MOONBOUND

03.

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.”

His smile widens at the sound of his name on my lips, and I can't help the wave of nostalgia that washes over me as I rake my eyes over him again. Axel Grey. In the flesh. After seven long years.

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. “Good different, or bad different?”

He chuckles, his smile reaching his eyes. “Good different.” He pauses, holding my gaze for a moment. “I missed you,” he murmurs.

A small flutter in my belly erupts 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 to him, no doubt.

Pulling away, I usher him into my house. Greetings pass between Axel and my mom as we all get seated across the diner table. Plates of mashed potatoes and chicken go around, one for each person.

“I don't see your Dad,” Axel leans to whisper in my ear.

“Oh, he's not around. He's away on business.” Again.

“You'll meet him next time for sure,” I offer with a sympathetic look.

Axel flashes a gorgeous grin in response. The fluttering in my belly returns and I silently scold myself. Get a grip, Hayley.

Across the table, Lucas munches on a chicken hungrily and I realize then that Axel and I are the only ones not eating yet. I pick a knife and fork nearby and offer them to him. But he's too engrossed in the conversation between my mom and Mrs Martinez to notice. So I slip them into his hand instead...

And just then, the weirdest thing happens.

Axel bolts upright from his seat, like he's been electrocuted. The fork and knife clatter from his hand and his plate crashes to the floor.

Startled, I glance up at him—his face is drained of color. He's... shaken, like he's just seen a ghost.

The table goes silent as my mom and Mrs Martinez's small conversation fades abruptly. Even Lucas stops chewing for a split second.

Axel turns to my mom. “I'm sorry, Mrs Anderson…I didn't mean—”

My mom rises from her chair, waving his apology away with a hand. “Oh, it's alright dear. We'll get it cleaned up.” She smiles softly. “I’ll fix you another plate. It's no problem.”

As she heads to the kitchen, Mom flashes me a confused look that seems to ask “what did you do?”. But I'm just as surprised as she is. And right then, the strange feeling I had on the porch settles over me again—the same one I felt when I noticed Axel's eyes.

I try to shake it off, mouthing a small “sorry” to him as I help clean up. He apologizes as well and we share a faint smile.

When my mom returns with another plate, Axel quietly declines using the fork and knife I offered earlier. Or any cutlery at all. Instead, he reaches out for a spoon: a rubber spoon.

The feeling of oddness at what just happened lingers in my guts, but I steer my mind away from it. The rest of dinner goes on well, with lighthearted conversations and a few laughs in between.

When it's time for them to head home, I offer to walk with them and my mom agrees. Truth is, I just want some alone time with Axel. As we step down the porch and onto the street, I turn to him.

“I heard about your parents, Ax.” A heaviness settles in my limbs. “I can't imagine what it must have been like for you. I'm sorry.”

His lips press into a thin line. “It’s alright.” He exhales, swallowing hard. “It's not the same without them, but I'm adjusting.”

My chest aches for him, and without thinking, I reach for his hand.

As my fingers make contact with his, a hotness tinges my skin. His palm is scorching. I glance up at him in surprise for a moment, then I immediately flip his hand over—under the streetlamp, I see a red scar etched into his palm, like a burn mark. It looks fresh.

“Ax, what happened to you?” I blurt out immediately.

He quickly pulls his hands away from mine. “It's… nothing." He shoves both hands into his pockets tensely and his eyes shift to Lucas, who’s now at the door, waiting for him. Taking the hint, I know it’s time to end the night.

I draw in a deep breath, trying to mask the worry gnawing at me. “It was really good to see you tonight, Ax.”

He nods, then glances down at the ground before meeting my eyes again.

“Mrs Martinez says I'll be starting school tomorrow. I guess we'll be seeing each other a lot.” He breaks into a full smile. “It was really good to see you again, Hayley. Thanks for tonight. Goodnight.”

He turns away and starts walking towards the house.

“Night, Ax,” I call after him softly. He gives me one last wave before heading inside with Lucas.

As I trudge back to my place, my thought linger on how much Axel has changed. The sudden green eyes, a strange preference for rubber utensils, and that scar...

Wait a minute. The scar.

I realize it now.

The scarred palm is the same one he dropped the utensils from. I couldn't possibly have hurt him with the cutlery, could I? I mean, it barely made contact with him before he… spooked.

And even if that were the case, cutlery wouldn't burn the skin. An open wound, maybe. But not a burn mark. The scar looked fresh. Like it was a skin reaction. Or an allergy.

But an allergy to what… silver cutlery?

Alright, just stop already, Sherlock. Now you're just making up dumb stuff.

I sigh as I climb the steps to my door, shaking off the odd feelings clinging to me. Then I walk into the house.

My childhood best friend has returned to town, and that's all that matters. For now.