December Boys (BxB) | ✓

Chapter 8 - Linger Longer

I called Eddie, Jack, and Richard. Then I tried Jared, even though we hadn't spoken since the mascot incident. In a fit of desperation, I'd even phoned Ari, the guy in my class that smelled weird and spent all his time solving crossword puzzles. At one point I considered calling William, but spending the night in our leaky shed was a more tempting option than hanging out with him.

The cold hard fact was this: none of my friends or acquaintances were available.

I was shivering now, back resting against the door, ears picking up every nuance of the fight happening inside. I'd ventured into the garden earlier to check if my brother's bedroom window had been open - a shortcut I utilized often - only to find it firmly shut. My only option now was to text Lily, but there was no way I could do that either. The simple reason was that she'd find a way to chase her parents out and spend her evening coaxing me into...

Nope. I shook my head, willing that particular thought away. Lily was a no-go. My phone was in my hand, screen showing a list of all my contacts. They stared up at me in what can only be described as a taunting way. Eighteen years of amassing friends and this was what I had to show for it.

My mom's screams were accompanied by the shattering of china connecting with the living room floor. I closed my eyes. I couldn't face this today. I wouldn't.

My phone lit up with a notification.

Axel: "New attachment."

Axel: "I've finished editing the script for next week. Let me know if it's OK."

Rainwater trickled down my face and a drop landed on my phone. It smudged Axel's name. I stared at his message, eyes blinking slowly.

Bad idea. This was a very bad idea. I blamed it on my frostbitten fingers when I swiped at the screen and began typing.

Nao: "Hey, I think I need a favor."

I was dripping all over Axel's doorstep.

It was thirty minutes later, and I had just spent the last bit of my allowance on bus fare. Finding myself outside Axel's apartment would have been more scandalous if I wasn't in the process of freezing to death. Shivers wracked through me at regular intervals, and I was in desperate need of a shower. Despite this, my fingertip hovered just a few inches from the shiny doorbell.

Was I really about to do this? Had I really texted Axel and asked him if I could sleep over? Was that a thing that had happened? I wondered if anyone would notice if I curled up in the apartment stairwell and slept there instead, but then I sneezed, and the idea scuffled away. I swallowed hard, confirming that yes, this was happening, and yes, I would get hypothermia and possibly pneumonia if I didn't shower soon. A puddle was spreading around my feet, solidifying my thoughts. Hypothermia and pneumonia. Press the damn button, Nao.

I pressed the damn button, steeling myself for whatever may come.

It took less than a minute for the door to open. Warmth slammed into my chest, forcing an involuntary gasp out of me. Axel stood in the doorway, holding the door open. His jawline was sharp, his bruises ugly, but I'd never been happier to see him.

My last visit here had been a cold and unfriendly affair. Now, however, the empty flat seemed like the most inviting place in the world. Warmth emanated from within it, a stark contrast to my cold and clammy skin. The minimalistic kitchen was almost cozy now. Axel handed me a fluffy towel and I suppressed the urge to bury my face in it.

"You look cold," he deadpanned, shutting the door behind me as I shuffled inside. He made no comment about the rainwater, the way it pooled around our feet, or how I was shaking like a leaf when I unlaced my sneakers. Axel was wearing a white pullover hoodie, and his jet black hair stuck out in random places. There were fresh bruises on his jaw.

"Freezing," I confirmed, squirming out of my jacket. It was soaked all the way through, and little water drops flew every time I moved. I felt like I might collapse at any minute. I needed a shower, stat. 

"Shower's in there," Axel said, nodding towards a door on my left-hand side. It was like he read my mind. This should have concerned me, but all I could do was focus my attention on turning the knob and leaping into the room. I wasted no time on conversation or pleasantries - Axel seemed to dislike those things anyway - and in a matter of seconds I had peeled my clothes off and hopped into the shower.

Figuring out the shower controls took a few frustrating moments, but when the hot water finally hit me, I let out a euphoric groan. A wave of both pain and comfort shot through my body. My toes curled against the marble floor, resisting the burn of hot water against cold skin. My poor feet had been stuck in those wet sneakers for hours. Warming them up was like being born anew. I rested my head against the tiled walls as pins and needles spread down my limbs, warming me up piece by piece. Nothing had ever felt this good before. I thought I could fall asleep right there and then.

The bathroom was ridiculously shiny and just as minimalistic as the living room. There was no bathtub, but the shower was secluded from the rest of the room, and just large enough to accommodate a growing teenager. A tasteful glass wall kept the water from flooding the marble tiles. All the surfaces were granite, and the details were a stark shiny silver, even down to the faucets and the knobs on the cabinets. The only items on Axel's sink were his toothbrush and a bottle of shaving cream. I closed my eyes against the surroundings for a few seconds.

Heat continued seeping into me, and with it came my senses. I frowned against the glass wall, frantically solving the puzzle that was the situation at hand. The divider grew foggy with steam, mimicking my clouded mind. How had I ended up here, exactly?

I slowly recalled the details. My mom and my brother, Seth's distant voice over the phone, and all the 'sorry's from my friends. I remembered the cold bus ride, the eternal elevator trip, and the way Axel hadn't asked me a single question. Not a single one.