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 in

the answer I

right into his back

he didn't budge any, he was

saw that he had taken me to another clearing, a little higher than where the bonfire

eyes automatically snapped to the ledge that was only a few feet away from

keeping a good distance away from the

was labored and I think Axel noticed because

this was way worse than being on that glass walkway

yanked gently on my hand, sending me to the ground where he

"Look up.’ He whispered.

only trained

at the sky Angel,’ Axel

from the ledge and forced them to

me, my stomach dropping fear suddenly washed away

least a million stars shining above me, the constellations

never seen so many

hard to really star gaze with all city lights but here, in the middle of nowhere, it was

you use to go outside with your mom and look at the stars, I thought

muttered, staring at

it here; I whispered,

everything.’ He spoke, looking down at

you did wasn't okay.’

"But, I forgive you."

over at

you

I finished.

looking up from his hands to look straight passed

"Where do I begin?"

He thought out loud.

beginning’ I joked, trying

just gave me a look and sighed

giving birth to me.’ Axel furrowed his eyebrows,

gather from pictures and from what people have told me before I was born my parents

even had just boughten their first house with a baby boy on the

mom's pregnancy something happens to her,

are fuzzy because no one really talked about

save her:

I whispered, I knew how it felt

relive the pain he

to drugs and alcohol, he felt like God

without seeing the product of the devil, but I think it was more of the fact every time

in the hospital for 3 months after my premature birth and he never came to see me, not 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

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

enough to start school, that's when the beatings began.He would get wasted and come home swinging pretty much every night.He

running away multiple time but police would just bring me right back, so I started fighting back.I

I was around eight.I was in and out what felt like hundred houses because I was the "problem kid"that started fights and wouldn't listen

He shook his head.

treated her like shit, I tried to break her, make her ship me off to another home but she never did.She dealt with all

Axel started talking about his

were watery and my heart

myself wrapping my arms around him, pulling my

wasn't anything I could say to make him feel

his broken pieces back together and maybe mine

suffocating

peeling

mumbled, instantly backing

did enjoy your body

causing me to roll my

Stupid Axel.

your mom, cancer

head agreeing with

your skin is, your choice

had stage 4 leukemia, her body stopped reacting to the medication; I explained, surprisingly not feeling as emotional as I usually did

us before I was born; I

"That's so fucked"

He said angrily.

this make us friends

teasingly, looking over at

He gave me a dirty look

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

I played along.

eyes wandered back to the sky, still amazed by

when Camila flooded my

to help Camila.’ I

was the only one who could do something

probably

"And Angelo."

I put in.

"Why?"

gave me a

over again, the sinking was back and stronger than

"He hit her Axel,"

my

saw the bruises on her yesterday,’

you tell

Axel yelled, standing up.

with Angelo’s life if anyone from your gang