Closing Time

60.

It's been a while since I had a moral dilemma to mull over. Thanks to Axel for that.

I couldn't get it out of my head the entire time we were watching movies. I hate being distracted like this. It really was always one thing or another with those two.

"You look more stressed than last night." Axel sighed as I stretched beside him. "I should not have said anything."

"Would've been preferable, yes." I replied dryly, looking up at him. "You're a pain in my ass."

"A thoughtful pain in your ass." He shrugged, finger idly drawing on my upper arm. "I tried to lessen your burden. I deserve some thanks."

"I made snacks for you."

"Frozen food is boring. Cook for me."

"Right." I scoffed. "You want a date?"

"I don't mind." He shrugged. "As long it leads to date things afterwards."

I rolled my eyes, reaching up awkwardly with my other hand to try and hit him. I didn't want to move the arm he was drawing on. "No. Ew."

"Aw, come on." Axel pouted. "I'm hot. You're hot. Let's get together." He leaned away to avoid my waving arm. "I'm getting tired of your tricks."

"Then don't fall for them." I replied easily.

He rolled his eyes, sitting up and grabbing my waving arm by the wrist. "I only fall for your tricks because I've fallen for you."

I burst out laughing. "Yeah, right." I used my free hand to reach up and pat his cheek. "Like you can fall for anyone."

Axel's fingers wrapped around my other wrist. "Maybe I have for you."

"Uh huh." I tried to pull my hands back. "Let go."

"Nope." Axel smirked, eyes flashing for a short moment with mischief before he moved. Surprise crossed through me as he shifted his body to straddle mine. Leaning over me with my wrists now pinned above my head. "I like this."

"I don't." I replied easily. "Let go, Axel."

"Ryleigh..." He sighed, looking over the blank expression on my face. "Stop thinking about them. Stop worrying about them. What I said wasn't for selfish reasons, it was for your own good. You worry too much about everything that isn't you."

The expression on his face was sincere. But I had doubts about it not being for a selfish reason. He's a demon. "Sorry, Axel. But I can't. They're my friends. And while they've annoyed me a lot, I can't forget about them. They had my back when I needed them to."

"Yeah, well, so did I." Axel sounded exasperated. "Twice, now!"

"I'm not saying you didn't." I smiled at him. "I'm just saying that I can't just pretend nothing's happened."

"Yeah, but what can you do?" Axel cocked his head. "There's nothing for you to find. Nowhere for you to even start looking."

I felt some semblance of sadness form within me. "I know."

Axel looked me over, sighing and shaking his head. "I clearly can't change your mind. Forget I said anything."

"Not that easy." I replied, shifting under him. "Can you let go now?"

"No." He recovered almost immediately, smiling down at me. "I've got you where I wanted."

I would be a liar if I said this wasn't at all turning me on. "Do you now?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." Axel replied, smirking as he leaned in. "You're like a dream, Ryleigh. Hard to keep a hold of."

"Right." My eyes flickered to his lips. "Like you've ever seen a dream."