《Not-so-reunion》

✤𝑨𝒙𝒆𝒍'𝒔 𝑷𝑶𝑽✤

𝑃𝑒𝑒𝑝

"𝐻𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑒𝑡? 𝑂𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛'𝑡 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝐼𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑦? 𝐷𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤𝒉𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝒉𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑡."

Though his looks changed, he never did. Emotional, loyal and forward. But to his unfortune, his loyalty failed me.

I leave him on read, standing from my seat, ready to go out of my private jet. The familiar cold breeze hits once the door is opened. God, it's the same airport I left five years ago. Now, I'm back, alone, with no one expecting nor wanting my arrival.

But, hell, does that matter anymore?

Never.

As much as I didn't matter to them is the same much as they don't matter now. That wasn't easy to maintain, but they taught me that, and I gotta say they were hell of good teachers.

Now, let me return back the favor.

𝑃𝑒𝑒𝑝

"𝐼𝑠 𝑡𝒉𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑤𝑖𝑡𝒉 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑗𝑒𝑡 𝑟𝑖𝑔𝒉𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑉𝐼𝑃 𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒?"

He doesn't wait to my reply as he barges in upon my entry. He stares alittle with his bodyguards surrounding him. He glances at Uriah and Wardell; two of my most trusted men. I'm willing to say they have filled alot of the emptiness he left.

I glance at Wardell whose eyes are shooting daggers at Ferrari. He drugged him with a glass of wine and stole the key to my mansion. Since then, Wardell is dreaming of the moment he punches Ferrari, he isn't an easy guy to fool, so how dare him? While Uriah is the cool, unbothered guy. Got to know him better after his 'welcoming pie' on my second day in Italy.

"Alright, y'all. War, you have killed him sixty times with these looks. Let us pass, you're worrying his bulkies." Uriah states, rolling his eyes at the forward step one of the bodyguards takes towards us. Well, we prefer peace, but that doesn't mean we can't be in a war.

"Tell your cuties to back off, Fur. We ain't bitches to fuck with." Uriah slams his hand over Wardell's mouth in playful wide eyes.

"C'mon, man, are you for real? We're gentlemen, remember? G.e.n.t.l.e.m.e.n!" He whisper-yells, as he starts the walk through Ferrari and his men.

"See you at the party, Axel." I nod back keeping my eyes on my path, not bothering to look back at him.

Honestly, whenever I encounter his face, it just reminds me of the crap he said, and how real he was in it, so I'd rather seeing it the least.

As I get into the car, everything starts hitting back. The road seems to never have changed. Every single thought I had when I was kicked out of my own home and disowned by my father, is all coming back to me. These thoughts are the monsters I tried getting rid of, the nightmares that shook me off sleep, and the pain I carried with me all along.

But, now I've to face it all and maybe it's a way out.

"You know what? I would never disappoint my guts again! I should have never swallowed the friendly shit he fed me." Wardell says as he tightens his grip on the stir wheel, glancing at me.

𝑊𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝐹𝑜𝑥, a college mate and has become like a bro to me, besides Uriah. He's hell of a tough guy, short-tempered, but with a heart of gold. Mess with him and you get, at least, two broken ribs, a broken nose and a never-ending enmity. He gets physical too fast which is something he's working on lessening.

"It's okay, dude. Chill." Uriah says from the back, chewing on his snacks. They are polar opposites, you could definitely say that Wardell is fire and Uriah is ice.

"Chill, my ass." He ain't going to stop blaming himself 'till he punches Ferrari, I know it.

"So, this party got girls?" Rolling my eyes at the brat behind, I look back at him. "Yeah, but daughters of real crap. Don't want to lose you that early, man." He chuckles, munching on one more of his gummies.

"Nah, I surf safely, bro. Don't ya worry." Wardell shakes his head, glancing at him from the front mirror with a look of dislike.

"What's your type, though?"

My heart thumps suddenly at his question as one girl comes to my mind. Though, I haven't seen her in years, and probably have no chance with her nor should I, but she's the only girl who ever stuck in my heart. The one whose value inside me never changed.

𝐴𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑚𝑛, 𝐴𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑚𝑛 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝒉𝑎𝑚𝑠.

"Hell, are they that much?" I shake my head no, resting my head back to the seat, watching the road.

"I don't have anything in mind. Girls ain't a priority." Not so convinced, Uriah nods focusing back on his snacks.

What if I met her? Is that even possible?

Would that be the destiny?

The real reason why I flew back here, randomly invited to a party from Ferrari, just to see her again?

How's she like now?

I'm hella sure she has become nothing less than an angelic princess. God, now I'm going crazy. All the moments I had with her are drumming my mind, scaring me off her reaction after disappearing so long.

Me, scared? Pathetic.

But, I know, deep down, she's the one who's capable of making me feel this way; the one and only.

I abandoned her. I abandoned the only person who wasn't willing to leave.

Shut up, Axel. Are you screwing with yourself?!

I can't let her back in my life. I can't. She doesn't belong to this and I'm not the boy she loved back then. Or maybe it wasn't even love. Yes, it was only three months, she couldn't have loved me this fast.

But, I did, so why not her, too?

Even if she did, this has to stop and I'm not letting her in. Never. Besides, she could even have a boyfriend or a fiancé by now, so there are no chances either ways.

Yeah, yeah, nothing will change. I'm not letting anything change.

Let me just focus on what I have to deal with in this party.

✩5 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓✩

"Bro, are you serious?! I'm sure we're in from the wrong entrance!" Wardell complains as he checks the gates for the nth time. We're at some famous business man's mansion and Ferrari said it's gate 2, but the gates aren't numbered and they're more than two.

"Does it matter? We gon' shine wherever." Uriah and his confidence walks with Wardell as I lock the car, sliding the keys in my pocket, ready to go in.

"Wait, hold on, who are you?" Two bodyguards step infront of them, blocking their paths. I walk through them, facing the guard.

"Axel Hawks," I slide the invitation to his hand, before he objects on them, I cut him off. "Those are my men and we're all getting in." They move aside, clearing the way in there. The three of us get in as I wander my eyes at the surrounding.

Bodyguards are everywhere, it's like he's backing up for an assassination or something. Well, business men have dirty hands, too, but that's not my type of cases and definitely not my main aim.

Smell of various kinds of food and drinks mixed with perfumes and cologne. It's getting me quite sick, but I'm already fine with it. Sights of dresses and suits, sounds of laughers and chatters. It's crowded, but luxurious. Everyone here seems mad rich, but not so innocent. It's like behind these smiles are pure sinister and more like everyone is here for a specific bargain to maintain. This party ain't for fun and now, I'm starting to believe that Ferrari brought me here for a purpose. But, what could that be?

We settle at a table, as I watch the guests. No familiar ones, but some are already staring. Uriah is enjoying the ladies' attention and Wardell is having a drink, but I'm not comfortable in this place and I don't get it which's even more frustrating.

"Hawks? Are you really Hawks?!"

I look back at the voice, to see a short, brown-haired guy. His eyes remind me of someone I used to know at high school, but can't lay a finger on who exactly he's. I don't give a reaction as he extends his hand for a shake.

"George Lionel, from high school, bro. Biology class?"

Oh yeah, hell no.

I, disinterestedly, take his hand and shake it lightly. The dude who was bitter at his loss in our basketball match, and walked around spreading rumors that we bribed the referee to stand against his team.

God, he was such a sore loser.

"You changed much, man. You're scarred!" The statement catches Uriah's attention as he looks at him with a smirk. Scarred, like the one on my cheek?

"Ain't that the worst compliment I ever heard in my life?" Wardell nods in agreement, both staring back. "Got yourself some new bros, huh?"

"Yeah, you should, too." I say as I sit back, already giving alot of hints that he really has to go 'cause he's making me sicker of this place. I don't even know what the hell he's doing here.

"Oh, but since you haven't graduated with us for your sister's death, you don't know my dad," I sense that tone of gloating in his voice. I know it and I feel it and I'm keeping my cool.

"Well, my dad is Scott Lionel, the host of this party. You probably work for him now, right?" Now, this is funny. Truly is.

Scott Lionel, ha, how much the world can turn the tables around?

"Scott Dre Lionel," He nods in so much confidence that I pity him. "Oh man, I'm sorry for him. Hasn't he lost about three million dollars in charges for false car tiers description with forged agreements?"

I love how pale he turns. Come on, have some shame, y'all coming at people, flexing your wealth on them when you're nothing, but guilty rats.

"H-How-"

"Well, I'm the one who charged him that. It came with the absolute coincidence 'cause your dad's little stealings ain't my concern, but what can I say, he fell into my men's hands."

He stares back in utter silence, unable to say a word.

"Wrap yourself in a ribbon and fuck off. No need to revive dead scandals." He nods as he steps back, walking away like a horrified kid.

"Got him good." Uriah comments, staring at him. "Shamelessness at its finest." Wardell adds.

I'm waiting for any familiar face to show up, but none except of that dude; not even Ferrari. It's hard to swallow that currently we're getting stared at by absolute strangers, all here seem to know each other except us. That's uncool, I hate not knowing what, how or who the heck I'm around. I'm screwing up Ferrari for this shit.

"Hi, boys." Here we go. A young lady comes over, swaying her hips with her scandalous dress and dropping that "hi" for her mind letting her think that she's being seductive, when it's really disgusting.

Uriah smirks, putting down his glass.

"Yo, cutie, what brought you here?" Wardell quivers his lips up in disgust, backing away from her. "Oh, your cologne showed me the way." She tries to pump her body in Uriah's, but he backs away. I knew he wasn't into this, but likes to have little fun.

"Nuh-uh, got me wrong, sweet." She frowns, throwing him a dirty glare. That must have been embarrassing for such audacity to go away that easy. "Poor girl, ain't used to rejection, took it serious at heart." The three of us chuckles sipping on our drinks.

"Aren't you so unsettling?"

That satanic voice.

Oh hell, I know it so well.

Wendy Grahams.

I lift my head up to the face, and It's really her. She hasn't changed much, except for aging a bit. But, her voice still makes me uncomfortable.

She scans me with a devilish smirk dancing on her dark-red coloured lips. She shifts her eyes to Uriah and Wardell, whom are standing, apparently getting the same bad vibe I get from her.

Though, at first I had to keep it cool 'cause I was just the 18-year old boy, now she got no shit on me. Bearing her isn't an obligation for any of us, and I'm not ready to swallow her unwanted existence.

"Aren't you going to greet your old neighbor, boy? So unwelcoming." She acts like she's hurt as I sit down, grabbing my glass. Her provocating voice shakes the memory of how bad she treated Autumn. It's like it's helping me snap back at her after all of these years. I wouldn't publicly state that one of the major reasons I hate her is how much of a psycho she's towards Autumn, but if I'mma snap, I'mma snap for that.

"You seem to have never changed, Axel. More like have become much more troublesome." I know she's trying to get a reaction out of me, but I'm not giving her that, not until my strike could hurt so bad.

"But, haven't you paid for the trouble you cause? I've to say it was such a grieving payment. If I were you, I'd walk by the wall, and stop pumping into monsters I'm not in their power."

I did pay my sister's life for monsters, and now everyone thinks that I'm kicked down, crying for my loss. I did, I do and I will, but will that change the fact that I'm after every single one of y'all?

"Monsters," I pause, sipping a drink out of my glass, keeping my cool, when it's really hard to do so.

"Yeah, you're. But, I may, as well, add that there are those who come to wipe them off earth." Her smirk drops at my reply, folding her arms, turning the cold, gloating look into a death glare, taking a step forward, leaning her face making her lips near my ear.

"Who was wiped first, Hawks? Wasn't her, off life? Wasn't you, kicked out of the country, by your own family, like an old banished criminal? Who was winning all along?"

"Who said the first winner is the last? We've got a long way to run, and if you weren't worried about what I've got, you wouldn't have been here trying to scare me off your shore." She arches an eyebrow, backing away, centering her eyes back into mine. I know I've hit her nerves, and I can't be more proud to do so.

"Now, you're acting like you've got nothing to lose. Though, we, humans, never stop possessing valuable things. Don't you play with fire, it eats whole and you lose lots."

What the hell does she mean? Why is she coming here, trying to push me off her waters? Well, I'mma dive in, if that upsets her so much.

"Guess-"

"Mom?"

What...

Long black braided hair down to the waist, long white dress down to the heels with just exposed shoulder, natural makeup, big amber eyes and a heart-capturing voice.

Autumn.

Heavens, she has become much more beautiful than I ever expected. She's like an angel, beaming out of the darkness with a serene aura, bringing both peace and chaos to my heart.

"Haven't I told you to stay with Savannah?!" Wendy snaps with her eyes on me, the way she's talking kind of says it all.

"She went with....her....friends." Autumn stops talking when her sight falls on me. Something flashes in her eyes, it's like a realization hit her, and as much as I want to hold her so bad, as much as I don't wish she recognizes me.

Please, don't.

"A cat got your tongue? Or are you going to stutter again?" The witch pumps Autumn's shoulder as she doesn't seem to focus on her mom said. She looks at her, stepping away to clear her mom's path, not intending on walking away.

"Damn baby, you're so perfect." She furrows her eyebrows at Uriah's comment with her snowy cheeks going bloody red. I nudge him from the back as Wardell takes his hand and pulls him aside.

"That's her. His type." Wardell whispers, as they quietly move at a distance.

"Axel." I haven't heard that name out of those lips this way for so long, and it's killing me, drums on my heart, pumping my adrenaline, still shaking my solitude and messing my insides up.

"Oh, Axel." Her above-the-whisper voice raises abit as she steps forward, but I flinch back. How I wish I wouldn't have to do this, but I can't. Not when she's such an angel, my world is cruel and she isn't.

She notices my move, frowning, backing her taken step. She looks down, fiddling with her little hands, letting her some of her front hair cover her face.

I upsetted her, dang, I did.

Maybe, even embarrassed her. UGH!

I ball my fists, suppressing alot inside me and her being right infront of me is making it even harder.

"You've got a new tattoo. It's beautiful." I look down at my thumb tattoo which have a little python inked on.

"I've heard snakes symbolize change, hope your changes went well." Don't, no, don't do this to me. Don't wrap me in your warmth, don't let me need all the beauty I craved for years, don't wake my hunger for you, Autumn, please.

She lifts her eyes back up, staring right into mine. I hope she sees how much I need her and how much I can't let anything happen.

She smiles sadly, nodding gently as if she sees my pleas for her to walk away. But, why it has to be her to be pushed away when I've always needed her?! It's so sick and now I'm losing her.

"I guess I have nothing to wish for after, finally, meeting you again. Thank you for your time." She smiles one more time, turns her back and walks away.

Her disappointed face is killing me. The knife starts its painful engraving again, and I've more bad memories to dream of. Why?! Why did I have to push the only beautiful thing in my life?! Why is it always the bad things that only stay?! Couldn't have her in the past, can't have her now because my fucked up life had to make sure that I sacrifice my love to keep her safe?!

But, I do know I did the right thing. None of the gangs, dealers and murderes will ever let me breathe peacefully with her. And I'd have become the death of her again.

Just like Miracle.

No, no, no, no! I won't let that happen! No, Autumn will never be taken away because of me!

I can't lose her, too. I can't.

I have something to lose.

Damn, that's what Wendy meant?!

She's threatening me with Autumn!

"Bro, are you okay? Should we leave?"

She meant Autumn. She knew I'd have met her in this party and already established the fact that she'd hurt her if I thought of approaching her.

Oh, no, no!

"Axel, you don't look so well. Is something wrong?"

"Did you see that girl?" They both nod, waiting for a clarity.

"Protect her at all costs."

Not letting them reply, I walk off, looking for an empty area to breathe some air. I feel my chest tightening as if I'm running out of life, and fear is creeping on my nerves at the thought of losing her. I'm so traumatized to let anything happen to her.

"YOU BITCH!"

Slap!

My head snaps to the sound as I watch two ladies standing at a distance, facing each other. One is holding her cheek and the other is staring down at her with so much hatred.

"W-Why?" A familiar sob escapes the slapped girl's lips as my eyes go wide in realization.

Savannah.

Savannah just slapped Autumn.

No way! No, I've had enough of seeing this shit.

"You slept with my boyfriend, now crawling on my friends! What, trying to end up in one of their beds?!"

She was about to slap her again, when I catch her wrist, tightening my grip on it. She furrows her eyebrows, ready to throw a fit when she sees me.

A smirk displays on her lips as she fakes a sweet face, backing away.

Wow, got an act on already?

"Axel? Oh, hi sweet, missed you. Welcome back." Her sweet fake voice sickens me as I aggressively drop her hand. She acts hurt as she stares at me.

"I'm sorry if I bothered you, but got a whore to discipline." Autumn looks at her in disbelief as her eyes turning glassy in tears.

"Really? But, you aren't slapped." She drops the sweet face, folding her arms to her chest with her real bitchy look.

"Well, it's her the whore. Poor guy, fell into her innocence trap, right?"

"Stop! I'm not any of the disgusting things you say about me! Don't believe her, p-please." My blood colds at Autumn's voice cracking, seeing that tear roll on her cheek as she looks down, sobbing quietly.

"Your boyfriend cheated on you 'cause you're nothing worth to keep. Heard that bitches don't like seeing those who value themselves, so gotta throw dirt on their name," I pause, eyeing her up and down in disgust.

"Listen, not you and your mom's little dirty tricks are going to play on me, now that I'm back, I dare all of you fuckers to come at her. So then, I'll be more than glad to tear you apart." She chews on her lips, arching an eyebrow with rage flying through her eyes. She turns her eyes to Autumn, who is standing quietly staring at the both of us.

"You, I resent you, and don't ever think he's fleeing you from my hands." She ends her threat, storming away, getting in the party.

I look back at Autumn as she wipes her tears, still looking down.

I'm messed up, I just swore to the one who is ready to hurt her that I'll be protecting her, when I made her feel unwanted. Damn, everything is so unsettled, and I'm messing up even more.

Those people are going to lure in the darkness to hunt us down, and I just can't watch them do that. I'm just dragging innocent people with me, and I can't bear the guilt, it's so suffocating.

If the tables are going to turn on Autumn, then fuck everybody to let her live peacefully.

I just want her safe and sound, even if that's not going to happen with me because either ways I don't have the peace she deserves.

"Thank you."

Again, her acting like that cold breeze that calms the heat of summer, that drop of water that chills the burn.

"This is wrong," She stays silent with sadness scattered all over her face.

"This is so wrong, and keeps on taking wrong turns," I shake my head in distress, not able to decide on a land to stand. I'm tore between wanting- no, needing her so bad and not able to drag her into my world.

"Let's make a deal. I'll be protecting you without being with you. You live your life, just let me be your guardian...devil."

'Cause I ain't an angel.

I was about to walk away, when she grabs my wrist in her little hand. That electrifying sensation hits me again like the first time I felt her touch.

"Why does it have to be this way?" She coos, staring straight into my eyes, even at that height difference, she can capture me.

I have so many explanations, that are so hard to be said.

"Why can't we be together? We don't have to be lovers, it could be friends, neighbors, anything. Why nothing at all?"

Shit, I'm tearing up. She's weakening me with her gentleness, urging that 18-year old coward to cry in her arms.

"We just...we just c-can't." She tightens her grip, taking a step closer. I look away, avoiding her eye contact trying not to break down. I don't want anyone to see me like this, if they sensed my weakness, I'd be gone.

"We just can't be anything, okay? Let go, I'm not that guy anymore." I withdraw my hand from her grip as she nods.

"Just forget that you ever saw me."

I keep breaking her heart, and smashing mine along. But, that's what should happen if I don't want to visit her in a cemetery.