I S A B E L L A

I stood in-front of the mirror, in the staff bathroom of the cafe. Lifting my head up to get a better view of my neck, i brush my fingers over the covered purple bruises before bringing my blond hair over my shoulders, adding an extra layer to cover them.

I grip onto the sink and lower my head down, closing my tired eyes for a moment before lifting my head up and looking myself in the eyes.

I push of the sink, forcing myself to head straight for the door and get back to work.

I've been anxious to have to see Axel again, i wasn't sure if he would come order hot chocolate today. I hoped he wouldn't.

But there was still a chance he would, and my mind has been spiralling on what i would do. Would i act like everything that had happened last night didn't? Or would i be awkward and embarrass myself?

It hurt to know that all he wanted was a simple fuck, that he didn't want to be my friend at all. But i am trying to forget, I'm trying to move on and make other friends. People who'd actually want to be my friend.

So I remind myself that as I walk over to the cash register. Lucy gives me a tight smile as i walk past her.

We haven't had the chance to talk about last night, but i know we will at break.

I smile back at her, then grip onto the counter underneath the cash register whilst putting on a smile.

"Are you okay? " A soft voice comes from in-front of me. I blink, realising there was customer. She had her red hair in dutch braids and was wearing gym clothes. Her freckles complemented her face as she awkwardly smiled at me.

"Yes, I'm so sorry, what would you like to order today?" I straighten my back and fix my hair that was falling behind my shoulder.

"Just a regular coffee please." She says smiling once more and I can't help but smile back.

I place her order and give her change before she walks off to the side, waiting for her coffee.

I cant decide if I'm more anxious or relived when more customers come, this could mean Axel may not come or it could mean he's one person closer to coming. Maybe I'm overthinking it, he probably has already forgot about this the minute I left his car, and here I am not even doing my job properly because I'm too scared of seeing him again, and having to re-live the embarrassment. I'm stupid. A stupid stupid girl.

I grip onto the counter a little harder, till I felt like I couldn't grip any harder and my knuckles turned white. And when a bell rang, indicating someone had walked in, my eyes snapped to the tall figure. And i felt my face flush and my heart beat begin to pick up.

I kept the grip on the counter as he walked over, with his eyes glued to a small device in his hand. I took as many deep breathes i could before he came up to the counter. I even thought of just running away.

I hanged my head down to look at the floor, and when i felt his presence in front of me i squeezed my eyes shut and took one last deep breathe before looking up at him.

Here we go.

This is going to be so awkward.

I'm so embarrassed.

Don't give him the wrong idea, Bella.

"Hi." I blurt out, and awkwardly smiled. He wore a white hoodie, without a single mark or wrinkle on it, He paired the hoodie with black sweatpants. He looked like he had ran his hand through his hair and his blue eyes looked tired, like he had just gotten out of bed. I've never seen him look so comfortable and cosy.

"Medium hot chocolate." He ordered, slamming a few dollars on the counter whilst reading something on his phone. I frowned, he didn't even acknowledge me. I was right, the minute he found out i just wanted to be friends he forgotten me.

"Okay." i whispered not even sure if he had heard me. I punch in his order into the iPad before taking out change and placing it onto the table. Axel places his fingers over the money and drags it along the table before shoving it into his pocket. And without another word he strolled into his corner waiting for his order.

I finally let go off the counter, and look down at my hand where deep marks are left from gripping so hard. I breathe in a shaky breath and wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans.

I watch as one of my colleagues, Sophie, sway's her hips as she walks over to Axel to hand him his cup. She says something to him, whilst batting her eyelashes and i watch Axel smirk after a moment before leaning down to her ear and whispering something. She blushes and her smile only grows. With a smirk and hungry eyes, Axel straightens his back and walks to the bathrooms.

Sophie jogs over to me and throws her apron in my face. "I'm going on my break now" she seems desperate. Sophie quickly plays around with her hair before running off.

I scrunch my eyebrows and throw her apron onto the rack.

"Hey, Rachel and April are out their break, wanna go on ours?" Lucy asks behind me. I turn around with a smile and nod. We make our way into the back room and get our bags before sitting down by a round table.

"How's Bruce?" I break the silence whilst pulling out my food.

"He's good, he's stubborn so he left the hospital this morning." She smiles, and takes a sip of her juice. I nod and then the awkward silence erupts into the air.

"Listen" We both say at the same time and Lucy immediately smiles showing me her teeth.

"You go first." She says gesturing to continue with her hand. I gulp and place my sandwich down.

"I just wanted to tell you how sorry i am, we promised to stay together and i ran off without thinking. I promise it will never happen again, i didn't-" I cut myself off before giving away i was with Axel, i thought it was best she didn't know right now, no matter how much i hate lying. Lucy places her hand over mine and gives it a gentle squeeze, sending me a short smile as I sigh.

"Don't apologize, love, i should've looked for you instead of just leaving. I knew how nervous you were about going." She quietly says, as her smile fluttered and her eyebrows scrunched.

I shake my head. "You had a good reason to go, i'm just glad you are not angry at me" I let out a sarcastic chuckle.

"Cmon, we only just became close. I can't get angry at you so fast." She replies, laughing and leaning back into her seat.

For the rest of the break, me and Lucy talk about our love lives. She tells me, with a grin on her face how much she adores Bruce and is willing to take a step forward with him. My heart squeezes for them, and i hope they work out.

Lucy asks me if I fancy anyone, and i only scoff and shake my head and say that my love life is boring, eating the last slice of orange after.

"Did you know Axel has been coming here everyday for the past 2 weeks? I only found out this morning." Lucy asks whilst peeling one of the oranges i gave her.

"Uh, yeah i always take in his orders." I say, surprised shes only just found out.

"That's why he was so shocked to see you last night, i wonder what that's all about." she says shrugging.

"He sees me as an innocent girl, he was probably surprised to see me there." I reply biting into a grape. Lucy pauses thinking about it, before nodding.

She stares at me for a moment, and i knit my eyebrows, confused at what shes looking at. Do i have something on my face?

"What the hell is on your neck!" She gasps, and her lips stretch out into a wide smile. She stands up and grabs my chin trying to see more of my neck. Immediately realizing my makeup rubbed off and my hickeys are visible i try to get out her grip but she only stronger and wipes at my neck with her fingers.

"Holy fuck! There are so many!" She says laughing before letting go of my chin, i bring my hair forward and try to hide them as best as i can. There's no uses, she's already seen them.

"Is it that guy you ran off with? Oh my god Isabella!" She says gasping and laughing more whilst sliding with her back down the wall and hitting the floor with her fist. I feel my face go red as i sat there speechless, Lucy looks at me and her eyes widen.

"It was wasn't it!" Shes smiling and shaking her head, as if she can't believe I'd do something like that.

"What's his name?" She asks after calming down, still sitting on the floor with her feet crossed. I shift in my seat, my throat feels like its closing up and i grip onto the sides of my seat.

"I didn't get his name." I lie, once again.

"Well was the sex at least good?" She asks, getting more comfortable on the floor, as if i was giving a story time.

"Uh, we didn't get to that."  I reply awkwardly, looking down at my feet, embarrassed all of a sudden.

"Oh? Why the hell not!" She says, an offended and shocked look written on her face.

"I wanted to be friends, he only wanted a one night stand." I swallow, tucking some hair behind my ear.

Lucys smile drops. "I'm actually glad nothing happened, he seems like a player." She says crawling to me and placing her arms around my legs before placing her chin on her arm.

I look down at her "You have no idea." I tell her, letting out a pathetic chuckle.

"I'm going to go cover these up, i don't want anyone looking at them." I puff out, deciding i don't want to talk about this anymore, she nods and lets go off my knees before pulling herself up and wiping her bum with her hands.

I inhale a shaking breathe and bring my long blond hair to the front once again. I throw my bag over my shoulder were my makeup is in and fiddle with the fabric of my shirt as i amble to the bathroom.

My hand lets go of my shirt to turn the handle on the door. I open the door wide and i jump.

Sophie is propped on the sink, her head thrown back and her shirt off. Leaving her only in a bra. Axel is burred deep inside her, pounding into her whilst groaning and moaning. Sophie's hands pulled at Axels dark roots as she tried her best to contain her moans.

The creak of the door causes there heads to turn to my direction, Sophie shrieks and covers herself up as i watch with my jaw gaped open. 

"Im so sorry!" I apologise and quickly close the door. My heart is beating at my chest and i slap a hand over my mouth.

"Shit!" I hear Sophie's muffled voice and shuffling noises from the other side as i stood glued to the floor incapable to move.

I quickly pull myself out of it and run back down the hall trying to run away from them and escape the awkwardness. 

"Isabella!" A feminine voice shouts from me and i stop pinching my eyes closed at the fact i've been caught. I bare myself from the awkwardness and turn around.

Her clothes are back on and a worried expression is painted on her face. "Please don't tell Bradley!" She pleaded, now only a few feet away from me.

Axel sauntered behind her, completely unfazed by being caught having sex.

"No worries!" I awkwardly laugh "Wont tell a soul" I quickly reply and turn around to walk but her high pitch voice chimes in again.

"I'm so sorry Isabella." She said, her voiced laced in embarrassment.

"No really it's okay, i'm sorry if anything" I smile, fixing my bag on my shoulder.

I feel Axels eyes on me and try shake off the goosebumps. I slightly glance at him, his eyes were focused on my neck and i bring my hair over again not wanting him to see the hickeys he had left.

Sophie rambles on and i nod and say 'it's okay' a million times, feeling Axels eyes on me the whole time before she finally lets it go and lets me leave.

I turn to go into the cafe, but quickly remember what i came for and walk past Sophie whilst giving her a tight smile.

I brush past Axels shoulder, and inhale his comforting smell before running into the bathroom and locking myself.

I blow out a sharp breath, absolutely shocked by what just happened and begin covering the deep purple marks once again.

I didn't care that Axel was with other women, it's not my business. Its the fact that he didn't care about anyone else's feelings as-long as he gets a nice fuck, that hurt. And this just proved that's what would've happened to me.

~~~

Sorry i haven't been uploading loves💞

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