C5 Five

The clock on my bedside table read nine-thirty when I glanced over, eyes slowly adjusting to the sun rays streaming in through the curtains. My stomach threatened to revolt when I rolled out of bed, but I managed to keep it in check as I stumbled towards the bathroom.

The hangover felt like a balloon under my cranium, slowly being inflated, pressure mounting. I splashed cold water on my face just to feel something refreshing and instantly wished I could wash my brain free of the toxins too. When I looked up, the mirror showed my puffy eyes, no longer the glamour girl of last night.

Axel apologized for the kiss, probably realizing that he was still in love with Lilah. It did hurt, but then again it was just a drunken-make-out session. A quick hook-up.

Nothing more, nothing less.

I was in the middle of drying my face when my phone rang. I ran out of the bathroom to grab it before the blasting volume made my brain explode. This hangover was no joke.

"What?" I snapped, managing to balance the device between my ear and shoulder. I didn't even bother looking at the caller ID.

"After everything last night, that's the kind of greeting you give me? I'm hurt,

Noodles."

I nearly dropped my phone at the sound of Axel's voice, but I couldn't stop the blush that consumed my cheeks at the memory of the previous night.

"What do you want, Sunshine?" I asked while putting the towel on the table to hold my phone properly. I was surprised he called me because after the whole show Lilah made last night I thought they would get back together.

"I was wondering if I could come over later?" I could hear the uncertainty in his voice as he asked the question.

"Is there a reason you want to come?"

It was a forty-five-minute drive from his house to mine. I didn't want him to waste gas for something he could just say over the phone. I also wasn't in the mood to have human interaction today or have any interaction in general at all.

"I can't see my Noodles?" he asked, astonished. "I hope you can hear how upset I am right now."

I rolled my eyes and let out a deep sigh. "I'm actually not in the mood for human interaction today, but I will make an exception for you."

"As you should. See you later, Noodles." "Bye, Sunshine."

I ended the call and grabbed the oversized shirt on my bed to put on. There was a whole bucket of clothes in the corner of my room that still needed to be washed, but I was going to do that later when I didn't have such a splitting headache. I would tell myself I'm not going to touch alcohol again, but that's what I tell myself every morning after a night out with Caden.

I made my way downstairs and saw that my mother had left fried rice in the microwave for me. She must be out babysitting again. I grabbed the plate with fried rice and made myself a cup of coffee before heading back upstairs to do my homework.

I did an online study called Advanced Management and I was also an active writer on Wattpad. The goal is to write a bestseller one day and hopefully, it will be made into a movie or series like After by Anna Todd.

I was busy editing my last story when my phone started buzzing. I glanced at it and saw that it was Caden. He probably just woke up.

CA: So, you and Axel huh?

AU: It was just a one-time thing. No biggie.

CA: You should date him!

AU: Why?!

CA: Because you guys would be cute together!!

AU: Ohh. So I'm not cute by myself???

My phone buzzed again and I saw Zion's name popping up in the notification bar. I let out an annoyed groan before opening the message.

ZI: I'm outside...

AU: I didn't invite you??

ZI: ...so anyway I'm outside.

So much for avoiding human interaction today.

I turned off my laptop, grabbed my phone, and peeped through the window only to see Zion standing on the sidewalk in front of my house. Seeing him standing there like that reminded me of Joe Goldberg.

There was something about Zion that drew people to him, even me. He was a

good-looking boy, reserved yet not stand-offish, and he had a friendly face. Nothing was ever a problem to Zion.

Everyone was "dude" to him, everyone was his friend and judgment wasn't his thing. He slid effortlessly between social groups and avoided competition in any form.

There was nothing threatening about him, nothing at all. Except that he was a drug dealer and moneylender. Zion was an easy listener, a good audience, giving

encouraging feedback laced with intelligent comments. I think that's why I like him and kept him on my leash.

"We're just friends," was the first thing that came out of my mouth when I opened the door. I know he had seen me with Axel last night or he wouldn't be here today.

"Who?" Zion asked, arms crossed. The annoyance was visible in his voice.

"You and I," I replied curtly. I didn't feel like talking to him about Axel. It wasn't his business either.

Zion ran his hand through his hair. "You've been ignoring me."

I shrugged my shoulders indifferently. "I'm not obligated to answer you all the time. We're friends, remember? Wasn't I clear earlier?"

Every time I said something mean to him, I hoped he would do the same. But

instead, he just ran his hand through his hair and looked at me with empty eyes. He never showed any emotion whatsoever, but I know my words were hurting him.

"Right, I'm sorry. What about you and him? I saw you two last night." Called it.

"We're just friends," I answered, now getting a little aggravated by all the questions. I massaged my temples as I felt a headache coming up. "I think you should go, Zion.

I'm still recovering from last night's hangover."

Zion narrowed his eyes at me. "I feel like you're lying." "Why do you care?" I groaned out.

"Because I made you a promise." "Then stick to it."

"Aspirin."

"What?" I was confused.

"Drink aspirin to get rid of your hangover." After he said that, he walked away. I watched him walking out of my driveway and I suddenly felt so bad.

Zion deserved better.

But better wasn’t my name.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath when I heard a car pulling up with loud music.

"Who was that?" Axel yelled out from the driver's seat. He turned down the volume and continued, "Your other boyfriend?"

"He's a friend. His name's Zion." I said as I watched him stepping out of the car. "And what do you mean by 'other boyfriend'?"

I sat down on the bench in front of my house.

"I thought after what happened last night, I was your boyfriend," Axel said in a matter-of-fact tone as he sat down next to me.

"I thought it was a mistake."

Axel raised his eyebrows up at me. "Why would you think that?" "You apologized." I reminded him.

"I apologized for dragging you into my mess, not for kissing you. I don't regret that." "Me neither," I admitted shamelessly.

"Good," he said, laughing. "Wanna do it again?"

I was about to answer him when his phone went off. He looked at the screen and immediately turned it off.

"Avoiding someone?" I asked, referring to his phone he just turned off. "Lilah," he replied curtly, putting his phone in his back pocket.

"Why?"

I was confused, to say the least.

"She can't let it go. She's been calling and texting me since this morning...nonstop. She claims she still cares for me." he chuckled humorously.

"Looks like she can't live without you," I remarked. "You know, maybe you should give her a chance."

"So she can cheat on me again? I think the fuck not."

I looked up at the sky. The sky that was sunny earlier today was now covered with dark clouds. "I hope it rains."

"Why?" Axel asked, his gaze fixed on me. "So you get wet? We don't need rain for that."

I laughed as I playfully hit him on the shoulders."Why am I even talking to you?" "Admit it or not. You love me."

I rolled my eyes at him. "So, why are you here? What do you want? If you're here for relationship advice, I'm going to start charging you."

Now it was his turn to burst out laughing. "I love your company. You're fun to be around."

"Then let me ask you this Sunshine. What are we?" "Whatever you want us to be," he replied smoothly.

"We're friends then," I answered, crossing my legs over each other.

Axel smirked, pulling me closer to him. So close that I could smell his minty breath.

"You say we're friends, but friends don't know the way you taste. Do they?"