I S A B E L L A

I baked him muffins.

I baked Axel muffins, so that when he comes back with my dress i can give it to him as a thank you token.

I wasn't sure when he was coming back to the cafe, i wasn't sure if he even liked muffins.

But i tossed and turned last night, until i climbed out of bed and made him the first thing that came into my mind at 3am.

It was also only after Axel left my apartment yesterday and i was left alone with nothing but my own thoughts that the realisation crept in. 

Abby had spilt piping hot coffee on me.

She laughed at the fact she left a burn on my chest.

She laughed because she enjoyed my pain.

I knew Abby wasn't a great friend, i knew that she was toxic and unhealthy. But i didn't think she'd stoop to the level of not only humiliating me but also hurting me over a boy who didn't even show any interest for her.

Maybe i was overreacting, maybe i was thinking too much about this situation but i realised that she hated when the attention was on me.

Abby would make a rude comment about me immediately after someone gave me a compliment and not her. She'd ignore me weeks on end if i did something better than her. She'd move on to any boy that even remotely looked at me.

When Axel was rude to her at the party, and let me sit with him it set her off. It never got this bad, she'd bully me, ignore me and then she'd act like nothing had happened after. But this time she didn't get the attention instead, it was me. And it made her furious. So she ignored me for almost a month before throwing coffee on me. She was insecure, maybe even more than she made me to be.

Jealousy is easier to see than one might expect, it for sure has no cloak of invisibility.

"Hey, how are you?" A gentle feminine voice pulls me out of my thoughts and i turn around, my hair flipping over my shoulder as i do.

"Hey, I'm okay." I smile when i see Lucy. This morning, she had her chestnut brown hair up in a messy bun and was wearing a light purple sports bra paired with light purple leggings indicating she had just come from the gym.

"How was the gym?" I asked.

"It was good," She exhaled, throwing her bag into her locker. "You should come with me next time." She said, her hands now on her hips as she stood up straight looking at me.

Going to the gym with Lucy sounds fun, i have no muscle or strength on me whatsoever but Lucy's progress in the gym has inspired me to try so i nod, grinning at her.

Lucy nods before her eyes shift to my chest. "How's your chest?"

I looked down at my chest, it blistered a little in some places and was still bright pink like a bad sunburn.

"Sore, but i'll manage" I reply blankly, leaning my back onto the wall and stretching my long legs out.

"She is such a bitch! I cannot believe that happened to you." Lucy shook her head in shock, her eyes slightly widened as thin strands of hair fell loosely on her face.

"It was unexpected, that's for sure." I awkwardly chuckle, shaking my head and playing with my fingers.

"Yeah," She mumbled. "And Axel, oh my gosh!" She suddenly jerked up her voice raised causing me to jump.

Lucy now stood in front of me. "I have never seen him so kind to someone, he is probably one of the rudest and most awful people I've met." She shrieked, her hands spoke with her, flying around the place.

Her comment made me frown, to me he was the complete opposite. I couldn't believe people judged him without knowing him. Although I barely knew him, i knew enough to know he was nothing like he was made out to be.

I'll admit, Axel can be rude and cold at times but he wasn't an awful person. He was good, maybe others don't see it, he probably doesn't see it either. But i do, i figured him out enough to realise he was good.

"That's not true." I was now standing straight, my body no longer putting its weight onto the wall.

"From what i've witnessed, it is" Her words came out faster than flash and i frowned again, one of my eyebrows arched up as i squinted my eyes slightly.

"He's so rude, he doesn't care for anyone and the amount of times i've watched him beat another person up for no reason!" She was getting frustrated, as her hands flew around the air more aggressively. I inhaled, pinching the bridge of my nose with my fingers.

"I love you, Isabella, but just because he was nice to you once doesn't make him a good person." Her voice has softened and she was now calm, as she placed both of her hands on each of my shoulders. She breathed in and out heavily.

I thought about all my encounters with Axel, counting all the times he was rude and ignored me, and counting all the times he was nice and spoke to me.

There was more, rude and ignoring.

But it didn't mean he was a bad person, it didn't mean he wasn't capable of being kind. Because he is, i've seen it.

I wasn't sure why i was almost starting an argument with Lucy to defend Axel, but he was good in my eyes even if nobody else saw it the way i did.

I decided to not say anything, instead i sighed and nodded. Lucy nodded, copying my move and smiling like she's satisfied by my response.

Lucy blew out some air and brushed off the invisible dirt on her thighs. "We should go, Bradley won't be happy that we are standing doing nothing." She said blankly, walking over the the rack of aprons. She picked up her's, and rummaged through the rest before finding mine.

Lucy took a few steps towards me and throws the fabric at me. I caught it against my chest and put it over my head, tying the back in a quick bow.

We parted ways when we are at the front of the cafe, Lucy begins to walk up to tables, taking any dirty plates and stacking them in a pile on her hands whilst i stand at the cash register.

I roll my shirts sleeves up and rest my arms on the desk, watching out the window at the cars that drove past and the people that strolled on the pavements of the city as i waited for customers to show up.

I sighed, sometimes i wished i wasn't always stuck in the cafe. In some way, this place has become a comfort and something i'd look forward to coming for. In other ways, i got sick of being here everyday. After school i am straight here. On weekends as soon as i wake up, i'm straight here again. The only day i have off is Sunday, and even then that is used to get stuff done and study for exams.

I don't think i'll ever leave this job, i think this place has becoming apart of my life even if it's just a cafe. But standing here and watching as people got on with there day and ate food over and over again can become tiring, and boring in other words.

I tapped my fingers on the desk, counting every time each of my fingers made contact with the cold counter whilst humming Taylor Swift songs.

The sound of a bell attracted my attention and i looked up from my fingers to the large frame that walked in.

Axel was wearing black shorts and a black t-shirt to match, his hair was the same like always, a little messy whilst looking absolutely perfect at the same time.

In his arm, was a material that was coloured baby blue and had little flowers on it. I felt my face light up and i couldn't help but let a wide smile stretch out onto my face.

As Axel walked towards me, another tall frame followed behind him. This man was a little shorter than Axel, his shiny and curly hair was the colour of a orange. He was also wearing shorts, but instead they were white and paired with a light brown hoodie.

When Axel and the stranger were now standing infront of me, i noticed the red haired boys eyes were brown. Not just simple plain brown, his had all different shades that grew darker and darker as they reached the rims of the eye. They reminded me of Lucy's eyes.

"Hello!" I smiled, shifting my eyes between the two figures. Axel slightly smirked.

"Hey, pretty girl." The red head winked, as he wore a wide grin on his face. I smiled at him.

He looked so sweet.

Axel extended his arm towards me, with my dress in his hand. I took the dress, it felt just as soft as before.

I couldn't help but immediately let the dress slip through my fingers and unfold revealing all of it. I looked back at Axel, who scanned my face searching for the answer to what i was thinking. Then my gaze shifted to the red head, who's attention was fully on the menu and food that was on display.

When i looked at the dress, the coffee stain that was on the chest was no longer there. It was like it was brand new, not one wrinkle, and no brown patch.

I was overloaded with happiness, i even thought about jumping over this counter and into Axels arms.

He actually fixed my dress.

He was kind, he did care. Lucy just needed to see it.

"Thank you so much, honestly, thank you." I smiled so hard my cheeks began to hurt. Axel wore a small grin on his face, his dimples ever so slightly peaking through.

"I have something for you! Please wait!" I finished half of that sentence as i ran to the back.

I almost tripped over a chair as i ran to my locker, quickly opening it and grabbing the box of muffins before running back to the front.

Axel and his friend still stood there, talking about something to each-other quietly.

I was huffing and puffing by the time i got there, and now it was my turn to extend my arm and push the plastic box into his hands.

Axel's eyebrows slightly scrunched together as he opened the box. I couldn't quite tell what he was thinking, i was nervous for his reaction.

"Those smell fucking ace!" The red head was first to speak, he tried to dig in and grab a muffin but Axel's hand quickly slapped his away.

"Greedy fuck." Axel's friend scowled, crossing his arms.

"Thank you, Bella." Axel finally spoke, a smile almost peaking through. The way he looked at muffins like nobody has ever made him anything before assured me that he was happy with them. And that caused my cheeks to turn pink.

"They are for helping me yesterday, and fixing my dress." My breathing becomes softer, the pensive look melting into a smile as soft as the morning light.

He smirked, nodding at me and looking back at the muffins. My body squirms just a little as my muscles relax.

Axel friends hand snaked his way towards the muffins again, but didn't get far before being slapped away again.

"Ronan." Axel warned, a pissed expression plastered on his face.

"What? I'm hungry man!" Ronan replied, attempting to get a muffin again but failed when Axel grabbed his hand and yanked it away.

"Fine, i'll just order some food." Ronan's sarcastic tone cause Axel to sigh.

Ronan turned to look at me before speaking. "Can i have a two chocolate cupcakes and a slice of that cheese cake to go" He smiled, looking happy with his choice.

I punched the order in. "Anything else?"

"Yes, you're number." Ronan smirked, and winked at me after. Axel let out an annoyed groan, his face looked like he was fighting the urge to punch his friend.

"My number?" I giggled.

"You heard me, pretty girl." I blushed.

An opportunity to have a new friend? Yes please. Ronan seemed nice.

I pulled out a napkin and picked up a pen, scribbling my number onto it before handing it to Ronan, who's smirk was now stretched into a wide smile.

Axel held a possessive look in his eyes, and without a word he walked away into his corner where he waits for his hot chocolate, a plastic box under his armpit.

Maybe he was just in a bad mood today.

So i put in a hot chocolate into the order for free, knowing he loved them.

Even though he denies it.

Ronan payed with his card. "Ignore him, he's just salty that i'm hotter than him," He winked, causing me to giggle at his words.

"I'll see you around." Ronan smiled.

"Bye!" I smiled back, still chuckling whilst watching Ronan walk over to a moody Axel who was looking at his phone.

Ronan said something but was ignored, and i heard Ronan chuckle before slapping Axels shoulder a few times.

I watched them stand there, waiting for their order for a good 2 minutes before it was brought to them by one of my colleges.

Axel looked down at the plastic cup handed to him, confusion being his first expression and realisation being his second as he examined it before he looked up and his eyes met mine. He looks at me like the fire in his eyes has been dowsed with ice water, if anything it makes the blue more pale, after a moment  the soft look in his eyes turns back to stone hard and It's like he just crawled right back inside some invisible shell and no matter how hard I try he's unreachable. He moves his eyes more slowly, like they're heavy, an effort to move. I'm standing 6 feet away from him but he might as well be on the moon.

It's like nobody ever shows Axel kindness, it's like he lives in a darkness that drags him right back whenever he tries to get out. I knew it softend his heart when he realised i got him the hot chocolate, but then it was like a switch was flipped and he pushed the feeling away.

He broke eye contact and said a few blank words too Ronan, who only nodded a few times,

They ambled out the cafe side by side, a bell noise followed after. It was only when they were outside that i watched Ronan pull out the napkin my phone number was on and wave it around Axel's face a few times.

Axel snatches it out of his hands and shoves the napkin into his pocket. Ronan tries to get it back but is roughly pushed by Axel, causing Ronan to stumble back and stop fighting him.

I could practically feel Ronan roll his eyes as he climbed into Axels black Audi, with Axel followed after.

~~~

Thoughts on this chapter? 

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