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 in the

the answer I was looking for’ I

right

course, he didn't budge any, he was like

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

automatically snapped to the ledge that was only a few feet

looking down slightly, keeping a good distance away from

Axel noticed because he told me to

own fear, this was way worse

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

"Look up.’ He whispered.

were only trained to

at the sky Angel,’ Axel said

eyes away from the ledge

in front of me, my stomach dropping fear

least a million stars

I've never seen so many stars in my

in New York, it's 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,

staring

here; I whispered, lost in the balls of

He spoke, looking down at

you did wasn't okay.’ I

"But, I forgive you."

over

want you to tell

I finished.

head looking up from his hands to look straight

"Where do I begin?"

He thought out loud.

joked, trying to

me a look

birth to me.’ Axel furrowed his eyebrows, looking

told me before I

had just boughten their first house with a baby boy on

mom's pregnancy something happens to

no one really talked about

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

any more,’’ I whispered, I

make him relive the pain he felt growing

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

the devil, but I think it was more of the fact

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

I'd probably be dead if it wasn't for his girlfriend at the time, she would feed me and even sometimes

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 punch, kick,

eight.I was in and out what felt like hundred houses

He shook his head.

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

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

were watery and my heart shattered to a thousand

around him, pulling my

make him feel better so I just

put his broken pieces back together

kinda suffocating me,

peeling himself

I mumbled, instantly

your body on

to roll my eyes

Stupid Axel.

about your mom, cancer is unforgiving” Axel

my head agreeing

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

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

left us before I was born;

"That's so fucked"

He said angrily.

does this make

teasingly, looking over at

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

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

I played along.

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

flooded my

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

only one who could do something about

probably

"And Angelo."

I put in.

"Why?"

me a

feeling nervous all over again, the sinking was back and stronger

"He hit her Axel,"

my

bruises on her yesterday,’ I told

you

Axel yelled, standing up.

her with Angelo’s life if anyone from your