14

                                        

                                              
A/N: since it's isn't made clear in the show where exactly Axel is from, in this book he's Croatian. Feel free to imagine otherwise, but that is going to be a key detail in this book.
-🥋-
chapter fourteen




MADDIE



After being rushed to the airport the next day, I find myself carrying all my suitcases on my own, looking around me in hopes I'll find the person I want to say goodbye to the most. I never got to ask him my question. I never got the tell him all the things I wanted to.
Everybody in the Sekai Taikai was being flown back home, meaning Axel would be back in Croatia by the time I landed in California. Same world, but so far away. He'll be six hours ahead, but the difference means nothing if the person matters. And he does. 
He does matter. 
As soon as I spot him moving towards his gate, I drop my bags in the middle of the airport beside Sam. I would have dropped them even if I was alone. Axel's head is bowed, his eyes glued to the floor. Only when I call out his name, do they snap up. 
Immediately, I'm running towards him, launching myself into his arms, ignoring the fact the look on his sensei's face grows darker than ever. He hates me, but he could never hate me as much as I hated myself. Axel relieves all that pain as he just stands here while I wrap my arms around his torso tightly, burying my head in his chest. 
After a moment, his hands slowly move to drape around my waist, his chin resting on mine. His body is so tense and ridged. As I look up, my nose brushes his. His eyes have a look in them I had seen before. A look that he held right after his sensei hurt him. And a look that had only re-entered after Kwon's body was turned. 
"Can you call me when you land?" I ask him. "Can you not forget me because I don't want it all to have never happened."
At my words, Axel doesn't kiss me. He doesn't speak to me. He simply leans down, tightening his hold on my body and bringing me close to him. Despite him being so close to me, there's a wedge between us. And I can feel it physically digging into my side. 
Resting my head on Axel's shoulder, the eyes of sensei Wolf lock with mine. They're filled with so much blame and rage. Something told me the look in Axel's eyes wasn't there by coincidence. 
It was there because of Wolf. 




one month later
september 28th