Character’spage:

Father: Rivera 

Mother: Rivera 

Julian: Son of and  Rivera

Stellar: Daughter [ female protagonist]

Smith: Rivera’s friend [Axle’s dad]

Axel: Smith’s son [Male protagonist]

Shadow: Axle’s dog

Alicia: Stellar’s antagonist 

Artemis: Stellar’s best friend

Chase: Stellar’s best friend 

As usual  Rivera came home late. The house was quiet and empty. he called for his wife but there was no response. Suddenly a loud voice scream came down the  hallway “Help somebody help!”. Rivera was taken aback as it was already past twelve in the night. As he rushed towards the noise he was welcome by a loud “Happy Birthday”. That’s when he realized that he forgot his own birthday. Soon the sound of laughter filled the house.

Julian and Stellar requested their dad to take break for his hectic schedule for a week as they had planned a mini vacation of their parents.

Since  Rivera was a CEO of a very big and famous company in the country, it wasn’t easy to take such a long leave. But looking at Julian and Stellar’s puppy dog eye’s he agreed. But on two conditions, one they would look after the company in his absence as they were his successor and would get a tentative idea of how to take over the company after him. Two Rivera’s close friend, Christopher’s son was going to come to stay with them as that was they had passed away recently. So their drill was to be nice and polite to the poor boy as he just lost his parents. after they agreed and Rivera packed their bags they were going to travel the next day.  Rivera was surprised as to how the children knew he would agree but just shrugged it off.

The next morning Julian was supposed to drop off their parents but since he was known to be the laziest person on the planet he was fast asleep so Stellar decided to drop them off to the airport. They were flying off to Abu Dhabi’s Yas island for the week. Once she dropped them she accidently bumped into someone, as she was apologizing she noticed the deep blue eyes of the person and lost the track of time and stared into them.That’s when she realized that this stranger  was a drop dead gorgeous man.Her mind was full of fantasies and confetti. She was gently brought out of her fantasies by the boy who kindly asked where he could catch a cab. Stellar responded “I don’t think you should use the airport cab facility as its pretty expensive. I could drop you off to your place if you want. Since I’m free. “She offered politely hoping to receive a yes from the handsome boy. He thanked her and accepted her offer. When he told her the address she realized he was dad’s friend’s son. So she curiously asked for his name. “Axle.” 

He replied in his husky yet deep voice which could make any ice melt. When Stellar told him that this was her dad’s house and that she was Rivera’s daughter. His insides burst into confetti. But he still pretended to have a composure over himself and pretended this matter did not affect him. Stellar used to play table tennis so she would often go to school quite early than her brother and as usual he would get up late and hurry all the way to school and then complain about forgetting something or the other. so she asked Julian to drop Axle to his school and for once get up early.  Rivera had enrolled Axle to her school but all this was unknown to Stellar. After the tat practice in the girl’s changing room there was a gossip that a rich and dead sexy jock had joined their school. Since Stellar generally didn’t really care if anyone joined the school so, she ignored.as she was enteringthe school hallway, she heard many girls squeal with excitement,half of them were practically drooling all over someone and eying him like an eye candy. this intrigued her a lot but she was dragged away by her coach who told her that she was preferred over Alicia to lead the school table tennis team for the upcoming tournaments. Alicia was Stellar’s antagonist from the very start. later that day in Stellar’s came to know that the handsome jock who practically the whole school is talking about was in her class. When the class began the teacher told them that there would be a new kid in their class and that they had to be kind with him. as the new boy entered the class resonated with Oooo’s and Aaaa’s. Stellar ignored all this and was busy finding her pouch as she was uncertain whether she had packed it. Axle cleared his throat to grab the attention of everyone. He began “hi. I’m Axle”that was all he said. as Stellar heard this voice she recognized it immediately and glanced at who was speaking. She was right it was Axle. She was surprised as he was in her school and she was unaware of this. 

The teacher then asked her to raise her hand so Axle could sit beside her. She was also told to undertake the task to show him around the school. in an instant as the teacher said that all the girls looked at her with eye’s filled in jealousy. She was a little taken aback by this but shrugged it off and told him to come with her as she was showing him the school. As she was giving him a tour of the school she realised all this while he did not even speak a word. So she asked him to tell her more about himself. accordingly, he started by telling “My name is Axle you already know that, I don’t have any siblings except for Shadow my pet dog. Well my dad did not like him one bit so he stayed in my room. Do u want to know anything more?” “yes” Stellar replied what are your hobbies she asked. To that he replied “well I like boxing I had won a few competition’s as well apart from that I like writing stories, playing video games, playing the guitar, listening to music, playing football, eating, working out and well sleeping. ”Stellar was happy as the shared so much in common. During lunch break she led him to the cafeteria where she introduced him to Chase and Artemis her childhood besties. While they were having lunch Alicia came over to their table and sat really close to Axle.  And started to flirt with him. 

This was enough to boil Stellar’s blood. Artemisheld Stellar’s hand to cool her down everyone knew Alicia was not a good company. Poor Axle who almost chocked on his food at her entry politely whispered to Stellar and asked if she knew who this new girl was. Alicia heard this and said “Oh. My hubby boo why are u even talking to these street urchins. Come with me I’ll take you to some place better”. At this Artemis was ready to throw a punch right at her face but Stellar stopped her and replied “this is the table for humans and not for plastic and crap so, Get Lost”. Before Alicia could say anything she was dragged by her minions to another table. Axle was just in shock at wat was happening right now so Chase covered him up on the rivalry between Stellar and Alicia. Chase ended by describing the fight between them as cat fight at this Axle and Chase burst out laughing looking at each other. While Stellar and Artemis were giving them the look as if they were some aliens from space. Axle also got to know that Chase and Artemis were in a relationship. 

At the end of the school he had almost realized that Stellar and Artemis were the strongest girls in the school. And the fact they practically ruled the school but never bullied anyone. He also got to know that Julian had a habit of helping students who were weak in studies. Since Julian had to stay back Stellar told Axle that he would be coming home with her but she told him that before they went home she had to drop Artemis and Chase to their respective home’s. On their way to Artemis’s house she dared Stellar to drive as fast as she could since it was a highway Stellar did not mind one bit as this was Artemis’s habit to ask her to do this almost every day. So she stepped at the gas and soon the car was flying on the road. Chase and Axle were screaming for Stellar to reduce or they feared to lose their life. But Stellar replied by increasing the volume of the songs playing in the bag round and increasing the speed even more. The boys started clutching their seatbelts as if it was their life. After while she reduced the speed and the volume of the songs. 

Axle was pretty impressed by the control Stellar had on the car. On asking her he got to know that she had a done a course on car and bike racing and she was an expert at it but when Chase asked her why did she go so fast today she shrugged it off by saying that she was in a good mood of attending his funeral. Chase gave her the ‘bruh are u serious look’. He also got to know that no one including Artemis, Chase, Julian had ever ridden her car and her bike as she prised it as her baby and even the time Julian had accidently taken her car key he ended up with a fracture in his right hand. So that’s sum’s up her love for the vehicles. After a week Julian’s parents came back from their mini vacation. They were extremely happy to find how well their children had bonded with Axle. But they were even more shocked to see how ell Stellar and Axle had bonded in such a short time. Soon days changed to weeks, weeks to months and months to years. It was almost a year since Axle had moved into the Rivera family. By now Axle and Stellar had were inseparable. In school Axle was known as ‘the heartbreaker’. Axle was the school football team captain and Stellar was the captain of the school table tennis team. Everyone shipped them together even though they were the best of friends. There once was an inter-school football match Stellar had promised Axle that she would come to his see and cheer him. But on the day of the match Axle’s team won by a huge margin and was announced as the champion of the interschool tournament. Axle was searching for Stellar when Alicia came out of the blue and kissed Axle on the lips. Stellar who had just brought Axle and his team refreshments mistook him to be in a relationship with her. She just dropped the refreshment’s and went away from the scene. When Axle realized what was happening he immediately pushed Alicia away from him. But it was too late the damage was already done. As Axle searched for Stellar whom he ought to have seen a minute ago he realized she was not there. So he thought she never showed up for the match and was really angry at her. 

When he reached home he went to confront her but instead received a low growl saying “Go Away”. He was taken aback by the response as he knew Stellar would never talk to him in that tone. He thought she mistook him for someone else so he again knocked on the door and said “its Axle here”. And again he received the same reply but now in an even more ferocious tone. By now he knew there was something wrong with her and as a good friend he knew he had to leave her alone at the moment. So he went back to his room. When Stellar was called for dinner she replied that she was full and did not want to eat anything. By now everyone realised something was wrong with her but they knew if they spoke to her now they would see god untimely. So they left her alone. Over dinner Axle announced that he had got a sports scholarship in the best school for football in Italy. He told that he would have to leave for his new school the day after tomorrow. The next day as Stellar was leaving school early Axle stopped her at door and asked her if she was fine but all she told was “you’re not worth it”. Poor Axle was dumbstruck but noticed that her eyes were red and nose was puffy. That meant she had been crying the whole night. He was really surprised as Stellar was not a girl who would cry over something easily which meant there was something big going on with her. This continued for the next two days. Even when Axle wanted to say a good bye and hug Stellar she just moved away. Her parents understood something was fishy. 

Before going he made Chase and Artemis promise him that they would dig deep to the bottom and find the cause of Stellar’s sadness. Few weeks after Axle left Chase noticed a strange behavioural change in Stellar. He asked Artemis if noticed it and she agreed. Stellar the girl who would talk freely, top the class, be bubbly became the quite girl who only spend her time in going for long drives alone and practicing table tennis. Soon she even stopped opening up to Artemis and Chase. Her mother told them that after school Stellar would take the bike or car keys and go for long drive’s. she would only return home late in the night all bruised up. This continued for almost a year. Soon it was time for Axle to return. As he returned he noticed every time he looked into her hazelnut eyes he could see the deep sorrow it hid and he also realised her smiles were no longer the true ones he used see before he left. So one day when and Rivera had to gone for a business function Stellar told them that she was not feeling well and told that she would not be coming for the function. Since Julian also was the next heir he had to go so, they entrusted Stellar to Axle. And told him that he would find the medicines in the top kitchen cabinet. As they left Stellar told Axle that she was going to rest in her room. But Axle stopped her and told her that he wanted to know answers for a few questions. Stellar told him to come to her room as she had no energy to walk. So he lifted her and took her to her room. Stellar was taken aback by this and started wiggle in Axle’s arm. That’s when she realised how strong, well-built and manly he had become. So she stopped all her efforts as they would yield no fruit. Axle slowly put her down on the bed. And gently covered her in a blanket. Now he sat right beside her and asked her why was she angry on him? and what was the reason she did so. 

Stellar took few deep breaths and scoffed “don’t pretend like you don’t know a thing. Wasn’t it Alicia whom you liked in school but still pretended to love me and give me all the signs that you loved me right?” Axle was surprised and said “what!!! me loving Alicia are u crazy huh?” then Stellar took her phone and showed him a pic “this pic”. She said “its eating me up alive everyday”. After looking at the pic of himself and Alicia kissing each other. He asked her if she was jealous of them. To which she nodded a slow yes. Then he showed her a watermark and asked her who send her this pic. Alicia was what she replied. Then he asked her why would she even believe the message. She replied slowly “I did not actually believe the message but on your football match what I saw made everything crystal clear.” When he asked her what she saw. She replied “I saw u and sharing a passionate kiss with Alicia when I was bringing u and your team some refreshments after the match. I also had planned a huge surprise I thought you would like that but after seeing the scene I thought maybe I should leave your life and stop hurting myself for good”. Axle told her that the message and the kiss was all staged to make it look that way and he would rather drink poison than kiss Alicia. And asked her what was the gift she wanted to give him to which she replied by giving him a card covered in hearts. 

When Axle read what the letter read and looked and Stellar who right now was a blushing mess. “what” she asked looking down. He said nothing but replied by kissing her on the lips. She was taken by surprise and felt her as if her body was electrocuted but soon understood what it meant. He broke the kiss and said “aish u little potato I always loved you and always will”. Then he went to kiss her forehead but realised it burning hot. So he made her sleep and gave her some meds and made her snuggle close to his body as she was feeling cold and the warmth of his body would help her. Soon both of them were fast asleep. When her parents came back they were sure something had changed about their daughter. 

Five years later,

Stellar and Axle were fussing over three-year-old twins to finish their food while saying “Come on babies one more spoon then mommy and daddy will take both of you to the park”.

Stroy written by

- Ananya Prabhu(7th Std)

Student of St. Theresa's School Bendur Mangalore