Chapter 12

Charmaine lips quivered and she had no choice but to stutter with her words.

"What's that..." She shuddered. Her stomach flipped and her eyes became more flickering as she blushed.

"I think I do care about you more than a friend. I do like you, and I want us to be more intimate than we have already been," Axel pronounced making her feel a thrill in her heart as he shot a piercing gaze at Charmaine which made her jaw drop.

"Ooh, okay," Charmaine said and they stopped dancing and she shot a desiring look at Axel also.

She knew that Axel had a sparkle in his eyes that intrigued her.

"I do like and care about you also at first, but I wasn't sure you were ready for a relationship and that's why I didn't bother telling you," Charmaine summoned boldness to express her feelings effusively.

"Wow?" Axel stuttered, his tone laced with astonishment and his ears perked up in delight.

"Yes," Charmane replied gazing deeply into Axel's eyes and Axel, like a love predator before his prey gave her a compelling kiss.

Axel and Charmaine took a cursory glance at both Drew and Quinn who smiled at them roguishly.

"Wait a minute, do you think they have a hand in us coming together?" Charmaine raised her left brow in suspicion.

"Hmm, I can't say, I mean they also approached me about the matter" Axel stuttered upon realising what had happened.

"Ooh, they also met me, wow!" A broad smile graced Charmane's lips and they both resumed their dance.

"Where have you been all my life, you are so beautiful to me," Axel questioned with an amicable smile.

"Have been right here all along, just that you weren't available in that way, so I had to be there for you as your friend," Charmaine said while they danced.

"So, does this mean we are official? like you are my girlfriend," Axel rumbled.

"Of course, I bet I should be the one," Charmaine said and Axel chuckled.

A wave of intense concern rippled through Charmaine fortuitously and her face fell to the floor.

"What's wrong Charmane?" Axel questioned with intense concern.

"How are you going to work out escaping from Hayden's trouble again," Charmaine eyes popped open in curiosity.

"Ooh, don't worry, I have everything all figured out," Axel chuckled softly.

"I hope so," Charmane let out a low puff as they continued dancing.

Gertrude Greer and the other teachers entered the hall to greet the Freshers and welcome them.

Awards were given to the best fresher student along with other gravy awards by Oberon.

He apologized for the absence of the members of the board to the freshers and sent their greetings to them.

"Let's party!" Drew yipped and everyone resumed dancing to the music.

At this moment three of Axel's other friends, Hannah Belloc, Moraine Sunders and Ramsey Levine waggled into the hall.

"Hey, longest time," Drew honed in with an amicable smile as he gazed at them.

"Yeah, it seems we have a new development. Yes, Axel and Charmaine have finally crossed the friendship zone," Hannah teased as they all gazed at Axel and Charmaine who were still dancing together.

"Yeah, that's cool," Quinn chuckled softly.

"I guess we would have to congratulate them later on," Ramsey said and they all giggled.

In a blur of shock, the music was put to a halt by Hayden who was in the company of Silas, Rowan, Gael and Waylen and everyone was perplexed at what happened.

"Geez, not again," Drew exclaimed letting out a low puff.

"So, Axel Dankworth, the scholarship freak, the puny little turd and gold digger. I told you, we have a deal. I prove the fact you are nothing but a thief for stealing my golden wristwatch and putting it at your desk in your locker," Hayden started with a snicker.

"I hope you have got one way to defend yourself because the trial has just begun," Silas added with a jape expression.

"Of course," Axel smirked in a manner that made them irked about him.

He went away from Charmaine's grasp closer to Hayden where Ryan who had just entered the hall waggled to be with.

"So how are you going to defend yourself? In what way?" Hayden questioned as he stroked his chin.

"Well, you were right about the wristwatch being on your desk, but I need to ask a question. Why in the world would you go to my locker in class in the first place to search for your wristwatch?" Hayden's lips curled up curiously and subtly.

"Well, that's because we had to search everyone's locker till we found it at your locker," Hayden stuttered.

"Hmm, that might have been the case, except that wasn't, and am going to show you all the evidence," Axel boomed in an aced manner as he brought out a camera from his pocket and connected it with a chord to the large screen present.

At this point, Oberon, Gertrude Greer and other teachers who had left had returned.

Across the murmurings and mumblings, Axel let out a low puff as switched on the camera.

"I have the video of when the hardy Boyz planted the wristwatch in my locker after switching off the cameras that were present except the new one that Eobard Gregory, the computer teacher had told me to plant in an area Hidden for gravy security," Axel explained as the video played through the large screen, showing when Hayden and the hardy Boyz thought they had switched off the cameras and finally planted the wristwatch in Axel's locker.

Everyone's jaw dropped as their eyes popped open in astonishment including Jayden and the entire Hardy Boyz.

"I'm sure you know what this means. The suspension is a must for you, Hayden," Oberon snapped.

"Come on, I'm sure we can work things out. I'm sure you all know that there is no way you can suspend me if you all don't want to lose your Jobs," Hayden said as he clumsily walked away from the scene with the entire Hardy boys.

"Wow, that was smart," Charmaine fluttered her eyelashes in admiration at Axel's handiwork.

"Yep, I told you, I got it covered," Axel's eyes glossed with delight as he gazed at Drew, Quinn, Hannah, Moraine and Richard waggling towards him to congratulate him on how he defended himself...

Elias Fernsby sat in his lounge room in his elegant mansion chugging down some wine from his glass cup when Hayden stormed in seething with clenched teeth.

"What's the matter, son?" Elias questioned curiously.

"Dad, I can't understand why a son of not just one of the members of the board of the High school, but one of the notable men in this city would be suspended," Hayden gaffed at the top of his lungs.

"What!" Elias yipped as he shot up from the lounge he sat down on...