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

exactly the answer I was looking

stops walking and I run right into

course, he didn't budge any,

looked around and saw that he had taken me to another clearing, a little higher than where

the ledge that was only

down slightly, keeping

Axel noticed because he told me

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

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

"Look up.’ He whispered.

eyes were only

the sky

eyes away from the ledge and forced them to

stomach dropping fear suddenly

million stars shining

was breathtaking, I've never seen so many stars in

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

to go outside with your mom and look

staring at

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

sorry, for you know, everything.’ He spoke,

wasn't okay.’

"But, I forgive you."

looked over at

want you to

I finished.

head looking up from his hands to look straight passed

"Where do I begin?"

He thought out loud.

joked, trying to lighten the

gave me a look and

me.’ Axel furrowed his eyebrows,

told

had just boughten their first house with a baby boy on

months into my mom's pregnancy something happens to her,

no one really talked about her it was

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

don't have to tell me any more,’’ I whispered, I knew how it felt to

make him relive the

drugs and alcohol, he felt like God

couldn't look at me without seeing the product of the devil, but I think it was more of the fact every time he looked at me he was reminded

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

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

home swinging pretty much every night.He would scream at me

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

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 I was the "problem kid"that started fights and wouldn't

He shook his head.

break her, make her ship me off to another home but

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

were watery and my heart

found myself wrapping my arms around him, pulling my

feel better so I just hugged him as hard

I was lucky I could put his broken pieces back together

kinda suffocating me,

peeling himself

I mumbled, instantly backing away

did enjoy your

me to roll

Stupid Axel.

your mom, cancer is unforgiving”

my head agreeing

is, your choice in religion, or the people

body stopped reacting to the medication; I explained, surprisingly not feeling as

us before I

"That's so fucked"

He said angrily.

this make us

smiled teasingly, looking

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

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

I played along.

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

Camila flooded my

you got to help Camila.’ I rushed out and instantly realized my

only one who could do

probably gone

"And Angelo."

I put in.

"Why?"

me

feeling nervous all over again, the sinking was back

"He hit her Axel,"

my voice

saw the bruises on her yesterday,’ I told

didn't you

Axel yelled, standing up.

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