Forgetting Axel

THREE

"Let me guess, you need to spend the night?" I ask as Franke takes another sip of beer, nodding as another song is played. I okay the question, Franke thanking me as she heads off to dance.

Charlie takes my hand, pulling me towards the group of people dancing, the sand picking up from under their feet, their glow sticks making the party a lot more fun as flashes of neon lights catch my eyes. Looking to the water, I see people having fun, laughing, and just surfing as well as glow paint is painted in Aztec designs upon their bodies.

One of the best events of the summer, our class party, and this one being even more important as we are all graduated now.

Charlie makes sure I'm close, not wanting to lose me as we dance, laughing as some people do fun moves or just watching the others as they let loose. I turn around, pulling Charlie in for a kiss, hearing a few hoots as the Golden Boy as valedictorian hit it off like we have for quite some time.

"Drink?"

I nod, following Charlie away from the dancing area and towards a table of beers and punch. Unlike where we were earlier today, the party is held at a more secure area of the beach, isolated due to a massive rock structure with a nature-made archway that you go through. Surround by the rock structure and thick trees, the breach is before us as our noise is far away from the town. Away from being shut down.

In a bit, Charlie and Franke are pulling me to the side, getting their boards from the side of the beach. I follow, grabbing my dad's old board as I follow Franke into the water. Her back is tattooed in the glowing paint, designs you'd see at Cochlea across her shoulder blades and spinal cord. As we lay stomach-down on our boards, we move our arms, swimming deeper to where a for up of people have their boards circled up. Thankfully the ocean is quiet tonight, only a gentle tide.

"Winifred!" Rosie calls as I spot her next to her boyfriend, Zachary, and her brother, William.

Swimming other with Charlie on my tail, Rosie grabs my arm, pulling me closer to her board than Franke's as we arrive at the circle. "I've got something to say." Nodding, I look Rosie in the eye, awaiting her word. She pulls me close, about to whisper as Charlie gets to the group. "Axel is here, well, is coming."

"This is for the graduated seniors," I whisper back, shocked that he would come, and frightened that he is coming. But will he even remember me, at least what I look like. I lost some weight and gained muscle since four years ago, not to mention grew out my hair from bob to waist-long.

"Darbie invited him." Darbie, being the student council president, I doubt would ever miss a chance to invite someone new to a party.

Nodding, I go back to the circle as we talk about old school memories, bring up things that we did, our senior prank, how Charlie once fell down the stairs and broke his leg, and things that make me remember how happy high school was once I put Axel behind me.

Suddenly, a group of people scream, causing everyone in the circle to look with concern towards shore. Only, we calm down as a group of girls are shocked by someone throwing lighter fluid into the fire pit. I calm down, happy that it's not anything bad. Just as my eyes roam the group of girls, I spot a group of five guys, each running into the water with their boards. They are all built, fitting right in with many of the surfing population of the town, but something seems off. Just the way their muscles are more defined, how they carry themselves, how their eyes almost shine in the moonlight.

They are swimming now on their boards to a spot not too far from ours, one that has a few medium waves by the rocky area. "David Fuller is there," William comments, nudging Franke as she blushes. David is her crush since Sophomore year, and sadly will be going to New York while she will be in Oregon. "Who is that?"

I follow William's gaze to a boy who I've never see in that group of jocks, one whose hair shines in the moonlight, the black locks wet now, but the messy and watery look gives him a good look. Built as before when I say him, and his eyes, the pale blue that holds the richest blue of the sea, how the almost glow in the darkness. He slaps a dude on the back of the head, the pair laughing as they go over a wave.

He looks happy.

I am happy too. He didn't care for contact so I put him behind me. Even though I want to think I am over him, every girl holds a small part of her heart for her first love. "Winifred?"

I look to Charlie, seeing him raise an eyebrow as I offer him a soft smile. "Sorry, what were we talking about?"

"About having a small competition with those guys on the other side of the rocks."

I look over a ways, a small walk to where the waves are really going. "What does everyone say?" Henry, one of the guys in the circle asks. The rest cheer as they approve, Rosie and Zachary head over to the group of jocks, challenging them to a competition.

"I don't think I'll do it," I comment to Charlie as he nods. He knows I'm not the best nor like competitions that much, giving me a perfect excuse. As the guy group agrees and my group goes off, I make my way back to the shore, back to the party as some people already know there's about to be a competition as they start following the groups. I'm one of them, walking across the shore as I follow the crowd.

As the crowd comes to a stop, my toes dig into the sand, taking a swing of the beer bottle, watching as the surfers as they get ready for a wave.

"Who are you betting on?" A random guy asks, looking out. "I have my money on the new kid."

"Axel?" I ask, seeing him nod.

"Yah, didn't know his name yet." He takes a swing of his beer, throwing an arm over my shoulder as he points to Axel. "But whoever he is, he's quite the catch. Hell, the second he came here all the girls were swooning."

I can sense jealousy in his voice, how he speaks about Axel. No doubt Axel was the catch in Europe, both in friends and as a lover. Lover? What has gotten into me?!

The first wave builds up, the group getting ready as I watch, bitting my tongue.

The first wave is done, half of the bunch riding the wave, some doing tricks, one falling, and Axel, don't get me started on him. Doing a trick and riding it all the way through.

After another twelve waves, Axel's group has won, Charlie emerging from the water to me. Some people open up, allowing him through as he waves at few and has his eyes on me. Smiling, I open my arms, welcome a hug, only for lips to be upon mine as I feel a smile cross my face.

"Wanna leave early?" Charlie asks, hinting at something more confidential. I elbow him in the stomach, nodding in return as we both smirk. Throwing an arm over my shoulder, I don't mind Charlie being wet as we pass bye the crowd.

And that's when I see him, the boy who stole my heart first and threw it away. Axel stands beside a beautiful blond, laughing as she tells a joke. I feel a scowl coming, only for shock to cross my face and fear as Axel's eyes meet mine.

It's as if shocks run through my body as he looks at me, his eyes ranking my body as I step closer to Charlie. Something makes me want to push Charlie away and run into Axel's arm. My heartbeat increases as his eyes meet mine, those eyes putting me on a spell.

Just as he takes a step forward, a pair of lips are back upon mine. I close my eyes, turning to Charlie as I wrap my arms around his neck, lifting onto my tip toes. Pulling away, I smile as does Charlie, grabbing his arm as I tug him with me.

I can't let Axel see I'm still waning him. I don't want to risk those emotions coming back. If anything, as long as I steer clear of Axel until I leave, this will be one hell of a summer.

As Charlie and I reach the parking lot, I look over my shoulder, spotting a single individual standing by the shore, watching as I hop into Charlie's car.

Those eyes are glued to me as Charlie leans in for another kiss, but my eyes stay open. It's as if now kissing Charlie doesn't feel as comfortable as Axel watching. As we pull out of the lot, I don't leave Axel's gaze until he disappears, leaving me wondering f I am truly over the boy who broke my heart.