~Axe Body Spray~

"Well Mr Grey, your tests seem to have come back...semi - normal."

Dr Anderson said to me, casually putting my x-rays in order and pushing it them into a file.

I hated that the doctor I'd had to see today was Chloe's dad.

I was sure he hated me.

Unfortunately my usual doctor, Dr Ulija had gone back to Ghana for some family thing, he was around in his late 30s and hadn't been married yet he said something about paying a 'bride price'?

Idk, but whatever it was, it was about paying for a bride. It was none of my business but I felt the need to know what that was all about.

After all, he was one of my favorite doctors. He was patient and understanding.

"Did you hear me Axel?"

I blinked quickly, sitting up straight...my heart racing.

Why'd I feel this way?

"I'm sorry...I zoned out." He narrowed his eyes and leaned into his seat a bit.

"Let me repeat myself...your heart seems to be showing some strange activity compared to the last time I saw you. Have you been stressed lately?"

"Mr...um...Dr Anderson...I don't understand the question."

I bit my lip trying not to embarrass myself. He looked at me kindly I suppose, he too was patient with his slight moustache and wrinkled eyes.

"You've been getting quite close with my daughter, yes?"He said in a monotonous tone. His voice flat and composed.

I gulped at the question. Why...what did I do?

"Yes sir. For school projects and so forth."

My left fingers tapped the armrest and suddenly I felt the urge to leave.

"Well...I suppose she has been happier but I hate to see your health being harmed by your constant contact with her."

Realisation sank in.

So he didn't want me around her.

Hmmph.

"Sir, I'm sure I can handle it. We have been growing close as...friends..." It felt weird to say that...I didn't exactly have many friends...just 'yes' men.

His eyebrows bent down and his lip twitched slightly, "I'm saying that you should stay away from my daughter. You're harmful to her."he blatantly said his eyes threatening me.

Even though I respected the man, I couldn't do that.

It wasn't fair, nor was it logical.

"Sir, with all due respect...in as much as you may dislike me, it's illogical to keep me from your daughter. We're obligated to mend our ties by the school and my relationship with her is none of your business. If I made myself scarce she would notice." I said as calmly as possible, my fingernails scraping the fabrics of the armrests.

He glowered at me, clenching his jaw tightly before relaxing his shoulders a bit.

"I suppose that's true." He admitted begrudgingly.

But soon, his face started to soften a bit.

"As long as you don't hurt her or Simon, you may be friends with her."

Triumph at last!

"However, just know that I will never trust you Axel Grey. You hide more secrets than I wish to know...." He paused taking in a breath.

"Just don't hurt my girl."

I breathed in deeply and exhaled, getting up slowly.

"I would never. You have my word."

And with that, I'd sauntered our of his office.

Strange how he cared so much for her, yet she was his adopted child.

Love is strange.

.....later the next day

I gasped a deep breath of air as my head broke through the surface of the water before I dove back feeling the rush of waves brush up against me.

The rest of the team had left a few minutes ago before me and of course with being the captain, I sort of owned the swimming pool.

I could stay here for another two hours after 4 o'clock.

I liked it, to be alone with the water, my mind and me.

I'd been swimming for some time, so I'd figured I'd do the last lap of butterfly which was my least favorite but whatever...it was good to practice.

I'd just touched the edge of the pool when I felt a presence with me.

I inhaled and stood scanning the environment, then I saw a familiar blonde klutz stumbling into the pool area from the front door.

She'd tripped on air when she nearly fell down the short staircase that led to the pool.

I laughed lowly at her entrance.

It wasn't hard to know it was her.

She'd had her bag slung over her shoulder loosely as she regained her balance.

She looked around rather embarrassed trying to see if anyone had seen her act a fool.

I smiled contentedly at her silliness.

Then she saw me.

"Shit!" She hissed under her breath but I heard it.

She composed herself quickly, fixing her hair but it was useless. I'd seen everything.

"Hey asshole. I came to get you."she said smirking but her façade wasn't exactly convincing.

I just shrugged as she approached. She put down her bag and she was about to remove her shoes, I'd remembered the cupcake I'd had for her.

"Anderson. Your cupcake is in my bag...oh let me go get it."

I braced my arms on the ground and pulled up to get out.

I walked past Chloe and to my black backpack, unzipping it quickly.

~Chloe~

Holy pringles he was hot!

Oh my gosh, his body was so....lean.

How'd i never notice that he was built like an olympic swimmer. Well...there were rumours of him being scouted by the country's team and a modeling agency.

But...I mean... wow

His abs were so fine and gosh the water didn't help.

He looked like a model straight outta Vogue!

He walked up to me smiling that smile with dimples that drove me crazy enough to call myself pregnant.

Regain your composure crackhead!

Right ..right right right.

"Here's your cupcake."he handed a gorgeous blue frosted treat with a cute chick on top.

Perfection!

I popped the lid over the container barely able to contain my excitement.

I was nearly bounced in one place with anticipation as I opened the note that stuck out.

I licked of some frosting from my fingers, mmmmmmmm
....blueberry.

"You like it?"

"Yes!!" I exclaimed blushing at my foolishness

I don't give a FUCK motherfuka.

I opened the note and choked on air at what was written.

Axe burst out laughing turning around to dive back into the water. I watched gaping helplessly.

He resurfaced looking gorgeous as always, then laughing some more.

"Read it again."

I blinked and looked away from him, following his command.

I stumbled on my words like an utter buffoon, breathless.

He just kept laughing once more whilst I looked more and more like an idiot.

But I just kept reading, getting even more embarrassed.

"Yeah, take some time to process that." He said still laughing.

Honestly, how was he still breathing?

I huffed crossing my arms like the cliché girl I was.

"Well...your face is stupid."

......

I mentally shot myself in the head.

Wowza, way to embarrass yourself even further.

He however was dying from laughter at my embarrassed expense.

I gave him a few moments then sighed heavily, removing my shoes and sitting on the edge of the pool in front of him; dipping my now bare feet into the water.

I started off eating my cupcake then.

~Axe Body Spray~

Sighed one last breath realising that she was actually bothered by my amusement.

She looked away smiling sheepishly, something which she rarely did since she was a confident little bad ass.

It was rare to see her like this....it sorta hurt.

But I shook it off.

I took a risky chance and waded through the water closing off the little space between us; holding her soft heels.

She looked at me wide-eyed, her eyes the size of saturn.

She squirmed a bit, but I didn't let go.

"What...what are you doing?!"

I smiled innocently, "Oh nothing...just getting your attention."

She seemed to relax a bit but she was still tense.

I pull her further towards me in the pool letting go of her feet, then put my elbows on either side of her hips.

She looked like a chipmunk which had just fallen out of a tree.

My heart fluttered at the action I'd done. I actually hadn't thought about it.

She was as red as that weird ass teletubby with a ring on it's head.

But she didn't exactly look away from me.

"Oh Chloe. I wonder who took your Innocence." I mumbled so she wouldn't hear me.

Her mind was sorts of dirty alright.

I took her cupcake out of her hand and bit into it, tasting the flavour.

She grinned at me, slapping my chest.

"Why are you messing with me you dope!You know very well that Mrs Smith messed me up in fourth grade. You too!" She irked, her mood raised.

Ah yes.

"The most sexually frustrated teacher on the planet. You know... people shouldn't be deprived of sex, it's a need."

She blushed deeply, this time real panic setting in as she barely looked at me.

"Yeah...ye..yeah. I mean yes."

She stuttered and I was amused at my effect of her. She was never like this with anyone.

"Well, Axe... why do you like swimming."she said after a brief silence.

I sighed looking away from her then back remembering the dreams I'd had since I was little.

"You know, nobody's actually asked me that."

"Hahahaha. Right." She forced out sarcastically.

"Really. It's just interviewers and scouts that's all. No one's really interested to actually listen to why I love swimming. They just assume."

This got her attention, "I'm listening." She said sitting straighter.

I thought hard about my answer, biting my lip. But this is Chloe....it's not that hard to explain..

"Well, swimming is ...my life. It's more than just being in the water. It's more of being with a family. My team is a family of sorts. Craig, is a goof who trips before he gets into the pool." I chuckled.

"It's the rush of waking up early to be far from your problems and close to where home is. Swimming to me, is jamming my finger on the lane rope right before a match. It's walking around half naked with your team without it feeling weird."

"I-"

"It's that awkward moment when you miss the walk during the tumble turn. It's that annoying moment when your goggles snap as soon as you dive into the water."

"Axe-"

"It's that first moment of drowning everytime you try a new stroke and you don't feel embarrassed because the whole team has once slipped on the pool floor."

I sighed finally, taking in her expressions.

She was shocked alright, but she nodded in understanding.

"It's a lifestyle for me. I'm a swimmer not a player." I said remembering the rumors that emanate in the school from time to time.

"Axe, I'm sorry. People just assume that every guy who's on the frontline of the team is player. It's a stereotype I chose to believe as well."

I smiled slightly up at her, sighing once again.

Finally someone got the chance to understand me.

I was shocked at what she did next.

She held my hand and touched it to her cheek.

She smiled against it, pressing her lips to my upturned palm.

It was my turn to get embarrassed as I felt heat rise to my cheeks.

My fingers responded, caressing her soft, warm cheek that contrasted my wet, cold hand.

"This feels nice."she said, almost like she was talking to herself.

She put down my hand quickly realising what she said.

"I...I...i mean get your claws off me!"

I laughed at her mood change, moving my fingertips to her hand.

Oh just to mess with her.

"It's not my fault that the sport I play is automatically sexy."

AN - And with that she died internally.

Word count...2020