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 for’

Axel stops walking and I run right into his

budge any, he was like a

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

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

keeping a good

was labored and I think Axel noticed because he

my own fear, this was way

gently on my hand, sending

"Look up.’ He whispered.

were only trained to

at the sky Angel,’

tore my eyes away from the ledge and forced them

of me, my stomach dropping fear

stars shining above me, the constellations

never seen so many stars in my

all city lights

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

staring

I whispered, lost

you know, everything.’ He spoke, looking down at his

wasn't

"But, I forgive you."

over at

still want you to tell me

I finished.

up from his hands to look straight passed

"Where do I begin?"

He thought out loud.

the beginning’ I joked, trying to lighten

just gave me a look and

died giving birth to me.’ Axel furrowed

have told me before

their first house with a baby boy

my mom's pregnancy something happens

details are fuzzy because no one really talked about her it was like she

but couldn't save her: I

to tell me any more,’’ I whispered, I knew how it felt to lose

want to make him relive the pain he felt growing

father turned to drugs and alcohol, he felt

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

was 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

for his girlfriend at the time, she would feed me and even sometimes give me

was old enough to start school, that's when the beatings began.He would get wasted and come home swinging pretty much every night.He would scream at me saying I killed his wife, that I was a monster, I didn't

so I started

hospital visit I was taken away from him and put into foster care, I think I was around eight.I was in

He shook his head.

were her first foster kids.I treated her like shit, I tried to break her, make her ship

started talking about his past he finally looked up

watery and my heart shattered to a thousand

found myself wrapping my arms around him, pulling

knew there wasn't anything I could say to make him feel better so I just hugged him as hard as

his broken pieces back together and maybe

suffocating

peeling himself

instantly

did enjoy your

winked causing me to roll my eyes at

Stupid Axel.

your mom, cancer is unforgiving” Axel spoke

head agreeing

care if you are young or old, what color your skin is, your choice in religion, or the

had stage 4 leukemia, her body stopped reacting to the medication; I explained,

before I

"That's so fucked"

He said angrily.

does this make us friends

teasingly, looking over

He gave me a dirty look but I heard the sarcasm in

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

I played along.

sat in a comfortable silence, my eyes wandered back

when Camila flooded my thoughts

I rushed out

one

would have probably

"And Angelo."

I put in.

"Why?"

gave me a weird

nervous all over again, the sinking was back

"He hit her Axel,"

whispered, my

saw the bruises on

didn't you tell

Axel yelled, standing up.

her with Angelo’s life if anyone