The next week was spent preparing for graduation, and chilling with the group down by the river. We went down to that swimming hole everyday the week before graduation. The boys would play around in the water like nutcases, and us girls would relax on the bank of the river and tan. I, of course, cannot tan, and I ended up burning to a crisp, tomato red.

"That red really suits ya, baby girl." Axel teased when I swam to him, and I glared at him and began to swim away. He laughed under his breath before his arms shot out and wrapped around my waist, slamming my back right into his muscular chest. I tried to push his hands off of me, but his grip only tightened.

"I was just messin' with ya, sweetheart." He breathed into my ear, before he placed a gentle kiss on my soft spot. "Ya know I love ya no matter how burnt you are."

I glanced back at him and glared again, and he softly chuckled. Axel spun me around so we were face to face, and his caressed my cheek with his hand. Honestly, his cold, wet hand felt good against my burning skin. I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch.

"Please don't be mad at me, Michelle. I was just jokin' with you." He whispered, and I opened my eyes to gaze into his big, beautiful brown eyes. Those eyes captivated me. They roped me in and claimed me as his. Axel's eyes always told the truth. What was beautiful about his brown eyes was the way they seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. It was as if there was a whole other world in those brown orbs, and that world held all the beauty you could ever dream of.

"I'm not mad, baby. I just feel like I'm not pretty and you can see that." I admitted, and Axel's eyes suddenly became soft. He pulled me towards his chest, and I wrapped my arms around his torso, enjoying his warm hug. His hugs always made me feel better. They made me feel protected. I felt at home in Axel's arms.

"Oh, Michelle, you are the most beautiful girl in this world. No girl could ever compare to you." He whispered in my ear, and I smiled. I leaned up and pressed a gentle, slow kiss against his lips, and he smiled through the kiss.

Golly, how I loved the feel of his smile.

"If you two are done being all gootchy goo, we would like to start our game of war." Rocco called out, glaring at us, and Axel and I laughed. Axel wrapped his arm around my waist and turned toward Rocco.

"Why don't you put a sock in it and go tell Bev how stuck on her you are." Axel hollered, loud enough for both Rocco and Beverly to hear, and Rocco flicked him off while Bev's cheeks tinged pink.

"You're cruisin' for a bruisin', McCarthy!" Rocco hollered back, and Axel just laughed and rolled his eyes. I giggled under my breath and leaned my head against Axel's chest.

"I love you, ya know that?" I whispered for only him to hear, and he smiled that beautiful smile down at me as he kissed my cheek.

"I love you too, baby girl. I always will."

We spent the rest of the afternoon swimming around. Once the sun started to disappear, we all dried off and went to sit at the top of the hill to watch the sunset, but Axel pulled me away from the group. Instead of going to the hill where everyone else was, we went through the woods to a wide open space where we had a perfect view of the horizon. Axel sat on the ground, and then he pulled me down with him, wrapping his long, warm arms around me. I laid my head on his shoulder and watched the sun slowly disappear behind the horizon, and then Axel let out a sigh. I turned around, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"What's wrong, baby?" I asked, caressing his cheek with one hand, and he sighed again as his arms tightened around me.

"I've been meanin' to tell ya something important all day, but I didn't know how. It's really been stuck in my mind, and I've never been more scared to talk about anything my whole life." He admitted, and I shot him a worried look as he leaned his face into my hand.

"Just tell me. It's okay, Axel."

Axel let out another sigh and looked away from me. When his eyes met mine again, I knew it was something big. Whatever it was had the capability of changing everything. "I being drafted, Michelle. I leave for the war right after graduation."

Time seemed to stop, and I felt my heart slowly splitting apart. For a second, all I could do was stare at him, but then I buried my head into his shoulder as tears started falling from my eyes. Axel held me tighter and whispered in my ear, begging me not to be upset, but even he was teary eyed. I had just got him back, I had just really had the chance to love him, and now he was being drafted. Axel was going to war, and war meant there was a chance of him not coming back.

And if he didn't return, I would die too.

"I wish you didn't have to go, but I know you have to." I sniffled, lifting my head off of his shoulder and holding his head in my hands. "I love you so much, Axel McCarthy, and I'll always wait for you."

Axel closed his eyes and pressed a gentle kiss against my lips before resting his forehead against mine. "I love you too, Michelle, and I promise I'll always come back to you."

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Hey guys!

How did y'all feel about their day at the swimming pool? How about Axel's secret? The ending?

Two chapters left!

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Thanks for reading!

Much love,

-Abby