Change 53

LUCAS

" What are you wearing tomorrow?" Joshua asks the minute I answer my cellphone.

" I still haven't decided. Why?" I swiftly place Nathan's food in the microwave oven since he won't be home until later.

" I just want to make sure you won't embarrass Tobias tomorrow ." Joshua murmurs on the other side but I can hear that there's something more he isn't telling me .

"What's up?" I take a seat on one of the chairs besides the dining table .

He becomes silent on the other side. I patiently wait for him to say something " I'm just a little anxious". He finally says with a thick voice.

" About tomorrow?"

" Not really . Wylder is going to be there and I hate that even after this long, he still has an effect on me ."

" I wish I could say you don't have to come but we will miss having you at the party . " I answer .

" Maybe I will just ignore him like he ignores me?" He suggests after a lengthy pause" Oh yeah, I'm bad at ignoring him ." He laughs dryly .

" We will get through this together. " I say to him .

" I doubt that. Since you have gotten cozy with Nathan . You have been neglecting us, and Summer can confirm that ."

" Oh i--" he's so right. I have no idea how to even defend myself . Being around Nathan has turned into this addictive habit I think I will never get over and it strangely feels like a good thing.

" It's absolutely fine! No need to stumble over your words . We are happy for you two . I just don't get why you guys are keeping it a secret ."

" We are not . Are we?" I frown at the accusation. We haven't exactly announced it to anyone but I thought it would be obvious .

" It feels like it . Don't tell me you are pregnant again?"

" Of course not! We are just ... enjoying being together after so long of fighting over everything."

" I'm going to buy that for now . Anyways Elizabeth says 'hi' and wish she could be there but she's going away on some trip to Paris with mom ."

" Oh"

" Yeah, I think it has to do with that invitation you sent her ." He whispers like he didn't want anyone to hear him .

" I knew that was a bad idea.  " I scold myself . Calling her wasn't exactly an option too. Her cellphone is monitored by Mrs. Kevens . That woman is so controlling. I can't wait for my little sister to see that about her.

" Don't worry about it.  Mom's days are numbered. " Josh assures me . " I mean, I don't want to ask but I feel like I should, have you guys fucked yet?"

" Oh God!" My whole face goes red . " Joshua, no!" I cough out .

Joshua doesn't let me off the hook like that . He even adds Summer on the line so they could grill me about the date I never really told them about. One, because most of the stuff Nathan and I talked about were personal and two, because of how hot our night ended . So I end up  telling them half truths . What they don't know, won't kill them.

***

NATHANIEL

After a long conflicted day spent wondering if Axel even deserves the time of my day, I eventually give in and agree to meet him at some bar in secrecy .  That's my only option at this point.

I shuffle my way in it with Wylder attached to my hip like always. He forcefully tagged himself along and there was nothing I could do about it anyways .

We both order two bottles of beer and take a seat by the corner of the bar, where there are less people and noise .

" So what are we doing at this cheap bar again?" Wylder inquires with raised brows across from me .

" Meeting someone." I mumble. My eyes roaming around the room . It's better if Wylder knows that I'm here . It would be worse if anyone but him knew . I don't want Lucas to know from another person . Telling him personally is better and that's what I'm going to do after tonight.

" Someone huh?" Wylder takes a small sip of his beer while eying me suspiciously . " Does that someone have to do with Axel?"

Before I could come up with a better comeback. Axel enters the bar, panting. He looks kind of out of it . His hair is a mess, like he has been running his hands over it so many times. He's on some grey sweatpants with a black jacket under a white t-shirt . It is my first time seeing Axel wearing sweats in public. He always wore fancy clothes outside his bedroom.

I wave him over after he grabs a beer by the bar . Wylder scowls at me but doesn't say anything . " I will explain later!" I quickly whisper to him .

He simply nods and goes back to taking a small sip of his beer.  Axel takes the seat across from me, next to Wylder .

" Hey Wylder!" Axel has this weird smile as he looks from me to Wylder.

" Axel." Wylder grumbles. Axel motions for me to step aside with him . Away from Wylder. I grunt out 'okay' already wishing I stayed home if this is how it's going to be.

" What part of 'come alone' don't you understand?" Axel mutters the minute we are out of Wylder's earshot .

" It was either this or no show Axel . What the hell do you even want from me?"

He shoves his hands in his jacket pockets , sighing heavily.  " I want closure. "

" Closure?" I repeat. Not getting where he's coming from with this.

" I have been having a hard time moving without you so I thought, perhaps talking to you will help?"

" Talking to me about what?" I don't miss a beat . Sounding rude at this moment is the least of my worries .

" Us , you know . How we ended up here, as strangers?"

" There is nothing to talk about." I spit out under my breath" You are the one who left, remember?You are the one who didn't care, now you are turning this around. Acting like I'm the one who hurt you? "

" It's not like that ..."

" Really??" I scoff . " Just leave me and my family alone . We have enough on our plate as it is ."

" I'm so sorry ..." He hangs is head low.  Guilt covering his face . " I'm so sorry Nathan. "

" What are you talking about?" Now I'm confused. Axel shifts under his weight, his eyes focused on the ground .

" He's back ." That's all he  says and my mind instantly thinks of  Tyron . I knew someday he would come back but I never thought it was going to be this soon .

" How do you know? Did he come to you?" I shoot him a lingering stern look .

" He called me last night. Told me that after he's done with Lucas . He's coming for me. " He hugs himself tightly, looking at the ground.  " I'm sorry I should have told you sooner but I was scared.  "

" And now you are not scared?"

" Look Nathan, I'm doing this because I care about Tobias."

" That's new, Axel caring about someone other than himself . So you called me here for this? Not for that closure bullshit you were pulling earlier on?"

" It was both , actually. In case.  ..you know Tyron does something to Lu--"

" And I'm sure you will be happy if he does. "

" Of course not! Isn't why I'm telling you? I do care, if I didn't. I wouldn't be standing here wearing this. "

" If you cared that much,you should have gone to the police the minute Tyron contacted you but you didn't . So what do you expect me to do with what you have told me?"

" I wish I didn't come here ..."

" Fucking great, me too!" I half yell . Wylder must have noticed how heated the conversation is because he came to my rescue, mumbling nonsense about the fact that it's getting late.

I give Axel one last glare, a part of me can never hate him but if something happens to Lucas or me . He's dead to me.

***