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"

effortlessly in the rough

the answer I was looking

and I run right into his back

didn't budge any, he was

taken me to another clearing,

snapped to the ledge that was only a

thinned looking down slightly, keeping a good distance

think Axel noticed because

in my own fear, this was way worse than being on that glass walkway

sending me to the ground

"Look up.’ He whispered.

only

the sky Angel,’

eyes away from the ledge and forced them to look

me, my stomach dropping fear suddenly washed

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

seen so many

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

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

muttered, staring at

I whispered,

He spoke,

wasn't okay.’ I

"But, I forgive you."

looked over

want you to tell me

I finished.

looking up from his hands to look

"Where do I begin?"

He thought out loud.

beginning’ I joked, trying to lighten the

just gave me a look and

to me.’ Axel

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

boughten their first house with a baby

my mom's pregnancy something happens

really talked about her

save her:

I whispered, I knew how it

relive

her death, my father turned to drugs and alcohol, he felt like God

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

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

it wasn't for his girlfriend at the time, she would feed me and even sometimes

swinging pretty much every night.He would scream at me saying I killed his wife, that I was a monster, I didn't deserve

but police would just bring me right back, so I started fighting back.I would

think I was around eight.I was

He shook his head.

into 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 with all my bullshit

the first time since Axel started talking about his

and my heart

found myself wrapping my arms around him, pulling my body close

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

I could put his broken pieces back together

kinda suffocating

peeling himself

instantly backing away

your body on mine

to roll my eyes at

Stupid Axel.

sorry about your mom, cancer

my head agreeing with

are young or old, what color your skin is, your choice in religion, or the people

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

dad left us before I was born; I

"That's so fucked"

He said angrily.

does this make

smiled teasingly, looking

me a dirty look but I heard the sarcasm in his

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

I played along.

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

when Camila flooded my thoughts

I rushed

only one who could do

probably gone to

"And Angelo."

I put in.

"Why?"

gave me

all over again, the

"He hit her Axel,"

whispered, my voice

on her

didn't you tell me

Axel yelled, standing up.

threatened her with Angelo’s life if