Chapter I

Summary:

Roxas is a quiet kid, trying his best not to stand out too much at school, trying to not get any attention. For multiple reasons. At his drawing academy however, he can loosen up and be himself. But his life is bound to get a bit more chaotic when Axel decides drawing looks like a good way to pass his time.

Disclamer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts. The lyrics are Secret and Kill kill kill from The Pierces respectively.

A/N:

This story will be set in Belgium, and thus follow the Belgian school system. In Belgium, there isn't something like middle and high school. The system goes like this:

Kindergarten: 2/3 – 5 years old. (3 years)

Primary school: 6 – 11/ 12 years old (6 years)

Secondary school: 12 – 18 years old (6 years)

University

In this story, Roxas is in 4th grade of secondary school, which means he's 15 and about to turn 16, while Axel is in his 6th year, which means he's 17 and about to turn 18.

Secrets
Got a secret
Can you keep it?
Swear this one you'll save
-The Pierces

I turned around when a bright red caught my eye. My eyes just had the time to get as big as saucers, before I turned back to face his friends again. What is he doing here? He shouldn't be here. I repressed the urge to look over my shoulder for a second time. Even if he joined drawing academy, he's a sixth grader, his classes shouldn't be here.

"You okay?" Namine asked, one brow raised.

My head shot up. I had to blink twice to get back to earth. "Uh, yeah. I guess."

It looked like she was going to say something back, but I was saved by our art teacher calling everyone to start a begin-of-the-year-speech.
"All right, guys. This year'll be a bit different, 'cuz the attendance record has reached its lowest point ever. So this year you'll all be having lessons with the sixth graders."

Looking around, I indeed noticed that there seemed to be less people than usual. I looked back at our teacher, smartly hidden behind Xion's back.

"For those who don't know me, my name's Ralph. Please call me that or you'll be ignored. I want no sirs or misters. 'Kay, you can all go take a seat. I'll shortly come and explain each year's task for today."

I skidded back to his table in a record time, my friends slowly following. I was getting a spark of hope. Maybe I could still get through this day –and, if I was lucky, even this year –without being noticed.
Unfortunately, that hope was crushed immediately when I heard someone say: "Can I sit here?" When I looked for the source of this voice I was frightened to see someone with red hair I had tried to avoid. Axel –probably the most popular boy of my school.

"It's unusual; the sixth graders all sit over there, but sure," I heard Namine say. "Why would you come sit with us though?"
"Oh, I know Roxas here," Came the reply.
I didn't have time to be shocked my name was known by a school idol. My mind was still blown with the thought of why the hell Axel wanted to sit with us, but it struck me fast.
My behavior a few minutes ago had probably just screamed 'Please don't come sit here! I have things to hide. And those things could easily come to daylight if you go sit right beside me.' How idiotic. I just wanted to hit myself right now. Vanishing was a nice option too.

I was used to a life where I tried to be as invisible as possible at school, afraid to become a laughing stock and to avoid daily abuse. The drawing academy, however, was a complete different matter.
And Axel was the guy who was probably most capable of ruining my life, and the situation I was in was probably most capable of reaching that exact same goal.
First, the academy was as safe for secrets as a street full of housewives, and a few things I didn't want everyone to know could easily be found here. Including the fact that I was as straight as the multi colored birthday strings that were scattered around the academy.
Second, I'd had a crush for the Devil-knows-how-long on a certain man, who was now sitting beside me, a wild grin plastered on his face.
And there was also that thing, though I wasn't really worried about that. Xion was the only one who knew the whole story, and she was part of it anyway.

"So, who are you guys?" Axel asked.
"I'm Namine," came the girl's immediate response. "And she's called Xion," she continued, nodding to the girl beside me. "And those three at the end of the table are Kairi, Sora and Riku."
Axel nodded, slowly progressing the information.

"Sooo… Have you decided to sit here, what was your name again?" Ralph suddenly stood behind them, appearing out of nowhere.

"Name's Axel, got it memorised?" I turned around. "And yeah, I think I'm going to sit here."
Ralph nodded. "Just come over when I explain the task, so I don't have to say the same thing over and over again." Then he turned towards the other people at the table. It was only then I saw the two busts in his hands. "Observation practice for you guys," he said while putting one of the heads on the table. "I don't want you to change anything, got it?"
Xion sighted. "Uhg. Observation practice." Namine just chuckled.

Axel left to hear the explanation of what he'd be doing for the next couple of hours and hell broke loose immediately: "So you know him?" (Sora) "Where is he from?" (Kairi) "Is he a nice kid?" (Xion). The questions were muffled and everyone had started drawing already.
I shrugged. "He's just someone from school. I would never even have thought he'd knew my name." Then I made a face. "My life is ruined. He and his gang are quite notorious."
Before anyone could assure me they would keep quiet, Axel came sauntering back and they all shut up. The older boy didn't even seem to notice as he took the brushes he'd need. I mentally made up my mind to not speak again, that would probably be the safest. And maybe it would even make him lose interest and make him sit somewhere else next week.

Sora was the first one to speak again. Unlike the others, he had the ability to jabber all day long.
"So Axel, why did you decide to do drawing academy?"
The newcomer shrugged. "Geh, I just wanted to have something to do on my Saturday mornings. They're always too boring. What about you lot?"
It was Riku's turn to say something now. "We've just been going here our whole lives I guess. First it was just Kairi, Sora and me though. The rest joined soon after."
"Jeah. Good times. Back in those days Roxas looked like he was just a little, innocent girl." Sora should really just shut his mouth sometimes. I shot him a dead glare. Axel was snickering in my ear.

"Why drawing though? You look like the type that sports a lot." How lucky I could always rely on Xion to save me. Axel grinned. Again. "I do. But my parents didn't want me to take any more sports. Said I already have enough chances to break my neck."
"What do you do then?" I closed his mouth immediately. I wanted to bang my head on the table. There went my resolve to keep quiet.

I was amazed at how big Axel's grin became though. I'd never seen such a huge smile. Not even from Sora, which meant a lot.
"Windsurfing. And mountain boarding. And sometimes I go wakeboarding too." I had no idea what in hell's name mountain boarding or wakeboarding was, but according to Sora's gawking expression, it sure was impressing. I made a little mental note to Google it sometime.

"So do you do anything? Besides drawing?" Axel called for my attention again. I nodded. "Yeah, I play the guitar, and I go.. Skating." I hoped the slight hitch wasn't too noticeable.
"Skating?" Bad luck. I nodded once again.
"Ice skating. Short track," I said firmly.
Luckily, Axel decided to let it go. We proceeded to draw in silence, while the other tables were chatting away loudly.

After a while, Axel seemed to get annoyed because of the silence. Despite the urge to lighten the mood, I kept quiet. I didn't want to give the older guy any more information he could ruin my life with, so I trusted my friends to take some kind of action.

Unfortunately, that action didn't come until Namine finished her drawing. In record time, as always, but to me, it still took too long.
"Aah. Finally done," she sighted while stretching her fingers.

Sora rolled his eyes. "Yeah, finally," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see he wasn't even halfway, and still struggling to get the damn nose right.

Axel got over to take a look, and I saw the chance to take a peek at the older boy's drawing. The assignment was most likely to either draw a new species of animals, or alter an existing one. At least that was what I guessed from the mutated bird that was forming on the paper.

It didn't look very friendly, but it had quite the cute air about it. Cute, to my standards at least, which were probably far from general opinion. It looked a bit like a swallow, but its feathers had more of a peacock's. Its beak was sharp, and it would hurt if it would attack, but I doubted it could be used to eat anything but grain. Its claws looked the most dangerous though, apart from his eyes, which looked terrifying, even though that was probably the most harmless part of the body. Yes, very cute indeed.

"Admiring my skills?"
I jumped and tried to turn around at the same time, hitting the table painfully with one of my knees.

I had to sit through the rest of the hour with Axel's laugh in my ears. I was more than happy when Ralph announced the end of their Saturday morning.

Monday wasn't very pleasant. I tried to blend into the crowd more than ever, fearing –but at the same time hoping– Axel would recognize me and say something. For once I was happy the sixth graders had a cozy, little classroom to eat their sandwiches, while I had lunch in the loud mess that was called the canteen.
Luckily, I began to relax during the following days, and when Saturday came around again, I was able to put on a mask of indifference and ignored Axel the whole morning. Namine shot me a few confused glances, but I decided this was the best way to make sure I wouldn't slip up.

Despite my act of nonchalance, I was actually burning to know more about Axel, so during the little break we had, I invited Xion for a little walk in the garden.

One of the nice things about our drawing academy was the big garden. Calling it a small park would probably be a bit over the top, but it came close. The weather was nice today, and we weren't surprised to see a couple of people lying and sitting on the grass. I waited until I was sure they couldn't hear us before I began to speak.
"Xion, could you do something for me?"
She eyed me a bit suspiciously, but said nothing.
"Er… Could you please, well, er… ask Axel a few questions and, err... such… things…"
She raised one brow. I noticed she was biting her lip to keep herself from laughing at my awkwardness.
"But Roxas, aren't you usually very good at those kinds of things, you know, figuring stuff out about people?" An uncharacteristic smile spread across her face as she spoke with a way too innocent voice.
"Yeah, err, yes, but he might ask stuff back and er…" I really didn't want Axel to know certain things about myself. Figure skating wasn't very manly, as were my taste in music and my love for romantic novels. The jokes about me being sure if I really wasn't a girl had become old quite a few years ago.

As I tried to neglect the voice in the back of my mind saying 'Are you sure that's the reason you don't want him to know?' I felt Xion's hand on my arm. The girl was giggling softly.
"I'll ask," she promised. Then she gave me one of her most innocent looks. "But I'm afraid I'll have to call in Namine's help."
I groaned. Really, the drawing academy was not a good place for secrets.

On the verge of insanity
What were you doing in my dream last night, Hunnie?
Well I thought I locked that door up tight, Baby.
Well it's a mystery to me
How you keep on slippin'
In my mind…
-The Pierces

I needed to calm myself; this was just a crush on someone I didn't know anything about. My fantasy had probably taken the better part of me and made him into some god-like guy.
It would all be over if I found out more about him.

But it didn't go over.

On the contrary, every time I found out something about him, I just got more and more interested. And every time he'd do something good, I would almost be proud, because he was the one I lik– No. I didn't like him; I never said I liked him.

But still, whenever I caught a glimpse of red, my eyes seemed to be drawn to it automatically, and whenever I heard his name, it would create a slight shiver to run down my spine. But that didn't prove anything, did it? That didn't mean I… It was just a crush.

I was lying on my bed. I had just discovered something I didn't like. It's not like I didn't know it already. It's just that I'd never wanted to see it, so I wouldn't see it. But things are hard to neglect when someone throws it in your face. And I have to say that it hurt.

The day had been beautiful. It had been one of those nice autumn days where the sun tried to make people believe it was still summer. But everything turned around when our Latin lesson came around. About ten minutes after it had begun. The girl beside me started sobbing. She'd been quiet the whole day, but I hadn't been observing enough that day to have noticed. My mind had been elsewhere.
Our professor turned around and walked over to our table.
"Olette, what's wrong?" Her voice was soft, in order to not frighten her.
Olette just shook her head, but she didn't stop crying.
"Shh, take some deep breaths."
The girl tried to do as the teacher said, which just resulted in some hiccups, but the sobbing didn't stop.

The teacher glanced down, and apparently she must have found the source of Ollette's agony, because she silently whispered: "You shouldn't cry over him. Everyone knows he's a player. He's not worth your tears."

As I glanced down at the girl's work-book, I saw the scribble. Olette must have tried to erase it, but it was still clearly visible. In big letters, colored in with pencils. 'Olette 3 Axel'

My mind was blank. The only proof that it was still working was the scene it protected in my head over and over. The crying, the whispering, the drawing. And every time, I felt like someone was hitting me with a tennis racket. Because every time I was hit, there was still a single square of my mind that was whispering: 'That means he's free now.' And I didn't know what hurt more.

So right now I was trying to find something to distract myself from all this. Anything would do, as long as it would help me to not fall to insanity, like I was doing right now. Unfortunately, my mind had decided to stop listening to me.

So I was lying on my bed with my head of the mattress and almost touching the ground. It must have been a rather curious sight to my mother, who happened to walk into my room at that moment, phone in her hand.

"Saix called. He wants to see you at 8."

Finally. Someone has come to rescue me.

A/N: Wooh! First chapter done. Personally, I don't really like this one because nothing really happens, more like a short introduction. But next chapter will be really nice.

Can anyone tell me if I'm actually allowed to use lyrics? I can't really understand the rule.

Another thing: would you like to have longer chapters in the future, or short, but more and faster updates?

Random fact of the day:
The billionth digit of pi is 9