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1202 Words
HAZEL
Axel nods once, his jaw tightening.
“Okay. That’s how you want to do this?”
I shrug, feigning innocence. “I don’t know What you mean.”
He moves toward me, quick, silent, and my breath catches. He’s never hurt me, not physically, not once, but I’ve only been here three months. I don’t really know him. Not what he’s capable of. Not what he hides behind that calm, composed exterior.
Still, I keep my chin up, that what-are-you-gonna-do look painted on my face.
When he reaches the bed, he says softly,
“Have it your way.”
And before I can react, he’s grabbing me.
I squeal, struggling as he pulls me off the bed. “Hey! Put me down!”
He doesn’t. He lifts me effortlessly, tossing me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing.
I kick. I hit. I even try to bite, but it’s like fighting a machine. He locks one arm around my legs so I can’t move. Then we’re out of the room. Down the stairs.
He doesn’t walk down....he skips steps, long strides, and my stomach flips with each bounce. My hair is everywhere, my voice lost somewhere between outrage and disbelief.
And before I can process it, we’re outside. He sets me down, but only enough to push me back against the car. My breath catches again, the cold metal pressing into my spine.
I’m still trying to catch my breath, to fix my hair, to understand what the hell just happened, when he leans in, pulls the seatbelt across me, clicks it shut, and....bang! Slams the door.
Okay. Now he’s mad.
Not just mad, furious.
He rounds the car, climbs into the driver’s seat, and says one word to the man up front.
“Drive.”
The driver doesn’t even hesitate. The car rolls forward immediately.
I twist toward Axel, heat rising in my chest. “Where are you taking me?”
Axel doesn’t answer. He keeps looking at his phone, scrolling, typing, completely ignoring me.
“Axel, I’m talking to you. Where are you taking me?”
He continues checking something on his screen, thumbs moving with perfect calm.
“I don’t like being manhandled,” I snap. “I don’t like the fact that it’s my time for bed, that I was in bed, minding my own business, and then you just show up from nowhere and force me to do whatever the hell you want, okay? I do not like that. I do not like this.”
Still nothing.
“Tell me, where are you taking me?”
But Axel doesn’t even flinch. He’s still that damn composed version of himself, acting as if I’m invisible.
Gritting my teeth, I turn toward the window. The city lights streak past like flashes of light. I try to stay calm. I try to let this play out. But I can’t.
I turn back toward him.
“Axel, tell me where you’re taking me. If you’re letting me go, tell me. If you’re getting rid of me.....if you’re going to kill me, then tell me too. Just tell me where you’re taking me.”
Still nothing. He’s still busy with his phone, like I’m not even sitting here beside him.
I don’t even think about it; my hand just moves.
I swipe his phone right out of his hand.
The sound it makes as it hits the floor between us echoes louder than I expect.
Now I have his attention. He turns toward me slowly, his jaw tightening, his eyes hard. He doesn’t say a word, but I can see it, the anger there, sharp and restrained, like he’s holding himself back.
And even though I’m trembling inside, scared as hell, I lift my chin anyway. I look him right in the eye, defiant, my whole face saying Yeah, I did it. What are you gonna do?
He breaks the stare first.... A first.
Bends down. Picks up his phone calmly, dusts it off.
And somehow, that calmness, his refusal to react, makes me even angrier.
“Really? Really?” I snap. “You’re just going to act like I didn’t disrespect you? Like I didn’t make you mad? Because we both know you’re angry. Aren’t you? You’re really angry.”
This time, he finally speaks. His voice is low, deliberate, and too calm.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Hazel.”
“Well, I did,” I fire back. “I did it because I asked you questions and you didn’t answer me. You’re treating me like a… like a…” I trail off, searching for the right word, for something that fits, but nothing does.
So I just look at him instead, eyes narrowed, chin up, letting my silence say the rest.
“I’m going to pretend that little tantrum didn’t happen. I suggest you do the same.”
I blink. “What? That’s all you’re going to say? That’s all you’re going to do?”
“Yes. What were you expecting?” His voice is low, controlled, almost mocking. “A standing ovation? A crown, perhaps?”
He raises an eyebrow, and that just makes me so mad. I don’t even know where the words come from; they just pour out.
“I don’t know what you did to me, because I shouldn’t have kissed you back. But I suppose my stopping you from doing whatever you wanted made you mad. Angered you. So now what? You’re going to punish me because I didn’t want to sleep with you? Is that what this is?”
His lips twitch. That smirk. I hate it.
“Oh,” he says, sounding amused. “Is that what you think?”
“It’s not what I think....it’s what happened! You know exactly what you wanted to do, and I stopped you.” I exhale, frustrated. “I think it’s time we talk so we can get this over with.”
“Oh?” he straightens, eyes locking on mine. “So we do have something to talk about. Please....enlighten me. What is it we have to discuss? I’m curious.”
“You’re curious?” I glare at him. “I want you to know, first off, I did not like you kissing me. I did not want you to kiss me. And I hated the fact that you forced yourself on me.”
“Oh?” His tone drops, dark amusement flickering in his eyes. “I forced myself on you? I thought you were a willing participant. You just admitted you kissed me back.”
“Because I was confused!” I snap. “Because I didn’t know what I was doing.”
“Really?” he murmurs, clearly entertained.
“Yes, really. You know I don’t love you. I don’t have feelings for you. You shouldn’t have done it. And just so you know, don’t ever try that again. If this is you trying to scare me into giving you what you want, it won’t work.”
He laughs, actually laughs.
“If I wanted to sleep with you, Hazel,” he says, voice smooth and deadly calm, “I would have already done so.... So, so many times.”
- Writer
