Chapter 1: Rainy Afternoons

Dark clouds slowly gathered in the early morning sky. They were swollen with the rain they promised to shower the earth with. Xion looked up at the sky. She hoped the rain wouldn't come until well after she had gone home. She tugged the sleeves of her favorite blue sweater down past her wrist and to her palms. She balled up her hands to hold down her sleeves. Xion then tightly crossed her arms and pushed them into her chest and hurried off to school.

"Hey, did you hear about the upcoming school festival?"

Xion stopped in the hallway as she listened to two boys converse.

"They said it was going to be the best one this year."

"Yeah, if you're a senior, you'd have to be so fucking stupid to miss out on it." They started chuckling.

Xion's never been to a single school festival. She always believed them to be unneccessary and stupid, but seeing as she's a senior, she thought it'd be worth going to for at least once.

"Move, you stupid bitch!"

Xion felt herself being thrown into the lockers. "Ow..." she cried in pain. She looked over her shoulder to see the queen bitch, Namine. Namine was a spoiled little rich blonde bimbo who wore too much make up. She was shallow and fake and believed she had the entire school wrapped around her little finger.

Namine and her clique of two girls glared at Xion. "Well, say you're sorry," snarled the one on Namine's right. She had brown hair that she wore in pigtails that drapped over her shoulders.

Xion felt her throat tighten as everyone stared with mocking eyes. "S-sorry," she muttered.

"What was that?" Namine cupped her hand around her ear. "I didn't hear you." Her glossy pink lips curled into a wicked smile.

"Sorry," repeated Xion a little louder this time. "Sorry that you're a stuck up whore."

Namine's face grew red as the gathering crowd oh'd and began chanting 'fight' over and over. Namine grabbed Xion's collar and shoved her into the locker. Xion felt her throb as it slammed against the locker.

"Stop!" boomed a deep voice. A large hand pulled Namine away from Xion. A tall muscular silver-haired boy towered over Namine. "That's enough."

"Riku, you always ruin my fun," she huffed. She flipped her golden locks. "Doesn't matter. This bitch is a nobody anyway." She stuck her tiny fake nose in the air and walked off. Everyone followed suit and left as the bell for 1st period rang. Xion was left all alone in the vast hallway.

A... nobody. The words echoed through Xion's head. She has always been an outcast. No friends, no real family. She never spoke or did anything that included people. Yet she has always been a target for people to bully. Everyday she was harassed by people who called her the same names everyday and pushed her around, but today, after that incident, her life became a living hell.

Namine had connections everywhere and everywhere Xion went everyone jumped in the bandwagon and mocked Xion. Spreading rumors about her giving boys a "special treat" behind the gym or how she was actually a guy but enjoyed cross dressing. This caused a bunch of immature guys to pull down her skirt in the cafeteria. Xion was at her limits until the last period arrived.

"Alright! Alright!" yelled the fat, balding science teacher."Everyone take a seat!" Even though the building was ice-cold, his bald head was shinning with sweat. "Today you guys get partners for the upcoming science project."

There was a mixture of groans and the sound of hi-fives as people already had their sights locked on their partners. Xion stared at her empty table. She sat all alone in the back of the classroom.

"Now, go ahead and sit next to your partners," he instructed.

The sound of chairs scrapping against the hard tile filled the room as people got up and partnered up. Xion remained in her seat.

"Xion, do you not have a partner?" asked the science teacher.

Xion shook her head. This always happened, but for some reason Xion felt embarrassed this time.

A few people snickered. "Of course no one wants to be Xion's partner. She's a nobody."

The science teacher rolled his eyes at them. "Well, this is a partner only assignment, meaning without a partner, you'll fail."

"I'll be her partner," a new voice entered the room.

"Ah, Roxas. Finally decided to join us today, I see."

A tall, spiky blonde haired boy took a seat right next to Xion. He had a tiny hoop earring and a nose ring and appeared to be wearing eyeliner. He looked very attractive in his red plaid shirt and black skinny jeans. His mischievous blue eyes sparkled as he ran his hand through his hair. A few girls glared at Xion.

"Well, looks like you got lucky there, Xion." The science teacher turned around to the board and began explaining the project.

Roxas held his hand out. "I'm Roxas."

Xion looked at his hand. "I'm... Xion."

Roxas lowered his unshaken hand and cleared his throat. "Well, nice to meet you."

Xion remained silent. Roxas glanced at the small girl with short black hair. "You have pretty blue eyes."

Xion shifted nervously in her seat. Her cheeks became rosy. "Shut up... stupid."

Roxas smirked. "I'll get you to talk one way or another."

"Have one partner come up and get the supplies," instructed the science teacher as he wiped his shiny bald head.

Xion quickly jumped from her seat to retrieve the supplies. One of the boys who sat up in front snickered as he waited for Xion to walk back to her seat. "Check this out," he whispered to his partner. He quickly kicked out his leg and swung in forward into Xion's legs.

"WHOA!" Xion fell over his legs and landed on the tray of supplies, shattering a few beakers.

The room erupted with laughter. The boy who tripped her wiped tears from his eyes. "Watch where you're going, slut!"

Xion felt her eyes tear up and she bit down on her trembling lip. She held her right hand. There was a sharp pain that throbbed intensely.

Roxas looked at Xion and saw her pain. He glanced around the room to see everyone mocking Xion. He tensed up as he saw a red liquid drip from Xion's injured hand. He felt his stomach twist and knot up as he stared at the blood. He couldn't move his eyes away.

Xion pushed herself off the floor and ran out of the room with a laughter still going. She felt tears stream down her face. It was the first time in a long time she was able to cry.

The heavy clouds finally release their rain and completely drenched the sidewalks and flooded the gutters. Xion held her bandaged hand as she walked through the rain. She didn't bother bringing her umbrella. She shivered as the rain soaked through her clothes.

"Here."

Xion looked up to see Roxas holding an umbrella over her. She blinked at him.

"You look cold." He placed the umbrella in her left hand. "How's your hand?" Roxas reached over to her injured hand.

Xion quickly pulled away her hand. "Stop!"

Roxas glanced down at the ground. "I'm sorry for what happened."

Xion turned around. "Don't pity me," she said as she walked away.

Roxas watched the small girl walk away in the rain. He smiled to himself as he turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

When school was over, Xion returned home. She lived in a pretty large house. It was a lovely blue house with many rooms, a large living room with a chandler hanging from above and a fancy dinning room. The front and back yard were huge. A beautiful garden filled the front with large cherry blossom trees and rose bushes that lined the walkway. The back was filled with beautiful shrines that surrounded a large pool filled with crystal clear water. Xion entered through the large beautifully carved wooden doors, but behind all that glamour was a dark secret. Xion marched up the spiraling stair case and entered her room, locking it behind her.

She set down her stuff and stood in front of her full body mirror. Her short black hair was wet and clung to her skin. Her blue eyes were red from crying in the infirmary. Xion removed her blue sweater that began to irritate her skin from being wet. Large black and blue bruises ran up and down her tiny arms. She recalled the previous night where her drunken adoptive father tried to beat her. Xion held up her arms in defense as he struck her, earning her bruises.

"That's what I get for forgetting to lock the door," she said under her breath as she changed out of her wet clothes and into her pajamas. She grabbed a pudding cup from her mini fridge. As she peeled off the lid and began consuming the delicious snack, she stared at the umbrella Roxas gave her. That's the first time someone ever did anything nice for me.

Xion gulped the last spoonful of her chocolate pudding. She tossed the cup away and slid into bed. It was nice and comforting like a hug. She snuggled under the blankets and looked at the ceiling. "Thank you, Roxas," she mumbled before drifting off into a blissful slumber.