axel

Axel woke up to the sound of his phone vibrating aggressively on his nightstand. Groaning, he blindly reached for it, his head pounding slightly from the previous night's party. When his fingers finally closed around the device, he squinted at the screen.

axel's hoes 😏

Ronan: Dude, check Instagram. Now.

JJ: Bro, you're fucking screwed.

Axel frowned, his pulse kicking up a notch as he swiped open the app. The first thing he saw was the photo—his stomach immediately dropped.

It was him. Laughing, smiling. And a girl—Tasha, or maybe Trina?—was practically draped over him, her hands all over his chest, her lips close to his ear as if she was whispering something.

The caption? Looks like Captain had a good time last night.

"Fuck."

Axel sat up abruptly, running a hand through his already-messy black hair. He didn't even have to check to know Athena had seen this. He barely remembered the moment itself, but he knew exactly what had happened. That girl had been persistent all night, but he had pushed her away with a laugh, saying, "You are not my, Bea." The words had felt so natural slipping past his lips, but now, staring at the picture, he knew Athena wouldn't have heard that part.

He bolted out of bed, grabbing a hoodie and yanking it on as he made his way to Athena's room. He knocked once. No answer.

"Athena," he called, knocking again. Still nothing.

His jaw clenched. He knew she was in there.

"Athena, open the door."

Silence.

"Sunshine, I swear, it's not what it looked like," Axel tried again, his voice softer this time. "She was all over me, yeah, but I wasn't interested. I told her she wasn't—" He hesitated. "She wasn't you."

Still, nothing.

He pressed his forehead against the door, sighing heavily. "You know me better than this, Bea."

But apparently, she didn't, because the next sound he heard was the soft click of the lock engaging.

She was shutting him out.

Frustration coiled in his chest, but he didn't push it. Not now. He would give her space. Let her be mad. Let her feel whatever she needed to feel. But he wasn't done. Not even close.

She needed to hear him out. But that would have too wait, Axel didn't want her to over-stress herself because of him. Because of one stupid picture that was taken thirty-seconds too early.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When the sun was just about setting on Saturday, Axel forced himself back to Athena's door after countless tries throughout the day, which had all been ignored by Athena, apart when she told him to 'Fuck off, Grayson.' and 'Just leave me alone.' on his third visit to her door. 

''Athena.'' Axel called, realising a breath he hadn't realised he was holding, and knocking on her door three times.

No answer.

''Athena please, will you just hear me out at least?'' Axel groaned softly, ''I don't care if you still hate me; I just want you to hear the truth.''

''I already know the truth ,Axel, don't I?'' Athena scoffed shrilly.

''No, you don't, Sunshine please just listen.'' He answered, resting his arm against her doorframe.

No answer again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The weekend passed in agonizing silence. Athena didn't leave her room, and whenever Axel tried again, she ignored him. JJ, Flynn, and Ronan had all given him looks varying from sympathy to amusement to mild exasperation, but none of them intervened. It wasn't their fight.

By Sunday evening, Axel was pacing the kitchen, gripping his phone like it held all the answers. That was when the front door opened, and Kate stepped inside, shaking off the cold.

Axel stopped. "She called you?"

Kate scoffed. "No, but I knew she'd need me."

He exhaled, leaning against the counter. "She won't talk to me."

Kate tilted her head. "Can you blame her?"

Axel clenched his jaw but didn't answer.

Kate sighed, placing a hand on his arm. "Look, I know you, Axel. And I know Athena. She's stubborn, but she's also hurting. Let me talk to her, okay?"

He nodded, watching as Kate made her way upstairs. He knew that if anyone could get through to Athena, it was her.

But that didn't mean Axel was giving up. Not by a long shot.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

athena

Athena sat curled up in the corner of her bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees as she stared blankly at the floor. The weekend had been a blur of frustration, sadness, and uncertainty. She had ignored every knock on her door, every text, every attempt Axel had made to talk to her. And now, Kate was here.

Kate didn't barge in, didn't force Athena to talk. She simply sat down on the edge of the bed and waited. Athena sighed. "I don't know what to do."

Kate glanced at her. "I think you do."

Athena scoffed. "I don't. I'm just... tired, Kate. Of everything. Of feeling like an idiot."

"You're not an idiot," Kate said firmly. "You saw a picture, you got hurt. That's normal. But Athena, that photo doesn't tell the whole story."

Athena frowned, looking over at her. "What do you mean?"

Kate ran a hand through her hair. "Axel wasn't flirting with that girl. He wasn't interested in her at all. He was laughing because he was telling her no, Athena. Because he was telling her 'You're not my Bea.'"

Athena's breath caught in her throat. "What?"

Kate nodded. "JJ and Ronan were right there. They heard everything. They said she wouldn't take the hint, but Axel made it clear. He told her she wasn't you."

Athena's heart clenched. She wanted to believe it. Wanted to believe that Axel wasn't the same reckless playboy she had convinced herself he was. But the doubt still lingered. "Why didn't he just tell me that?"

Kate let out a sharp laugh. "He did. Multiple times. You just refused to listen."

Athena winced. She knew Kate was right. She had shut him out before even giving him the chance to explain. She had let the past, her fears, dictate her reaction.

Kate reached over, squeezing Athena's hand. "He's miserable, you know. He hasn't stopped pacing the kitchen all weekend. He hasn't been himself."

Athena exhaled slowly. She was still hurt. Still unsure. But maybe—just maybe—she had overreacted.

"Fine," she murmured. "I'll talk to him."

Kate grinned. "Good. Because I think if he spends one more second staring at the door like a lost puppy, Ronan might actually strangle him."

Athena took a deep breath before stepping out of her room. The moment she entered the living room, all eyes turned to her. Flynn and JJ exchanged glances, and Ronan raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. Axel, however, was already on his feet.

His dark eyes searched her face, hesitant but hopeful. "Bea."

She swallowed, her fingers tightening at her sides. "Can we talk?"

Axel nodded immediately, walking toward her. He hesitated for half a second before motioning toward the back patio. "Outside?"

She nodded, following him. The cold air hit her the moment they stepped out, but it was refreshing. Clearing.

Axel turned to face her, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I meant what I said. That girl—she wasn't you. I don't want anyone else."

Athena crossed her arms. "I shouldn't have ignored you."

Axel huffed out a quiet laugh. "You were mad. You had a right to be." He stepped closer, his voice dropping slightly. "But Bea, you have to trust me."

She exhaled shakily. "I don't know how to do that."

Axel studied her for a moment, then nodded as if he understood. "Then let me prove it to you."

Athena met his gaze, something in her chest softening. It wasn't a full fix, not yet. But it was a start.

She nodded. "Okay."

And for now, that was enough.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HIYA GUYS! 😊

HOW ARE U ALL? 💞💞

SRY THIS CHAPTERS SO SHORT LOL I NEEDED IDEAS.😭

ILY ALL AND STAY SAFE X💗

LOVE FLO XOXO 💖💖