Chapter 44 44

Chapter 44 44
Jaelen woke to an empty bed and cold sheets.
The room was quiet, the faint indent on the pillow beside him the only proof Azxel had been there at all. He rubbed a hand over his face, chest tightening as the realization hit him, the four days were up of course Azxel had gone to Sky.

He pushed himself up, showered fast with hot water doing nothing to wash away the ache and pulled on fresh clothes. By the time he reached the cafeteria, his stomach was knotted with something he refused to name.

He sighted them sited there. Azxel sat pressed to Sky’s side at a corner table, thigh to thigh, Sky’s arm draped possessively over the back of his chair. Azxel’s hair still that strange, unnatural shade Sky had made him dye, it was the only coconut that could tell Azxel was there. He was laughing at whatever Sky had whispered in his ear, bright and easy, like the past three nights with Jaelen had been a dream.

When Jaelen stepped into the doorway, Azxel’s head turned immediately. Their eyes met across the room. Azxel’s face lit up immediately, he smiled wide and genuine, waving a small, shy hand.

Jaelen forced a stiff smile back, nodding once before heading to the food line.

He felt Sky’s gaze on him the whole time. With his food tray in his hand, Jaelen scanned for a seat. His usual table had his two friends already there, but as he approached, they both stood suddenly, mumbling  about leaving the school for something. They left without looking back.

Jaelen sat alone.

A shadow fell over the table a minute later.
“Hey,” Azxel said softly, standing beside him, fingers twisting together. “I… I didn’t want to wake you. You were sleeping so soundly, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Jaelen glanced up. Azxel’s eyes were nervous, his lips bitten red. “It’s fine,” Jaelen said with a very neutral voice. “Go eat.”

Azxel hesitated, then smiled gratefully and hurried back to Sky. Less than a minute later, another shadow walked up to Azxel’s table. Azxel looked up to find Jaelen standing beside their table.

“Mind if I sit?” Jaelen asked.

Azxel turned immediately to Sky, eyes wide and hopeful. Sky’s arm tightened around Azxel’s waist, pulling him closer into his side. He smiled lazily down at Azxel. “What do you say, baby?”

Azxel’s cheeks flushed. He beamed up at Sky, then turned that same bright smile on Jaelen and nodded quickly.

Jaelen sat.

For a moment, it was normal but then, Azxel’s gaze would flick to Jaelen every often; and when their eyes met, they always smile at each other.

Sky noticed the small eyes movements and then leaned in, his lips brushing Azxel’s neck, with open mouthed kisses trailing up to his ear. He nipped the skin lightly, sucking just hard enough to leave a faint mark. Azxel shivered, tilting his head to give better access, a soft sigh escaping.

Sky’s eyes never left Jaelen’s. Jaelen met the stare evenly, then smiled slowly and challenging and reached across the table. His hand settled on Azxel’s wrist, his thumb stroking gently.

“We should go,” Jaelen said calmly. “Workout starts in fifteen.” He stood, tugging lightly. Azxel rose without hesitation, letting Jaelen pull him away.

Azxel glanced back at Sky, smile soft. “Come with us?” Sky’s grin widened. He stood too, following like it had been his idea all along.

Brain rehab gym was half empty with mats, light weights, balance boards. The three of them claimed a corner.

They stretched side by side. Jaelen watched Azxel bend forward, his palms flat to the floor, his ass lifted high up then flicked his gaze to Sky.

“So,” Jaelen said casually, “when are you letting him go back to his normal hair? Or blonde, even. This color’s… weird.”

Sky threw his head back and laughed out loud, genuine, delighted. He licked his lower lip slowly, his eyes gleaming. “Why don’t you ask the love?” Sky murmured, referring to Azxel. He leaned toward Jaelen, his voice low and teasing. Then, softer, he smirked “Or… why not join us?”

He chuckled again, dark and inviting. Azxel perked up immediately. “Jae,” he said, turning big eyes on Jaelen. “Join us.”

Jaelen froze. It was the first time Azxel had ever called him Jae.

“Please, Jae,” Azxel continued, stepping closer, his fingers brushing Jaelen’s arm. “Please?”
His voice was soft, whiny, pleading exactly the tone he used on Sky when he wanted something badly but Sky never gives in.

Jaelen’s resolve cracked like thin ice. He nodded before he could stop himself. Now, that was the difference between Jaelen and Azxel, one gives in, while one tease and manipulate.

Azxel’s face lit up like he had won the only prize that mattered and of course Sky’s smile turned sharp and triumphant. And just like that, he nodded like the game changed again.

Jaelen’s nod hung in the air for a beat too long.
Sky’s smile spread slow and sharp, his eyes gleaming, with a satisfied triumph like a cat who’d just watched the canary walk straight into the cage.

Azxel bounced on his toes between them, his radiant, fingers squeezing Jaelen’s wrist tighter.

And then…. it hit Jaelen. The full weight of what he had just agreed to. He then realize, he was about falling into Sky’s mind games and Azxel was caught in the middle, begging for both of them like it was normal and like Jaelen was just another piece on Sky’s board.

His stomach twisted. He yanked his hand free and stood up fast, his chair scraping loud against the gym floor.

“No,” Jaelen said, his voice flat and final.
Azxel froze. The happiness drained from his face in an instant, his eyes widened, his lips parting in shock, then trembling. His expression crumpled into something raw and hurt, like Jaelen had slapped him.

“Jae —” Azxel started, his voice cracking.

Jaelen couldn’t look at him. He turned away, walking stiffly toward the water station in the corner. His throat burned, he grabbed a paper cup, filled it and drank it deliberately slow, anything to avoid turning back.

Behind him, he heard the quick patter of bare feet on the mat. Azxel was coming, even stomping really with anger and desperation in every step.

Jaelen didn’t wait for azxel to approach him. He dropped the cup in the bin and veered sharply toward the instructor standing by the equipment rack, pretending to ask about some mind questions.

The instructor blinked, started explaining something about core stability, and Jaelen nodded like it mattered. When he finally risked a glance over his shoulder, Azxel had stopped halfway across the gym.

He stood there alone, his shoulders hunched, fists clenched at his sides. His eyes were glassy and his face flushed red with frustration and rejection.

Sky lounged against the wall a few feet away, watching with lazy amusement, not moving to comfort him.
Azxel stared at Jaelen for a long second pleading, furious and lost. Then his gaze dropped to the floor. He turned on his heel and walked back to Sky without another word.

Sky opened his arm, and Azxel stepped into it immediately, pressing his face into Sky’s chest. Sky’s hand came up to stroke his hair, soothing him. Then Sky raised his face up at Jaelen smirking at him and trying to tell him, he gets to hug Azxel while he doesn’t.

What a shame?

Jaelen turned back to the instructor, his jaw tight as his fist curved into a tight grip.