Playlist for this chapter :
Coldplay - Yellow
James Bay - Wild love
BØRNS - Electric Love
Little Mix - Monster In Me

☆

"Don't cry, okay? We've got you. Always" Dani says, giving me a hug. Todd gives me a sympathetic look too.

"Why didn't you call us over last night? It must've been hard, being here and all" Todd asks me.

"I guess I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts. I'm-- I'm so hurt I just-- right now I don't even know if I should feel hurt. I kissed Axel" I rant, trying to figure out my emotions.

"Girl, you have every right to feel hurt. You kissed Axel but he slept with another chick. Big difference, sis" Dani exclaims in annoyance. She was so much more mad at Ash than I was. It was scary.

"Dani!" Todd shushes her, slapping her hand.

"No, it's okay" I assure him, letting him know it was okay to mention those words without my heart breaking a little more.

It kinda broke the minute he told me.

"So you're all packed?" Dani asks, grabbing my bags.

"Yeah, I'm gonna leave Ash's stuff here. He can figure it out on his own" I tell her and she laughs, leading the way out the door.

***

I stand awkwardly with my bags at nine PM, hoping he would let me stay. I should've called first, damn it. I would look totally stupid going down the elevator looking like this. I had already gotten so many stares on my way up.

People are so quick to judge when they don't know anything about me or the situation I'm in. It's ridiculous.

I knock three times and clear my throat, ready to explain why I'm even here. I had stopped crying so I don't look like a total mess right now. Maybe a semi-mess, if that's even a thing.

I hear the lock being turned from inside and the door is immediately pulled back, revealing a very stunned and very revealing Axel.

"Kaia, you're here? C-come in, please" He greets me, moving aside to let me and my baggage in. I feel like trash. He shuts the door and stands there, confused.

"Axel, I don't have anywhere else to go. Is it okay if I stay just until I find somewhere else to stay?" I ask politely, setting my bags down on the floor.

"Of course, yeah. Uh, what happened to the apartment?" He asks me, disappearing into a room with my bags. Soon as he gets back he motions for me to sit down, he joins me as well.

"Ashton hasn't paid the rent for two months. I was told to pack up by the landlord" I explain.

"Two months?! I'm gonna call him and fuc---"

"No! Please, don't" I call out frantically, stopping him from reaching for his phone.

"Kaia what's wrong? Has something happened?" Axel asks sternly, a concerned tone to his voice.

"Ash slept with someone else" I blurt out before the waterworks cued. When I think I'm finally out of tears they seem to show up. I'm pathetic.

"Oh Kaia, I'm so sorry love" Axel says, rushing to hug me. "He's a fucking asshole, that's what he is."

I don't move out of his embrace. I kinda needed it right now, anyway.

"It's okay Ax. I'm okay" I tell him, wiping away a tear.

"Don't cry, Kaia" Axel says, wiping my tears. "Don't cry over someone who doesn't deserve those tears."

I sat until I was all cried out before finally turning to Axel who was trying to set up his TV.

"Axel, thanks again for letting me stay" I tell him and watch as he smiles at me, rolling his eyes.

"Like I said in my text, come over anytime" He laughs. "Stay as long as you want, too."

"Can I umm... can you show me my room?" I ask, looking around the very lavish space.

"Sure, come with me" He answers cheerfully, leading me to the other side of the apartment. He switches on the lights and my eyes light up as I take in the room. It was so huge and looked so good.

"Like what you see?" He asks smugly, laying back on the freshly made bed.

"Love, actually. This place is gorgeous" I respond, taking a look outside. We were so high up, the whole city was the view.

Amazing.

"Do you prefer sleeping on the left or the right?" Axel rudely interrupts my gawking.

I chuckle nervously and furrow my brows at him, slightly confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean which side of this bed do you wanna have? I prefer the right but I'll take whichever side you want me to" Axel explains and I take a moment longer to register what he's actually saying. It was hard to listen given the fact he was half naked, wearing only his jeans. Those jeans. The black ones that hang way too low. I roll my eyes and shut out that thought, its---

"Hello?!" Axel calls out, waving his hand infront of me. "Have I lost you?" He laughs hysterically.

"Oh, uh no" I respond, embarrassed and flushed. My cheeks were heating up from my thoughts. "I didn't know we were sharing the room. I can take the couch, it's fine"

"The fuck you're taking the couch, hell no. You're sleeping in here and that's final. If I see you on the couch I will gladly carry your sleeping ass back in here" He says firmly, rising from the bed to tower over me.

I gulp and swallow hard, this weird feeling swirling around my body. I clutch my stomach and try to catch my breath which I lost a few seconds ago. This is such a strange feeling and I hate it.

"I'll let you shower now. Want some company?" Axel pipes up cheerfully, back to his cocky self again.

"Get out" I said, shoving him out the door, making him laugh out loud.

I locked the door and got my bath things ready. While looking for something to wear, I caught myself smiling for absolutely no reason.

Well it doesn't matter what the reason was, right now I will take any chance I get to laugh or smile.

Anything to keep me from crying.

Anything to keep me from thinking of Ash.