it burned into my memory.

She didn’t mention a name, I told myself. It could be anyone.

“Oh god, I think Janet is it. Damn, she is so lucky. Hah, I always knew that the human was just a playtoy” her friend replied with such ferocity, it was almost tangible.

I took a deep breath and continued walking. My anxiety grew. My instincts screamed at me that I knew exactly who this ‘he’ was. And as usual, I ignored my instincts.

I needed to have faith in Axel. He loved me. He would never do something like that to me. In fact, he would be so hurt if he knew I was thinking such thoughts.

My thoughts kept me very occupied and without even realizing it, I was entering my house.

I rushed inside my room. Throwing my bag on the study table, I picked up my phone and dialed Axel’s number.

I pressed ‘call’ and heard it ring until it stopped.

He didn’t pick up.

So, I tried again.

And again.

And again.

No answer. I didn’t know how many times I tried calling him. And I don’t know how many times the call went to voicemail. Not able to take it anymore, I threw my phone across the room.

It crashed against the wall and fell to the ground.

The tears finally started to flow. I made no attempt to stop them.

………………………………........

“Dinner is ready” my mother’s voice startled me out of my nap.

I slowly sat up, my head throbbing and my eyes aching and dry. With slow movements, I got out of my bed and walked downstairs.

Everyone was already seated around the dinner table. I quietly took my place.

“Didn’t you say that you were going to have dinner with that Axel boy today?” my father asked. A fresh round of tears threatened to burst out of my eyes.

“He is busy. The plan is postponed to another day” I lied, taking a bite of the grilled chicken. My mother was an excellent cook. That was a fact I could never deny. Or even try to.

“More like he dumped her. Knew it was going to happen” Kathy scoffed. The words were an insult to injury. Suddenly, whatever little appetite I had was gone.

“Kathy. This is not the way to talk to your older sister” mother scolded, though there was no heat behind her words.

Not feeling like staying anywhere near my family at the moment, I stood up and muttered a quick ‘I am done’ before walking back to my room. I shut the door behind me and walked closer to where my phone was lying. It was completely shattered, utterly useless.

That meant I needed a new one. And I was pretty sure I wasn’t getting one until I graduated.

Grabbing my pajamas, I walked inside my adjoined bathroom. After changing and brushing my teeth, I remembered that I didn’t do my homework.

Huffing, I sat down and took out my math notebook, and started doing my work, even when every cell of my body suggested against it.

Behind my mind, only one thought kept replaying.

‘Please don’t do something that will end up in me picking up my broken pieces, Axel.’