All Chapters of Rising From the Ashes: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Xavier begins chasing after me in the water. We laugh as we splash each other. Xavier grabs me, effortlessly picking me up, bringing me closer to him. My legs instantly wrap around him. Feeling him so close to me is intoxicating. Xavier doesn't do anything, rather he simply looks down, staring into my eyes. "Mi alma." My soul, Xavier says in Spanish.Xavier runs his thumb over my lips. His touch is intoxicating. I close my eyes, as his other hand begins to explore my body. He lowers his head resting along my forehead. "No tienes ni idea de lo mucho que significas para mi." You have no idea how much you mean to me, Xavier sighs."Cuanto he soñado con estos labios en los míos." How much have I dreamed of these lips on mine, Xavier whispers to me. "Muéstrame." Show me. I whisper back.Surprised, Xavier straightens himself. "You speak Spanish?""I guess you can say I learned a few things

Without saying anything, Xavier holds me against him. As if trying to shield me from my memories. "How did you know it was Craig?"I close my eyes, and let out a deep breath. "I went back to the car. Hoping and praying that Mason would still be alive. Which is when I saw a note attached to Mason's chest. 'You're mine, and no one else's.' Was all it said. But it was more than enough. What happened was all my fault. Mason was a great guy, a true sweetheart. A father figure in a way, but most importantly a true friend. After that happened, I knew it wasn't safe to have any friends. I isolated myself from everyone. My only friends became the stars and my books."After I finish, Xavier grips my shoulder, forcing me to look at him."Please, don't ever think what happened that day was your fault. The only one to blame is that sick bastard Craig. I'm glad that Mason was in your life, even if just for a short while. I know that if he could talk

Xavier lowers himself onto the bed, and pulls me close to him, as he continues to look into my eyes. He takes a quick breath, then continues."My mother was a casualty of the feud between the Scorpions and the Dragons. She was never involved with anything that had to do with the Scorpions. However, because of my father's status, she was always in danger. The dragons knew how much my mother meant to my father. So they killed her, in hopes of bringing my father down."I looked at him in shock. 'How did I never know about any of this? No one told me his mother had been killed.' I remember back when we were kids, Ryker had told me that Xavier had been in a bad place for months. He never told me why though. As if sensing my question, Xavier turns to look at me. A small sigh escaping his lips."This happened a few months before the fire." I sat up, startled by Xavier's confession. Xavier sits up with me, trying to get an understandin

I nod my head, finishing my food, then head towards my bedroom. After my shower, I wrap myself in a towel, then head to my closet. Not sure how to dress for Xavier's surprise. To my amazement, there is an outfit laying on the lounge. It's a cute blue plaid top, with a white under shirt, dark ripped blue jeans, and the cutest beige boots. There's a small box on the side, with a note. I read the note.'I had found this years ago, and had always intended on giving it to you. Like you, it survived tragedy and hardship. I hoped that one day, I could see you wearing it.'I carefully open the lid, not sure what to expect. My eyes begin to water when I see it. It's my favourite teddy bear from when I was a child. I can't believe he did this for me. Not only did he risk his life to save me from the fire, but he also found a way to keep me connected to the good parts of my past. I remember when my mom told me about the meaning of that teddy bear. She told me how aft

He looks up surprised, and smiles at me. Distracted, I look to my left, but not in time. I see Xavier smile, as he takes aim. He fires, but I duck just in time. I run from my spot, and head towards the forest. I take cover behind a tree, as bullets continue to fly in my direction. I run down the ravine, and spin backwards, waiting for Xavier to find me. I watch Xavier come flying through the trees. He notices me, but it's too late. I take aim, and fire at him. Multiple orange spots hitting him at once. He raises his hands in surrender, and I run back from the forest to the range. I stand behind a wooden barricade, listening for any foreign sounds. I can hear the sound of someone scurrying nearby. I silently walk to the side of the barricade, and look to see the source of the sound. I watch as Jax runs towards an old silo, in hopes of getting to higher ground. I quickly release a round of bullets, plastering him in orange paint all over his vest. He mimics being shot, his hands shoot