This chapter is dedicated to @s_lee02 for voting and commenting! Thank you so much!

••••

"I need to calm down." I stress, running a hand through my hair.

"Are you really that nervous?" Rob asks, turning off his phone so he can focus his attention on me.

"Nah, I'm fine," I say sarcastically before rolling my eyes and turning serious again. "Of course I'm nervous! What if I mess this up?"

"He's the one who should be nervous. He's the one winning you back, for crying out loud! You need to remember that." Emma reminds me, looking at me through pointed eyes that dare me to talk back.

"I thought you were okay with us now?" I ask, totally confused about her mood over Axel.

"I am. If he treats you right." She winks.

It's two in the afternoon and my date with Axel is today. I'm frantically getting ready whilst Emma and Rob sit there amused at my less than subtle freaking out.

"Shoes, shoes, where the fuck have I put my shoes..." I mumble to myself, while searching round the room.

"Calm down, Cupcake. He's not arriving for another half an hour." Rob says, smiling at me softly in the hopes to calm me down.

"He always arrives twenty minutes early, you should know that." I say incredulously.

"Yeah, that's true. You really should find your shoes." Rob nods.

Letting out a string of curse words, I eventually find my shoes in the bathroom after another five minutes of searching.

I don't even want to know why they were there.

Standing in front of the floor length mirror I smooth my hands over my black jeans, and assess myself one more time. Standing in my white converse, ripped black jeans and my baggy off the shoulder khaki jumper - I feel confident.

Axel's only instructions for this date was to dress casually.

Aka, the worst words a girl can hear when planning an outfit for a date.

Walking back into the room, I see Emma and Rob smirking at something on his phone.

"What's that?" I ask, intrigued.

Rob immediately pulls his phone away and puts it in his back pocket before saying, "Nothing."

"I think you should show her." Emma nods, an excited glint in her eye appearing.

Rob lets out a sigh and pulls his phone back out, showing me what he was hiding. On his phone, is a message from Axel.

Absolutely terrified man, what if I mess it up? Just want her to have a good time. How's she feeling?

My heart melts and I know my face has lit up red. Clearing my throat, I can't help the smile that breaks out across my face when I say, "Well, at least we know he's nervous too."

Rob tips his head back and laughs as Emma giggles beside him.

"You two are hopeless." He mutters, shaking his head, still grinning to himself.

Just as I'm abut to defend myself, a knock on the door interrupts me.

Show time.

Taking a calming breath, I grab my bag and head to the door. Opening it up, Axel stands there with a small smile on his face.

His hands clasp bouquet of roses and sunflowers. Standing in a dark blue t-shirt, black jeans and trainers - I'm almost awestruck at the situation we're in.

After weeks of feeling no hope and no chance of redemption, here I stand with a man willing to fight for our relationship and my chest bursting with rays of hope.

"Hey, you look gorgeous." Axel compliments me before handing the flowers over.

"Thank you," I smile, referring to both the flowers and his compliment. "Hold on."

Pushing the dorm room door open, I hand my flowers to Emma who looks like she's going to combust from the appearance of them. Shutting the door with a knowing smile at Emma, I turn back to Axel.

"You ready to go?" He asks.

"Yep." I nod.

Boldly reaching for my hand, he intertwines his fingers with my own before beginning to walk down the corridor towards our date - wherever that may be.

••••

"You're slicker than I give you credit for." I laugh.

As Axel pulled up at our date destination, I think my heart stopped beating for a split second.

The coffee shop that I noted down on my phone, when Axel picked me up from dance, stands in front of me.

With fairy lights round the windows and a golden glow being cast onto the sidewalk from them - it's welcoming appearance makes me eager to go in.

"I'm so glad you like it." Axel smiles at me before slinging an arm round my shoulder and walking into the cafe with me by his side.

A blond waitress greets us and shows us to our little spot in the cafe. In a secluded booth at the back, it's easy to forget that you're in a cafe.

Once seated, we order. Despite selling itself for a cafe, it's more like a restaurant. With sharing meals, baked goods and every type of coffee imaginable - it seems obvious now why it's so busy.

I order a hazelnut late with a slice of rocky road and Axel orders a cappuccino with a blueberry slice. Satisfied with our orders, we both settle back into the conversation.

"So, you're 'My BFF' on Rob's phone then?" I laugh, remembering the text message.

"Jesus, he showed you the message, didn't he?" Axel laughs nervously, running a hand through his hair.

"Yeah he did and don't worry, I was nervous too." I nod, showing Axel a small smile to try and relate to him.

"Shouldn't be, you're about to taste the best rocky road of your life." Axel smirks, bringing the mood back up.

"Am I? How do you know?" Intrigued to how confident he is.

"I'm optimistic." Axel shrugs.

I laugh at his excuse and Axel smiles back at me, looking proud of himself.

"You've changed a lot then." I nod, remembering how strict on himself he used to be.

"A lovely girl showed me a better life." Axel nods, his eyes flickering between my lips and my eyes.

"Hmm, she must be great." I tease back, fully playing along.

"She really is." Axel says, looking at me with a smile that melts me in an instant.

We lapse into silence before Axel clears his throat, obviously nervous for what he's going to say next.

"So, have I done it?" He asks, suddenly turning serious.

Confused by his quick change in emotions, I ask, "Done what?"

"Worked for it - because I want to be with you, Skylar. I really do." His eyes stay on my own and the blue light looks like a mid-summers day.

"I me-" I begin, but I'm cut off by Axel.

"Sorry, I just really want to say this," He says, I gesture for him to continue and so he does. "I want you back, Skylar. And I don't want you back to mess with you or win a bet or whatever ridiculous rumors are going round campus right now. I want you and everything that comes with you. I want the girl who's obsessed with bright pink, reads whenever she can and has an unhealthy obsession with coffee.

I want the girl who will give her heart and soul into whatever dance she does. Who will literally drop everything and come running for her family and friends whenever they need her. I want that girl back in my life, Skylar and that girl is you."

Stunned. Shocked. Starstruck.

I gape at Axel like he's speaking a different language. But he's not, he's speaking to my heart instead of my mind - the butterflies that have been sleeping for so long begin soaring in my stomach. Sitting at the back of a cafe, I feel as though I've just won a marathon.

A grin pulls at my lips as I realise that somehow, we've made it. The last few weeks have been rough, but the effort that Axel has put in has proved to me that the issues we once had - have been solved.

We're back where we want to be.

"Yes." I croak.

"Yes?" Axel asks, his eyes lighting up in a way that makes all the other times seem dull in comparison.

"Let's give it another shot."

The expression on Axel's face is one I will never forget. Pure elation takes over and suddenly he looks happier than I've seen him in the last month.

"Can we please get out of here so I can kiss you?" Axel asks and my heart lifts in the realisation that I get to experience this side of Axel again.

"Yes, we can." I confirm, eager to finally be alone with him.

Standing up from the booth we were sitting in, I grab his hand that he was motioning for me to take. After leaving some money on the table we were sitting at, we walk out of the cafe like we're walking on the clouds.

Once we're outside, Axel tugs my arm in a signal to follow him. "Come on, I know where to go."

Despite my worries and concerns about our relationship, what Axel just said has proven to me that it feels right to be with him. He makes me happier than I have ever been.

So I'm done denying myself the chance to be happy.

This is my chance and I'm taking it.

Lost in my thoughts, I'm shocked to see where we've arrived.

I'm standing in the exact place I ran away to when I saw Axel in the cafe on one of the first days of our break.

The park stands as I remember it. With tall evergreen trees and the sound of a stream nearby, I don't think Axel could've picked a better place. Apart from having some bad memories here, the actual setting is second to none.

"You know, I don't give up on promises." Axel lets out randomly as we come to a stop inside the park.

"No?" I say.

"I'm sticking to everything I just said and want to be with you Skylar. As well as that, I'm not giving up the chance to kiss you."

"No, that would be really bad to give that up." I murmur, looking up through my eyelashes to see Axel standing right in front of me.

Axel places an arm round my waist and a hand on my face, his actions sure and confident.

I think my breathing stops all together as he leans in, my heart thundering quicker than a bullet train can travel.

"Really, really bad." Axel says, his breath hot on my own face. Minty as usual, my knees are close to giving out beneath me.

They do when Axel's lips finally touch my own.

Soft and slow, his emotions slowly wash over me in a symphony of contentment. His arm round my waist tightens round me, drawing me closer to his own body. I run my hand up his broad shoulders before winding my hand through his hair.

Like greeting an old friend, the emotions that I feel while kissing Axel come rushing back. Heat, adrenaline and pure affection pour through me like dam broken open.

The old memories that once affected this area like a stain are now washed way by Axel. Once dull and grey, it's like a can of yellow paint has been thrown over the whole setting, the bad memories being coated over with brighter, happier ones.

Happier memories that I can only hope will last. But with Axel beside me once again, I'm almost certain that they will.

••••

We made it guys, they're back together!!

I would just like to point out that this is ! We're getting close, but we're not quite there yet! Maybe 7 chapters left?

But I'm dying to know what you think about this chapter! How do we feel about Axel's speech? Do we think Skylar made the right choice?

Leave your answer here and I'll be sure to respond!

Much love,

Jade x