Chapter 2: A Few Things I Hate

A/N: Here is now chapter two … which took a while to get out. Sorry, I blame my school's computers and their slowness. So, yeah, I hit my foot on the tub's outer edge a few months back and never went to the hospital … the pain's still there. Apparently it's fractured. … Enough about me! Now without further ado … Roxas' insane mind!

Warning: none really, except for a few cuss words …

Disclaimer: I had a dream … and in that dream … I still didn't own Kingdom Hearts

XxXxX

I'm not one to really hate things. As jumbled as my life is, I prefer not to care. But there are some things I cannot deny the strong feeling for. Ranging from

number ten (I hate it when my mother spoils me to no end) to number seven (I absolutely

hate cole slaw). But over all, there's the number one thing I hate

most. I hate captivating redheads with mesmerizing green eyes whom I undeniably

lov-

XxXxX

-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-smack-

I groaned and turned over, trying to ignore the fact that I had been awoken from a wonderful dream about chocolate cheesecake, before the knocking sound on the door started.

"Roxas, sweetie, wake up. It's time for school!" Naminé yelled.

"Five more minutes …" I mumbled into my pillow. I groaned again, this time in irritation, when Naminé threw the door open. I turned to glare at her and ended up coming face to face with the brightest smile I've ever seen. It screamed the word payback. Crap.

"Roxas, if you sleep any longer, you'll be late," she said.

I dragged myself out of bed, not really caring that I was only half dressed, she was basically my mom so why be embarrassed around her. I don't really get nervous around girls any way. I never really saw them that way. I could blame it on Uncle Cloud for my own preferences 'cause I hang out with them a lot but really, it's just how I felt. I could be friends with girls but I never went farther than that. They're too soft and squishy … like jell-o. Great, now I'm hungry, Naminé laughed when she heard my stomach growl.

"Get ready for school and breakfast will be on the table when you come down."

I nodded my head and went to find some clothes. Thankfully, as elite as the school was, no one had to wear uniforms. Casual dress was fine as long as it was appropriate. So, of course, I grabbed the skinniest black jeans I could find and a large black T-shirt to wear over the checker board long sleeve I liked. And I wore my black converses. I'm not really goth or emo but I just kind of developed this style over the years as a way of staying connected with the rest of the world. And the best thing is that Naminé didn't even care, she bought me whatever I wanted. Not to mention, Marluxia recommended the style to me and Naminé couldn't turn him down knowing that he's the best when it comes to fashion. Apparently the dark colors more-so accent my light hair and eyes.

After breakfast, I hugged Naminé goodbye and grabbed my skateboard to ride to school. It wasn't very far and I felt freer that way than being cooped up in a car. I wouldn't exactly call it claustrophobia but I certainly had a dislike for small tight spaces. It took about twenty minutes but I made it to school. And thankfully on time.

"Hey, Roxy!"

I turned to see Demyx running towards me, dragging Zexion behind him by his arm.

"Don't call me Roxy," I sighed, nodding to Zexion who nodded back. We really were close friends but we chose to express that silently.

"Aww, why not?" Demyx whined.

"It's a girly nickname …" I explained, already losing my patience.

"Well you do have a girly face …"

I turned again to see Sora, Riku, Xion, and someone else walk up to the group. I knocked the side of Sora's head for the comment though the majority of my attention was given to the tall red head standing next to Riku. I looked at Sora questioningly.

"Oh, this is Axel. We never really had a reason to bring him 'round your house so that's why you never met him …" Sora explained.

Axel, huh? He was pretty hot. He stared at me expressionlessly for a moment before smirking and extending his hand towards me.

"A-X-E-L got it memorized?" he asked. I took his hand suspiciously and answered.

". Nice to meet you …" I said warily. Then, unexpectedly, he gripped my hand and pulled me towards him.

"Hmm, you're pretty hot aren't you?" he said, "How about you and me ditch school and hang out at my house?" he asked, grinning perversely and winking.

So, what would you do if an incredibly sexy red head offered to skip school with you and spend the rest of the day? Certainly not what I said.

"Hell no!" I dead panned.

Sora, who had been staring at me expectantly, slammed his forehead into his sister's shoulder. Xion, who had the same expression Sora did, slammed her forehead into Sora's hair who then yelled 'ow' and went to find solace in Riku who really didn't give a damn. Axel looked surprised but quickly recovered at the thought of me being a challenge.

Typical.

"Playing hard to get huh?" he asked.

"Just not interested …" I replied. He just smirked again.

"Well I find you quite interesting," he murmured, giving me a once over. I shivered though with what emotion, I'm not sure.

"Right, well we have to get to class before we're late," Riku yelled before lowering his voice and whispered, "Stop trying to molest fifteen year olds …"

I rolled my eyes at those two and walked towards the school with Xion and Sora by my side and my skateboard under my arm. To my dismay, the four seniors followed.

"So Roxy-"

"Please stop calling me Roxy," I cut in.

"Right anyway, Roxy what classes do you have?"

I sighed in exasperation while Sora and Xion giggled. I grabbed my schedule out of a pocket of my backpack (which technically wasn't a backpack since it was meant to sling over one shoulder) and read it.

"Well, it looks like I have three honors classes: Literature, Calculus, and History. Two AP classes: Chem and French and also two standard classes: Music and Gym."

"… What period do you have gym?" Axel asked. I still don't know if I regret my answer.

"Um … sixth," I replied. He grinned evilly and I know the look on my face must have been priceless because everyone, except for Zexion (my best buddy, bless him) started laughing hysterically. They didn't stop until some teacher shouted for us to shut up unless we wanted detention.

"What's your first period?" Xion asked.

"French."
"Cool, so we're in the same class. There's only one French class during first period."

I silently exhaled, thankful to not have to fend for myself first thing in the morning.

"Where are you going for first period then?" I asked Sora.

"Tech," he shrugged.

"Whoa, Sora using technology?" I asked no one in particular. Then we all doubtfully stared at him before exclaiming, "I don't believe it …"

"Hey!" he yelled while Riku rubbed the top of his head in an attempt to console him.

"What about you, since you started this?" I asked Demyx.

"I'm with Axel in Trig. Hey, how come you have so many advanced classes?"

"… I'm a nerd?" I replied. Of course they all laughed at my dry humor, though I wasn't too comfortable with being considered a nerd. Intelligent was a better adjective … Okay, fine, maybe I am a nerd.

"You think we have chemistry together?" Axel asked, leaning over my shoulder to look at my schedule. I took a peek at his, which was Demyx's hand at the moment, then turned to him and nodded silently. He smirked.

"Oh really?" he asked, pressing against my back and hovering his lips over my ear. I noticed the double meaning in his words and pushed him away, trying not to shiver again.

"Don't worry," Riku said, grabbing Axel's shirt collar and pulling him away, "You won't be left alone with him, I have third period chemistry too …"

Zexion decided to speak up at that moment.

"Everyone, we have approximately forty-seven seconds before the late bell rings …"

We froze for a moment but decided that was wasting time.

"HOLY SHIT!" we all yelled in unison, scrambling for our classes. Xion was beside me laughing hysterically. I didn't bother because I knew that my new French teacher wouldn't be nearly as amused.

XxXxX

Or maybe she would be. When we burst through the door, the first thing we noticed was the dead silence coming from the already seated students. Then came the cackling … and when I say cackling, I mean wicked-witch-of-the-west look-alike anchor woman Maleficent cackling. Except more feminine. My eyes widened as I stared at the woman in front of me. My new French teacher and …

"Xion, why didn't you tell me your mom was teaching the class?" I whispered, though something told me Tifa still heard as she cut her eyes at me.

"It didn't seem too important, why is it such a big deal?"

"Um, I don't know, maybe because your mom is the scariest woman I've ever met. She's the definition of tough love, look it up on and you'll see her picture next to it …"

"Hey, this is my mom we're talking about here!"

"And look how you turned out …"

"Ahem …"

We both turned to look at Tifa. She motioned for us to sit silently (probably 'cause she knew if she opened her mouth, she'd end up cussing us out … in French, maybe English).

I went to sit down in an empty seat with Xion next to me. On my other side was a girl with half spiky, half wavy brown hair and dark green eyes … though not as acidic green as Axel's. Great, why am I thinking about him? The girl must've caught me staring because she turned towards me fully and smiled warmly (probably to cover up the fact that she most likely thought I was a creeper).

"Bonjour," she said.

"Bonjour," I replied.

"Quel est tàppelle tu?"

"Roxas, et toi?"

"Olette." *

We got to know each other, even Xion joined in on the conversation and thankfully Tifa let it slide since we were making use of our French. I had learned by now that Olette and I have a lot of classes together and that she has two friends named Hayner and Pence that she wanted me and Xion to meet. We asked if we could let them meet our friends as well and she said it was fine. Then Tifa got fed up with our chatter and threw a piece of chalk at us yelling that if we didn't stop talking it would be a desk next. Everyone laughed but that was because they didn't know she meant it. How exactly did she get this job again? She's practically the pants in her household and Leon was her husband! I'd have thought she scared too many children off too many children to become a teacher.

XxXxX

I just finished having music and now here's the challenge I've been anticipating. Chemistry. With Axel. God that sounded wrong! I can't even sort out my feelings towards him, though right now they were leaning toward negative. I walked into the classroom fairly early and went for the first seat I felt comfortable with. I heard from Riku that this was a large class so in a situation like this I followed the only trustworthy advice Sora gave me. Sit in the middle, it's the best choice. Apparently, it was better to blend rather than stand out in the back or front now that (also according to Sora) teachers call on people in the back more now so that they won't fell forgotten.

I sat down in the seat in that I found next to the window, and took out any materials I'd probably need. Then I let my thoughts wander to things like 'who else is in this class' or 'when's lunch' (I know when it is but it always felt good to complain), 'how's everyone else holding up', 'why I actually care about that', Axel, 'where the rest of the class wa-… wait Axel? And speak of the red haired devil, look who just walked through the door along with other students that looked like they made up the majority of the class. Axel and Riku spotted me and made their way over.

"Nice job, Roxy, you chose the best spot," he complimented.

"Please stop calling me Roxy."

He stood and thought about it.

"Hmm … no."

I sighed and face planted into the desk. He just laughed while Riku shook his head. Axel sat down next to me while Riku sat down in front of me and next to him sat some girl with short black hair and a headband that something in Japanese written on it. She bumped fists with Riku and saluted Axel, who nodded back, before turning to me.

"Hey the name's Yuffie, greatest ninja in Radiant Gardens! What's yours?"

I stared blankly before answering.

"Roxas."

"Oh, so you're the Roxy I keep hearing about! Nice to meet'cha!" she spazzed. I decided not to call her out on the nickname and just gave up. Le them call me Roxy, I'm still a man!

Riku was staring at me pityingly, though I guessed it wasn't about the stupid nickname.

"What?" I asked.

"I feel sorry for you …" he answered.

"Why …?"

He pointed to Axel then to the teacher who I hadn't even notice walk in.

"Vexen got in and whoever you sit with is going to be your partner for the rest of the year. Looks like you're stuck with Firecrotch …" Riku explained. Axel flipped him the bird for the nickname before resting his arm around my shoulders and pulling me against him.

"Looks like we're stuck together," he smirked.

NOOOOOOOOOO!

I'd have yelled that out loud but the classroom was full and I everyone's first impression of me to be 'that blonde kid's a fucking lunatic' or something. The teacher, Vexen apparently, started taking attendance in a bored 'I really don't want to be here' voice. Why's Vexen here anyway? Shouldn't he be out somewhere in his lab working on whatever scientific dilemma came up? Since when did he teach high school? I sat and moped at the fact that this meant I already know two of my teachers personally. I was tempted to check my schedule just to see if I knew anyone else but my name was called and soon after roll ended we got into the rules and regulations.

"… remember to be safe in the classroom and avoid Axel if you can. Mr. Shiroi … I wish you good luck," Vexen said. I briefly thought for a moment that I was thankful he used my last name instead of letting everyone else know he knew me. Then I turned to Axel, who still had his arm around me, and saw him smirk.

"Don't worry Roxy I won't let anything happen to you," he assured me.

"Hmph, yet you can't promise not to blow my classroom up …" Vexen grumbled.

XxXxX

It's lunch time.

And I'm covered in soot.

"Well at least your hair matches your outfit," Axel said sheepishly.

I threw my lunch bag at him before retrieving it then hitting him with it again.

"You dumbass … you're helping to wash me off and don't get any ideas of I'll be scooping your eyes out with a plastic spoon," I seethed. Axel rubbed the back of his head, still smiling sheepishly and nodding.

"You better do what he wants, he means business …" Sora said, tossing Axel a water bottle that he used to pour over my head when I signaled him to. After about two minutes we finally got all the soot out and Sora stole his water bottle back.

"So … what exactly happened?" he asked.

"That idiot somehow blew up his first homework assignment … and Roxas was right next to him," Riku explained.

"Well I did keep my promise to not let anything happen to him," Axel said.

He was telling the truth, apart from the fact that I was covered in soot, goodness knows how he stayed safe, he managed to protect me from the explosion itself. … By cradling me against his chest … and carrying me bridal style out of the classroom. My face heated up just from the memory. And I could still faintly smell his clean scent. Okay, now my face felt as if it were on fire.

"What's wrong with you now?" Sora asked tiredly. I glared at him for the rude tone but decided not to answer.

"It looked like he was trying not to eye rape Axel …" Xion pointed out. Now my face felt like a nuclear war zone.

"I-I was n-not!" I stuttered nervously. Xion didn't buy it for a second. And neither did anyone else for that matter. Axel chuckled and dragged me over to sit on his lap.

"So you saw something you liked?" he whispered in my ear. I was so tempted to say yes while at the same time, so tempted to elbow him in his ribs. So I just kept silent, trying to ignore him and eat my lunch without being bothered by his body against mine. … That sounded way too perverted.

"Hey, Roxas!"

Dammit, what now?

I looked up to see who had called my name and a shock of brown curls and forest green eyes were suddenly in my face.

"So you come outside for lunch too, huh?" Olette asked. I nodded, looking past her to see the two friends she brought with her. She followed my gaze then jumped up trying to pardon her rudeness.

"So, this is Hayner and this is Pence," she introduced, pointing to the blonde one first then the chubbier one with black hair. They both nodded to our group and we nodded back. Sora nudged me to get me to explain.

"This is Olette, she's in my and Xion's French class." Then I turned to the trio and introduced them to each of my friends.

"They're Sora and Xion, well Olette you already know Xion, Demyx and Zexion and these two are Riku and Axel."

Olette studied them all closely, especially Axel. Then she turned to me with a weird glint in her eyes. Kind of like excitement.

"So, is Axel your boyfriend?" she asked.

I started choking on nothing in particular.

"What could have made you—"

She cut me off by pointing down at me. Then I finally realized I was still sitting in Axel's lap. And he had his arms wrapped around my waist (well they were until I started choking and he patted my back). The weird thing about it was the fact that he had been so silent. I had been expecting him to leer or make nasty comments in my ear. Then again, I don't really know him that well … I don't really know him … so why is it so comfortable right here? In an act of defiance (against Axel and Olette) I tried to move out of Axel's lap but he tightened his grip around me. Like me moving was a bad thing. I know I could have escaped anyway but … for some reason I just stayed. Then I sighed and just shook my head at Olette, deciding it wasn't worth the trouble.

"No, we're not dating. He's just clingy," I grumbled. I could feel him shaking with laughter then resting his chin on the top of my head. Olette laughed (along with Sora, Xion, and Demyx). Then her and her group moved to sit down with us.

"Hey, I think I've heard about you …" the boy Pence said to Axel … who didn't look all that surprised.

"Yeah, you're that girl Kairi's older brother right?" Hayner asked. Now the surprise had shown on his face, along with Sora's, Riku's, and my own as well.

Sora and Riku were close friends with Kairi and I'd even grown close to her … and then I'd heard she'd moved to Destiny Islands. I didn't know much except for the fact that she had family issues and only trusted her two older brothers. I never would've guessed Axel was one of them. Sora and Riku, on the other hand, just looked plain surprised to hear the name.

"So she came back huh?" Axel asked himself quietly. I wanted to ask how he didn't know and why he wasn't with his sister on the Islands then I realized; if Kairi had a family problem then obviously Axel would've been involved too. The curiosity was eating at me but I wasn't going to pry. Like I said, I don't know the guy that well and his family matters weren't my business.

Hayner nodded at Axel's earlier question as if it weren't rhetorical. I looked up to see irritation in his eyes though he kept the rest of his face neutral. And apparently, he wasn't the only one upset with the news.

"What the hell, man! She leaves for, like, two and doesn't even bother to contact us and now that she's back she doesn't even come to say hi?" Sora complained. Riku just nodded silently, clutching Sora closer to him.

"Now who on earth said I wasn't coming to say hi?"

We all turned at the sound of the new voice to see Kairi standing there with Naminé right behind her. Now everyone was confused.

"Kairi?" Sora asked warily.

"Naminé?" Xion asked, even more confused.

Then there was the awkward silence.

"Well, I've got stuff to do, which immediately involves Zexion and not any of you so toodles!" Demyx exclaimed, grabbing Zexion (who looked upset that he couldn't stay and watch the drama) and ran.

Naminé looked over all of us before staring at me with a raised eyebrow. I blushed and tried, once again, to remove myself from Axel's lap. This time, he let me go.

"Well, right after you left for school, Kairi came and asked if I could give her a ride her. She had apparently taken care of enrollment and only needed to get to school," Naminé said.

"Yeah, I got fed up with the islands and I knew Reno wouldn't be home at this time of the morning. Besides, if I came here on time, we'd be having this awkward moment in the hallways and who wants to see that?" Kairi laughed, mainly addressing Axel.

He stared her then slowly stood up and walked towards her.

"Our parents didn't bother you, did they?" he asked.

"Of course not, Grandma made sure of that, no need to worry," she smiled at him. He shook his head looking exasperated.

"You didn't talk to anyone for four years, Kai, I thought you were dead or something," Axel joked, warming up.

"Heh. Right, I could kill a full grown teddy bear with my bare hands," Kairi announced proudly. Axel laughed and pulled her into a hug which was soon followed by Sora glomping her and yelling about how she ignored him. Then Xion who yelled that she'd been missing a girl that could understand her girly problems. Then Riku jumped on top, saying he just felt like being mean while Olette and her group laughed at the scene. I went to stand by Naminé.

"So is there a reason you were the one to bring Kairi?" I asked her.

"No, not really," she deadpanned. I turned and stared at her blankly and she stared back innocently.

"You're hiding something aren't you?"

She stayed silent for a moment.

"I didn't know you went for redheads …"

My face flushed and I stared at her more wide-eyes than she was, effectively being derailed by the change in subject.

"I don't even like him, he's a total creep!" I hissed, trying not to let everyone else know our conversation. She just laughed.

"Right Roxas. You hate him as much as you hate chocolate cheesecake …" she joked.

Dammit, she knows how much I love that stuff! I turned away from her and grumbled about her being an evil witch lady. She looked heart-broken.

"How could you call your own mother an evil witch lady?" she shouted, faking tears.

"Mother? More like big sister …" I said, angry that she was using the famous puppy dog eyes against me. ME. The master of pouty faces. She tried moving her face closer so I couldn't avoid it. Then we managed to get into a contest of who would crack first.

"Nami, don't you have work?" I heard Kairi asked. I turned to look at the heap of teenagers … only to see that they weren't in a heap anymore. And they were staring at us. Once again, my face felt as if it were heating the earth.

Naminé nodded, laughing of course, and hugged me before waving at everyone and leaving. I stared after her before suddenly getting knocked over. I tried to turn my head but someone was determined that I eat dirt. Then I heard the laughter. Kairi.

"Did you really think you could escape a hug from moi?"she giggled. I tried to answer her but I couldn't even open my mouth. Finally, the weight was lifted though I was still slightly pinned to the ground. I turned my head and glared at her, not bothering to force her off.

"Kairi, from you it's not a hug, it's a death sentence," I grumbled. She just laughed again, still refused to lift herself off of me. I felt her shift her weight then sit there quietly as if she were waiting for somethi- are you kidding me?

"Roxy, give me a piggy back ride!" she shouted in an extremely babyish voice.

"WHY?"

"'Cause no one else will!"

I didn't believe that for a second but got up anyway, shaking my head, and hoisted on to my back.

"Jeez, Kai, you're more spoiled than me …" I sighed.

"My brothers spoil, it's just something they like to do. I'm sure you'll figure that out when you go on your first date with Axel," she whispered into my ear. I almost dropped her. Well, at least now I know why she wanted that piggyback ride. She jumped down at that moment and said, "I can walk the rest of the way thank you."

Everyone went back to staring at me with mixed expressions. Riku looked bored, Hayner and Pence looked mildly interested, Sora and Xion looked mischievous as usual and Axel … hmm, I couldn't tell. To be honest, though, it kind of creeped me out that he couldn't take his eyes off of me. And it creeped me out even more that I wanted to comfort him for looking that way. It was a hard expression to describe. And before I could even analyze it, he noticed my staring and the expression was broken. He smirked.

"Something wrong?" he asked smoothly. I glared at him again.

"Umm, guys …" Olette piped in, "Lunch is almost over so we might want to head back in."

We all agreed and started towards the building. Axel walked closer to me, bending down to whisper "I can't wait till sixth period." I almost asked why then I remembered. He's gonna get his own personal peep show, courtesy of the locker rooms. I shivered and this time I knew it was in horror.

XxXxX

Grooaaaannnn.

"Stop complaining," Sora yelled.

"No way! This perv can't keep his hands to himself!" I yelled back, glaring at Axel who just smirked. Like he'd won the fucking lottery. Gym had been a surprisingly easy period, the teacher (who was Marluxia's friend Xigbar, add that to the list of teachers I know personally) was actually pretty fair and didn't care what we did as long as it counted as exercise. No, the problem was with Axel. And not just in the locker room, but during class too. Now I felt sufficiently eye raped and I can say that I've had my ass grabbed about twenty seven times over the span of forty five minutes. I mean seriously, don't his hands get tired?I glared at him again and he stared back innocently as if asking 'what? Like you didn't enjoy it …'

"Stop bitching about it already, at least he's giving you attention …" Sora complained. I stared at him for a moment.

"What'd Riku do this time?"

Sora sighed, like he'd been waiting to spill since forever.

"Well … look at him!" Sora yelled, pointing at Riku … who was about ten feet behind Sora, Xion, Axel, Kairi and I. I looked at Sora expectantly so he could elaborate.

"He's been moping around all day long, it's driving me insane! He won't even talk to me about it!" Sora growled.

"Maybe he's just sexually frustrated …" Xion laughed. Sora stared at her, horrified.

"I'm having an emotional crisis and that's all you can think about?" Sora gasped. Xion stared at his face blankly for a moment before giving up and bursting into laughter.

"You idiot!" she giggled.

"Sora, just talk to him. I doubt he can resist your puppy dog eyes, they're almost as bad as Roxas'," Kairi stated … which was true. Naminé was proud too, saying that we'd learned it from her. Tifa was never happy with this information since she could never resist her children when they pouted. Then yell at them to stop being so adorable and grumble about Leon's demon children she'd been cursed with having.

Sora sighed and took Kairi's advice, walking slowly so that he was equal with Riku's pace. Then Sora got his attention and for the rest of my life I'll never know if Riku regretted that decision. He turned to look at Sora who, at that exact moment, turned on the most indescribably droopy, super cute puppy dog eyes ever seen. Sora, you just might surpass the master (the master being me since I've learned to ignore Naminé's guilt trips). I couldn't blame Riku, he probably couldn't help himself. He took at one look at Sora's face and caved. And that, my friends was the last we ever saw of Sora and Riku (for at least twenty minutes).

"Where are they going?" Xion asked.

"Riku's car …" Axel answered.

"As vague as that answer was, it still offered way too much information," Xion complained I patted her shoulder in understanding because even if Sora was Xion's twin brother, he might as well have been my brother as well. I knew he couldn't possibly have been related to me since I was adopted but the fact that he and Xion accepted me so willingly made me grow super close to them. Sora really was like a brother to me. So I really, really didn't want to know about his sex life! The thought itself made my nose wrinkle. Kairi laughed at our expressions and Axel shook his head, grinning.

"So, whose house are we headed to?" Kairi asked.

"Roxas' definitely …" Xion stated. I groaned.

"Hey come on! I mean, your house is huge! Actually, it's not a house, it's a freaking mansion! And you've got internet, three computers for each floor, wi-fi, and indoor pool, an outdoor pool, a gaming room—" she cut off when I slapped my hand over her mouth.

"Okay, fine, you guys can come over, just stop talking," I said, directing that last part at Xion. She nodded and ran her thumb and index finger over her lips like she was zipping her mouth shut. I shook my head and set my skateboard down to stay ahead of them and lead them to my house (since Kairi's never been over, I only saw her at Sora's house and Axel's excuse is obvious). Wait … I just realized I'm taking Axel to my house. I'm dead serious, I just noticed this. Well … crap. I guess I could always ask Nams for a guard dog if he decides to stalk me or something.

Once we got to the house, everyone took their shoes off and came inside (and I politely denied their requests to live there) and got comfortable in the living room. I texted Sora and Demyx to let them know where we all were and told them not to make too much noise. They all willingly obliged once they discovered the godliness that was my living room t.v. Apparently, according to Naminé, I wouldn't unglue myself from it when I first moved here. She was always nice, leaving to my cartoon brainwashing and sometimes even watching them with me. I guess she had faith in my abilities to resist the stupidity and random violent urges they put into children's heads. No, I get my violent urges from something else entirely. Ansem said it was abandonment issues, something a child (a four year old especially) shouldn't have to go through. Maybe that's why Naminé always showered me with love. And it's true, I got angry les when I was in familiar company.

"Roxas …" Kairi asked softly, making me jump and spin to look at her.

"Are you okay?"

"Hmm? … Yeah, I'm fine," I reassured her.

"You were completely spaced out y'know. No need to randomly stand in the hallway," she laughed.

I nodded and smiled for good measure.

"Well come in the living room and sit with us, we all thought you were dead and anyway, Dem and Zex are here. They got here pretty fast too."

We walked back into the living room … just to find Axel standing with a foot on a struggling Demyx's back and a blanket around his neck like a cape while Xion cheered him on and Zexion sat on the couch, ignoring them entirely.

"Check it out, Roxy, this is how awesomely epic I am. Bet'cha want some huh?" Axel asked.

I rolled my eyes, not bothering to hide my laughter at the stupid cape. He smiled back, clearly not ashamed at what he was doing. Though not paying attention was a mistake because he toppled over and Demyx pinned him to the ground.

"VICTORY!" he yelled.

"Like Hell!" Axel yelled back and started rolling around on the floor.

"Something tells me I should hide the soda …" I murmured.

"Oh … darn."

I turned to see Naminé and Kairi standing there with four two-liter sodas (two cokes, one orange, and one rootbeer) and loads of snacks. I started at them blankly for a moment before everyone (except sane, rational Zexion) yelled, "SUGAR!"

"What the hell, is this a conspiracy against sanity?" I shouted over the noise. Kairi and Naminé looked at each other then back to me and nodded silently.

"What's going on?" Sora asked, walking in with Riku at his heels.

"Apparently we're having a party," I spat.

"For what?" Sora asked, unaffected by my mood.

"Uhm … celebrating your first day of school?" Naminé suggested.

"… Can you be my mom?" Axel and Kairi asked in unison.

"You can have her …" I grumbled.

"Roxas!" she complained while the others laughed. Sora ran in and jumped on Xion who seemed well prepared for that as she grabbed a pillow and slammed it into the side of his head.

"You know what this means …" she started.

"Wait!" Naminé shouted before going into the kitchen and coming back out with whip cream that she handed to axel.

"Now go ahead," she said, quickly slipping out of the room with Zexion following.

…

"WAAAAR!" everyone screamed and suddenly, my house was covered in whip cream and soda. I sighed and shrugged. What the hey, I mean it's not like I've been invited to a party before so I might as well have fun with these dorks. Although, I'm not letting them anywhere near that damn television … and I sure as hell am not cleaning up their mess.

XxXxX

"I wanna play a game …" Sora drawled sleepily. Riku mumbled in agreement against Sora's spikes.

"Well, what d'ya have in mind?" Kairi asked.

" … where's your PS3?" he asked me.

"Oh no … I'm not letting you drunken idiots anywhere near my game consoles!" I almost shouted.

"Aww, why not?" Sora complained, alongside Demyx who couldn't form a coherent sentence. Somehow he and the redhead wonder-pair found Naminé's booze stash (a gift from Marluxia) and she, being the responsible adult she is, didn't even give a crap when she found all sprawled out on the floor completely wasted. All she did was tell them to save her some and they all happily agreed. I, on the other hand, was thoroughly pissed that Axel's clingy as a drunk too. And guess who was his favorite squeeze toy …

Did you guess yet?

If Roxas Shiroi was your answer, then you're completely wrong.

Ha. I wish.

I'd basically been spending the majority of the night wrapped up in Axel's arms and wishing he'd let me go before he choked me to death. Yet at the same time I didn't want to leave. Hmm … maybe it's what they call attachment … or maybe I'm just constipated. I don't know, I can't think straight when I'm warm and comfortable like this. I never even thought it could be this comfortable in Axel's arms. He always struck me as bony since he was so goddamned skinny. Well, it's not the first time I was wrong.

"So … what should we do tonight?" Xion asked tiredly.

"How about go to sleep and try not to destroy my house? And by the way, you're all cleaning up this mess of whip cream tomorrow, hangover or not," I said plainly.

Everyone groaned at the same time.

"Come on, Roxy, hang loose for a little while," Axel mumbled into my hair.

"It's Roxas. And you're drunk, so I'm not letting my guard down around you," I answered.

"When do you ever," Kairi sighed.

"When neither of you are within a two mile radius of me."

"Whatever …" Kairi said, rolling her eyes and flopping on the ground. One by one, everyone followed suit, mumbling incoherently as they leaned against something or just flopped to the ground to sleep. Axel leaned against the couch, his grip just as tight as it had been for the past thirty minutes. I vaguely wondered if he would remember tomorrow why I was in his arms. If he did, I'd make sure to give him a few whacks in his thick head with one of Zexion's books.

"Oh, is everyone asleep?"

I turned to see Naminé standing in the entrance way in a long, cream colored nightgown. She looked buzzed but not as run down as these jokers.

"Yeah, they partied themselves out," I explained quietly. She stared at me for a moment.

"You look comfortable …" she smiled. My expression soured.

"Oh, stop making that face. You've got just about as much humor as Cloud," Naminé complained jokingly.

"So that was a joke?" I asked suspiciously.

"Hmm … I'll think about it," she said then turned to walk away.

"Wait Naminé! You're not leaving me in here?" I whispered loudly. I heard her chuckle a 'good night Roxas' as she made her way to her bedroom. I sighed and looked at the redhead holding me. He looked … peaceful. It was …

I shook my head and sighed again. Then I let my eyes close.

XxXxX

A/N: *-I have not taken any type of French class, I only know Spanish and Japanese, so I had to ask my friend who had taken French to translate for me. She says it's a bit rusty but I trust her more than I do a translator. Anyway, there will be quite a bit of French in this story so just bear with me if it's wrong in some way, and I'll have a conversation with Emily about that.

Also, there'll be a few things you may be confused about but it'll be explained in later chapters.

Lastly, this'll have at least 31 chapters but I'm not going spend a lot of that at all on getting Axel and Roxas together so it may seem quick but that's how I wanted it.

So anyway, read and review and tell me what you think (btw I stayed up until five in the morning to write this for you guys so you better have something good to say! =_=) jk, but still I love getting reviews, it lets me know what you think and if I should continue.