IT'S HARD to believe that I won, but I did. Immediately I zoomed past the finish line first, the roar of the crowd and adrenaline in my veins were overwhelming.

I manage to congratulate my fellow drivers before letting other random persons congratulate me also.

I'm not a fan of public attention and thankfully, Jimmy steers me away from it all.

Denver and Damon's eyes are on me once more when I fall into my former position, breathing heavily.

“That was incredible, Axel.” Denver says.

I only manage a nod, raising up my finger to indicate that I needed a minute. He's amused but understands and goes back to putting his head on Damon's shoulder.

Damon hasn't said a word, but he's impressed. I see it in his eyes.

While catching my breath, I check the time. 11:40p.m. It's a little too late to go back home. Do I have a plan to sleep outside?

“You can come over to our place and just leave tomorrow morning.”  Denver offers as though sensing my worry.

“Oh. Thanks but I can't accept.”

He frowns. That must have come out harsher than intended.

I exhale. “First of all, I don't know you two well to sleep over at your place. Second, I need to be sure my family is okay. It's just my Nana, and the children.”

My explanation seems to pacify Denver but as for Damon, he's silently asking questions.

“Would you accept my offer our invitation any other night?”

Certainly. I'm tempted right now to just throw all caution to the wind and follow them home, but family, my family forces me to be levelheaded. I can't be thinking with a certain part of me.

“Axel.” Denver calls, softly.

“Maybe some other time. I promise.”

He nods. “Jimmy will drive you back home-” I'm about to protest “-I insist.”

🌳🌳🌳

Once Jimmy dropped me at the front, I regretted using my family as an excuse for not following the men home.

I chickened out at the last moment despite wanting to know how far the tension would take us.

After checking on all the doors and rooms, I retire to mine, stripping out of my clothes and taking a cold shower.

A message from Gwen awaits me. I slip into a pair of joggers, leaving my chest bare.

Gwen:
don't think you can
escape from me forever

Me:
you don't give up,
do you?
how was your date
with Trey? 

Gwen:
it was not a date

Me:
keep lying to
yourself

Gwen:
I'll see you tomorrow,
and torture out all the
sneaky details you're
hiding, Axel.

I'll just have to make myself scarce then.

But Gwen would make it worse if she finds out I'm avoiding her.

Me:
I'm taking Casper out
tomorrow just in case
you don't see me

Gwen:
I'll wait😏

From Gwen, I move to Trent. He sends me a picture of both of them smiling at the camera. It's a beautiful sight to see.

I work myself up into wondering if I'd ever see Denver and Damon again since I ruined tonight.

Sighing, I dive under my covers and let my eyelids with with sleep.

🌳🌳🌳

“Axel!!!” Someone screeches in my ear.

Groaning, I take cover under my duvet, but it's ripped apart with the force of a tornado.

“Get up, you big oaf.”

Now that the haze is clearing, I pinpoint Gwen's voice.

Shoot!

I open my eyes and she's grinning like a maniac. “Please go away.”

An attempt to shut my eyes is met by a heavy weight on my body. I groan. Since when did Gwen weigh that much?

It's Trent.

“I hate the two of you right now.” I grumble, pushing Trent off me and sitting up.

Gwen's satisfied and so is Millicent standing by my door. “Millie. How could you let them do this to me?”

She raises her hands. “Just leave me out of this, okay, it's all Cassidy's fault!” She yells so Cassidy can hear.

“Ill steal all your cookies, Millie!” Cassidy threatens.

Face wearing a horrified expression, Millie races away, leaving me with my crazy friends.

“What brings you both here this early?” I point at the two persons. “Aren't you supposed to be keeping each other busy?”

Trent shrugs. “We got bored. Gwen cannot keep up with my demands like you do.”

Gwen swats at him with one of my towels. I laugh.

“Meanwhile, when's the party?” Trent asks.

Confused, I stare at him. “What?”

“You didn't tell me you purchased a new car. It's sitting right on the front yard.”

What?

After slipping on a shirt, I hurry out my room, past some of my siblings that are bickering, and then through the front door.

True enough, there's a brand new BMW gleaming under the soft morning sun.

Wow.

“A package came in for you.” Nana says from the door, a brown carton box held out.

Gwen and Trent get to it before I do, uncovering a bunch of car keys.

“Take this as compensation for last night.” Trent reads out, smirking at the end. Gwen slaps her hand over her mouth.

Nana is frowning. “What happened last night.”

“Long story, Nana.”

I convince her that it must be a mistake but she doesn't buy it, shooting me a suspicious look instead before walking back into the house.

Someone clears their throat. “So, what did you do last night?” Gwen's smirk is worse than Trent's.

“I can't say.” All I wanted to do was return this car, and I'd do just that after getting my friends from my back.

Trent narrows his eyes. “Are you doing illegal stuff?”

“Does it involve your body?”

I roll my eyes at Gwen's insinuation.
“No, to both questions.”

“Tell us or we'll pester you to death.”

Laughing, I grab the keys from Trent. He's right. Once these two have made their mind up to bother you, you're done for.

Nana must have told my siblings because they're filling outside, gushing over the car.

Too bad, it's going back to the owner.

“I'm going out for lunch with Casper. If you want to join in later, I'll tell you.” I plead.

Gwen's smug look is hilarious. “Nice try, but you're going nowhere without spilling every single dirty detail.”

Oh, the details are far from pure.

After shooing my siblings back to the house, my friends and I sit on the bench in the yard, and I explain everything to them.

“That's... wow!” Trent comments.

I stare at the note. It has a single D at the base, making it difficult to figure who exactly sent it.

“So, two men invited you to sleep over at their place and you declined?” Gwen shakes her head at me.

I sigh. “Gwen. I cannot just be acting upon my every need.”

“When last did you satisfy your needs?” She queries.

“Last night in the show.”

Trent chuckles, softly and Gwen hits my arm for sharing too much information.

She asked.

“All I'm saying is do not return the car. You won the race fairly and it's a prize.” Trent reasons.

“I need to set some points straight with them.”

“Hopefully, you get your back straightened out as well?”

Gwen and I gape at Trent, until I burst out laughing.

“Trent, I need to speak with this roommate of yours for corrupting you.” Gwen pretends to be unimpressed but I can see her struggling not to laugh.

Trent chuckles. “He'd just end up corrupting you too.”

🌳🌳🌳

Me:
I received
your gift.
Sorry I'm texting
late

Denver:
do you
like it?

Me:
I cannot accept it.

Denver:
why not?

Me:
you're a total stranger,
that's why. I don't mean
to come off as rude

Denver:
I'm not asking you into
my bed, Axel. If that's what
you're afraid of.

I choke on my pancake while seated across Pearl in the kitchen. She gives me a curious stare but gets sidetracked when Cassidy enters the kitchen.

Me:
that isn't
it. I'm not
just used to receiving
things for free

Denver:
you won the race
fair and square.
it's not for free.

I decide to deal with the car issue later. It's just about five minutes before I have to take Casper out. He should be dressed by now.

My brother's already outside, bouncing anxiously on his toes when I see him.

He's dressed similar to me. A white shirt and black jeans with a pair of sneakers.

I have a beanie on my head, he doesn't. That's the only difference.

Casper wrinkles his nose. “Why are you dressed to match with me?”

“Call it brotherly instincts.”

“Oh no. I'm going to change.” I roll my eyes but do not stop him from rushing back inside.

Tanner and Joey are returning from wherever it is they went to. I'm guessing it's the arcade park, judging from the skateboard clutched under Joey's arm.

“Hi Axel.” Joey smiles at me. Tanner only nods in acknowledgement and walks in, seeming to be annoyed at something.

“You good?”

Joey nods, eyes focused on the door. “Tanner's mad about something. I can't seem to get through to him.”

“I'll see if I can talk to him.”

He answers with a smile, and when Casper returns, acknowledges him with a weird handshake and tells us he's going home.

Casper and I walk to the bus stop. He recognises some of his classmates along the way.

Minutes later, we're seated in Filler's Choice, my favourite spot to unwind on the weekends.

“So, let's talk.” I say after we're comfortable with our foods. Casper with a plate of fries and grilled cheese with beef chops, and mine is a similar choice except I ordered a soda, and he water.

“About your relationship?” He smirks at me.

I scoff. “No. About you, idiot.”

Chuckling,he seems amused by the glare aimed at him.

“There's nothing much going on with my life. It's pretty boring.” He admits.

“No love interest yet?”

My brother blushes and takes a sip from his cup as if that would hide the redness on his face. “I'm not thinking about love for now. I just want to focus on escaping highschool.”

“If I find out you're lying to me. I promise, I'll show them all your embarrassing pictures.”

Casper rolls his eyes. “Whatever.”

Lunch ended on a happy note and when we went back home, I was surprised that my friends were still there.

Nana pulls me into the kitchen away from the others playing games and watching movies in the living room.

“I saved you some cookies.” She retrieves a small box from behind the plates storage rack. “I had to hide it before the trolls get to it.”

Laughing, I open the box and munch on a cookie while Nana checks on the pot of pasta cooking.

“Want to talk about this morning?”

I sigh.

It was a discussion long overdue.

“There's nothing much?”

“This ‘nothing’ that landed an expensive car in front of our house isn't nothing at all.” She reasons, her warm brown her eyes staring at me, then at her cooking.

I explain everything, without leaving any detail uncovered.

“You won fair and square, my boy. I don't understand why you're adamant about accepting a prize.”

“Ma. You know how I feel about taking things from people.” I toy with the hem of my skirt.

“This is not wrong. You won it fair and-”

“-square. I know but...” Sighing, I bury my face in my hands.

Nana pries them apart. “If you return that car, prepare to sleep on the streets.”

Her voice is serious but she's joking, I know it.

Despite being bothered by having another man's gift seated on the curb outside, I flash her a smile, surrendering my original intention to the air.

Trent walks in, humming a tune under his breath. “I'm hungry.”

“When are you ever not?”

Trent makes a face at me, going to stand by Nana's who's heating up leftovers from lunch.

Later that night, with everyone settled in, I weasel my way into Tanner's room. He looks like he's getting some assignments done but glances up at me.

“Can we talk?”

He closes his book and exhales. “What about?”

“You?”

Just as he's bracing himself for the lecture ahead, I do the same.

Sometimes it's exhausting being both the parent and sibling to these kids but what else can I do?

Family would always top my list of priorities.

Author's Message:
How did that do
for a chapter?
I'm still piecing events up
in preparation for major drama
ahead😏