Page 22 of You Started It

“Not for him clearly.”

Every now and then, people pass our table and wave or say hi to Axel. A few even invite him to sit with them. Once again, it’s like I’m not even here.

“Why do you go by Axel?” I ask as he takes the last bite of his burger. “I heard you tell my uncle your name is Alexander.”

“Would you buy it if I told you it’s because I used to play the guitar?”

“Not when you phrase it like that.” I wipe my face with a napkin and slide away my tray, sneaking another glance at Ben and Olivia. They don’t even make a cute couple. Their sizing is all wrong.

“I didn’t learn how to spell my name correctly until second grade. I kept getting the ‘X’ and ‘E’ mixed up. Eventually, it stuck. Besides, I think it kind of suits me.”

“What do your parents call you?”

He lets out a laugh as he leans back in his chair. “I can’t repeat those words in front of you.”

“Your mom seems nice.”

“My mom’s great. My dad on the other hand…we don’t really see eye to eye on things. You’d get along with him though. He’s a real stick-in-the-mud.”

“That’s how my uncle describes me.”

“I know.” He laughs. “Eli’s your mom’s brother, right?”

Olivia and Ben get up. I reach across the table and hold Axel’s hand, stroking his skin. “Yeah. My mom’s younger brother. By one year.” I keep my eyes on #bolivia as they walk, fingers interlocked. It’s like Ben has transformed into someone I don’t even recognize. “And my mom is nothing like him. She’s like a fish that’s been plucked out of the water in the dead of winter and left to die on the ice. But doesn’t. It just flops around, making everyone feel sorry for it.”

“Damn, girl,” Axel says, eyes wide. “That’s harsh.”

“What’s harsh?” Ben asks as he and Olivia stand by our table. Instinctively, I pull my hand away from Axel’s.

“That hairstyle, bro. What’s going on with it? Is it coming or going?” Axel asks before shoveling a spoonful of chocolate pudding into his mouth.

Ben runs a hand through his overgrown locks. Axel’s right. Ben looks like one of those emo kids from the 2000s.

“It’s growing out,” Olivia says as I take a sip of my water. “We’re going for a nineties grunge look but with a Gen Z twist meets hipster revival.”

I just about choke on my drink and end up spitting water across the table at Axel, who cracks up. We both laugh as he passes me some napkins to wipe my face and the table.

“Anyways,” Olivia continues.

“It’s ‘anyway.’ Grammatically speaking.” I blink excessively, holding in a grin.

“Are you going to Wonderland for Seniors’ Night?” Olivia asks, ignoring my grammar tip. “I’m in charge of selling tickets and I need to get a rough estimate.”

“Jamie would never go to Wonderland,” Ben pipes in. “She hates roller coasters.”

“You,” I say, looking up at Ben, “no longer get to speak for me.” I glance across the table at Axel, who seems to be enjoying himself a little too much. “Do you want to go?”

“When is it?” Axel asks.

“A week Saturday,” Olivia responds.

“The event is for seniors,” Ben says.

“He’d be my plus-one,” I state.

“Ignore Ben. You can bring whoever you want,” Olivia says, almost sincerely. “Cutoff to buy tickets is this Friday. They’re fifty dollars each and include transportation. I hope to see you there.”

“Yeah. I’m sure,” I reply dryly.

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