Chapter 36

Sophie's POV:

I watch the water in the stream slowly moving down, further away from me. My bum feels a bit uncomfortable against the hard rock I'm sitting on, but I ignore it.

The image of Axel kissing another girl is slowly beginning to burn less than it did before.

I'm comforting myself with the fact that she kissed him, not vice versa.

I overreacted a bit, but I really needed some time alone.

My phone has been buzzing non-stop. I should probably tell Axel that I'm fine.

I will in a few moments.

"I thought you might be here." I hear behind me and turn to see Theo walking up to me.

His eye is purple and his expression while he's waking is pained.

"Oh my god, are you okay? What happened?" I ask, standing up and walking up to him, inspecting his eye.

"Axel didn't tell you?" he asks and I frown.

"Tell me what?" I ask.

Theo sighs and sits down on the grass and I sit beside him.

"He came to my house last night to have a 'little chat' with me." Theo says, making air quotations.

"What do you—wait Axel did this to you?" I ask, alarmed.

He nods.

"Oh my god, I'm so, so sorry Theo. Does it hurt a lot?" I ask, feeling quite a lot of emotions at the moment; worry, rage, disgust, and I feel horrible that Axel did this.

"It's okay, it's not your fault." Theo answers.

"What happened?" I ask and he sighs.

"Well, he came to my house and called me to come outside, and then wanted to claim you as some object, but I of course argued. He told me he'll kill me if I ever come close to you again and then when I didn't agree, he just kind of... blew up, I guess." he explains.

I groan. "I'm gonna kill him. He told me to stay away from you, as well." I admit and Theo rolls his eyes.

"That's stupid, we're just friends."

I nod. "Exactly."

"So you and him...?" Theo begins and I begin to play with my hands, shrugging.

"I don't know. We're not together, but we kind of act like we are." I say, trying to explain our situation.

"Do you have feelings for him?" Theo asks.

"I just—I don't know. I care about him, a lot." I say and he nods.

"Look, I know we're friends and all, but I need you to know that whatever happens, I'll never support you and Axel." Theo admits.

I'm taken aback by his words.

"What?" I ask.

"It's just that you deserve something much better than him." Theo says and I purse my lips, slowly standing up from the ground.

"Did I offend you?" Theo asks and I shake my head.

"No, I just think that I know what I deserve." I say, defending me and Axel for the first time.

I grab my phone and smile at Theo, who looks surprised.

"I have to go, sorry." I say and begin to walk away, calling Liam.

He answers on the second ring. "Hey, where are you? Everyone is kind of going crazy here, worrying." he says.

"I'm fine, I'm at the school. Could you please come pick me up?" I ask.

"Yeah, sure. I'll be there in five." he says and I thank him, and hang up.

As I do, I see Axel calling me again. Sighing I pick up.

"I'm okay, you can stop panicking." I say.

"Sophie?" he asks. "Sorry, you just threw me off guard, I didn't expect you to answer."

I frown. Why is he so... nice?

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Yeah I'm just really fucking worried about you. Where the fuck are you?!" he shouts into the phone and I'm relieved that he's back to himself.

"Don't you dare shout at me, what is wrong with you?! What the fuck did you do to Theo?!" I shout back.

"What—You were with that fucker?! I fucking told you to stay away from him, you promised you would!"

"I didn't promise anything!" I shout. "I'm so goddamned mad at you!"

"I'm mad at you, too! Do you have any idea how fucking worried I was! Greyson could have found you! You could have gotten into an accident!"

"Sure, Axel. Just don't call me today again, okay. I need some space." I say.

"What?! Don't you hang up, Sophia, don't you fucking-"

I hang up.

A moment later, he's calling me again.

I roll my eyes and shut off my phone, it seems like the only way to get some space.

Liam pulls up a moment later and I get in his car.

"Thank you so much, Liam, you're a really great friend." I say.

"It's no problem, Sophie, you can always count on me. What happened? Where do you want me to take you?" he asks and I open my mouth, then close it.

If I go back home, Axel will definitely come and I really need a day off of all the drama.

The same thing if I go to Amber's.

But he doesn't know where Liam lives.

"Could I sleep over at your house?" I ask, hoping for him to say yes.

"Of course, we have a spare bedroom." he grins and I give him a huge smile.

"Thank you." I say, feeling incredibly grateful for having someone like Liam.