6. June 19th

6

June 19th

I yank free of Axel's clutches and turn to him. "What do you want?" I refuse to meet his eyes and instead stare at a point above his shoulder.

"Happy birthday." His voice is smooth, liquid, as he shoves something into my hand.

I bring it up and examine the item.

Narcan.

What the fuck?

"Is this some kind of joke?" My words leave in a whisper. The wind kicks up and my curls wrap around us both in a shroud. I'm suddenly acutely aware I am on my front lawn in the middle of the night with a man that was convicted of a brutal assault.

With a man that looks exactly like Tripp.

I stare down at the Narcan. I've never done drugs.

Why would he be handing me this?

"Keep it with you, you're going to need this. Could save a life."

My skin prickles in apprehension, but I shake it off.

I scoff. "I don't do drugs," I say as I finally meet his bright eyes. They are a stark contrast to the dangerously dark man before me. A shiver rolls down my spine. "I'm not like you," I spit the words at him.

Axel smirks. His full lips flatten into a line, but it's not in anger. It's in exasperation. As if the notion I don't need Narcan is ridiculous.

"Look–" I pocket the item and put my hands up to allow space between us.

He catches my wrists, trapping me in place. I ignore the flurry of emotions that tumble through my belly. A million butterflies take hold, but it's not a good feeling. These butterflies are alive and they're trying to escape.

"What is wrong with you all? You lost your brother. I lost mine. Leave me to grieve in peace." I don't understand why he's out here, why he's trying to control what I do.

His already darkened face is now entirely void of light. Except his bright emerald eyes, they mock me.

They're an exact replica of Tripp's.

All of my previous annoyance leaves me and a sob wracks through my body. I squeeze my eyes shut as my vision blurs and my shoulders tremble.

None of this is fair.

Whatever Axel was expecting, it wasn't my tears, but still, he doesn't let me go. Instead, he pulls me to him and cradles me to his chest.

For a moment I permit myself to fall into his embrace. To imagine it isn't him at all, but a different man that used to comfort me exactly like this.

The charade doesn't last long. Axel isn't soft like Tripp was, he is all hard edges. The feel of his belt buckle pressing into my stomach is what snaps the dream, and I jump out of his arms.

"It's my birthday, I'm going to the party. I want to have fun ." I don't owe him anything, not even this explanation, but I suspect he is going to attempt to stop me.

Axel's eyes scrunch up in annoyance, but he doesn't argue. "Fine," he finally states aggrievedly.

I turn to go. It's only a few miles and the walk will clear my mind from whatever this interaction was, but he once more reaches out to my blouse. Holding me in place.

"You can go. But you're coming with me. I'm meeting Darius there."

I open my mouth to firmly disagree.

"It wasn't a question, Sunday." My name is velvet leaving his lips. Had he ever said it before? I can't recall. He went to prison at the start of his junior year and we hadn't spent much time together prior.

His words finally catch up to my brain, but I don't have a chance to reply as he begins tugging me along to their house next door.

In their driveway sits a single vehicle. A motorcycle.