A New Friend

"what was going on at that dinner yesterday?" we were both lying in my bed. After last night's fiasco, I was not looking to any more dinners with the Logans.

"what do you mean?" I interlock my hands in the air. Trying to get the same butterfly feeling I got when I locked it with Axel.

"I mean that Axel was looking at you differently."

"Your brother doesn't even think of my very existence" I brushed off the topic.

"Hmm," she seemed not satisfied but said nothing about it again.

"Well, lately, I feel like my dad has been distance."

"you feel?" I whispered in sarcasm.

"what did you say?"

"nothing" she got up.

"need to go__ mom will kill me if I stay later than this" I nodded.

Everyone was already inside the theater. It was always calm after everybody had paid for their tickets and drinks when they watched the movie. I was bored. I rest my head on my palm, using my elbow as support. Someone dropped a jar of cookies in my front, and I recognized the label.

"Hello, Avery"

I eyed him suspiciously

"that was genius what you did with the cockroach, even though I know you could have done better."

He was right.

I could have done better. I once put butter on a boy's shoe in 4th grade and then put a lot of gum in his hair when he fell asleep in recess. He had to shave his hair the next day. His crime was calling my favorite shoe stupid. Maybe I was becoming softer.

I opened the cookie jar to collect a cookie from inside. I moaned when the flavor hit my mouth.

"so a truce," he said nervously.

"I mean, you did help me back there," referring to what happened at the dinner.

"I did"

"so maybe a half truce" not ready to compromise. I felt that keeping Axel close would rub off on me in the wrong way.

"Friends?" my hands froze in the middle of taking another cookie.

"you did just eat my cookie."

"you offereddddd!!!" I protested.

"I just dropped it on the table," he demonstrated.

"you said you would get me one."

"Not this one," he smiled.

"friends with hate then."

"friends, Avery or I will tell Cleo you forgot her secret handshake" I opened my mouth wide.

"I knew you were low but not that low to blackmail," I acted seriously. He turned his face.

"am the worst. So deal"

"Deal," I said, grinning. He stretched out his phone. I looked at him weirdly.

"friends should have each other numbers" I take it from him and dial down my digits. He took it from me afterward, as I stretched to see what he had saved my name as he walked away.

"I will message you soon."

And he did message me in the dead of night.

Are you awake?_ unknown

Axel?_ me

Obviously, with an emoji_ Axel

If I wasn't, would I be messaging you? with sarcasm_ me

Come outside_ Axel

On the first day of our friendship and he is already thinking of murdering me in the wood_ me

Still, I get off my bed to wear a hoodie and shorts.

It is safe, and I didn't say we were going to the woods_ Axel

where else would you take me to_ me

the butcher house?_ Axel

I sneaked out through the window. He was already waiting for me in his deadbeat truck when I was down.

"you need to sell this truck. It's not like you can't afford another one," I said as I entered the truck.

"Hey, don't let Rayray hear you" he put his two hands on the car music player.

He tries to start his car.

"dead beat," I said, crossing my hands. he tried again but not without making a terrible sound.

"she just needs a new engine."

"or to be put to rest."

We remained silent after that argument.

Axel eventually arrived at the lake, where there were people.

One of them I recognized from the movies.

I took my time walking down to the lake while he went ahead to shake the guys' hands and hug the girls.

He encircled my waist with his arms.

"that is Jasper," pointing to the one who came to him in the movie theater. In between Jasper's legs was a girl with curly blond hair.

"that's Tessa."

He moved on to the only other guy talking to a girl I know who attends my school.

"Theo and Dani" Theo held a can of beer in his hands. I think he was the only one still drinking. I could see the empty bottles on the floor and some cans not yet opened.

"and that, Ashley," calling the last girl out who was sitting alone from everyone else. She waved at me shyly.

"Guys, this is my best friend Avery," he shouted. I looked at him weirdly

Theo jumped up from where he was sitting to meet me

"she is a lot prettier than you described her to be."

He almost smiled at me, but Axel pushed Theo's face away with his hands.

"Stay away from my best friend."

"your best friend?" I raised my eyebrows. His arm still on my shoulders, he turned to face me and grinned. Our lips were so close together that it appeared we were about to kiss.

"yes"

"since when"

"since before"

"There is no proof."

"Hey, don't say that we even did the secret handshake thing."

"you are never going to let that go," he chuckled

"Never"