VIII.

My hands tangle into his dark curls as I lay my lips onto his incredibly soft ones. I take my time to enjoy the way they feel, the way they taste and along them I could taste my salty tears.

Axel stays completely still, as if he doesn't realize what is happening.

Just as I begin to worry that he doesn't like this as much as I do and pull back slightly, he kisses me.

He pushes harshly against me, his hands now tightly on my sides and pries my mouth open.

It feels like heaven; like everything I didn't know I was missing.

I can feel my heart beating fast and our tongues dancing with each other, exploring each other's mouth. Butterflies are going crazy in my stumach and then he suddenly lifts me up and lays me down on his bed, his rings digging into my skin.

In my subconciousness I know that this is wrong, but it feels so right that I can't help my actions. His mouth is warm and fresh; it tastes like mint and in that moment mint is my favourite flavour. My hands pull at his hair and then I accidentally bite his lip.

He growls like a wild animal and climbs on top of me, catching my hands in his and keeping them hostage above my head, his other hand coming around my neck to pull my mouth closer to his.

I lift my pelvis to his, creating friction that was so tempting, but so wrong and in that moment his phone rings in his pocket. He hesitantly removes his mouth from mine and releases my hands.

"Fuck." he silently curses and I start panicing, eyes wide open as I slowly realize what I just did. He lifts himself off of me and in the next moment I'm on my feet, grabbing my hair and heading straight for the door.

"This- this was a mistake." I say quietly and give one last look over my shoulder at Axel.

His phone is still ringing in his pocket but he pays no attention to it; his hair is a mess on top of his head and his lips, his delicious lips are red and swollen.

He doesn't say anything, but his eyes drop a little, the fire that was burning only moments ago extinguished. He runs his hand through his hair roughly and I rip my eyes away.

I force myself to run downstairs, my make-up probably completely smudged because of the tears which are still running down my cheeks.

I head straight for the exist, but before I can make it, a hand on my shoulder stops me.

"Hey, Soph, are you okay?" Theo asks me, worry in his brown eyes.

I nod. "Yeah, I just- I just need to get home." I reply.

"Come, I'll take you." he offers and I really want to argue, but I stop myself. What's the point? I'm drunk and I don't feel like walking for half an hour anyway. "Okay." I smile and let him lead me outside by my hand.

"This is my car." he says and points to a dark Toyota.

"Cool." I reply.

"Not really." he chuckles. "But it does the job."

We sit in the car and Theo asks:"Where do you live?"

I give him the address and then relax in the seat, looking outside the window. The car's a bit messy, but he's a high school student so it's understandable.

"So what happened?" he asks the inevitable question and looks towards me.

I sigh. "Nothing much, we just fought." I lie.

I feel a little bad about lying, but the kiss just seems... private and I want to keep it to myself.

"Was he being a huge dick?" he asks.

"Well, he was like he usually is." I reply and Theo gives me a questionable look. "Yes, he was being a dick." I explain.

He shakes his head. "I don't know what's been up his ass lately. He was never suck an asshole."

I shrug. "Maybe he's on his period."

Theo starts laughing, and I do, too, as I watch him.

Soon, we make it outside my house and I turn to Theo. "Thank you for the ride, it would really suck if I had to walk home."

He smiles. "It's no problem. I had fun with you tonight."

"Me too." I reply.

"Look," Theo suddenly says, "is there anything going on between you and Jarvis? I could swear you two hated each other, but sometimes I get this weird vibe and catch him looking at you and stuff..." he rambles and I wonder what to say.

We kissed, does that count as "having something going on"? I don't know what to reply so I go with the safe answer.

"No, not really." I say and Theo nods.

"That's cool. He doesn't really seem good for you."

Yep, heard that one before.

"I guess. Well, thanks again for the ride, but I have to go. My parents will start to worry." I say and open the car door, sliding out.

"Okay, goodnight Sophie." Theo smiles.

"Goodnight, Theo." With those words I shut the door and in twenty minutes I'm fast asleep, dreaming of dark green eyes and soft lips.

***

I wake up next day with the worst hangover in the history of mankind. Groaning, I get up from the bed and see that I still have on clothes from yesterday and I change into sweatpants and a top. I make my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth and hair and when I'm done, I go downstairs to get something to eat. Halfway down the stairs I smell pancakes and pick up my pace, realizing just how hungry I actually am.

"Hey mom what are you-?"

Holy shit.

My mum turns to look at me with a huge smile on her face. "Hi sweetie, look who has come for a visit."

Sitting there, grinning, is the Devil himself. The Devil who I grinded on last night.

"Hi, Sophia. You left without a goodbye last night so I have come to check up on you." he fake-smiles and I know he is mad that I ran off from the look in his eyes. But honestly, what else was I about to do? Let him go all the way? Even the kiss was a mistake.

Then why don't you regret it?

I push the thought into the back of my mind and focus on the situation before me. Suddenly, I have an idea on how to piss him off since I like doing it so much.

"Sorry Axel but Theo was so nice to offer to take me home so I couldn't stay there and make him wait for me." I give him my best fake smile.

"How nice of him." he says with pursed lips.

"Oh, I'm so happy that you have so many friends, darling. I have to meet this Theo, he sounds great!" my mother beams at me and sets a plate with pancakes down at the table opposite of Axel.

"Oh, he's very nice, mum. I really like him, you will too." I say and sit down.

Axel looks at me with expresionless face and I quickly look down at pancakes.

"Hey Sophie, do you mind showing me where the toilet is?" he suddenly asks and I look at him. He raises his brow and gives me a fake smile, making me gulp, but since my mum is there there's really not much I can do.

"Sure. Come on." I say and stand up. "It's just behind the corner-"

"Oh, I'm really bad with directions, sorry. Can you come show me?" he says and not really waiting for the answer, grabs my hand, pulling me with him.

As soon as we make it around the corner, he pulls me into the first room he finds, coincidentally being the bathroom, and closes the door behind him.

"So Theo, huh? Do you like him?« he asks in a low voice and immediately makes me mad.

"I believe that is none of your business." I hiss at him. »What the hell are you doing at my house? How did you even know where I live?«

Of course me and Theo are just friends, but I decide that he doesn't need to know that at the moment. He has angered me so many times already, now it's my turn.

"I guess it's not.” he raises a brow pushing me against the wall with his fingers brushing the side of my neck, “but I think it would be better for you if you told me. You see, I don't want the whole school thinking you banged a dude after only two weeks in a new town. You'd be turned into the school slut.” he looks at me with a fake smile, brushing his fingers slowly against my skin as his calm voice enters my head.

“Are you threatening me?” I whisper, conflicted between slapping him and kissing him.

“I'm trying to help you.” he replies and I purse my lips, giving him a look of complete disgust. “I don't like Theo.”

“You sure?”

“Yes. What the hell does that matter to you anyway?”

He shrugs. “He's a dear friend. It matters. Oh, and don't worry about not having time because you are coming with me after breakfast. I already arranged it with your mum so don't even fucking try to argue. You and I got some things to talk about. Now go before your mother thinks I'm fucking your brains out in her bathroom." He orders, letting go of my neck and grins while I stand there in horror and slowly turn to leave.

He is right, though. We have so much to talk about.