By Your Side

Chapter 1

"So today we're covering the basics of Algebra, then after lunch we'll start the second half of the Literature curriculum… By the time summer's over, you should all be caught up with your future classmates." Their teacher smiled at them. "Oh, and let's all welcome Roxas to the class. I understand you're in the same boat with the rest of the class, so we'll make sure to get you adjusted as well as possible."

"That's Ms. Serenity…" Axel whispered to Roxas. "She's crazy cool. She doesn't mind that none of us know anything and is really good about teaching us stuff we're supposed to know already."

"She's a goddess." Demyx added with a dreamy smile. "Her taste in music is fantastic."

"How does he know that?" Roxas asked, shifting closer to Axel so their legs touched under their shared table.

"Ms. Ser normally plays music after she's explained what we're doing." Axel explained as he playfully nudged the blonde's foot with his own.

"In all seriousness, most of us hold her in very high esteem." Zexion stated from the table he shared with Demyx. "She was the one who got us enrolled here, and this whole 'catch-up class' was her idea… I whole-heartedly second Demyx's opinion on her status as a deity."

Roxas shifted his attention from his attractive tablemate to the young woman standing before them. She appeared to be younger than Axel, but there was a wicked glint in her amethyst eyes that spoke of years of experience. Her long black hair was braided, hanging down to her waist, and her face was framed with strands of black hair that fell to her shoulder and choppy bangs that did not quite reach her eyes. Since it was summer school, she was dressed in a black sundress with silver sandals and anklets, giving a strong contrast to her pale skin.

"I can see why they call her a goddess… She looks like she hasn't aged since he was sixteen." Roxas whispered to Axel.

"Not only that dude…" Demyx interjected. "Her aura is one of power… It's like her very presence demands respect and… reverence. Or something."

"It's true." Larxene nodded. "None of us have gotten into trouble this summer, a major feat for some of us." She gestured vaguely at Axel. "She's able to calm us down without being psycho like most teachers… It's kinda cool, in a weird way."

"Well, it's not that hard to keep us under control… There are only eight of us, nine with Roxy." Axel retorted.

"Alright, this is a basic equation that we'll be dealing with in Algebra." At the sound of her voice, all chatter ceased, and every student focused their attention on the young teacher. Roxas felt Axel shift closer and nudge him with his foot before a square of paper popped onto his notebook.

Don't let her freak you out. She'll grow on ya.

Thanks… Is this what we do all day?

Pretty much. She orders pizza for us around eleven and gives us an hour for lunch.

That's really cool.

Yup. We'll probably eat outside today if we 'behave'.

That sounds cool... So... What do you do for fun?

Burn stuff. Axel grinned, pulling his lighter out of his pocket at Roxas' inquiring look.

Oh, good. I was worried it was something illegal.

"Axel? How would you solve for 'x'?" Ms. Serenity asked.

"Subtract seven from both sides, then divide both sides by five. Then, you get 'x equals three'." He replied without glancing up from the note he was writing to Roxas.

"That's correct."

Babe, it's only illegal if you get caught.