Chapter 16

Chapter 16

"Axel? What are you doing here? It's midnight."

"I  was looking for you after the show but I saw Harper instead. She said the two of you met before the show started and that you might've already gone home..." he explained rather slowly, tone implying disbelief. Maybe he had to hear it out loud to finally realize how weird it is for him to show up at my doorstep late at night.

"That doesn't exactly explain why you're here."

He raised the plastic bag from his right hand, "I bought ice cream!" his smile unsure but hopeful.

I  stood there for a while, contemplating all of this – why would he be here, ice cream in hand, purposefully wanting to spend time with me?

"C'mon, the ice cream's melting," he smiled awkwardly. "You gonna let me in, by any chance?"

I  exhaled a breath, "Axel, I –" I started but the next door's doorknob creaked, signifying an exit. Before I knew it, I was grabbing Axel by his arm, shoving him inside my apartment, just in time before my neighbor got out.

"Whoa, tiger," Axel said as I shut the door, leaning on it.

"I'm sorry. My neighbor..." my eyes narrowed at him standing there with a  goofy grin plastered on. He's enjoying this! "Are you out of your mind  or did you just want to get into trouble?"

"What?" his voice defensive. "The only trouble I want to get into is you."

"Gross."  I quickly remarked. "My neighbors might see you, have you thought of that? Are you sure no one saw you get in the building?"

"I'm certain." he said then smirked, "And I'm kind of liking this thing we have going on here."

"What thing? We don't have a thing." I shook my head as I walked towards the couch in the living room.

He followed me, "Like how I'm kind of your dirty little secret, looking for places to rendezvous."

I snorted, "Get off your lovesick wagon, James! You are not my 'dirty-little-secret' and we most definitely do not rendezvous, you just always show up at my apartment unannounced." I slumped on the couch then pressed play on Little Women.

"Whatever  you say." He sat on the couch next to me, rummaging over the plastic bag to take out the ice cream. "We need spoons for this."

"You've been to my kitchen before, go get it."

"But I already brought ice cream." he murmured like a child.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing. I said I'll get it."

I  tried my best not to laugh but the feeling of victory is hard to cover-up, I snorted a small laugh when he disappeared into the kitchen.

My forehead creased at the realization of how easily we fall into this kindergarten rhythm – one minute, we argue and fight like cats and dogs,  the next it's like nothing happened.

Is it actually possible we're sort of becoming a non-traditional, dysfunctional type of friends?

Nah, I think enemies are like that too.

"Okay, 2 spoons," he announced holding up a spoon on each hand.

"So, what flavor did you get?" I said, sitting with my legs crossed.

"Chocolate chip. To celebrate the end of fashion week." pride evident on his face.

I smiled at him, "I almost forgot to thank you for the seats. Congratulations, by the way."

"Thanks, but why did you leave so early?" he scooped a spoonful.

I shrugged, "The show's already over."

"That's it?"

"Yeah,  well, they're already clearing up the chairs and I honestly don't want to go to you with all the cameras around. I mean they have enough  twisted speculations."

He nodded then grabbed another scoop.

"You watching Little Women?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's really good."

"You know, I've worked with Timothée before."

"Really?" I said, intrigued.

"Yes, the guy's insanely talented, and nice too."

I smiled, "That's good to know. It shows! I mean, speaking for this film alone."

He nodded then shoved a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth.

We focused back on the screen while eating the ice cream. I made a mental note to drink a lot of water after this or I'd get tonsilitis.

We finished the ice cream two-thirds into the movie, and the movie itself at around 1:30 A.M. I went to the kitchen to get us some water. I  thought Axel would just stay in the living room but he followed me.

My cheeks suddenly felt hot at the memory of the last time we were alone in the kitchen. I focused back on the task at hand.

"Water?" I asked him as I opened the fridge.

"Please," he replied, leaning onto the counter.

I grabbed the pitcher with lemon water then placed it on the counter.

"Ooh, lemon water. Fancy!" he commented.

"And with mint!" I chuckled, "Mind taking two glasses?"

"Not at all, where is it?"

"Uh, next to you."

"Oh!" he let out a low laugh then grabbed two glasses and placed it next to the pitcher.

I poured the water into the glasses, "I have to say, I thought Fashion shows have after-parties."

Axel sipped on his water, "They do."

"So, you left the party early just to eat ice cream with me?"

"No." he shook his head then looked down. "How can I leave early –"

"Right, it just finished early." I interrupted.

"– When I didn't even go?" he finished.

"Oh."

We stayed silent for a moment, I looked at him and he was just staring at me, eyes settling on my lips – all very reminiscent of the last time, of how we went from there to me giving-in to a moment's weakness, legs wrapping around his hips, mouths devouring each other.

That can't happen again.

I  cleared my throat, "Well, the uh, the ice cream was good. Where did you get it? I'm sorry, it was dark I didn't see the labels."

What am I even talking about?

His brows raised for a second, "It was Serendipity." he nodded, letting out a breath.

"Oh, that's why." I forced a smile then silence filled the room all over again.

"How was the rest of your Fashion Week?" I started.

"It was good. My publicist made sure I had enough exposure. How about you?"

"Me?  Uh... The office was in a buzz. But not me! It pretty much stayed the  same for Accounting." I took another sip of water. "Any interesting  shows?"

"Nah, it's pretty much all the same really. Liezl's show is my big finale for the week."

"Right. Her designs were amazing! I love how wearable they were."

He chuckled, "I'll let her know that."

I shook my head, "This sounds stupid but I didn't even know her."

He looked amused, "Really?"

"Yeah...  Don't be offended but I don't know anything about your personal life.  It was just Hailey who told me that she's the sister of your best  friend."

He smiled, "None taken. It's actually quite refreshing... You not knowing anything about me."

I nodded.

"So... no Google search?" he pouted.

I scoffed, "Well, I know you're a pompous jerk, that's enough." I said jokingly.

He struck his chest, feigning pain. I laughed at him, he just smiled at me. "Well, you said her designs were amazing... And according to her,  there's nothing more satisfactory than a fresh-eye review."

I shook my head, "I'm so glad Hailey went with me. My knowledge of the fashion world is very thin, like paper!"

"Well, you have me." he smiled.

I rolled my eyes at him then silence lingered for a second too long.

"How about another movie?" I asked.

His brows raised dubiously, "Sure." he put the now-empty glass on the sink.

"Okay."  I downed my water then put it on the sink. I placed the pitcher back in the fridge then we walked back to the living room.

"What do you have in mind?" he sat on the couch, relaxing his shoulders.

"Hmm... Let's see. We have Les Misérables, Moulin Rouge, Grease, The Great Gatsby... You pick."

"Well, I haven't watched Moulin Rouge yet, actually."

"What?" I asked in surprise.

"Yeah, but I heard it was good."

"Oh  my God..." my mouth gaped in awe as I shook my head, "Well, we're  definitely watching it now." I looked at him one more time then pressed play, he just shrugged.

He watched intently as the movie progressed, occasionally letting out laughs. "Now, I want to watch The Sound of Music," he commented as Ewan McGregor sang 'The Sound of Music'.

"Exactly!" I replied, "This movie has a lot of references. Like, an homage to them."

He slouched, entertained by the whole thing. I grinned widely as we watched Nicole Kidman's 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend' performance,  astonished by the whole production level. I heard from an interview that Nicole was spent on this specific scene, a lot of energy expended.  Her talent is simply astounding.

A quarter into the movie, I noticed Axel was yawning.

"Any of this you find boring?" I asked in ridicule.

"No! It's good," he said then smiled at me reassuringly.

"Alright."

An hour into the movie, his eyelids were betraying him but he shook his head several times and tried to focus back on the movie. I smiled at how funny he looked.

We were at the part where the characters were rehearsing for their play when I suddenly felt a weight drop on my left shoulder, taking my focus out of the movie. I looked at Axel's head resting on my side, eyes closed in deep slumber, breaths even and slow. The movie faded into nothing as I examined his face, long eyelashes fluttered as he slept. He looked so innocent, so different from when I first saw him. But he also looked spent, like this movie was his last straw for the day. The fashion week may have exhausted him more than he let on.

I looked at the time, it's almost 3:00 A.M.

Why did I even think to watch another movie? I should've just ended the night and sent him home.

I  reached for the throw pillow next to me and placed it on the left end,  unable to even bear the thought of waking him up and sending him home when looks so tired. I moved Axel so he could lie a little more comfortably.

I turned the TV off then walked to my bedroom, taking one last glance at the sleeping Axel on my couch.

What has gotten into me?