CHAPTER NINETEEN: in which she meets him part 3- SHONDRA

Twelve years ago (one hour before)

SHONDRA (continued)

He gave me a contrite look with a rushed apology. “Yes. Okay? Yes. It’s just that you smell so good. What kind of perfume is that?”

I narrowed my eyes. I hated liars. Axel needed to know this above all else or we would end before we had gotten started. “It’s my own. I made it, and never lie to me, Axel.”

“Sorry, Shondra.” When he hung his head, something inside me crumbled. The warm blush coloring his sandy cheeks, reminded me of a little boy that got caught stealing sweets from his mama’s purse.

Kiss-ably adorable.

A kiss?

Maybe ...

First, I had to make him smile so he would look at me again. I bumped his arm. Solid. Axel had those thick arms I wanted to wrap myself in so they could protect me from all hurt, harm, and danger. He was strong, respectful, and I liked the look of him.

Should I let go of my past and let him in?

Yes ... just a kiss.

Never had I wanted something so much as his lips on mine. Wishes for the success of my business, hopes of taking care of my mother, even the hurt I wanted to inflict on my uncle, paled in comparison. Without further hesitation, I tilted my chin up and lowered my lashes, leaning forward to meet him halfway.

His lips were as soft as butterfly wings and warmer than the rays of the sun.

More.

Damn, he was good. Nothing like before. No stale breath or groping hands.

This is how it should be.

“Axel … “I stopped to catch my breath, trying to gather the words to describe all the magic that I felt. “That was—”

“Shondra!”

Dookie and his dickheads, their faces set in scowls, walked towards us.

Axel watched the guys approach, his body tense.

Poor guy. He’s probably never been in a fight. 

They didn’t scare me. Growing up in Chicago, I knew how to stomp heads into the ground.

I took off my earrings, and planned my strategy of attack, explaining the situation to Axel as I did so. “The blond has been after me for months. Damn bastard won’t take no for an answer. I’m going to end it today.”

Axel’s face was blank. With fear? I wasn’t sure. If he were to run, it didn’t matter. I planned on taking all three.

Music blasted from a radio, drowning out Duke’s mutterings. He raised his voice to make himself heard. “So you too good for the guys around the way, huh, Shondra?” Duke scowled, his blue eyes hard like stones. 

He got the same look from me for his attire. In forty-five-degree weather, Mr. Dumb-fuck had only a thin shirt covering his chest. Seemed like he was just asking for some battle scars.

I tensed, ready and able. Axel joined me, stepping into my line of fire. I stepped around him, willing to take the first blow to save that beautiful face. “What do you want, Duke?”

“Name is Daquan,” Duke said, spitting a glob of yellow phlegm in the dirt. “You know that, bitch.”

Before I could open my mouth, Axel got right up into Duke’s space.

“Daquak,” Axel said, eyes colder than frost. “Why don’t you and your buddies get Dafuq outta here.”

I would have laughed if I wasn’t so afraid Axel would get hurt.

Damn weird that.

This morning, I only cared about Mom, Ms. Jenkins, and myself. The rest of the population consisted of objects who co-existed with me. Axel had snuck in and had broken down my defenses to become a part of my world. I’d protect him, even at detriment to myself.

Duke blustered. I cut him off, stepping around Axel once more. “Duke, I’m not interested in you, don’t you get that?”

“No, Shondra, I don’t. And I also don’t understand why you gotta hang around this pretty boy, like you too good or sumpthin’ for the men ‘round here.”

While he spoke, Duke waggled a dirt smudged finger in my direction. At least I hoped it was dirt. Duke had gotten the nickname “Dookie” because in the third grade, he’d dug in his pants and smeared a line of crap down his desk, mad at the teacher for telling him to pay attention. The name Dookie had stuck to him like body odor. At least until last summer, when he grew seven inches and told everyone to call him Daquan. After a few after a few fights after school (and a couple during), Daquan stuck.

Not with me, though. He’d forever be Duke or Dookie.

“Listen, Da-prick, I suggest you get your shit-smelling finger outta her face,” Axel said, his eyes spitting blue fire.

Duke advanced, bumping his chest into Axel’s. “Or what.”

“Keep your udders away from me, dude, or there is going to be a problem.”

Duke poked Axel in the chest, smudging the white shirt under his hoodie with a dirty dark spot. “Are you gunna make me, asshole?”

Axel’s smile was as chilly as the wind blowing through the trees. “You bet I am, mofo.”

It was on.

Duke took a step back to get in some room, He then swung a hard haymaker at Axel’s head.

Axel ducked and then charged forward, ramming his shoulder into Duke’s belly. Duke flipped on his back like a turtle. Before he could think about getting up, Axel straddled him, pinning Duke’s arms to his sides with his thighs.

Axel delivered punch after meaty punch to his opponent’s head. Blood spurted from Duke’s nose and lip, coating Axel’s Harvard hoodie in a fine mist.

Michael dove in, his arm around Axel’s neck, choking him.

My eyes stung with rage. Adrenaline made my heart pound, and I didn’t think or hesitate. I grabbed Michael by the hair, yanking him backwards, tearing out tuft after tuft of his dry-ass fro.

The Latino that made up their motley group of three sniggered from behind his hand. “Damn. She kickin’ yo ass, man.”

Oh, I haven’t even started.

I pushed Michael face down in the dirt. He coughed and sputtered, trying to squirm. I gave him an elbow-fist combination to his back, putting all my weight behind it.

A rib crunched. The sound was sharp and flat, like a can of exploding biscuit dough. Michael screamed like a little girl. I didn’t stop there. Oh, no. I delivered lick after lick until powerful hands pulled me back and I heard a voice that made my blood run cold.

“Stop it, Shondra. And don’t make me tell you twice.”