I ran a hand through my blond locks as I walked toward my school. It was only the second month and I'm still not used to saying that I'm a sophomore if people asked. Also the fact that I'm short for my age and my so called baby face makes people think I'm a freshman.

"If only people didn't judge others by their looks."

While going through the hallways to get to the "usual spot", I saw some of the freshmen bickering with each other and started cussing at each other. I sighed at how they were behaving. Last year, we weren't as bad as that. It seems that the new students coming in each year get worse.

When I got to the grassy area with an old oak tree in the middle of it all, I saw that Vanitas, Hayner and Marluxia were already there.

"Morning everyone."

"Hey there how's it goin?"

"Nothing much, would you guys like to play a game of Egyptian War?"

"Wait, how do you play?"

"Everyone gets cards, doesn't look at them, take turn putting down cards, try to get all the cards, slap when there's a sandwich or double to gain the deck, and gets the whole deck depending on the royals."

"You would explain a somewhat difficult game in only a sentence."

I heard Zexion say as he sits down and takes out a thick book to read.

"Well I am the Master of Cards."

"Yah, tell that to Luxord. He never loses in cards."

"Luxord? Never heard of him. Remind me later to kick his butt alright, Marly?

He nodded at me.

"So who's playing?"

The three of them thought about it and then agreed. After 10 minutes into the game, we all heard a familiar voice penetrate the once silent air excluding the sounds from the card game.

"Why am I not surprised that you guys are playing cards so early in the morning?"

"Hey Yuf, wanna play?"

"Sure, Imma slap in and beat you all in Egyptian Rat Slap."

"War."

"Slap."

"War."

"Slap."

A slap was heard and I groaned since I missed a good chance to get the deck.

"Great you distracted me, thanks Yuf."

"No prob Roxy."

After a while the bell rang, signaling the start of passing period.

"Darn no slapping, oh well see ya guys."

"Bye everyone."

I waved and headed to my first period class with Vanitas. Sadly, I wasn't able to get a lot of classes with my close friends like I did last year. However, I'm glad for this because they could drag me into a whole lot of trouble from time to time.

When I took my seat behind Vanitas, I silenced out the monotone teacher and stared at the board. Halfway through the period I noticed that there was a quote next to the date today.

"The most beautiful things in life cannot be seen, nor touch, but are felt in the heart. Hmm, what a nice saying."

With nothing else better to do, I wrote down the quote in my sketchbook. I started sketching a chibi boy making half a heart with his right hand while a chibi girl completed it with her left hand.

After putting the finishing touches, I smiled at my doodle and then noticed a note on my desk. I opened it up and saw that it was from Vanitas.

"Hey, wanna play for lunch?"

I wrote "sure, rock paper scissors" on the paper and then placed it in his hoodie. A quiet grunt was heard when I did that since he hated it when I do that.

While we were passing homework back, he turned around and played a game of rock, paper, scissors, and lost. He handed me my homework with a frown, but I knew we were still awesome as always. We've been friends since kindergarten, and now that I think of it, we never really grew out of our habit of being a kid. I held my fist on his shoulder and when he turned, he hit it with his own.

"Yup, buds for life."

TIME SKIP - LUNCH

Back at the oak tree, we all met there and ate our lunch like we always do. Times like this where I could forget about the world for a second and do whatever is nice. After a few minutes, I was wondering were Vanitas was with our lunches. As soon as I thought that, someone taped my shoulder. I turned around and saw a guy with flaming red head with emerald eyes look at me.

"Name's Axel, Got it memorized?"

I blinked once when he said that line.

"Couldn't he just say, 'Hi my name's Axel' like a normal person?"

"Um, I guess. Do you need something?"

"Yah could you help me find the person that has the title, 'Master of Cards?'."

I chuckled when he said my nickname.

"You found the person."

"Oh here's you're lunch then. Vanitas said he couldn't give it to you himself since he had some club meetings to go to and that he'll beat you tomorrow in Go fish."

As soon as Axel finished saying that he handed me a tray of food that you would get if you bought lunch at the cafeteria line. I snickered at Vanitas' message thinking of which deck to bring tomorrow for the special event.

"Alright, thanks Axel."

I took a bite out of the cheese pizza happily since I haven't had it in so long.

"No problem shortie freshie."

He ruffled my hair as I swallowed my food and my eye slightly twitched at his comment. Not only did he call me a freshman, but also a shortie. Oh how I despised it when people point out my shortness.

"By the way, what's your name?"

I looked at him and stuck my tongue out at him.

"Not tellin ya."

His face turned into one of slight shock before going into a smile.

"Aww why not? I got you your lunch right?"

"Doesn't mean I have to give you my name."

"It's good manners to answer someone's question if they asked you right?"

I shrugged and kept eating on with my lunch as he started getting a slightly frustrated look on his face which made me laugh inside.

"Why won't you tell me your name?"

"Cause I don't feel like it."

When I reached out for my chocolate milk it was taken away by Axel and I looked at him in wonderment.

"Tell me your name or else you're not gonna get your milk."

I titled my head pretending to think about it then looked up to see Yuffie relaxed on a branch above. I glanced at the redhead who took my milk as hostage then swiftly climbed the oak tree with ease before sitting on a branch close to Yuffie's.

"It's gonna take more than stealing my milk to getting my name redhead."

A small snicker left my lips when I see him groan then put my milk down before walking away. Before he was about five feet away from the spot he was originally in, he turned around to look at me with a grin.

"I'm gonna get you're name somehow someday so don't think this is the end of things."

I blinked then just grinned back at him. After saying that, he ran of and disappeared from my view.

"Well then, there he goes."

"Yeah, who knew that a freshie like him is gonna go after ya."

"Hm? The redhead's a freshie?"

She nodded at me.

"Gosh why are some of the freshie's so tall?"

She just laughed at my question.

"Roxas, practically everyone is taller than you with the exceptions of some of our midget friends."

I sighed.

"Anyway, wanna play a game of Go Fish, Yuf?"

"Heh sure, better be in for a sweet lost blondie."

"Yah, like I'm gonna let you win that easily."

After that I took out my deck of cards to shuffle then think back to what Axel said about getting my name and smiled.

"Things are gonna be a little more interesting from here on out."