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Bloodpounded in my ears, palms growing cold.
“Ohwell.”Heshrugged. “I’msurePoppywill look good in orange.”
Seethingwith resentment,Iflipped the notebook open.MylittlePoppyseed, if only you knew the thingsIwas willing to do for you. “Whatdo you want me to write?”Iasked through clenched teeth.IknewAxelwould milk this for all its worth.
“Attenda rave, skinny dipping,” he listed in order, then contemplated for a moment. “Inever did get around to convincing someoneI’mfrom the future.”
Mypen came to a screeching halt.Laughterbubbled in my chest andIcouldn’t hold it in.Ithrew my head back, shoulder shaking as my chest rumbled with an unadulterated laugh.OnlyAxelcould take me from ire to hilarity within seconds.
Itwould seem lightheartedness was contagious, andAxelcracked a smirk.
“Howcome you never got around to it?”Icouldn’t help asking.
Axelshrugged.
Thenight ofMilan’swedding,Axelhad mentioned his evil bucket list and wanting to convince someone he was from the future.Thatwas years ago.Itwas such a small pleasure in life, yet he hadn’t partaken.Whynot?
Perhapshe only liked doing these list items with me.
“Inever ended up skydiving,”Iadmitted reluctantly.Itwas another thingIhad mentioned in passing, but it wasn’t possible to accomplish that night.
“Notime like the present to get started,” he announced. “Let'skick off with item number one.”
Ihuffed. “Wheredo you plan on finding a music festival at this time of day?”
“Iam supposed to play at one,” he hit the lock screen of his phone to check the time, “in about forty-five minutes.”
Myhead reeled back, mouth agape in disbelief. “That’swhy you asked me ifI’dbeen to a rave?”Ishould have seen this coming. “So,I’dgo to your stupid music festival?”
Axeldidn’t bat an eye. “Youwant to learn howIcontrol my quote-unquote impulsivity.Whatbetter way to do so than watching me in my element?”
Hisstatement held a strange logic, but… “Whatif people photograph us together?”
“They’llassume we are friends.You’reallowed to be seen in public with an old friend.”Heblew it off as a minor issue and not worth worrying about.
Iwould have believedAxelhad he not acted so aggressively atPoppy’sschool and made a spectacle out of it.Nonetheless, he knew how to exploit my vulnerability.
“Ifyou want to delve deeper intoPoppy’spsyche, you might want to start with mine.”
Axelshot me a smug look, aware he had the upper hand.Itonly amplified my hesitancy.
Herolled his eyes. “Ifit puts your mind at ease, it’s a day party.Theyaren’t as large as the events at night.Idoubt anyone from your crowd attends raves anyways.Mysecurity detail and roadies are meeting me there, too.Ifanyone does recognize you, you’ll be in a group.Itwon’t be out of the spectrum of possibilities that you’re there becauseJordangot you backstage passes.Sheis about to become my new publicist, after all.”
Itwas a sound argument.Againstmy better judgment,Irelented with a sigh and slumped against the seat.Aswe sped off,Itried to distract my troubled thoughts by doodling on the notepad.WhenIglanced down,Ifound thatIhad unthinkingly jotted down more items we had mentioned that night years ago.
Attenda rave
Goskinny dipping
Convincesomeone you’re from the future
Speakin a made-up language in public
Prankcall
Goskydiving
Jumpinto a taxi and scream, “Followthat car!”
