Mated With Five Boys

"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them.Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it"- Rabindranath Tagore 

"What are you doing here?"

I quickly looked over, my panic fading.

"Making sure you stay out of trouble? Axel smirked over at me, the light from the flames bouncing off his face.

"I don't need a babysitter.’ I huffed out, looking away from him and at the fire.

"That's debatable."

He grunted.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I asked, slightly offended.

"This place is crawling with Noah's men” He said lowly, his eyes focusing on the ground.

"You were worried about me."

I teased, looking over at him.

"Don't go getting a big head, it's not like we are friends or anything.'' He chuckled which caused his laugh lines to show.

"Right because you haven't spilled your guts yet"

I reminded him, Axel just rolled his eyes in response.

"Well, what do we have here?"

Axel's voice was laced with amusement.

My eyes followed to where Axel was looking and that's when I saw Kina and Rylan irrupting from the darkness the woods, holding hands.

Well that dirty scoundrel, no wonder I couldn't find him! I instantly jumped up to my feet at the sight of Rylan, I need his help with Camila.

If things were different I'd probably be more happy for him and Kina, but this was life or death.

"Woah, Woah, Woah."

Axel jumped up.

"Where are you going?"

He asked standing in front of me, blocking my path.

"Move, I need to talk to Rylan; I stated, trying to step around him but he just moved with me causing me to let out an irritated breath.

"You got me instead."

Axel huffed, his eyes turning into slits.

"I can't tell you! You've got to move, the longer I wait the worse it's going to get."

I wanted to smack his chest but I didn't.

"What are you talking about?"

His eyes searched my face looking for answers.

"Move!"

I hissed, stomping my foot on the dirt.

"Come with me first."

He stated, his eyes holding a mysterious glint.

"I can't"

I couldn't control the whine that escaped my throat.

"Please Mia.’ Axel's eyes bored into mine, his dark irises swirling with different emotions.

I looked over at Rylan and saw him laughing at something Kina had said, her eyes were shining bright with content.

I'll let them have just a few more moments of happiness.

I looked back over at Axel and gave in, I couldn't say no the look on his face.

"Just a few minutes, okay?"

I told him.

He nodded his head in agreement, grabbing my hand and hauling me somewhere into the darkness of the woods.

My hand tingled something that happened often when Axel touched me.

I followed Axel blindly into the tall trees, slapping branches out from my face from time to time.

I could barely see anything with the treetops blocking out most of the moonlight which caused me to stumble on fallen branches.

I now understand why everyone falls in horror movies, they can't freaking see anything.

"Where are we going?"

I asked him.

"We're almost there"

striding effortlessly

not exactly the answer I was

and I run right into his

didn't budge any, he

that he had taken me to another clearing,

the ledge that was

slightly, keeping

breathing was labored and I think Axel noticed because he told me to

was frozen in my own fear, this was way worse than being

sending

"Look up.’ He whispered.

only

sky Angel,’

from the ledge and forced them to look

sight in front of me, my stomach dropping fear suddenly washed away and was replaced

a million stars shining above

was breathtaking, I've never seen so

York, it's hard to really star gaze with all city lights but

go outside with your mom and look at the stars, I thought you'd

staring at

it here; I whispered, lost in the

you know, everything.’ He

did wasn't okay.’

"But, I forgive you."

looked over at

still want you to

I finished.

up from his hands to look

"Where do I begin?"

He thought out loud.

from the beginning’ I joked, trying to lighten the

gave me a look and sighed

mother died giving birth to me.’ Axel furrowed

what people have told me before I was born my parents had the picture-perfect

their first house with a

my mom's pregnancy something happens to her,

talked about her it was like she never

short they saved me but couldn't save her: I watched his jaw started clenching and

I whispered,

don't want to make him relive

father turned to drugs and alcohol, he felt like

devil, but I think it was more of the fact every time he looked

once.I only know because my aunt, my mother's sister, was there everyday and she told me when I was older.I lived with my aunt until I was five until she got pregnant herself and couldn't afford taking care of

my father, I'd probably be dead if it wasn't for his girlfriend at the time, she would feed me and even sometimes give me baths when I really

when the beatings began.He would get wasted and come home swinging pretty much every night.He

police would just bring me right back, so I started fighting back.I would punch, kick, bite, and scratch whatever I could, but he was

foster care, I think I was around eight.I

He shook his head.

Rose's life, Rylan and I were her first foster kids.I treated her like shit, I tried to break her, make her ship me off to another home but she never did.She dealt

first time since Axel started talking about his past he finally looked up to

and my heart shattered to

myself wrapping my arms around him, pulling my body close

there wasn't anything I could say to make him feel better

If I was lucky I could put his broken pieces back

suffocating

tried peeling

instantly

enjoy your body on

winked causing me to roll my

Stupid Axel.

mom, cancer is unforgiving” Axel spoke

nodded my head agreeing

old, what color your skin is, your choice in religion, or

stopped reacting to the medication; I explained, surprisingly not feeling as emotional as I usually did talking about

my dad left us before I was

"That's so fucked"

He said angrily.

this make

looking over

friends with you? Never.’ He gave me a dirty look but I heard

"You're right, that's absurd."

I played along.

eyes wandered back to the sky, still amazed by

flooded my thoughts

help Camila.’ I

the only one who could do

probably

"And Angelo."

I put in.

"Why?"

gave me

breath feeling nervous all over again, the sinking was

"He hit her Axel,"

my

on her

you tell

Axel yelled, standing up.

her with Angelo’s life if anyone from your