Peony

“What’s going on?” I ask, stepping into Zie’s room which is fraught with tension.

“Nothing. Go home Odi,” Axel snaps. I reel back like I’ve been slapped.

“Dude. Don’t take it out on her,” Kaiden jumps to my defence.

“I-I- heard about...erm about Miss—”

“Don’t say that bitch’s name!” Axel screams in my face making me flinch.

“Axel—” Zie warns.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I—”

Zie and Kaiden exchange concerned looks then wordlessly exit the room, leaving me alone with Axel. Panic flares within me. I’ve never seen him so worked up, so close to losing it.

He’s pacing back and forth along the carpet, running his hands through his hair and muttering to himself.

Suddenly he stops and falls to his knees at my feet. Looking up at me, tears shining in his eyes, he implores me to help.

“What am I going to do, Peony? They’ve had her arrested.”

I drop down onto the carpet beside him and wrap my arms around his shoulders. To my surprise, he doesn’t stiffen but buries himself into the crook of my neck, sobbing.

“Do you love her?” I ask tentatively after a moment.

“No.”

“Do you care for her?”

“I hate her, Peony. I hate what she did to me. What she’s made me. I hope she goes to prison, but…”

“But?”

“I’m going to be a dad, Peony. I don’t even know how to deal with that.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone what she was doing?”

“What do you mean?” He asks sharply, pulling away from me.

“If she was...taking advantage of you. You should have told someone.”

“Oh, Peony. She wasn’t taking advantage of me. I enjoyed it!” Axel laughs coldly, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“But you just said you hate her?”

“I hate her for getting caught. For getting pregnant. The sex was fucking amazing. An older, more experienced woman? And one that hot? Fucking her was a fucking dream come true.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Well you wouldn’t, would you, miss never been kissed, frigid bitch.”