Light flickers across half of his face because of the fire not too far away. He looks away, letting his eyes drop to the ground as the light disappears from him.

From his reactions, I can't tell if he's upset, happy, or doesn't feel anything. The guy I could once read as an open book isn't the guy standing in front of me anymore. He's more reserved, more than ever.

The one thing I do know is he doesn't know what to say. I take that as my cue and turn to head to the parking lot. Before I can do so, a hand gently wraps around my arm, stopping me from walking away.

I glance up and meet Axel's eyes. "Please don't walk away," he pleads.

For some reason those four simple words hit me hard, leaving me standing in my tracks. Those four words are words I should've asked Axel the night he walked away from me after I found out about the bet that started our whole relationship in the first place. I thought it would've been selfish to ask him that back then, now with him asking, I'm not so sure they are selfish words after all. Just means to an end.

Finally, I let my eyes meet his. "Axel, that night we promised each other no more secrets. Adam was a secret you kept from me." I know I don't need to explain what night I'm referring to because we're both talking about the same one. "Is there anything else I don't know?"

His warm hands stays wrapped around my arm as he shakes his head no, visibly gulping. "I know and I made a mistake," he says, keeping his voice low. "But I also walked away from you that night, something I wish I hadn't done." He'd told me that earlier today at James' graduation party. "I wish I hadn't lied to you about Adam, but I'm glad you left because I can't imagine holding you back."

Axel lets his hand drop from my arm, leaving it exposed to the air that seems to be chilly now. "So what do you want, Axel?" I choke out the words.

His pale blue eyes leave me captivated as the tiniest smile reaches his mouth. "What I always have." A heat creeps into my face as his eyes roam it. "Is that so wrong?"

As always, I speak before I can think about my words. "Then why let me go in the first place?"

Axel releases a small sigh. "Because I love you. Always have and always will. I don't think I'll ever stop loving you." His confession leaves me stunned. Subtly, he lets his fingers lace through mine. "I know it's selfish but it's the truth."

Until now, I hadn't registered how close we've moved towards each other. My heart is telling me to jump all in, but my head is telling me otherwise. We both know how we feel about each other, but a part of me won't let go of what he did. He broke me. He broke my heart without any explanation.

But then the little voice in my head whispers that it was for a good reason. A reason I'm scared to admit was probably for the best. I might've not been happy if I had stayed. And the thing that speaks to me the most is I truly haven't asked myself what if I had stayed and hand't left for college. I've only asked that about my relationship with Axel.

I never asked myself what if for me and only me.

My head is spinning with all the thoughts going on in my head. "I need time," I say slowly.

He nods his head like he already knew that's what I was going to say. His smile brightens as he squeezes my hand before letting go. "Come find me when you're ready to talk. Whatever it is, I want to hear it from you."

I give him a small smile before he heads back to the fire. Before he gets there, Adam runs up and tackles his legs. A light laugh escapes my lips at the interaction between them.

To give myself space from everyone, I walk further down the beach and away from the bonfire. Eventually I zone out and can only hear the waves crashing against the beach. Closing my eyes, I breath in the salty air.

"Hey," a voice squeaks.

Without even opening my eyes I know who it is. Elea. I tilt my head, meeting her gaze. "Hey," I say back.

She points the bench, her arm shaking ever so slightly. "Can I sit?"

Giving her a small smile and nod my head towards the open seat. She takes it, adjusting her circular glasses.

"So," I say to get the conversation started. "I saw you talking to Hudson earlier."

She fidgets in her seat, showing she's uncomfortable with the topic. "I saw you talking to Axel just now."

I can't help but laugh. My brother and Elea are so alike in so many different ways I think. Maybe that was their problem though and the reason the broke up, they were too alike.

"Yeah," I say, biting my lower lip.

Elea nudges my elbow with hers and I meet her eyes. Even though we haven't talked in a year or so, it feels like we never stopped. It's hard to stay mad at someone like her. She's just too nice.

"You know, he still looks at you like you're the only girl in the world." She's looking at me, but I force my eyes onto the water. One look in my eyes and she'd know I feel the same about him. "And you still look at him like he's the only guy in the word."

Scratch that, she knows anyways.

"I think you two should give it a second chance," she says.

Before she can continue, I blurt out "why did you break up with Hudson?"

Her shoulders sag as she lets out a low sigh. She fiddles with her thumbs as she stares at her hands. "You want the truth?"

I nod my head even though her eyes aren't on me. She knows what I want.

"Hudson and I like each other, but our relationship was never like what you and Axel had. Or even Olivia and Jaden. I think we both always knew it, but wanted to see where we could go. Besides, I'm not going to lie, Hudson's good looking and one of the best people I've ever met. But he also sees what Jaden and Olivia have, and what you and Axel have. We just didn't have that with each other."

It slowly starts to dawn on me. "So you leaving for Europe was just an excuse?"

She shakes her head. "Yes and no. I think it's the excuse Hudson and I wanted to use. We both knew our relationship wasn't going anywhere. It hit a plateau. And if I'm going to be honest, neither one of us wanted to figure it out I think."

"But you should've seen Hudson when he told me, Elea." My voice raises without my consent. "He was furious."

She chuckles, grabbing my hand in hers. "Vienna, I think he was more upset about the fact of what it would do to you and me. At the time he knew you and I were close, we were best friends. I'm pretty sure he only stayed with me for so long was because of you."

My head turns so sharply towards her I'm scared I may have pulled something. "What?"

Her nose scrunches as she tries to muffle her laughter. "Vienna, he didn't want to ruin our friendship by breaking up with me." Her laughter dies off as she continues playing with her thumb.

"Oh."

"Guess it happened anyways."

She's being honest with me so I need to be honest with her. "I was mad at you for a long time."

"I know."

"Why are you just now telling me this?" I ask her.

"Well, this is the first time we've seen each other since I left for Europe. Plus, you never reached out to me when I tried to contact you at first."

I grab my necklace. "I was mad at you for breaking up with Hudson."

"I know. Him and I are good now, but why do you think I broke up with him when I did? I knew I didn't have to see you for a year." I knew they were good just by watching them earlier. They looked like old friends that hadn't seen each other in awhile. "I took the easy way out."

We're quiet for a long time, letting the words soak in that we shared.

"You know, it may not seem like it, but Axel didn't take the easy way out."

"What do you mean?" I seem to be asking that question a lot lately.

"He broke up with you because he knew you needed to leave Bayside. He loves you so much he let you go. In my opinion, that's not the easy way out. He could've easily told you about Adam and you would've stayed."

I lift my head to look at her. "How do you know about all of this?"

"Olivia and Jaden told me while you and Axel were talking. That's why I came over to talk to you. I know he broke your heart, but I don't think it could've happened any other way. Sometimes it's good to look outside of the box."

"Why do I have a feeling you're not just talking about me?" I know she's not just talking about me. She means for herself too. Getting away from Bayside opened her eyes to the outside world. I know getting away opened mine. And the more I learn about why Axel broke up with me, the more I understand.

I'm looking outside my box of hurt and anger.

Her eyes quint as she chuckles. "You're never subtle, that's for sure."

I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly. "One of my best qualities."

She leans her shoulder on mine. We bring our heads together and lean them against each other. She sticks out her ankle in front of us and shakes it in front of us. "I'm still wearing the bracelet we got the first time we hung out at the beach."

I stick out my own ankle to show her I have mine as well. "Best friends for life?"

"Through thick and thin," she says.

Tan arms are thrown around our shoulders and Olivia pushes her head in between mine and Elea's. "You know, I think this is going to be the best wedding in history."

I roll my eyes for dramatic effect. "Why do you think that?"

She smiles, looking up into the night sky. "My best friends are back to being best friends. It's amazing what talking can do, isn't it?"

By her tone, I know the underlying meaning of those words. She means Axel and me. Elea and I may have sorted out our feelings, but that didn't mean mine for Axel were sorted out.

Elea and I just needed to voice unspoken words.

My feelings for Axel are a lot more complicated than that.

A/N: This has not been edited, so please excuse any grammar mistakes. Also, swapped the cover for a new one. Thoughts on it?