Playlist - Midnight Rain by Taylor Swift

Axel

Love was overrated in my opinion. It was such a gentle term to profess what I felt for Astoria. No, I didn't love Astoria. There was no way my feelings could be described as something as mundane as love.

It's madness for me. Whatever love was, if you doubled that emotion it would translate into madness. The maddening need to be with her all the time, to inhale her scent, consume her— it was even beyond for me.

The maddening obsession had deepened over the years. What had started as pure and innocent was now wild and raw. The moment Astoria dots my vision, everything else blurs out. It's me and her.

I fucking want her to be with me all the time. But, given our circumstances, it's far from possible. For instance, I was here at a fucking party my asshole of a friend had thrown and all I could think was about Astoria.

She consumed each and every thought I had. My mind traveled back to the time when she was on her knees for me. I felt myself stiffened under my swim trunks just at the memories of the moment.

I made a mental note to have my way with her again tonight.

"Lighten up, Trent." I heard Chase's holler all the way from the inside of the house. He drew head's his away and a few chuckles from the girls as if he had said something funny.

I was annoyed at myself for even considering attending his party, but I had to separate myself from Astoria. It was only healthy, I told myself. I flipped him off, not bothering to spare him a glance.

Chase was no longer on speaking terms with me after the black eye I had given him for pawing Astoria and taking her as his date. To say his ego was bruised was an understatement, he made sure to deliberately make teamwork difficult during soccer practice, but a quick swat from the coach humbled him down. Now he was busy enjoying all the female attention.

I layed back on the pool lounger, putting on my shades even though the sun had started to diminish its rays. The last thing I wanted was to cause trouble and believe me and I say, my days as an out-of-control school boy were numbered.

The moment I turn eighteen, I am putting a ring on Astoria's finger and leaving this town, this state, heck even this country if I play my cards right. I wanted to stay far away from the clutches of my father. Whatever prospective future he had planned for me, I wanted no part of it.

For once, I wanted to leave the reputation that precedes me and start fresh.

The smoke wafted out of my mouth as I stared into space. I didn't realize that someone had called my name until two perky globes of tits were shoved at me. I groaned, inwardly. Jenna wrapped an arm around with her bikini-clad ass perched on my lap.

"Baby, where have you been?" She clinged to me. "Texts not returned, calls not answered, you're behaving off." Her eyes held a glint of accusation in them even though her words sounded nonchalant.

I sighed, withdrawing her arm from my neck. "I have been busy and the last time I checked, I didn't answer you."

A frown marred her pretty face. "Busy enough to not fuck me?" She slid her fingers to my crotch. "A quickie, please?" Aw... it was cute to watch her fail miserably to seduce me. I mean, my dick didn't even respond to the rasp of desperation in her voice. It gave nothing, no jump at all.

My hands slid under her perched ass. A victorious curl of Jenna's lips quickly faded when she realized what I had done. I had lifted her off me and dropped her on the marble floor. She dropped on a thud sound, letting out shriek, not from the drop, but because I had rejected her advances.

Grabbing my shirt that was decked on top of the small wooden table which sat adjacent to the pool lounger. I left the pool area, walking inside the house. Undoubtedly being followed by Jenna's whiny ass, I decided to get myself a drink to calm my head.

What language did she not understand that I didn't want her in any way. Certainly not after the Senior's Dinner.

***

Astoria

I stilled my fractured heartbeats as I neared the white french provincial style estate. It belonged to Chase Henry. He had hosted a party at his house, which by the looks of it was wild with chaotic energy to it.

It was always him or the It boy of our town, Ares Torrance to host parties. They were extremely exclusive, expensive and usually their inner circle and the ones who knew their privileged inner circle were invited to them.

I was neither privileged nor part of their inner circle so there was no way I could go to their parties uninvited, but fortunately, he had hosted this party for everyone at our school.

I went inside, seemingly undetected. There were many familiar faces from school that were too busy within themselves to spare me a glance. People were in their pool attire as it was a pool party and here like an odd man out, I was in my farmer's overalls and my trademark blue cardigan, and a sling purse around my shoulders.

I tried not to be overly self-conscious and took long unscathed steps.

Axel had told me to busy myself for a few days as he would be spending his days over at Chase's house. It played to my advantage as there was no way I could've packed up and gotten ready for my big move with him in sight.

I was officially going to my uncle's farm today itself. In fact, I had chosen the day of departure to break the news to my maddening sort of boyfriend. My gut clenched at the thought of leaving Axel.

Unsure and heartbroken, I felt the reality rearing its ugly head at me. Things were going blissfully brilliant with Axel. We had been practically attached at the hip. We had shared a monumental moment in our relationship as we expanded the depth of our intimacy.

Our kisses had gotten hot and heavy, I was no longer shy, only startled whenever his hardened cock pressed against my stomach, my ass or was stuffed in my mouth. I blushed as the memories flashed in my head.

I was almost tempted to not go, but then I was met with a rude awakening, knocking at my door. It had been Ava Trent, my grandparent's employer and Axel's mom. She had stood in her pristine white dress. Her face set in an unreasonable expression.

My heart sank all the way to the floor. Several negative thoughts swam in my head, but none of them could've compared to the actual reality.

"Astoria Emerson, it's you." Her cobalt blue eyes reminded me so much of her son's eyes.

I visibly swallowed, but somehow kept myself from disintegrating. "Mrs. Trent. Uhm... m-mama i-is not..."

She raised her slender hand, in a perfect motion to silence me. "I know where your grandma is," she spoke. "I need to speak with you." She didn't give me a chance to gather myself, I was told to follow her to the front porch of the cottage.

I stood in front of her, eyes firmly locked on the ground. I didn't miss her designer pumpe which she impatiently tapped on the floor.

"How long have you been sneaking around with my son?"

Dread billowed my veins.

"You can start answering me now before I call your grandparents," she warned.

I raised my head, tremors erupted on my hands. "P-Please, no."

She glared at me. "Words. Now."

I swallowed and took a long exhale. "We have been friends since I got here. It was not until very recently that we began sneaking out together." I gave her the partial truth.

"Right under my nose" Her words held a bite. "Do you know what may happen if his father gets a sniff of this? You'll find yourself along with your old grandparents on the streets within a snap of a finger."

I bit my lower lip, controlling the urge to cry.

"My son knows no repercussions, but you, you should know better than to fool around with him. He has an entire legacy to carry forward and someday like you will never fit in that part of the legacy, understand?"

I nodded without meeting her eyes.

"You listen to me very carefully, I want you far far away from my son. Don't bother returning anytime soon from your little move. You'll never be a part of Axel's life. I'll make sure of it."

"Hey, you need a beer?" A cool voice snapped me back to reality. I stared, unblinking at the beer bottle extended towards me.

I shook my head, brushing the bottle away.

"Whatever." The guy went about his way.

The house was nearly thrashed with girls dancing in their bikinis, barely clothed on the table near, floor and it led all the way to the backyard lawn. The guys follow the same suit with dancing, drinking in their swim trunks, some in jeans. In the far corners of the room, couples were getting real hot and heavy. I blushed and immediately averted my eyes when I noticed almost all were either making out, grinding on each other, sending flirtatious singles or vice veresa.

There wasn't a  party in town that felt completed without the presence of the darkly attractive, untouchable, rich boys. I've heard Ares Torrance was the one to reign over everyone with Chase and Axel following his footsteps.

They were tighter than the tightly packed atoms in a solid substance.

I walked through the lavish halls of Chase's estate until I reached the poolside. Again, the place was breathtaking, but having spent most of my life living with Axel, I was already accustomed to fancy places like this.

But I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me feel any less intimidated.

I glanced around the crowd, hoping to spot Axel somewhere. The first person who caught my eye was none other than Ares Torrance, who waltzed in, right beside me. His chestnut locks wet and pulled back. He oozed deadly power. He was much more interested in the contents that displayed on his phone to spare me or anyone with any kind of attention. The oohs and ahhs of girls followed by giggles were rounded in the air as he came into the scene.

There was something about him that made me dislike his existence all together. I hated the way he treated Axel, for starters. And I despised how almighty everyone treated him like he was a god. He thrived off their attention and worshiping attitude.

I shook my head, my jaw locked in a hard line. My gaze traveled to the other almighty rich boy, Chase Henry. He was draped with girls around him, worshiping him. I knew for certain, he definitely thrived off it.

Now, the question was, where was my almighty rich boy?

I bypassed the chaos until I reached an aggravated Chase. He let out an audible sigh, stretching his arms. He was nestled inside the heated pool water. He took a double check when he saw me approach him.

"Astoria," he said with an easy grin on his face. "What brings you to my chambers."

I wiped the sweat off my palms and mentally wondered how crazy I was to even come here.

Chase's body submerged out of the pool as he leaned against the pool wall, his elbows propped up on each side of the stone ledge. His hair was drenched, he pushed the thick bronze strands back which made him appear effortlessly attractive. I didn't miss the hickeys adorned on his neck and shoulder.

The corner of his lips were perpetually curled in an arrogant smirk that looked ugly in my eyes. "Finally want a piece of me? I am afraid you'll have to queue up."

I laughed, warily. "Oh, please, even if you were the last man standing, we would never happen."

His eyes lit up. "You just made me hard for you. I love a challenge." He touched me with his eyes. I suddenly felt the need to hide myself.

"I am not here for a chit chat. I need to speak with Axel. He told me he would be at your house."

Chase's face scrunched up at the mention of Axel's name. It was then, I noticed a very faint bruise near his left eye. Was Axel responsible for it?

"I don't know where he is," he replied, dry. "Search the house. I don't need to be bothered with Axel's whereabouts."

"But he's your friend—"

"Whatever." He shrugged off. "Go. Look for yourself."

I wanted to protest, but a leggy blonde came into my view. I immediately recognised her from the cheer team. She grabbed Chase's attention and I was history. I eyed both of them. They were getting cozy right in front of everyone. There was no use of asking Chase for help when he looked like he didn't want to be disturbed anymore.

"Move it, chick." I stepped aside in a quick motion, then shook my head at the hollering crowd. Everyone was too caught up in having a high.

Uneasiness gradually crawled all the way to my brain and finally took it hostage. I eventually scurried away from the pool area and traveled down, unsure of each step I took further in the house.

I heard a loud crash, followed by a shrill of cry. I quickly rushed to the direction of the cry. It had come from the backyard lawn. Chase Henry' backyard further stretched into vast greenery of trees and flower fields.

My body bumped into someone. I staggered back and realised it was Mia. She was a weeping mess and when her eyes zeroed on my face with recognition, she was quick to avert her body away from me.

"Uhm... Mia?" I touched her shoulder. "Is something wrong?"

She shook her head, still turned away from me. "Please, it's nothing. Forget that you saw me." My hold on her shoulder was waved away in an instant. She fled right before my eyes, submerging away.

I had a feeling she would lock herself in her bedroom for the remainder of the party. It was disturbing to witness Mia out of her element, in a blubbering mess. It bugged me that I couldn't console her distraught self.

Oh, God. Deep breaths, take deep calming breaths.— I told myself.

I tried to control my overflowing nerves. My mood had turned sullen. I took a deep breath before maneuvering over to what looked like a hearth room. I stopped dead in my tracks when my eyes landed on Axel. He stood near the fireplace with a cigarette tucked between his gorgeous lips.

Just a glimpse of him made my heart race and stomach do somersaults. I smiled to myself, but it instantly faded when I saw Jenna come into my line of sight. I watched her hand him a glass of amber liquid. He took the glass, blowing the smoke on her face.

I could hear the erratic beating of my pulse. An undetected feel spread throughout the chest, overpowering the toxicity of it. I felt my chest seized up with anguish.

But why was I surprised? I knew Axel was intimately involved with Jenna. It was not news to me yet my head could only register seeing them together as a sign of betrayal on Axel's part.

The days we spent together, wrapped in each other's arms, kissing, touching, talking, just being in love. Did that mean nothing to him? I would find it hard to believe if it meant nothing more than oral sex to him. Oral sex that he taught me to perform on him and the times he used his fingers to make me come with my panties on.

He told me I was him. He made it crystal clear that we belonged together. Why couldn't he just be mine?

They spoke in lowered tones. He spoke a few words before suddenly grabbing her neck in a tight hold, arching her face to look at him. There was nothing gentle about his touch. If I wasn't mistaken, he seemed angry. His jaw clenched, the cigarette thrown in the burning logs.

The second, he pushed her away and turned, inevitably spotted me near the threshold on the doorway. His face visibly softened when he saw me, but then it quickly morphed into a hard line.

I contemplated running away, but it would result in him pinning me down in a matter of seconds and that would turn ugly. He hated when I purposely avoided him.

"Astoria."

He brought Jenna's attention to me. I saw her entire demeanour shift in a second. She looked innocent and docile when Axel had his hands on her neck, but now she looked like a vicious villain, ready to pounce on the competition.

Axel caressed me with his eyes. I felt naked under their intense stare. He was in his swim shorts, a white tank top which showcased his bulging biceps, muscled shoulders and perfectly proportioned waist. He looked like a model ready for a beach photoshoot.

"Leave us alone," he said, without acknowledging Jenna. She, on the other hand, looked appalled and hurt. She went out of the room without a word from her mouth, but her eyes did the trick for me.

I was glad to be going away because there was no way she would let this go.

Once we were left alone, Axel made himself home on the leather comforter. With a curl of his finger, he beckoned me to go to him. "Come here, baby."

When I stayed rooted to the spot, he raised an eyebrow. To him, it may look like an act of defiance on my part. Even though I was partly brimming with jealousy, I wanted to do this out in the open. A lot could happen inside the four walls of a room.

I shook my head. "I came here to talk to you." He gave me a chilling smile. "Out." I knew he would try to somehow manipulate me to bend to will so this time around, I actually ran.

Axel actually gave me a head start. He could have easily overpowered my pace with quick long strides, but it wasn't until I reached the back of the house, where outside the glass door, was nothing but vast land and flower fields.

He caught me right before I could get hold of the door knob. I shrieked as I was picked up and thrown over his shoulder. The sound of the sharp bite of a slap on my ass rounded the room.

I cried, kicking my feet. "Axel, put me down."

"No." His tone was calm which shocked me.

I hit his back, repeatedly. I doubted whether my punches were actually making an impact.

He chuckled, the sound rich. "I have more strength in my finger than you have in your entire body, baby. Those are feather punches to me." He confirmed my suspicions.

I expected to be taken back in the house instead we were headed out, on the lawn. I trashed until he got fed up with my kicking and threw me to the bed of grass.

I plastered a seething glare at him. I stood on shaky legs, dusting mud and wet grass from my clothes. My eyes aligned with his storm blue eyes.

There was a slight amused note to the perpetual curve of his rose pink lips. He plucked a single blade of grass from my hair.

"That's because of you," I said, sharply. "Honestly, when will you ever resort to not act like a bully to me."

"Never." He reached to cup my face in his hands. "Tell me, were you jealous of seeing me with a girl who happens to be my girlfriend?"

"Are you out of your mind? Why would I be jealous of her?" I lied through my teeth. My chest had damn near constricted at the sight of two of them together.

"My sweet toots." His hands left my face and slid down to my body, ravishing me with his touches until it finally settled on my hips, pulling me to him. "I love how furious you get when you lie."

He leaned in, I thought he would kiss me, instead he brought his lips close to my ear and whispered,"I love you." Then stuck his tongue to my ear sending a wave of current, jostling me.

He let me slip out his hold and chuckled, the sound was gorgeous.

My head couldn't grasp onto his words. How can three words hold so much power against you? I wanted to chase the heartache away that was hell bent on slithering the venom in my chest.

We had always said that we loved each other since forever yet this time, the meaning to those words felt different. It sent butterflies to my stomach.

Axel had a longing gleam in his eyes. With a tilted head, he raked his eyes up and down my body before beckoning me to come to him with his long, sculpted finger.

"Why would you say you love me?" I muttered, defeated.

His eyes turned stony, but his face maintained the nonchalant look to it. He inched towards me until he had clasped my nape firmly, getting into my personal space.

"Because I just do. I can't help the way I feel for you. I have loved you for a long time, toots. You make my heart dance."

"You shouldn't love me."

"Why?"

"B-Because, I am going to leave you," I blurted out, hastily. I stepped back, hand on my mouth as a sob constricted my throat. I couldn't look at his face. I just didn't have the courage to face him, to look into his eyes and watch his heart break.

To my astonishment, he erupted into a fit of laughter. What?=

The seconds prolonged and I thought I was going crazy, because I expected a different kind of reaction from him. He was still chuckling, the sound was gorgeous. With a heavy heart, I forced myself to face him.

His lips were turned into an arrogant grin as he pushed his hair back.

"Axel," I said his name in a whisper. "I actually have to leave."

He held his head high, face turned sideways as he stared into the distance. That lasted for a moment before he closed the space between us. The strong grip of his hand returned to my nape as he pulled me into him with a force.

The piercing blue orbs held the tiniest amount of annoyance in them. In a slow controlled manner, he uttered his next words taking my breath away.

"No one gets to take you away from me." His words were threatening. "Not even you." He smiled, easing his hold on my neck and caressing the length of my neck with his knuckles. "Go home. I'll meet you there."

"Axel, I can't. I am leaving today."

His jaw ticked. "Watch it."

"I wish I was kidding, but I have to go back to missouri. My uncle is not doing well. Both me and Winter are going home to help—"

I didn't get to finish my sentence before I was rudely shoved away. I staggered back, but it was due to shock. Axel pushed me away. He appeared all kinds of maddening to me.

"Don't make me lose my temper, Astoria. I am not in the mood."

"Don't you dare shove me again!" I raised my voice.

"Oh, is that so?" He yanked on my hair, my scalp prickled. "I'll do whatever I want with you. You're mine. You stay by my side."

This time I shoved him back. "Can you stop acting like an asshole for one second? You make yourself very hard to love."

"Oh, you love me," he said, as a matter-of-factly. "I know you do. I see it in your eyes. They burn with need, the spark waiting to be ignited with my touch. I know you want inside your tight pussy, pounding in you. The only thing you don't like is admitting your needs to me."

I turned crimson. "This has nothing to do with love. I wanted to tell you that I have to leave and I don't want to be a complete bitch by keeping hanging on my hook. I came here to tell you that you should forget about me because I don't if we are ever going to meet again, at least not like this." I broke down. The tears flowed freely.

The strings of my heart were wrapped around his fingers and he kept tugging on them.

"Oh, so I should just forget about you?" He taunted. "Forget all the time we spent together, the things we did and not to mention the intimacy that we have created for ourselves. Boom." He snapped his fingers. "All gone because you want me to do it. Wow, I didn't peg you for a cruel bitch," he snickered. "How long have you been planning on leaving?"

I thought it was a rhetorical question until he seized my jaw in his fingers.

"A month or so," I answered, honestly.

His nostrils flared. "So you have been playing me all this time." He came to his own conclusion. "Why did you let me get close to you when you knew you would be going away?" His hand left my jaw.

He took several steps away from me, trying to stay composed despite the building rage that was evident to my eyes.

"We were already closer than we should have been. I didn't think—"

"Do me a favour and shut the fuck up." His tone made me flinch. "In fact, just get lost."

"Axel—"

"Not a word out of you," he warned. "Go back to your fucking farm or whatever hell hole you call home. I fucking hate you."

***

"...and mom started crying which was tough for me. I hate to see her cry. She was alright today though. Oh, God, Astoria, I hope we really make our stay worthwhile. It's for Uncle George so...hey are you even listening to me."

I blinked, snapping out of my melancholy and gave Winter an apologetic smile. Brushing the hair off my face, I leaned against the window.

"You're unbearable sometimes." Winter rolled her eyes. She searched her large utility bag. "We have got the vomit bags, right?"

"I have it with me."

"Give some to me. I feel nauseated."

Once again, I got lost in my trance of thoughts. Axel reacted the way he did more to damage my heart, then any of his past treatment. He was lashing out of anger, maybe also a tad bit of resentment on his part. I did lead him on a little with the intimacy, but in my defence, I was only trying to savor the last few days we spent in each other's company.

The last thing I wanted was for him to hate and yet I had found myself to be in that undesirable place where he hated me.

Plugging in my headphones, I leaned back on my seat and stared out of the window of the bus we had taken for our travels. I could see my life changing for good. It was not the kind of change I'd envisioned, but it was what I had for now