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"

stated, striding effortlessly

the answer I was looking

right into his back

any, he

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

ledge that was only a

breath thinned looking down slightly, keeping a

think Axel noticed because he told me to

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

on my hand, sending me to the ground where

"Look up.’ He whispered.

were only trained to look

at the sky

away from the ledge and

front of me, my stomach dropping fear suddenly washed away and

least a million stars shining above me, the constellations painting the night

never seen

all city

that you use to go outside with your mom and look at the

staring

would have loved it here; I whispered, lost in the

know, everything.’ He spoke, looking down at

did wasn't okay.’

"But, I forgive you."

looked over at

you

I finished.

up from his hands

"Where do I begin?"

He thought out loud.

the beginning’ I joked,

just gave me a look

mother died giving birth to me.’ Axel furrowed his eyebrows, looking

and from what people have told me before I

careers, they even had just boughten their first house with a baby boy on the way’

my mom's pregnancy something happens to

really talked about her it

saved me but couldn't save her: I watched

I whispered, I knew how it felt

don't want to make him relive the

to drugs and alcohol, he felt like God

product of the devil, but I think it was more

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

probably be dead if it wasn't for his girlfriend at the time, she

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

so I started fighting back.I would punch, kick, bite, and scratch whatever I could,

away from him and put into foster care, I think I was around eight.I was in and out what felt like hundred houses because

He shook his head.

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

since Axel started talking about his past he finally

and my

myself wrapping my arms around

anything I could say to make him feel better so I just hugged him as hard as I

his broken

suffocating me,

tried peeling himself

mumbled, instantly backing

enjoy your

me to roll my

Stupid Axel.

sorry about your mom, cancer is

nodded my head agreeing with

skin is, your choice in religion, or the people

explained, surprisingly not feeling as

us before I was born; I told

"That's so fucked"

He said angrily.

make us friends

smiled teasingly, looking over

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

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

I played along.

comfortable silence, my eyes wandered back to the sky, still amazed by

flooded

I rushed out and instantly

only one who could do

probably

"And Angelo."

I put in.

"Why?"

gave me

nervous all over again, the sinking

"He hit her Axel,"

my voice

saw the bruises on her

didn't you

Axel yelled, standing up.

threatened her with Angelo’s life if anyone from your gang got