"Answer me!"
"I did not," I whispered.
"I didn't regret anything."
His eyes stayed locked on mine as I continued, my voice shaking.
"I've been forced to go on dates with different rich men. Every single day. I didn't even have time to breathe let alone call you."
"Who?" he asked sharply.
"Who forced you?"
"My grandma."
That was when he fell silent.
Axel released my arms. Only then did I realize how tightly he had been holding me.it hurt, but I didn't care. He placed one hand against the wall, his head lowering slightly, his shoulders tense.
I stepped closer.
"I wanted to tell you I missed you," I said, my voice breaking. "But I didn't know how. What words do I use, Axel? How do I tell someone I miss them so badly it hurts?"
My eyes burned as tears gathered.
"Teach me," I whispered. "Maybe I don't even know English anymore. What should I say for someone to understand my feelings?"
I swallowed hard.
"The days we didn't meet… I felt empty. Like something inside me was gone. I wanted to blink and see you beside me, but every time I opened my eyes, I was on another flight another date."
My hands trembled.
"I don't sleep. I don't eat. I feel lonely all the time because you're not there with me."
I took a shaky breath.
"I don't know what's wrong with me… but I think I've fallen for you."
Axel's hand dropped from the wall.
"I doubt myself when people say things like that," I continued, tears spilling freely now. "But maybe it's true. Maybe I've been lying to myself this whole time."
"Calliah…" he murmured, confused, shaken.
I stepped closer, my fingers trembling as I reached for his face.
"Axel," I whispered.
"I think I love you."
Silence.
Then
"Let's go," he said suddenly. "They're waiting for us."
My heart skipped.
Before I could say anything
"Calliah?" the door opened.
Axel stood in front of me instinctively.
"I'm sorry," Kacey said softly. "Is Calliah there? I've been trying to find her."
I waved my hands behind Axel, silently begging him to say no.
"Yes," he replied calmly. "She's here."
I wiped my tears quickly.
"I'm coming," I said, forcing my voice steady.
"I'm sorry for interrupting," Kacey apologized as we walked out together.
Back at the Party
"Calliah! Axel!" someone called out. "Come sit here!"
Two empty chairs waited beside each other.
Kacey sat near Josh, while Axel and I took the seats side by side.
Our eyes met again.
Neither of us spoke.
"So tonight," the host announced loudly, "we're playing a game!"
Cheers erupted.
"And guess what? Everyone is sleeping here tonight. No one leaves."
I glanced at Kacey.
She stared back at me in panic.
Grandma.
"So the game is called Never Have I Ever," the host continued.
"If you've done it, you drink the whole glass of bourbon and jump into the pool. No lieswe've got a detector."
Laughter echoed.
"And whoever jumps into the pool gets to dare someone. If they refuse into the water they go."
"Simple, right?"
"Mmm!" the crowd responded.
"I'll go first," the host said. "Never have I ever confessed to someone… and got rejected."
The detector beeped green around him.
"I've never been rejected," he laughed.
I stared at the glass in front of me.
Then I picked it up.
Gulped everything down.
And jumped into the pool.
"Calliah!" Kacey whispered.
I came out shivering, climbing back to my seat, squeezing water from my hair.
"This is getting interesting," someone laughed.
"Cards!" another voice shouted.
Cards were distributed.
"Hide your numbers," the host said. "When your number is called, you must do the dare."
My card read 07.
I glanced sideways.
Axel's card read 09.
My heart pounded.
"So," the host said, "what's your dare, Miss 07?"
I lifted my chin.
"I want number 09," I said clearly, "to tell me the answer I want."
The crowd stirred.
"Number 09! Where are you?"
Axel looked down at his card.
Then he closed it gently and sat upright.
His eyes met mine.
"I like you," he said.