Semua Bab Blunt Pain: Bab 41 - Bab 50

AspenHer eyes fluttered open when Axl sat down on her bed with two cups of coffee in his hands. He had a red Santa hat on his head, and she chuckled as she shifted into a sitting position. The soft morning light spilled across the room, catching in the tinsel she’d taped to the headboard the night before.“Merry Christmas,” he said, and took a sip from his own cup. His eyes held exhaustion, yet the smile on his face was one she knew. He was trying to hide something from her.“Thank you, Axl. Merry Christmas,” she said.“Have you heard from North?”“He called just after midnight. Their dinner was tense, but he survived,” she said.“Yeah, I saw his text this morning when I woke up. Charlotte’s mom called her fat,” he said.Aspen shook her head and took another sip from her coffee. “I don’t trust her, but it’s still mean to call someone fat.”“You’re not alone, but so far she hasn’t acted like the almighty bitch she was in the beginning.”Aspen smiled but didn’t say anything. She sighed

AxlMerit had stood him up three times in the past few weeks, making flimsy excuses. He didn’t know what was going on with her. At times, she was insecure, almost neurotic, crying about losing him, and he’d comfort her, not sure where this side of her was coming from. Other times, she was sweet, talking about their future, and what they’d do after school.She wanted to go to college, and she wanted to know what he wanted to do. He didn’t know at that point. He knew he wanted to leave Esperton, but that was all he knew. He liked her; no, he was in love with her. He hated her feeling vulnerable, and he spent less time with Aspen because of it. He wanted her to be happy.He knocked on the door of his grandmother’s trailer and shoved his hands in his pockets. It was late afternoon, and Merit had cancelled yet another date; her excuse this time was that she was going for a massage therapy session. The quiet around the trailer felt wrong, heavier than usual, as if even the air was holding

NorthHe glanced at himself in the mirror. The tuxedo was tailored to fit, expensive, and made him appear older than his eighteen years. Their birthdays had all come and gone, and he clenched his fists, knowing the year was almost over; it was almost time. The reflection staring back at him felt like a stranger—polished, obedient, and already owned by someone else.His mother waited for him at the bottom of the stairs, but she looked worried. Her hands twisted together in front of her, knuckles pale, eyes rimmed with exhaustion he knew too well.“I’m so sorry, North.”“Why? What happened?” His heart hammered in his chest. He looked into her eyes, but she looked down as another door opened, and he heard his father’s footsteps.“In the library. Now,” Weston said, and turned on his heel. The man looked livid, and North swallowed, but followed behind him dutifully. Each step felt heavier than the last, as though the hallway itself were narrowing around him.Charlotte and her parents stood

MeritShe’d been a nervous wreck, but Axl wasn’t in school on Monday. She’d tried calling him, but realized he’d blocked her number. Everything was a mess, and she desperately wanted to call Aspen when the news of North and Charlotte’s impromptu wedding broke.The headline had spread through the corridors like wildfire, whispered between lockers and glowing phone screens, each hushed voice pressing deeper into her chest until it felt bruised.She was all alone now. She didn’t have Axl, and she didn’t have Aspen. Aspen would choose Axl; it was a given. They’d lean on each other, and she knew Aspen hated her now. Axl would’ve told her the whole story. The week passed by slowly, and she’d made eye contact with North a few times, but she didn’t think he knew. He’d asked her about Aspen, but she did the only thing she could think of—she ignored him and hurried down the hall.Axl would never forgive her. She’d wanted to tell him so many times, but she couldn’t. More than once, she wondered

AxlHe stood watching Aspen as she slept, and he wondered if North was right. Did he love her? He shook his head. If he was being honest with himself, then he probably did, more than he should have. Merit had been right about one thing, he always jumped when it came to Aspen.The quiet of the trailer pressed in around him, broken only by the soft hum of the old refrigerator and the faint creak of cooling metal, and the stillness made his thoughts feel louder, heavier, harder to ignore.She shifted in her sleep and opened her eyes. She smiled when she saw him, and he walked into her room, and sat down on her bed. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, and shifted into a sitting position.Sunlight slipped through the thin curtain and painted pale stripes across her blanket, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself to believe that maybe this fragile calm could last.“What time is it?”“Almost time to get up,” he said.“So…where’s my coffee?”Axl chuckled. “I want you to come with me.”“To