Sorry if this first chapter is bad. The first one is so hard to write. If this does good, I will continue it. Please try to give it a chance!!
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters.
The end of summer heat was burning through everyone and everything. Including the garage roof. It was nearly October, yet the hot weather refused to subside. Demyx looked around at each of his band mates, all fanning themselves in some manner. Marluxia, the keyboard player was using his sheet music, while Axel, the drummer, simply used his hands. The guitarist, Saix, was completely silent, a small battery-powered fan around his neck. At least someone had the right idea. Despite everyone's displeasure, it was the bass player who spoke first.
"It's too hot in here today, Demyx," Zexion spoke, plucking the top string of his bass. "Can't we just wait until tomorrow to practice?"
"Yeah," Axel agreed. "Or get a freaking air-conditioner in your garage. I'm sweating my ba-"
"Don't finish that sentence, Axel. I don't want to hear about your disgusting parts."
Demyx laughed at the two as Zexion gave Axel a smirk. His band mates were practically family. They'd formed Melodious Nocturne their sophomore year. Demyx and Axel had known each other since grade school, both being in marching band for a short time. Marluxia had been introduced to them through Demyx's neighbor and friend, Larxene, when the two started dating. Saix was an acquaintance from freshman year math class, who was known to play a mean guitar solo. So Demyx befriended him and asked him to join the band.
The only thing missing was the bass player. At the beginning of sophomore year, Saix informed them of his cousin, Zexion, who was moving to town. Apparently, Zexion's parents were extremely busy business people, who were always moving from place to place. He'd been kicked out of his boarding school (for reasons Demyx still didn't know), and was coming to live with Saix's family. It just so happened that he played the bass. So before they even knew each other, Demyx had extended an offer to join the band, which Zexion gladly accepted. Now in their senior year of high school, the band was nearly two years old and still going strong.
The only problem was that all of their teachers were trying to push college on them. And some of them were really considering it. Mainly Zexion, who had become Demyx's best friend. Though it worried Demyx to see Zexion go, he never said a word to the slate-haired teen. If it was his dream to go to college and start a career in something other than music, who was Demyx to stop him? But Demyx had a problem of his own…
He'd developed a crush on Zexion quite some time ago, and he really hated to see him leave. Especially if he never knew how Demyx felt for him. Yet another problem was Zexion's on-again, off-again girlfriend, Kairi. They'd been on again for nearly two weeks. Demyx was giving them three more days before they would be off again. Secondly, he didn't think Zexion would feel the same, seeing as he was attracted to girls. How would something like that ever work?
So Demyx had resorted to keeping his feelings locked inside. Well, with the exception of telling Axel, his only outwardly gay friend (though you couldn't tell based on his behavior). And that in itself, could have been a huge mistake, had he not sworn Axel to secrecy. Oh, yeah, and his friend from school, Vexen, who also happened to be his tutor and unofficial therapist. And then there was Larxene….Okay, so maybe everyone knew but Zexion and Kairi. Maybe. But if Saix had know, he'd never let on. Then again, Saix didn't really say much to begin with.
"Sweating my balls off," Axel finished anyway, just to spite the bass player.
Zexion shook his head. "You're disgusting."
"I'm going to have to agree with Zexion," Marluxia sighed.
Axel glared.
"That's not what I'm talking about. Though you may be disgusting, Axel, I meant the practicing tomorrow thing. It's way too hot for this today."
"Aw, come on, guys!" Demyx pleaded. "How are we ever going to make it anywhere if we let the heat get in our way? You know how hot it would be on a real stage?"
"If it's as stifling as your garage, I think I should just quit now," Axel mumbled under his breath.
Now it was Demyx's turn to glare. "Axel, you know you don't mean that. Come on. Three songs and we'll call it quits for today."
Reluctantly, the others agreed. Demyx started to strum his sitar and the others joined in, recognizing the song as Demyx began to sing. Many of the people that saw his strange instrument wondered how it could possibly fit in with rock music, but they were all impressed when they heard. That's why Demyx had so much faith that their band could make it. Even when the others didn't.
Towards the end of the third song, Larxene, Demyx's blonde-haired neighbor and Marluxia's girlfriend, came strutting over. She looked at each of the sweating band members, offered a short round of applause, then fanned herself with one hand. As she entered the garage, each of the band members started to clean up, packing their things rather slowly with exhaustion. She walked to Marluxia and hugged him.
"I can't believe you guys still practiced in this weather," she said.
"We're cutting it short today," Axel sighed. "Too freaking hot for this. Hey, Dem, we still meeting at the same time tomorrow?"
Demyx shook his head. "I have a tutoring session with Vexen after school tomorrow, so he'll probably be here 'til about five. You guys can come over then."
"Sounds good to me," Marluxia shrugged. "I have an hour detention tomorrow for Ms. Gainsborogh. Apparently, drawing pictures in your text book is a bad thing."
"Well, everyone knows how fond of flowers the both of you are," Axel grinned. "Why don't you try giving her some?"
Marluxia smirked. "Very funny, Axel."
"What exactly did you draw, anyway?"
"Did anyone meet the new kid yet?" Larxene asked, changing the subject. "He moved in down the street a few days ago. Started school today. I think his name is Roxas or something."
"Nope, haven't seen him," Axel replied, standing from his drum set and heading for the open door. "With a name like that, I think I'd remember. Maybe I'll see him tomorrow. I'm heading home. Later, guys."
He walked away, carrying only his drumsticks with him. Demyx shook his head. Axel had skipped school today, so of course he hadn't met the new student. Marluxia flicked the switch on his keyboards and followed Larxene out of the garage, waving to the others as he left. This was routine. Everyday after band practice, he would go to Larxene's house, and if they decided to, the group would hang out together again later. This left Saix, Zexion, and Demyx, putting away their instruments in the garage, since the drums and keyboards just stayed in the garage.
"Are you coming home now?" Saix asked, looking at Zexion. "Or are you going to Kairi's?"
Zexion hoisted his bass bag onto his back. "She's hanging out with Namine today."
Demyx couldn't help himself from jumping one the chance, even if it meant Saix would be there, too. "Well, I don't have anything to do. You guys can hang out here with me."
"I can't," Saix frowned. "I have a ton of homework to do."
Demyx looked to the bass player. "Zexion?"
The slate-haired boy shrugged. "Well…I don't have anything else to do. Why not?"
Saix smiled. "Okay. I'll let Mom and Dad, or shall I say your legal guardians know where you are. Don't stay out too late."
"Yeah, I know."
Saix walked away, too, heading for his house just a few blocks away. He took his guitar with him, too. Demyx had suggested that they just leave their instruments in the garage, too, but they insisted on bringing them home. They both enjoyed practicing at home. Once he had gone, Demyx hit the button to close the garage door, then motioned for Zexion to follow him into the house.
Yet another routine. Each day, when everyone was leaving, Demyx sprung on the chance to invite Zexion (and whoever else was still lingering) to hang around for a while. Though it was usually just to get Zexion to stay as long as possible. And he was still completely oblivious to Demyx's feelings. Demyx would walk into the house first, Zexion following shyly behind, and fetch each of them a drink, then head upstairs to his room. Usually, they would play some kind of video game, do homework, or write some new music. It seemed like no matter how many times Zexion had been in Demyx's house, he would never lose the timid behavior.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Demyx asked, sipping his drink after they had gone upstairs.
Zexion shrugged his shoulders, placing his bass and schoolbag in a corner near the door. "Anything. Whatever you want to do."
Demyx couldn't help but dream about all the things that could mean. Unfortunately, he knew that wasn't going to happen. He simply turned his television on instead, flipping though the channels. Maybe today they could just chat about something. Something Demyx had been curious about for a long time.
"Hey, Zex?"
Zexion looked at him as he took a seat on the bed. "Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why did you get kicked out of that religious boarding school you went to?"
"Well, Demyx….That's something I would rather not talk about. Anything else you wanted to ask me?"
Demyx laughed. Zexion may have been his best friend, but that was the one tidbit of information he'd never been able to weasel out of him. "Was it something really bad?"
"It depends on whose viewpoint you look at it from. I didn't think it was." He gave Demyx a quizzical look. "What's with the fascination all of a sudden?"
"Nothing. I've always just wondered. You're not a bad kid at school now. You've never had detention and you barely even speak. I just don't understand what you could have done that was so bad you got kicked out."
Zexion raised his eyebrows. "Kid? Anyway, it's not really that big of a deal."
Demyx gave him an innocent look. "Really? Why won't you tell me, then?"
Hesitation. "I'll tell you sometime, Demyx. I just don't want to talk about that right now."
"Okay. I respect that." He paused. "So how are you and Kairi?"
"We're okay." Another hesitation. " Hey, you wanna play that new racing game of yours? I'm just dying to kick your ass today."
Demyx nodded. He could tell that Zexion didn't feel like elaborating on that. Perhaps his guess of three more days was right. Though as much as that excited him, it disappointed him to see his best friend so upset. Kairi was a nice girl, but she just wasn't meant to be with Zexion. Demyx couldn't understand why neither of them could see that. He just wanted to see his friend happy….Even if that meant Zexion not being with him.