This chapter is dedicated to @alecryderswife for your hilarious comments and for voting! Thank you so much :)

••••

"You know, I think it's true." Rob announces as he walks into the dorm room.

I'm getting ready for my two classes today. Thursdays are usually easy, but judging by Rob's excited mood it's going to be a long day.

"What's true?" I ask, putting down the straighteners.

"That pineapple goes on pizza." He states as he sits down on his bed, dropping his bag on the floor.

"You're crazy." I laugh.

"Okay you, me and Axel will all go out for pizza and I'll prove it to you." Rob says defiantly.

"Go for it." I laugh.

I already agree with him, I just want free pizza.

Picking up my bag, I sigh.

"More classes, yippee." I say in the most unenthusiastic voice possible.

"You show the world who's boss, girl!" Rob says as I walk out.

"I always do." I sing as I slam the door behind me.

Stepping out into the harsh November air, I begin the day.

••••

"So I was thinking that we could start with just the two of us and then the rest of you guys could join in after six beats." Jamie instructs to the girls sitting on the floor.

Which includes me.

Brooke text me today asking me to meet after classes. It's now four in the afternoon and I'm surrounded by dancers.

For some reason, I thought it was going to be just the four of us.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Turns out Brooke, Jamie and Kirsten have been doing more recruiting than I thought and there's now about twenty of us in total.

Part of me is jumping up and down at the numbers because it means there is more of us to compete against the main school dance group.

But there's one problem.

We have to be ready in a week.

Since the next home football match is at that time, it's been arranged that we will face off against the school's dance team during half time.

It's probably the most insane plan I've heard, including the time when my mother thought that I should have a child whilst I'm still young.

I'm only twenty two for crying out loud.

As all the dancers stand up to begin practicing our dance, I know this is going to be tough.

I just hope we can pull it off in time.

••••

I put down my book as my phone begins ringing again.

"Hah. Told you she would answer for me." Rob boasts to someone on the other side.

I faintly hear Axel say shut up on the other side but I can't be sure.

"What's wrong, Rob?" I ask, sighing.

It's Friday afternoon and I've finished my course work. I was siting down with my book when Rob started calling me.

"What's wrong is that you're not here! C'mon pizza, remember?" He groans.

I take a look at the clock and realise it's six at night.

"I really can't be bothered." I groan.

"I don't care, Cupcake. Come meet us at the Italians by Axel's." Rob says before whispering. "Wear something cute, Axel won't stop talking about you. Plus, he said to bring your stuff, so I'm clearly out of the loop."

I grin at the thought but before I can reply, Rob hangs up on me.

Quickly walking over to my wardrobe, I pick out my outfit.

It's not at all practical for the beginning of November, but it'll do.

Grabbing my bag and my coat, I head for the pizzeria.

My thoughts solely on Axel.

And pizza.

••••

Pushing open the door, I'm hit by a blanket of warmth. The smell of pizza infiltrated my sense as waitresses whizz round with smiles on their faces.

Looking around, my eyes immediately connect with Axel's. His electric blue eyes seem to widen and I smile.

Walking over to the table, I feel Axel's gaze on me the whole time. Willing myself not to fall, I eventually make it to the table.

Thank god.

I take the seat beside Axel in the booth and face Rob.

"Hey, sorry I'm late." I say breathlessly.

"No problem, I'm about to go order. You good with pineapple?" Rob asks, beginning to stand up.

"When am I not?" I ask incredulously.

"You should always be against it." Axel speaks up, shuddering beside me.

Rob rolls his eyes at Axel before heading off to the counter.

Watching Rob walk away, I feel Axel lace our fingers together.

My stomach flutters in joy and I bring myself to look him in the eyes, trying not to squeeze his hand out of anticipation.

"You look gorgeous." He says, warmth radiating out of his eyes.

Red immediately charges to my cheeks and I run a hand though my hair, letting out a nervous laugh. "T-Thanks." I stutter.

"Even I'm better at receiving compliments than that." Axel laughs.

And he's back.

"That's because half of the time you give them to yourself." I shoot back, laughing.

Axel uses his other hand, refusing to let go of my own, to place it it against his chest in mock-hurt. "Yeah, you're right." He sighs in defeat, knowing there's no point in fighting back when he knows I'm right.

"How do you do it? I can't even take a compliment." I shrug.

I want to know where all of this self-love has come from and if I can borrow some for myself.

"Ah, see there's a difference," Axel begins, pulling our hands into his lap. "I am awesome, that is why I can take a compliment."

I scoff. "Tha-" I get cut off by Axel's finger against my lips.

Giving me a warning glance, Axel continues, "But you, Skylar Black, are exceptional."

I feel all of the air around me disparate, my lips become dry and my brain feels like the Sahara desert. But inside me, a fountain of emotions is flowing through me.

No one has ever complimented me like this.

"That is why you cannot take a compliment, your awesomeness is too much to handle for a brain." Axel smirks, obviously pleased with his answer and my shocked reaction.

I don't know what I'm doing but suddenly I'm leaning in for a kiss. Simply because there is no other way to describe the downpour of emotions that I am feeling right now.

And just as as our lips are about to touch, Rob thumps down into his seat opposite.

Axel and I spring apart like we're children who have been caught doing something bad. My cheeks feel on fire, Axel is the first to recover.

"What's wrong?" Axel asks, his voice deep.

"They ran out of pineapple!" Rob wails.

••••

"Is that why Rob called me screaming," Emma asks. "Because he caught you and Axel about to kiss."

I laugh before answering, "He's a bit dramatic." I offer as an explanation.

Axel comes and sits beside me on the couch, quirking an eyebrow at my previous sentence. Shaking my head as if to say I'll tell you later, he pulls out his phone and begins scrolling.

"A bit?! Skylar he went on about how he thinks he might be more in love with your relationship than with Drew for a good thirty minutes!" Emma exclaims, obviously not used to this side of Rob.

Ah, the joys of being someone's roommate. You will know everything.

Emma and I talk for another half an hour before we finish. Dropping my phone to my lap, I stare at it and frown.

"She's getting better, she's laughing more." I say softly.

My voice is the only thing you can hear in Axel's apartment, the silence being exactly what I need right now.

It's as though the rest of the world has gone to sleep and stopped it's clocks so that we can enjoy this moment.

"I'm glad." Axel smiles and then he stands up. "Ready to cook?"

On the way back from pizza, both Axel and I agreed that we should cook tonight.

Like we need anymore food.

So, we decided to make Couscous with roasted veg.

With pre-bought couscous.

So basically, we're cutting veg.

I come out of my daydream to see Axel smirking at me.

"Yep." I stand up and head towards the kitchen.

Getting out all of veg and knifes, Axel and I begin.

But before I can start cutting, Axel gets his phone and puts on a song, grinning at my skeptical look.

"You know I actually have to graduate right? I can't just sing to songs and hope for the best."

Hello, Disney movies.

Axel laughs and shrugs at my questioning as he turns up the volume.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"I know you're dying to meet meeee." Axel sings, horrifically off-tune.

I drop my knife onto my board and laugh when Axel points at me to sing the next line. "But can I just tell you this." I sing, spinning round in a circle.

"Baby as soon as you meet me, you'll wish that you never did." Axel sings, pointing a spatula at me.

And for the next couple minutes of my life, I let go of my worries and sing horribly.

And yet, I couldn't be happier.

When the song comes to the end, I let out one last giggle before going back to my board.

Axel starts the song again before standing beside me, starting to chop.

But Axel, I soon discover, is useless when a song is on. This is due to the fact that he can't stop singing or moving.

I laugh, keeping my eyes on the board as Axel swings his hips back and forth.

Isn't he supposed to be a scary football player or something?

Just as I'm about to finish, I hear Axel let out a string of swears.

"What's wrong?" I ask, dropping my stuff and attempting to look over Axel's shoulder.

Which doesn't happen because I'm a dwarf compared to Axel's massive figure.

Instead I grab him by the arms and turn his frozen form around. His face is paler than the white wall behind him, all colour seemingly vanished from his face.

I look down to see him cradling his hand. "You cut yourself?" I ask.

"Yeah." He winces.

"What's the problem?" I ask, not seeing the issue in just a cut.

"I may have a slight fear of blood."

••••

Our poor Axel, he's got a boo boo ;)

Do we think Skylar will kiss it better?

Also, when I wrote about Rob interrupting Skylar and Axel, my mind looked something like this:

Telling myself to do it....

This is the longest chapter in the book so far, so your thoughts on it would be appreciated :)

Also please remember to vote and comment, it makes a massive difference!

Much love,

Jade x