I'm holding onto hope that freshman year is automatically the worst two semesters you'll have to endure in college. It has to be, right? You're adjusting, feeling homesick, you don't know anyone, you gain weight (something I don't have to worry about, with my metabolism). ..and, of course, you don't choose your roommate. It's a great idea to shove two random guys, with different majors, different ages, into a tiny dorm room and expect them to get along perfectly. The senior can help the freshman. Or he can, you know, let the new kid get lost several times, and clog the shower drain with his ridiculously long hair.

Seriously, what kind of guy has hair long enough that it can be pulled back into a ponytail with no effort?

"The rules are no room switches without reasonable cause. And, if you had bothered to look at the handbook, you would see that room change requests are not taken until September 22nd."

The man sitting in front of me scowled. He had strange blue hair and a scar on his face I was trying to ignore. I had walked down to the Housing Department building early the first Saturday at my new school to demand a room change, or at least a new roommate. This stupid secretary named Mr. Saix had been all glares and rules.

"He's a public nuisance!" I continued. "If I could—"

"Has he violated any rules?"

What is it with this guy and rules! "He's too loud, you can hear him down the hallway!"

"As long as it is within the hours allowed, there is no problem."

"He—"

"Rick—"

"My name is Roxas," I gritted my teeth.

"Roxas," he corrected his face as uncaring as ever. "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do."

"Can you ask the head of the department? Or..uhh….the president of the university?"

"Mr. Xemnas is a very busy man. If you would excuse me." He was back to typing something on the computer.

What a waste of time.

I took the long way back to my room, trudging down the sidewalks. The campus was beautiful and pretty large; everywhere I looked there was grass, large trees, and sophisticated brick buildings. No one was around, considering it was before noon on the weekend. I sighed, filling my lungs with fresh air, and tried to come up with a new solution.

While busy with this problem, I realized too late that I must have gone the wrong way and had no clue where I was. Shit, not again.

I looped back, cursing under my breath. This place was too unfamiliar still and—

Wait! The art building! I recognized it from my Intro to Art class and the weird, twisted metal sculptures in the front.

I was back on track and five minutes later I was sliding my room key out of my pocket and slipping back into my personal hell.

My roommate was still asleep with just a tuff of red hair visible under his black comforter. My shoes were thrown off as I surveyed the place; my bed was neatly made, the black-and-white checkered blanket perfectly smooth. My desk was empty save for my laptop, and a few Post-Its my little brother had hidden in places when I moved in. I kept finding them in random places—the mirror, the wall, under my chair—and kept ripping them off in embarrassment. They now lay in a sad pile, exclaiming things up at me like "You'll do great!" and "I'm miss you, Roxie!", which was right on top. I was booting my computer up when I heard a, "Good morning, Roxie."

And there was six feet of annoyance behind me. He was grinning, his green eyes lit up at how funny he found my nickname, surely.

I grabbed the Post-Its and shoved them in one of the desk drawers. "Don't call me that."

"Why not?" he beamed, sauntering over to his coffee machine. It was on his dresser, right next to his TV and Xbox.

I didn't offer an answer, and just opened my email. Of course, there was something from Sora. I read it while that idiot hummed and filled the air with the smell of coffee—disgusting.

Hi Roxie!

Did I tell you I already love being a senior in high school?! Cause I do! Even though I miss you a lot!

So I was thinking I could come visit next weekend? You'd have to fill out paperwork, I think. I'll drive up Friday after school and leave Sunday afternoon. Mom is gonna let me drive all by myself! I am seventeen now, but it does make me a little nervous.

How are your classes?! You forgot to call me!

Call me!

Also, I don't understand all these texts you've sent. Surely Axel isn't all that bad? He seems great to me! And he has an Xbox!

Thanks for leaving yours here. I have not been playing it every day. *wink wink*

Love from Sora :)

I was about to send a vicious reply about my unbearable roommate when said person tried talking to me.

"Yo, Roxas."

"What, no more Roxie?" I stared at him. Axel was curled up on the floor, nursing a mug of coffee like it gave him life.

"Oh, you want me to call you that? No problem, Roxie!"

He's gonna be dead before this semester ends. "What do you want?" I sighed.

"I heard that you're a nerd."

"Oh?" I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah! They have clubs for you right? You should join one."

"It'd be better than joining your fraternity."

"For the last time, I am not in a fraternity, technically. I just hang out with them."

"And get trashed the first week?" I snorted.

"It's syllabus week!" he defended. "Anyway, my point is, you're good at math right?"

"Why?"

"I need to pass statistics."

"Go to tutoring."

"They don't help at all!"

"Have you actually gone?"

"A few times! Really, if I don't pass this time, I won't graduate!"

"Sucks to be you."

"Please!" He set the mug down, crawling towards me, his hands together. His red hair was jetting out in every which way, his green eyes staring right into my blue ones. "I'm begging you."

"I…I noticed." My cold demeanor faulted slightly when he grabbed my hands with his. They were warm against mine—and jesus he was actually begging here.

"Please, Roxas? I'll clean the shower drain every day!"

"Can't you ask someone else?"

"But I know you're good at math and we live together! It'd be so easy!"

"Well…" Remembering that he was still holding onto me, I shook him off. "What's your major?"

"Criminology! And yours is…uh.." Axel's face scrunched up in thought.

"English."

"Oh shit, does that mean you suck at math? I was sure—"

"I couldn't decide on a major and I like reading," I half confessed.

I could tell he was biting back a nerd remark, but he just spat out another "please" instead.

"Fine, fine!" I gave. "But you'd better clean the shower drain."

"I will! Thanks, Roxie!" He grabbed me in a tight, two second hug, and bounded like a puppy to the shower. Which he forgot to clean afterwards.

xXxXxXx

The image of pulling long red strands out of the drain haunted me still while I sat in my art class. My class schedule was mostly liberal studies at this point, and would be more focused on my major next year.

This class was big and could be better described as art history than actual art. We hadn't been drawing or anything, just sitting in this lecture room staring at an erratic balding man as he ranted about boring things that I never paid attention to. I was sneaking a peek at my phone when the room suddenly got loud and the screeches of chair legs on the floor filled my ears. I panicked, glancing around. What had I missed? Everyone was getting in pairs, oh sh—

"Do you want to work together?" A quiet voice asked.

A petite girl stood in front of me. She was wearing girly clothing that hugged her curves, and her blonde hair fell around her childish face. Clutching a notebook, she gave me a tiny smile.

"Sure," I said graciously.

She tucked herself into the seat next to me, clearly shy and barely making eye contact. I wonder how she managed to talk to me in the first place.

"I'm Roxas," I introduced.

"I'm Naminé."

"So, I have no idea what's going on."

She gave me a funny look. "We're supposed to discuss the homework."

"..homework. Right."

Naminé gave a tiny giggle; she was kinda cute. "Over the weekend, we were supposed to brainstorm about what art is and what it means to us and what it might mean to different people."

"Uh..art is pretty?"

She moved her notebook slightly and I caught glimpse of TWO WHOLE PAGES crammed with words on the subject! I gawked, and she quickly said, "I'm an art major. I love this stuff."

"Oh right," I said lamely. "I'm English. I mean, an English major." I blushed. Was I actually getting a crush on this tiny art girl?

"Cool." She showed me her notes and I nodded along, my mind racing. A crush this quickly? I had never liked anyone—I was a bit of a loner, and I was excited on the prospect. And, to be completely honest, I always had a slight suspicion that I was gay. For a short time, I would look at guys during my "alone time" but that was pushed aside for….for reasons. I'm just not into giant boobs, I reasoned, and Naminé's chest was barely noticeable under all those clothes. Perfect!

Wait, Roxas, you just met her!

Well, still, crush or not, she could be my first friend here.

"Roxas?"

"Yes!" Gosh I need to pay attention.

"What do you think?"

"About art? Not much, honestly."

She laughed. "I should probably get back to my seat."

"You can sit here next time if you want," I offered.

"Sure," she smiled, standing up. There was an awkward pause. "Do you.."

I took out my phone. "Number?" I grinned.

Naminé was relieved, and we exchanged numbers.

After class, I stopped at one of the food courts on campus and used my meal plan to get a salad. Axel was in the room, watching TV and eating pizza.

"Wow, you're healthy!" he eyeballed my salad.

"My nutrition class makes me feel guilty." I started stabbing my meal with a fork.

"I have exciting news!" he whipped out a paper.

"What's that?"

"Stat homework!"

Oh right. I forgot about that. I just nodded, dry lettuce scratching my throat on its way down.

Axel tucked it away. "You'll still help right?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe?!"

"You didn't clean the shower drain!"

"Oh," his face fell. "Next time I will! Got it memorized?"

"Hopefully you do," I grumbled. What's up with that weird catchphrase? He had probably used it five times in the past week. My phone buzzed with a text from Naminé.

Hey Roxas.

I responded with a simple hey as Axel rattled about math or something.

Maybe we could go somewhere this weekend?

I flushed, and Axel's eyes went from my cheeks to my phone and back again. "Who's that?" he asked suspiciously.

"No one!" I shoved my phone in my pocket.

A grin. "Your girlfriend?"

"No!"

"Boyfriend?"

"No!"

"Crush?"

"Stop, Axel." I got up, dumping my mostly finished lunch in the trashcan. He bounced up like a little kid.

"I want to see!"

"No!" He was grabbing at my pocket and I danced away. See why I complain about him so much? Mortified, I bolted to the bathroom and locked myself inside.

"Roxieeeeee," he whined outside the door.

"Go away."

Laughter. Then, "I was just kidding. And you can talk to your roomie about anything! I can give you sex tips."

No sex tips. I had never even kissed anyone.

I heard him trot away to the TV, and I sent Naminé a text saying we could go to this frozen yogurt place near campus on Friday night.

A/N: Thanks for reading and please review! I plan to upload a chapter each week.

Also if any of my old readers are reading this...sorry for my fanfiction neglect! Life got really busy suddenly. :C

But I am back! Yay! :)

Roxas:...(silently judging)

-KeedaxEmry