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Lucas' POV

After I had told Jackie to go stay in the car, I convinced myself that what I was doing, I would not regret it. So, I ran after Axel who was about to stop a taxi. I stopped running and then walked up to him. I saw him flinch when I came into his line of vision and he dropped his hand before looking at me from the corner of his eyes.

"Can we talk?" I asked and he turned his body, facing me.

Axel had a straight face on, not showing any signs of emotions which was difficult for me because I couldn't tell if he was ready to talk to me or not.

"What is it?" He asked and I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling stressed.

"Can we both let our past go? I know it'll be hard to but I'm tired of what's going on between us. We might not be fully related but after what happened and finding out the truth, I realized there is no need for me to harbor so much negative energy inside of me," I said and Axel rolled his eyes.

"Did Jackie tell you to do this? Because I know she's capable of making you come to me to say what you're saying," Axel said, voice clipped.

I had to clench my fists because I was not in the mood to argue with him about anything. All I wanted was a peaceful life, especially now that I was in a serious relationship with Jackie.

"Listen, I don't know if you already know but Jackie and I are together," I said and a wave of shock crossed his face.

"You and Jackie are in a relationship?"

I knew he had a thing for her since high school but I did not know if he was still interested in her. I had to make that clear to him if he still had some type of feelings for my woman.

"Yes, we are and you should probably kill any feelings you still have for her."

Axel frowned and rolled his eyes. A smile adorned his face after a few seconds then he shook his head.

"I no longer have feelings for Jackie. I did a few months ago but I realized that both of us aren't compatible. Besides, I saw that you two had something going on even if it wasn't obvious yet. Also..." Axel paused to scratch the back of his head and to swallow hard, his Adam apple bobbing up and down.

"What?"

Axel smiled. "I'm already in a relationship. I've been together with them for six months now and they make me happy."

"Who is she?" I asked, smirking.

"They," he said and I raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"I don't understand."

"Their pronouns are they and them," Axel explained and I opened my mouth in realization.

I felt different about what he had just said I had to think deep, wondering what his sexuality was. Axel and I were never close, so it would be hard for me to ask such personal questions relating to his sexuality and love life.

"I know we aren't that close and it bothers me too. I get the look on your face and I do the same too. Lucas, I am also tired of what's going on between us. I hate that the one woman we both care about is a mutual friend which makes it hard for her to flow with us. I know we have a lot to say to each other and things to get over but it's not going to take a single conversation to do so," Axel said, making me nod my head in understanding.

I stepped forward and hesitantly raised my hand then dropped it on his shoulder. I stared into his eyes, seeing the similarities we both had. He had a small resemblance with me, facially and height-wise. I remembered how I used to hate looking at him because he reminded me of how much his father never wanted me. Which made me realize he still did not know the truth about my identity.

"Axel, it's easy for you to say but there are a lot of things you might not know. I feel I have to say them now... Axel, I am not your full-blooded brother," I said and he gasped.

"What?" He stepped back, eyeing my body up and down. "What do you mean?"

"Dad isn't my real dad but we share the same mother," I said and started to reveal what I had said to Jackie to him.

He took everything in with shock on his face. He looked uncomfortable, confused, and angry. Different emotions crossed his face as I spoke and when I was done, he bowed his head and covered his face with his hands.

"That's the truth about my identity. That is why dad hates me. He felt betrayed by what Mom did and transferred every hatred to me. Axel, I was left alone without a father even though I had one. I hated dad so much for making me feel like an outcast. I also started to hate you because I felt it's because of you he hates me. I did everything to try to impress him but as long as you were there, he would find fault in whatever I did," I said in a sad voice as I remembered the nights I would cry myself to sleep.

"Our father may not have hit me but his words were abusive. They ran so deep into my heart that I started to do the things he once accused me of. They helped me cope. Look, I'm sorry for ever saying anything to hurt you. I'm sorry for ruining some things like the scholarship you got for that Arts Academy," I said and Axel quickly looked at me.

"You're the one who ruined my chances of going?"

I nodded my head, feeling ashamed of my past deeds.

Axel suddenly chuckled and I blinked at his humor-filled face.

"Thanks, because I hated that academy anyway. Dad forced me into it and I had to pretend to love it just to spite you. I was a happy motherfucker when I found out I didn't receive any letter or response from them... Listen, Lucas. After what happened to me. I think we should just forget about trying to remember the shit we did to each other for the sake of Jackie. Let's be friends and brothers this time. We need to protect Jackie from whoever is out there trying to harm her."

I felt like tearing up and I hated crying because the only times I ever cried was when his father hurt me and they bring back bad memories so I blinked hard and smiled.

"You're right...bro," I said and I saw his cheeks redden from embarrassment.

"Stop, man. That's so cliché," he said, rolling his eyes.

I checked my wristwatch and glanced at the rows of cars parked behind me. I didn't want to keep Jackie waiting for too long. I looked back at Axel and exhaled.

"I gotta go now. My girlfriend's waiting," I said and Axel shuddered.

"Ew, it's weird hearing you say you have a girlfriend. I wonder what Jackie saw in you to date you. She could have dated me, tsk. She missed a great man," Axel said, puffing his chest out.

I could not help but laugh before showing him my two middle fingers which he showed back with a smug look on his face. I felt light-hearted during our interaction, it felt good. I could get used to this.

"I gotta go, man. I need to start looking for a place to stay." Axel looked at the passing cars.

I stared at the cars too, then at him when a thought crossed my mind. I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my jacket and cleared my throat, summoning the courage to say what I had to say.

"Hey, Axel?"

"Yeah?" He glanced away from the road to look at him then glanced back at it, desperate for a taxi.

"You know, you can come live with me. My house has a couch you can lay on," I offered, and a surprising look formed on his face.

"I... I don't want to intrude on your privacy, Lucas. It's your home and you stay there with Jackie."

"Quit being stubborn and accept the offer, bitch," a new voice said and we both turned our bodies.

Jackie was standing with a smile on her face and her eyes darting from my brother to my face. She waved at us before walking over to Axel's side. She wrapped her arm around his and craned her head up to look at him.

"Pretty, please?" Jackie made that puppy face that would make me bend to her will. Her eyebrows were curved upward, her bottom lip was puckered out and her eyes softened.

I smirked when Axel gulped as he stared at her face. He would not resist her face.

"O-okay. I will.... I'll just have to get my stuff," he said and Jackie grinned.

"Good boy," she said and looked at me. "Can we go now? I'm hungry."

"Sure, come on."

I extended my hand and she took it then I pulled her close to my body. I smiled at Axel one last time before walking away with Jackie, happy that things were getting better for me.

I had a brother now and a woman that I loved. Life was better for me.