All Chapters of MOONBOUND: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

HAYLEYI should be in a cheerful mood with today being my nineteenth birthday. But as I sit at the diner with my boyfriend, Theo, nothing about today feels remotely cheery. Not with the solemn expression on his face.Sitting just across from me, Theo's eyes hold a mix of quiet pain and frustration. It's a look I rarely see in him.When I reach across the table to hold his hand, he slowly pulls away and I tug at empty air. I watch his eyes fall to the table for a moment before lifting to meet mine again.“I don’t think we can keep doing this, Hayley.” He exhales, pausing for a moment. “I want to break up.”Wait. What? The words hang in the air between us, and like a spell, they render me speechless. My stomach churns for a millisecond, like it's about to haul the milkshake we ordered minutes ago. Theo can't possibly mean that. No way. Not after everything we've been through together. And definitely not on my birthday. Exhaling, he leans forward on the diner table, clearly exasperated.

HAYLEY. I'm still lost in the green depths of Axel’s eyes when he breaks into a boyish, handsome smile. “We brought wine,” He beams, holding up a bottle wrapped in brown paper with a neat little ribbon. I match his smile. “Thank you, Ax.” I watch his smile lifts to his eyes at the sound of his name on my lips, and in the small silence between us, time slows to a crawl. Axel Grey. In the flesh. After seven long years. I rake my eyes over him again as a wave of nostalgia rolls over me.Like he can read my thoughts, Axel lifts a brow, still smiling. “You look… different.” I fold my arms over my chest, feigning a look of mock suspicion. “The good kind of different, or the bad kind of different?” He beams. “Good different.” He pauses, holding my gaze for a moment. “I missed you.” Warmth settles in my belly at the words. “I missed you too, Ax.” He holds his hands open and I walk into his embrace, leaning my head against his chest. His perfectly toned chest. Puberty’s been nice

HAYLEYMake-up shouldn't be this complicated. Yet here I am, overthinking what various shades of lip gloss might mean. Red? Too intense. Black? Gothic and cool as hell, but maybe not the best fit for this evening. Not for him. Pink wins, and I draw a line over my lip, before dabbing mascara along my lashes. A few seconds later, I set the wand down, stare at my reflection in the small vanity mirror before me, and bask in the glow of my new look. My silver-gray hair is pulled into a neat ponytail, tied with a pink bow, and my white cottage gown accentuates the brown of my eyes. My rosy lips glow under the small light taped to the mirror. I dab my palms around the edges of my hair, smiling in appraisal at my reflection. “You’re a thing of beauty, aren't you?” I beam at my reflection. Yes, you are. Even if this little beauty session isn't for you, but for him. I suppress the smile curling on my lips as I drop my make up instruments into my bedside drawer, my fingers quivering w

AXELMy jaw hangs open the moment I step onto the football field. Hayley wasn't exaggerating—it’s big. Almost twice the size of the one in Ashbrae High. The field here is a lush, green carpet that stretches wide, rounded by a track for athletics. I glance towards the stands, most of which are empty, noting how high they go. Altogether, they could easily seat two thousand fans, at least. My gaze shifts to the East stand, where a small crowd of students occupy a few rows. Some of the faces look bored, others curious to watch the new guys prove themselves. Neither reason helps the quivering in my belly. On the benches, most of the team are tossing a ball back and forth between themselves, some others engrossed in playful chatter. I sight a few of the boys pointing with narrowed gazes, placing bets on who they think will make the team or not. All the more reason to be anxious. Just great. Why did I agree to give football a shot again? Because Hayley thought you'd do good at it. Of co

HAYLEY “Good Lord,” Corey whispers, staring at the torn garage door. The words tremble on her lips, and behind her glasses, there's fear in her eyes. I force down the bile of panic clawing at my throat and take cautious steps to the splintered door. The wood is thick, two inches at least, and for all its destruction, its hinges are still in place. Whoever—or whatever broke into the garage must have hacked at it for a long time before tearing through. I turn around to face Lucas. “How’d this happen?” He licks his lips, like he's forgotten how to talk. “I don't know.” He grips the torch in his hand firmly. “When we spoke on the phone, I thought Ax was sleeping in his room. I went upstairs to tease him, but he wasn't there.”His eyes shift from me to Corey, and back. “Guys, there was movement here. I know it's dark, but—God, I'd swear I saw something move from the window upstairs. “What was it?” Corey's voice trembles with anxious curiosity. “What'd you see?”Lucas drags a hand throu