He should really start cleaning his room. It was a mess. Roxas was, most of the time, a tidy person so it's not like his room was a real chaos nor had clothes everywhere. No, the mess was all in his desk to tell the truth. When the last two months of school got close the messier Roxas became with his school related stuff. Roxas was a good student, never failed a year or had a really bad grade but after becoming so crystal clear that he had successfully completed the year he started to let papers form a much disorganized pile on his desk. One could find anything there really: from tests and old homework to paper airplanes and notes he often exchanged with his classmates.
Roxas had promised his dad that he would clean his room when his summer vacation started, so after a week of sleeping till noon and gaming into the night he should really start.
Some hours later Roxas had all his stuff sorted by categories (papers at right, old test at his left…) when he heard someone nock at his door.
"Come in". Roxas had a nice guess of who was nocking so he looked at the door smiling softly.
"Doing that much needed cleaning I see. Need help?" asked Roxas' father. His name was Cloud and he and Roxas look very similar. They both have bright blue eyes that seem to wrap all of one's attention and blond fluffy hair, though Cloud's is very spiked— having a certain resemblance to a chocobo —Roxas',though hard to style, is not that wild. It is their body that really set a difference: Cloud is a tall and built man and Roxas is an average teenager, he's a little on the short side and while he isn't built like his father (Roxas was never interested in Gyms) he isn't muscle less either.
"Not really but thanks dad. I'm just finishing sorting out these papers and this huge pile is going right to the garbage."
"Fine by me. I will make dinner then. Want something in specific?"
His son shakes his head and Cloud took that as his cue to leave him alone. He closed the door and headed for the kitchen.
Roxas was finishing his cleaning spree when he came across a piece of paper he had no memory of ever keeping. It was a conversation between him and his best friend Hayner:
"You looking like someone just died. Stop that! It's getting on my nerves."
"I can't help it! It's not like I enjoy feeling like a zombie! You know how we were Hayner…"
"Sure thing. But really, snap out of it already, move on man there are more fishes in the see you know? "
"Not going to comment that. Let me pay attention to this crap, we have a test coming up and if I fail Cloud will ground me for the next century."
Roxas remembered that particular note all too well but still didn't remember why he kept it. He and Ventus had ended their one-year relationship a week prior to that note and even now, Roxas couldn't recall ever feeling so sad…so empty. Hayner had been there for him and for that Roxas was grateful but was around that same time that it became unbearable to deal with Hayner's crush on him. Between that pressure but the need of support and also the sadness of his first time feeling broken hearted Roxas wasn't sure how he pulled trough.
Soon he had to leave his thoughts because his father was calling do dinner. Roxas wasn't sure if he was grateful for the interruption or if he was angry. He shouldn't be thinking about his ex- at all but he didn't like this melancholic feeling either. It happened a year ago and Roxas had moved on on his own way.
Dinner was a simple and yet strange meal: pasta with a hamburger. Not a typical meal but it was easy to fix and after a day of hard work that's all that mattered to Cloud.
"How was work dad?"
"One of the employees was fired in the morning and the boss didn't remember that the work had to be done by someone else, so my workload was more than the usual but apart from that it was the same as always."
"Sorry to hear that. Was that employee a good friend of yours?"
"Not really, I just hope that the boss hurries up and hire someone to take his place soon" muttered Cloud." So... besides cleaning, did you do anything Rox?"
"Hum? No, not really. I woke up really late so I just fixed something to eat and started cleaning. "
"About waking up so late, I don't know if it's healthy—scratch that– I know it's not healthy to be playing games till ungodly hours Roxas. I know its summer vacation and all but I would prefer if you'd go to bed before 5 A.M." Roxas could see a frown start to form on Cloud's face so he quickly changed the subject. Besides he enjoyed playing online with his friends.
"Tomorrow I'll go to the park. Want something from the store? It's on the way."
"I don't think so. Are you going with your friends?"
"Yep." Roxas knew that his father was referring to his group: Hayner and the couple Pence and Olette. They have been friends since they were little kids but Pence and Olette started dating only two years ago. Strangely enough the group dynamics remained unchanged with that new development.
After had taken his plate to the sink Roxas said goodnight to his father and went to his room. He started his computer and logged in on Skype. His friends weren't there but Ventus was. Roxas logged out and got changed into his pajamas. Well it seems tonight I'll be going to bed earlier.
In the next morning Roxas woke up feeling refreshed. He checked his alarm-clock and it read 11 A.M. It seems like I caught up on some sleep. Roxas had told Hayner that he would meet them at the park entrance at 2 P.M. so he still had time for a bath and to eat something before going to meet his friends.
After a quick shower the blond dressed a pair of blue jeans and a red t-shirt. He went to the kitchen and after checking the refrigerator and determining he wasn't in the mood to cook anything he decided to pick something on his way. Roxas grabbed his cellphone, his wallet and his keys and exited the house. His neighborhood was a nice one; the houses looked similar, painted in either white or light blue and all had a nice garden at the front.
The weather was hot (without being too hot) and there were many people walking on the streets. As he made his way to the park, Roxas greeted some people that would always smile at him. Roxas lived in Twilight Town since he remember of ever being. The blond knew that his parents used to live somewhere else but he was glad that they had decided to settle down here. Roxas loved this city because it was simply beautiful (being an artist it is kinda hard for Roxas to explain to others the beauty he sees) and the people were nice too. Twilight Town is painted in pastel colors having a relaxing effect on the blond while he walks down the streets that seem, on a way or another, to lead everywhere. Roxas made a quick stop at a coffee shop to buy a sandwich for his lunch and soon he was at the park.
"Hi Roxas!" said Olette with a beaming smile. She was dressed strangely; normally she would go for practical clothes but today she was dressed nicely. Is that make-up?
"Hello Roxas." Since Pence and Olette started dating they could always be found physically together somehow, so it wasn't a surprise to see Pence there with his other friend.
"Hey guys! Where's Hayner?" Roxas looked around but couldn't see his blond friend there.
"I haven't seen him yet" said Ollete while searching for her cellphone "I hope he's already on his way here". Just to be sure the brown haired girl sent Hayner a text.
Not even 10 minutes after that Hayner arrived. "Hi guys! Sorry for being late."
"No worries" Pence said "we weren't waiting for long."
"Yeah" agreed Roxas with a kind smile. The blond looked at his friend and took notice of his clothes. He had cleaned up really nice.
They started walking around the park and Roxas started to have a feeling that this would be like a date for Pence and Olette when he noticed their joined hands and that the couple was falling behind. A sudden hand on his shoulder made him jump.
"So, the lovebirds are off to their own world." Hayner asked with a big smile "Wanna ditch and go somewhere else?"
To this Roxas shaked his head. From the corner of his eyes he could see Olette looking at him and he frowned. Was she up to something?
"No, we came to spend time together – the four of us- so let's wait for them to catch up." Roxas didn't liked to interrupt his friends, and even less when they were doing romantic stuff. Roxas knew that when he was dating Ventus, he hated to have his time with him cut short but in this case, the idea of hanging out had been Olette's in first place.
"Should we sit there?" asked Roxas when the couple got close to them again. The blond was pointing to his left where some benches and trees were. His friends looked at the place Roxas was pointing and nodded. They were already comfortably seated when Olette asked "So…what have you guys been up to?"
"Nothing much" said Roxas while sitting cross legged "Just sleeping, playing games and lazing around".
"Me and Olette have been hanging out together. We thought about going to the beach next week. What do you guys think? Are you in?"
Roxas shrugged. "It would be nice".
"Well, as for me everything is more than ok" said Hayner while stretching his arms. "I'm tired of being home alone". Roxas didn't liked how Hayner's gaze lingered on him after that. He wasn't really dealing well with Hayner's crush on him. The other two just smiled at hayner's answer.
After that weird moment they started goofing around, recalling funny moments and laughing together. This were the moments Roxas enjoyed the most. They were in the middle of remembering how Pence, back on the 10th grade, had imitated Shakira in a true or dare game when Roxas' cellphone signaled a new message. The blond was positive it was his father since he was with his friends and this are about all the people who usually texted him. Roxas looked at his cellphone screen and couldn't hide his surprise when he saw it was from Ventus. The blond wasn't sure if he should read the text or not. He realized that his friends were looking at him, Hayner perhaps too intently. He didn't wanted to lie but he wasn't sure of how his friends were going to take the news.
"Who was that? Does your father want you back home sooner?" Hayner asked. Roxas looked at his friend and tried to look serious. "It's no one really important". Well at least it wasn't as important as it once had been so Roxas wasn't exactly lying.
"New guy?" hissed Hayner while trying to put a passive face. He's most likely thinking he wasn't giving away his jealousy.
Roxas frowned. His friend was taking this way too far. He had no right to question Roxas about his life, at least not about some stupid text. "No Hayner. If you really must know it was Ventus."
Pence and Olette exchanged worried looks and Hayner looked livid at that point. "That jerk?" Hayner yelled "What is that guy doing texting you? I thought things were over long ago?" Before Roxas could answer Hayner got up from his seat and crossed his arms. "How could you?" Hurt and disappointment were obvious in Hayner's face but Roxas could only feel that his friend was being childish. The blond knew he needed to think before speaking so he took a deep breath; Hayner could get mad at the smallest thing sometimes.
"Before you go making up theories" started Roxas trying to remain calm "we haven't talked for a year! He's with that guy —Terra I think— and he never said anything after our breakup. Besides don't you think you are taking things out of proportion? It was just a text!" What was Hayner's problem? It wasn't like Roxas had asked Ventus to text him!
Hayner shaked his head in disappointment. "You are on his side now?" He looked really dejected. "Fine. Go to him and forget the ones that love you, that are always by your side and that never demanded anything out of you. Don't come crying when he breaks your heart again. You seem to enjoy it after all…"
Roxas snapped at that. "I'm not going anywhere. And now you're just being a big jerk!" In a blink of an eye Hayner was already almost out of sight. Roxas groaned. Perhaps calling his best friend a jerk was not a smart move, but why was he always comparing himself to Ventus? Why?
"That did it." Roxas looked at Pence quizzically. Did what? Before he coud ask, Olette grabbed his hand and took a seat besides the blond. "He was thinking about asking you out today. He called me last night telling me how he felt it was the right moment" Olette said while looking pleadingly at Roxas "Don't take it at heart. He was just convinced that today was the day. Apparently you and him have been spending hours playing games together".
Roxas looked at his feet. He hadn't felt like he was leading on Heayner when they played together. Yes it was just them but… STUPID! How could I be so stupid!