I was sat at the back of maths, doodling in my blue and black notebook again, entranced by the swirls and lines that formed beneath my pencil as I sketched out my imagination. Whenever I draw, I don't start out with an intended image, I just let my hand move freely and allow the pencil to have a lot of leash, and it just always seems to work for me. I don't know what it is about maths, it could be the stoic numbers or the teachers droning voice or even the beer tinted windows that prevent us from looking outside, but I always seem to zone out, constantly returning to my notebook to add another addition to my drawings. That's probably the main reason I'm failing this subject with a D-.

I blinked as a crumpled piece of paper landed in front of me before I glanced about curiously, catching Axel's smiling eye's from across the room as he smirked at me, his acid green eyes pulsating with mischief before he turned back to the front, chewing on a large pink straw. It's probably his cigarette substitute for lessons or something. I looked back down at the crumpled paper and unfolded it, straightening it out and flattening it as the teacher continued to drawl about algebra equations, pointing at the board with a metre long stick as he paced the room, his bald head shining in the light like a bowling ball.

Yo Rox, me and the others are going out tonight, we're gonna go try and sneak into that new Club Rouge. You in?

I bit my bottom lip nervously, frowning at the piece of paper and glancing about the room. Demyx was sat in the far corner opposite me, staring out the windows lazily while Zexion sat next to him, hastily jotting notes down in his crammed full notebook. Behind them sit Marluxia and Laxrene, the pair giggling and snorting together as they point at something in the pink haired boy's text book. They've probably drawn another wiener or something. It wouldn't be the first time, their science books were littered with them and other erh… private parts. Kairi, Namine and Xion are sat at the front, taking notes between soft whispers and murmurs as they look between each other and Sora, my twin brother. He's sat next to them on the next desk along, blowing soft kisses and winking with goo goo eyes. He's a hopeless romantic and he's recently been chasing Kairi, the girl with deep read hair. I know she like's him back; she's told me so herself, but apparently it's some game where they have to play hard to get or something. I don't know, love always was a confusing subject.

I looked back down at the note and began to scrawl away. My drawings may be perfect, but my handwriting is a sin that would upset the devil. Sorry Ax, I can't make it. I'm supposed to be meeting Riku tonight. I scrunched the note back up and waited for the teacher to turn his back to us, my opportunity came when he turned to the blackboard to write down a method we had to follow, writing down the page in the text book where our questions where and beginning another lecture. I raised my hand high, stuck out my tongue and lobbed the piece of paper at Axel in one fluid movement, grinning when it hit him in the temple and he frowned down at it, picking it up of the floor and reading it before writing on it himself.

I turned my attention back to my drawing while waiting, looking at it sideways and grinning. It looked like an opaque waterfall, the water gushing past a small stream as it frothed at the bottom in an angry stupor while a bold American eagle soared overhead, clearing the plains and flying high into the sky to become lost as a silhouette as its shadow graced the grass, running beneath the eagles body. It was all extremely detailed, and without knowing it I had created yet another perfect picture. I don't normally boast about my work, heck I'm failing all of my subjects except art, but there's something about my pictures that strikes pride inside of me, filling me to the brim with an untold pleasure that I can't just place.

I smiled as the crumpled note fell on my paper and looked up again at Axel. He's not smiling anymore, instead he looks really pissed about something. I shrugged my shoulders and mouthed 'what?' but he just rolled his eyes and turned back towards the front again. I looked down at the note puzzled, furrowing my brows as I opened it and read Axel's neat and pristine looped handwriting. Again? Rox you're always with him, and you're never happy. Why don't you just come out with us for one night, it'll be just like old times. I'm sure Riku wont mind. What have you got to lose really?

I sighed, letting my shoulders deflate and shaking my head. Axel just didn't understand, I love Riku more than anything, he's my whole world. I promised him that I'd meet him in the park, so that's what I'm going to do. I scrawled back a quick apology and threw it over at him again, hoping he would understand. I watched him read the note before he looked up and over at Demyx who was pointing to the scrunched up paper and raising his eyebrows lightly. Axel threw the paper over to him and I winced as Demyx looked up at me genuinely hurt, scribbling something down and throwing it back to Axel, who added his own written addition before lobbing it back at me. I didn't wait for the paper to fall, instead I rose out of my seat a little and grabbed the small ball, closing my fist around it and grinning at Axel, but he never returned it. I guess I really upset him this time.

I opened the note again and read Demyx's scruffy jottings, C'mon Roxy. You used to be so cool and fun man. What happened to you? Ever since you met that Riku kid you've been acting all strange. I frowned at the words, reading over them slowly to try and get them to make sense. I haven't changed, at least I don't think so, and sure I've lost a few friends since I met Riku, but they were all jerks anyway. If they couldn't accept who I was with that's their problem not mine, right? I looked to the looped handwriting beneath Demyx's scribble and read Axels little attachment, Demyx is right Rox. We hardly ever see you anymore, ever. You're changing and its cuz of that Riku guy. Ditch him for a night, I promise you wont regret it. He's a jerk anyway.

I rolled my eyes at the piece of paper. No matter who I'm with Axel never accepts them. You would have thought he would do seeing as he's my best friend and all, but yeah. He never does. I was about to write a reply, but the bell went signalling the end of the day, so I swept the note into my bag with my notebook and pencil and stood up, making my way towards the front of the class as everyone filed out. I eventually managed to squish past all of the seventh graders in the hallway and clear a path towards my brother as he leaned on a radiator, flirting with that Kairi girl again as she giggled behind her hand, swatting Sora in the shoulder lightly and walking away to join Xion and Namine.

"Hey Sora, you going out again tonight?" I asked, tapping him lightly on the shoulder to get his attention.

"Huh? Wha? Oh, Roxas. Heh, you surprised me bro." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and grinned down at me. Even though we're twins Sora's taller than me by about two inches, smarter than me in everything except art and bigger than me, but not faster. He kinda got the whole package yano, but he also got moms slender figure, bushy brown hair and up beat personality so its not all doom and gloom. Me? I take after my dad more than anything, we're more like brothers than father and son, everyone says so.

I smiled, "You going out again tonight?" I hefted my back pack further up my shoulder and pushed a seventh grader out of the way as they were pushed into me.

"Yeah. Mom and dad won't be home 'till tomorrow. You know cuz its their anniversary and stuff, so I was wondering…" he trailed of and looked away from me, folding his arms and tapping his feet nervously as he itched his nose absentmindedly.

"If I'd cover for you again?" I rolled my eyes, smiling slightly, "do you even need to ask Sora? Of course I'll cover for you. What do you want me to say this time?"

He clapped me on the shoulder and grinned, "nice one bro, I know I can always count on you. Er just tell them I'm doing revision at Demyx's. Make it sound realistic though, say I'm helping him do his English homework or something and we decided to make it an all nighter."

I laughed, "Sure thing Sora, but where are you actually going?"

He winked at me sneakily and nodded in Kairi's direction while she waved at him shyly, giggling behind her books and chattering nervously with her friends, "I'm gunna be hauling me some ass."

I couldn't help laughing at him, "Since when did you lose your virginity?"

"Since like last year when we went horse riding."

"Horse riding? Sora you do know that only happens with girls right?" I asked.

He looked at me stupidly before he smiled again, laughing himself over exaggeratedly "Yeah, 'course I knew that. I was just testing you. Anyway, I gotta go. Remember, make it sound realistic and whatever you do, don't let dad come and get me this time." He jogged of to catch up with the trio of girls and I let out a small breathy laugh, turning away from him and heading towards the exit at the opposite side of the school. The hallways are practically deserted now, the floors polished and pristine as teachers walk by with cigs and coffee, preparing for the long night of marking work ahead.

I was almost at the doors, my finger tips resting on the cold metal bar and ready to push open before I heard my name getting called somewhere behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and grinned as a bunch of bobbing red spikes ran after me, hand held high in the air as he grinned. I turned around and smiled as Axel reached me, resting his hands on his knees and panting before he looked up at me and smirked, straightening up and smiling.

"For a second there I thought you were gonna leave without me." He laughed and I grinned back at him.

"Leave without you Ax? Nah, I'd never do that. I was just gonna go wait on the front for you, I figured you'd have another detention or something."

"Nah. If they can't catch me, they can't keep me. That's what I say-"

"AXEL FLINT! GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT."

I looked around Axel's side as he peered over his shoulder and winced, our head teacher, Mr Ratchet, was running straight for us, sprinting at the door as his brown eyes glazed over with a fiery fury that resembled the wrath of Hell. "Speaking of which" Axel continued, looking back at me and grinning "We should probably be running right about now."

"Wha-Ahhh" I screamed in mid sentence, surprised as Axel grabbed my wrist, pushing the exit door open and running across the school fields and across the rail road tracks that lined the opposite side. He finally stopped as a train went past and blocked our head teacher from our view, releasing me and letting me fall onto the long lush grass, panting and sweating like mad as he grinned above me.

"Wow, your out of shape Roxy." He grinned, sitting next to me and leaning back on his arms, watching the train ride past as it blew a gentle summer breeze over us.

"Yeah well it's not everyday you drag me into your fun runs." I smiled, catching my breath and sitting up.

He shrugged, "I figured you needed cheering up. You've been real depressing this week, you know that?"

I raised an eyebrow at him, "How so?"

Again he shrugged and tilted his head towards me, "I dunno, you just never seem to have the time for us anymore."

I snorted into the back of my hand and smiled, "By 'us' you obviously mean you."

He sat up and sighed, "Something like that." He smiled and turned to look me straight in the face, his emerald green eyes hypnotic and mesmerizing, "But lets face it Rox, I'm the only one who gives your life meaning, right?"

I laughed, "Yeah Ax, you and Riku are all I live for." I touched my heart and made a gesture to the sky as he laughed with me, before frowning and turning away from me.

"What do you see in that Riku guy anyway?"

It was my turn to shrug this time, "I honestly don't know, there's just something about him that draws me to him. It's strange."

"You're telling me? My best friend is going out with the crummiest guy that ever lived. Seriously, I've seen slugs with more class than that guy"

"Axel…I don't wanna hear it. You've said all this before; can't you just respect my decision?" I stood up and stretched, waving my arms above my head as he mimicked my movements, laughing when I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Just be safe Roxy, I don't wanna see you getting hurt or nothing."

I rolled my eyes, "Now you're starting to sound like Sora."

His mouth fell open and his eyebrows rose, "How dare you insult me. Do I look like a peppy skirt chasing moron to you?"

I stood watching the train go by, contemplating my answer before I froze in fear. The train has gone completely past and our head teacher is still stood there, jogging on the spot angrily as he waves his fists in the air, muttering curses and beginning to jump across the tracks. "Er Axel?"

He had his back currently turned away from me, his hands behind his head as he whistled, looking up at the clouds and smiling. "Yeah Rox?"

I backed up slowly, turning around and running past Axel as he stared at me baffled, "I THINK WE SHOULD RUN!"

"What?" I looked back over my shoulder and laughed as he only just managed to avoid out teachers running jump, his hand falling short and just missing his ankles as he jumped aside. "Jesus Christ Teach, you just don't let it go do ya." I watched as he ran after me, ignoring our teacher who protested very colourfully with a face full of mud, and then I lost him as I entered the surrounding forest, laughing and stopping to give Axel a chance to catch up.

Eventually he did, collapsing over a fallen log with his feet hanging in the air. I looked back into the forest pines, but there was no evidence that our head had followed any further. "What the hell did you do to him Ax? He never chases us of school property."

Axel sat up and smirked at me, "I just complemented him on how nice his son looks when I saw the picture in his office."

"His son?" I stared down on him confused. "But the Head doesn't have a son; he only has a daughter…"

"And how the bloody hell was I supposed to know that huh? Not my fault he birthed a tit less wonder."

I couldn't help laughing as I offered Axel my hand, which he gladly took as I pulled him to his feet. "You can be a real dunce sometimes Ax, you know that?"

"Says the boy who's failing every subject he takes? Compared to you I look like a fucking star."

I flipped him of, smiling as I began to make my way through the forest pines to my house on the far side. I was quiet, years of practiced movements made me stealthy and perfect, but Axel was clumsy, noisily crashing through the bushes and muttering curses as twigs scratched him on all sides, the roots purposefully attempting to trip him as he stomped by. After about twenty minutes of walking and talking about school gossip we finally emerged through the bushes and tress, looking down on the small town where I lived.

"So Roxas" Axel panted, walking up besides me and grinning, "You always walk through the bushes when I'm not there or something? Cuz I gotta tell you, I prefer the Cinder Track a lot more."

"Yeah, me and Sora used to play up here when we were little."

"Seriously? Your dad let you play up here? I always figured Cloud would be the over protective type."

"Nah he never knew about it. He'd kill us if he ever found out."

"You mean like he did the day you told him you were ready to come out of the closet?" he laughed and I smirked.

"Something like that."

"Ah well Roxy", he clapped me on the shoulder and laughed loudly as we entered the town, people bustling about as car horns honked noisily near shops, "at least you'll always have me, eh Rox?"

"Yeah that's true," I smiled, "But what if you get a boyfriend some day huh? You'd probably push me out."

"Nah. That's not ever gonna happen small fry, because you" he ruffled my hair and slung his arm around my neck, "are my best friend, and best friends don't let stupid things like love come between them, right?"

"Right." I stopped outside of my house, a small building with three rooms, a garage and a neat little garden. Axel stopped with me and ran his hands through his hair.

"You sure you don't wanna come with us tonight? It'll be a laugh Rox, c'mon."

"Sorry Axel, no can do. I'm meeting Riku remember."

"Riku shmiku. Let's go have fun."

"Axel…"

"I know, I know. You don't wanna hear it right?" I nodded and he sighed. "I wish you could see what that guy's doing to you Rox."

"He isn't doing anything Ax. Anyway, I gotta go. You fancy hanging out tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow's Saturday huh?"

"All day."

"Sure, I'm up for that, but no Riku. Just me, you and the others, like old times." He smiled fondly and I nodded.

"Okay Ax, like old times."

"Cool. Well, see ya tomorrow Roxy, drop me a text or somethin'."

"Will do." I watched him walk away from my house, hands dug deep into his pocket as he began whistling again, looking back over his shoulder at me and grinning as I waved goodbye. I finally stopped when he turned the corner and frowned when I realised I was still smiling before I rolled my eyes and jumped up the steps leading to my front door, thrusting my key into the lock and turning it.

The door swung wide open and I was met with an echoing silence, the rooms dull and lifeless as I dropped my bag by the door, throwing my shoes into a corner and proceeding to the kitchen. "MOM? DAD?...ANYONE HOME?" There was no answer and I sighed, opening the fridge and grabbing a can of coke, slamming the door closed and frowning as a small fluttering piece of yellow paper caught my eye. I ripped it down and stared at it.

Roxas and Sora.

Me and your mother have gone away for the day as you know. We will be back tomorrow morning so no house parties and NO leaving the house…yes Sora I am referring to you. If you need us call the number below. We're trusting you to do as you're told for a change. Remember, bed by eleven, no late night movies or snacks and no staying out late.

Love

Dad Xx

I grinned down at the paper. Mom and dad would freak if they knew that Sora was staying out all night, let alone that he's staying at a girl's house. I threw the note on the kitchen table and stretched, lifting my arms high into the air and grinning as I headed towards the stairs. Time to get ready for my date with Riku.

Please do not panic. This is an akuroku fic. I highly suggest that if you love Riku as a character you do not read this fic as you're about to see a completely different side to his persona in this story. Please do not be offended and I will be ignoring all flames.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I watched a friend of mine go through something like this and it was a long and painful process for everyone, therefore please understand that this fic will be long and detailed. I will be missing nothing out as this is a serious issue. Thankyou :3 Sorry that AN was so serious guys. Please review. I'm really not that scary, I'm actually pretty shy...most of the time :P