Chapter 1

"Can I please have $100?"

"Oh my God, no!"

"What? Why not?"

"Because, Roxas, you just got out of rehab! I'm not-"

"You don't trust me."

Fuck. Of course she wouldn't trust me. She trusted me enough to give me space, to give me freedom, and I violated it. It's understandable, I mean, how many moms can say their 18 year old has gone to rehab? Not many. Oh, damn. Now she has that look on her face. The indignant one. The one that says she's ready to start a fight.

"I have every right not to!" she retaliated.

"Well I mean, yeah. I never said you didn't! But like, they haven't released and album in 8 years. I've been waiting for this album since I was 10! Holy shit mom you don't understand-"

"Don't you 'holy shit mom you don't understand' me! I am not giving you money and that's that. If you want to buy those tickets so badly, why don't you get a job and earn the money yourself? Hm?" she crossed her arms and sat in her hip.

Well, she has a point. If I want to see The Last Shadow Puppets with Sora I need to get a fucking job, and fast. The tickets just went on sale, and if I want good seats I gotta come up with that money asap. I bet she doesn't think I'm gonna do it, actually get a job. Plus, I only need to stay there long enough to get my first paycheck, right? I love proving my parents wrong. I smirk and nod my head. "Alright I'll get a job"

Beep

"That'll be $24.98" I say to the old lady with a bunch of cat food and Greek yogurt.

She smiles and hands me several coupons, along with a twenty dollar bill. I scan the coupons and find that they're expired. I give her the discount anyway because she's old and probably living on a budget off some social security check she gets once a month. I look up to find her smiling gratefully. Mrs. Doubtfire over here knew they were expired. I chuckled under my breath and handed her the bagged goods. "Have a nice day, ma'am."

"You too, sweetie!" she called over her shoulder as she walked away.

I check the time and sigh in relief. Fifteen more minutes until my shift is over. The next person loaded their shit on the conveyor belt and walked up to the register.

"Did you find everything ok?" I ask through a yawn. Goddamn, I am so tired. I make a mental note to buy a coffee on the way home.

"Roxas, you don't have to do that, it's me."

I see a face that's nearly identical to my own. My brother, Sora, decided to pay me a visit at work today. Good timing too, my shift is almost up. With hopes he knew my schedule today, I ask him, "Sor, what are you doing here?" as I scan his items.

"Kairi is coming over for a movie and I was sent to pick up snacks" he explained. Damn, I was hoping we could hang out or something.

Kairi is his girlfriend, but she wasn't always. I mean, they've been dating for as long as I can remember, she just wasn't always a girl. My twin Sora came out as gay in elementary school when he met his best friend, who was a boy at the time, Kairi. I'm pretty sure she knew she was trans then, but I'm not too sure. She didn't transition until middle school, which was hard for her because middle schoolers are such pricks. Honestly, I got into way too many fights to protect her. Sora was grateful because he's not really the violent type, but I didn't mind. Fighting gives me the same thrill as getting high. But back to the whole trans thing, Kairi and Sora had this big ol' talk about feelings and shit and basically he's cool about her being trans because he wasn't into dudes or chicks to begin with. He was just into Kairi, which is sappy if you ask me.

"Is she staying the night?" I ask with a smirk, teasing him.

"Oh my God! Roxas, be quiet." He harshly whispered the last part "She is, but what we do is none of your business!"

"Yeah, sure. Whatever. Just use protection ok? Not ready to be an Uncle." I said as a joke, knowing Kairi can't get pregnant. The look on his face told me that it wasn't funny. I immediately regretted it. I bagged his items swiped the credit card he just handed to me.

Fuck that Goddamn credit card mom and dad gave him. Fuck mom and dad. Fuck Sora. Sora is so responsible, putting shit into his savings account and buying his own Goddamn car. Sora is so perfect, being the perfect student, the perfect boyfriend. I became annoyed as I realized why I was even here in the first place, bagging his groceries at my shitholeofa job.

I'm a fuck up.

"Roxas, I don't know why you always act like-"

"Here's your card, sir. Have a nice day." I said in a flat voice.

Sora took his card and bag, looking hurt. Fuck, I can't believe I said that to him. I don't like being a dick, I really don't, I just can't help it. He's so happy. He has Kairi, someone to talk to at the end of his day. I want that. Fuck, I'm lonely. I'm so fucking lonely.

It's not like I've never dated. I've had a couple of girlfriends, I hook up with girls at parties all the time, and I'm always getting texts from thirsty girls. It never really means anything to me, it's just a way to pass the time and get an orgasm. But with Kairi, it's more than sex. It's friendship on an intimate level, and I want that. I'm tired of fucking around. I want something serious.

When my shift ends, I'm grateful. I'm too exhausted to drive home, so before I leave I pour myself a cup of the shitty coffee they make in the break room. It tastes watery, vile, and cold, like they reused the coffee grounds 4 times before making this pot and then let it sit for 6 hours. I chug it like it's medicine and make a face. Gross.

On my way to the parking lot I spot this girl. She's got an blonde hair and she's petite in stature. I try to get a better look, but I only get a glimpse of her before she gets into her car. I consider faking my car broke down so that I could knock on her window and ask for a jumpstart, but decide against it. I'm done with that bullshit.

I get in my car and drive home, where I find mom and dad asleep on the couch watching the news. I climb up the stairs and hear giggling when I pass Sora's room. Fuck them. I go into my room and take off my shirt so I can plop into bed. I put on my headphones and play my "sleepy playlist". As I doze off, my thoughts wander to that girl I saw. I wonder if she was cute, I didn't really get to see her all that well. Sure, I want something that is better for me, but sometimes old habits die hard.

A/N: I haven't written a story in a long time, so go easy on me.