0o0o0o Chapter 2 0o0o0o
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"I'm sorry Mr. Strife, but we can't let you do that," a middle-aged woman with graying brown hair said to me with an empty smile. I frowned and groaned. I slumped into the plush seat I was sitting in.
"Why? You don't understand how badly I have to get out of there!" I half-shouted at her. I glared at her, gripping the sides of the chair. The woman looked slightly taken aback and frowned at me.
"It's against school policy to allow switching dorms after the school year has started. You'll just have to wait," she said. I huffed. I looked deep into her eyes. I tried willing the woman to let me change my room.
I leaned over the desk, still glaring. The woman stared back and leaned in, once again smiling an empty smile. Her brown hair brushed her cheek and I got a whiff of her strange citrus scent.
"You have to leave now, Mr. Strife. I have a meeting soon," she said. I let out a heavy breath through my teeth and abruptly stood up. My hands had balled into tight fists. I could literally feel the blood pumping through my veins at top speed. While walking out I aggressively walked into the seat, tipping it over in the process. I stomped out of her office and slammed the door shut.
I stalked down the hallway back to my dreaded dorm room, the whole time my mind was racing. I couldn't believe this! I can't fucking believe I can't change my room! I told her how Axel said multiple slurs to me and caused so much misery. I described in detail how Axel ruined my life and how it affected me. Yet, she wouldn't help me because of the 'rules.' To hell with the rules! Where was her sense of right and wrong? Where was her sympathy? I just don't get it, I don't get why she couldn't help me.
I made it back to my room and was pleased to see that it was empty. I smiled, feeling more calm. I was worked up about a lot of things, and encountering Axel back in the dorm room sure was one of them. I walked to my bed and sat down. I scooted backwards so I was sitting against the wall. I shoved my hand into my pocket and dug out my phone.
I speed dialed the only number I had called or texted in the past year and pressed the phone to my ear. It picked up after two rings.
"Hello?" A familiarly deep voice answered.
"Hi, Dad. It's Roxas," I said. The person on the other end laughed a little.
"Yeah I know, I have caller ID, numb nuts," he retorted. I blushed slightly, but laughed anyway.
"Sorry," I said simply.
"Is there something you need?" My dad asked me. I sighed exasperatingly.
"No. But I do hate my roommate," I said. I couldn't see him, but I knew my dad would be rolling his eyes now.
"Why? Do they collect baby dolls or something?" he said in an obviously annoyed tone of voice. If only, I thought.
"No. Not at all like that. I wish they were like that though," I said. I continued on, "It's Axel."
I didn't say anything other than that. My dad was silent on the other end of the phone. We sat there for a while in silence.
"Axel Flynt?" he said after what seemed like hours.
"Yeah, Axel Flynt," I said. It felt weird to say his name. It burned my tongue and gave me a bad taste in my mouth. It was like blood and dirt mixed together.
"Has anything happened?" my dad inquired.
"No, thank god. We fought last night, but no one got hit or anything."
"I kind of wish you hit him," my dad said with a laugh. I laughed with him. I don't know why I didn't hit Axel. I sure wanted to, and I still want to. However, there's something that's just keeping my from doing that right now.
"Me too, Dad, me too," I said. Then the door to my room opened and the last person I'd ever want to see walked in. The sight of him upset my stomach and I felt the need to empty my stomach all over that bastard's face.
"I gotta go, Dad. I'll call you later. Love you, bye," I said quietly into the cell phone. I ended the call without waiting for my dad's reply. Instead my eyes trailed Axel after as he walked across the room to his desk. I felt my face contort into a disgusted expression. Axel carried in a thick smell of cigarettes and alcohol. He was wearing dark wash jeans that were a little too loose and a simple red t-shirt. His hair was pulled up into a pony tail, revealing a small tattoo on his neck; the number VIII in small black ink.
Axel turned back and looked at me. He sneered.
"You imagining some hot homo sex with me, you queer?" he said in a sickly sweet tone. I laughed mockingly.
"You wish. But you have the sex appeal of a beached whale," I replied with a sweet smile. Axel didn't say anything, but he did give me a dirty look. Axel went back to ignoring my presence. He was too busy messing around at his desk to really notice me and all of me "gayness." I watched him. I wasn't interested in him by any means, but I had trouble looking away at the person I hate more than anything else in this world. I'm sure everyone could understand.
Suddenly a question fought its way up my throat and out of my mouth.
"Why did you do it?" I asked him. Axel's head snapped in my direction, looking slightly off guard.
"Do what?" he replied. I glared intensely at him.
"You know exactly what I mean," I said. Axel nodded and looked away from me.
"I did it because I wanted to," he said back. My jaw dropped open. He did it because he fucking WANTED TO?! He single-handedly ruined my life because he simply wanted to?! Heat rushed to my face and I couldn't even smell the horrible stench emanating from Axel anymore.
"Are you FUCKING serious?! You did it because you wanted to? You don't have any better reason for totally betraying me other than because you WANTED TO?!" I screeched. Axel looked back at me his eyes wide. I stood up and practically ran to him. I continued on with my little scream-fest, "I always knew you were an asshole, but this is low, even for you, Axel!"
Axel looked at me blankly and slowly blinked.
"If you were me, you would have done it too," he said softly. I scoffed and rolled my eyes. I crossed my arms and glared into Axel's green eyes.
"You keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better," I said back to him.
"You don't know the whole story!" Axel exclaimed, trying and failing to defend himself. I laughed condescendingly.
"I know that you're an asshole who betrayed one of their best friends and ruined their life. That's all I really need to know," I said. Right after I finished my sentence there were two knocks on the door.
"Roxas?" I heard Sora call from the hallway. I turned around quickly on my heel and opened the door. Sora was wearing swimming trunks and had a towel slung over his shoulder.
"Yes?" I asked. Sora grinned at me, his smile seeming to stretch ear to ear.
"Xion, Ven, Riku, Kairi, Namine, and I were going to the beach and wanted to know if you were interested in coming," he said. I smiled at Sora. My shoulders untensed and my face began cooling down.
"Yeah, just let me get my swimsuit!" I said happily. Sora nodded and I closed the door, getting ready and leaving without even looking at Axel.
Sora and I had met up with the rest of our friends in the front of the dorm building. We all chatted and laughed while walking to the beach. I couldn't help but be mesmerized by everything about the islands. The air always smelled like the ocean. It was so hard to describe. It was salty and it was almost like you could smell the actual breeze. I could hear the crashing of the waves and the sounds of the seagulls even though we weren't at the beach yet. Back in Twilight Town, all we really had was the chiming of the clock and the rattling of the trams and trains.
At the beach, everyone went into the water, well, everyone except for me and the girls. Xion ended up sitting extremely close to me while Kairi and Namine sat separately to talk quietly. Xion touched my shoulder and looked me deep in the eyes. She smiled at me softly.
"You've never been to the beach before have you?" she asked with a little laugh. I shook my head. Was it really that obvious?
"Never! The only other place I've been besides Twilight Town is Radiant Garden," I said. Xion looked away from me and stared at the ocean. She seemed to become lost while she stared at the horizon line.
"That's not good! I feel lucky to have grown up at the beach," she said to me. I shrugged.
"I don't know, Twilight Town has its perks," I said. Xion looked back at me. Her eyes traveled all over my face and she scooted closer to me, so her body was touching mine. I stiffened slightly and my breath hitched. I had no idea what to say or do, no idea at all. I had never once been in a situation like this.
Xion grabbed my hand and I struggled to find words to say.
"This is nice," Xion said. I gulped a couple of times until my mouth finally seemed to work.
"Yeah," I stammered. Xion was my friend. One of the only friends I've had in years. I didn't want to tell her that I didn't like her that way, that could ruin everything. I don't know how to just come out and say to someone, 'Sorry, I don't like you, I'm gay.' I felt hopelessly torn and I actually felt a tug in my heart. I knew that I would hurt her if I played along, but wouldn't I just hurt her more if I flat-out rejected her?
I sighed softly and desperately looked for Sora to help me get out of this situation. Sadly, he was too distracted.
We stayed at the beach until late afternoon. The girls were hungry and Kairi persuaded Sora to take everyone to get ice cream. I sat quietly in the bed of Sora's pickup truck. Xion insisted on sitting next to me in the back. I stayed as silent as possible and stared at the bottom of the truck bed, as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.
Soon we got there and we all ordered. The little shop was run by family friends of Sora and we all got discounts. All of us sat a big round table outside of the shop. I quietly ate my ice cream while sitting next to Ven and Riku.
"Hey, Roxas and Ven, are you guys related?" Riku asked us. I looked at him slowly and shook my head. Ven did the same.
"Nope, I asked my mom about it and she insisted that my dad is dead and that I'm an only child," Ven stated.
"Yeah, I'm an only child and I live with my Dad, so nothing's going on there," I add. Riku slowly nodded.
"You guys are both idiots if you think you're not related," he said bluntly. I frowned at Riku and turned away from him. We sat in silence for a minute or two before Riku continued on, "You just can't have people who look identical and are the same age, have the same birthday, and not have them be related." I swung my heard around and looked at him.
"Well, we're not related, so get over it," I replied. Riku laughed a little. He leaned around me a looked at Ven, then back at me.
"You guys are definitely related. You both bite your ice cream, only complete weirdos do that," Riku said. I looked at Ven and Ven looked at me. We raised our eyebrows at each other. I had absolutely no idea what Riku was talking about.
"My mom wouldn't lie to me," Ven said. I nodded in agreement.
"Neither would my dad," I said. Riku laughed heartily.
"If you guys really believe everything your parents say, you two are hopeless! Parents lie and keep secrets all the time!" Riku said. I laughed at that. My dad and I had a very good and strong relationship. We've always been honest and open with each other. I don't remember a single lie that was told in all my years of living.
"You don't know my dad, he just doesn't lie. Ever," I stated. Riku looked away from me and shook his head.
"You can believe whatever you want, but if you don't have an inkling of suspicion, then you're living your life wrong," Riku said. I decided to ignore him and to continue eating the ice cream I had.
Riku's words stayed in my head no matter how hard I tried to forget them. That pissed me off more than having a clone of myself sitting right next to me.
...Later...
After that we all went back into our own rooms. When I got into my room, no one was there (thank god.) I scrunched my nose upon entering. The stench had grown worse, even though I hadn't though it possible. I groaned and kicked the wall out of agitation. How could Axel stand to live in these conditions?! I could never understand that, but I know that I would never let myself live like this.
I got out my ipod and clicked shuffle. Then, I got to work. I cleaned up every inch of garbage in the room. It was so old and disgusting that it pretty much needed to be scraped off of the floor. I shoved all the trash collected into Axel's trash bin. I then took out my cologne and sprayed it all over the room trying to mask the horrid smell. It only half worked. After that, I set out on sweeping all used cigarette butts into the trash bin. I only half finished that job when the door opened and Axel stopped in his tracks.
"Did you just clean my room?" he asked me slowly. Without turning around I nodded. Axel didn't reply. He only walked over to his trash bin and dumped the contents all over my bed.
I spun around, my fists clenched and my jaw set. "What are you doing?! I spent so long cleaning this fucking pig sty!" I yelled. Axel brushed past me, shoving me with his shoulder.
"You don't clean my room unless you get permission," he said in a stone cold voice. I trailed close behind Axel and grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around.
"First off, it's our room. Secondly, this room probably wouldn't pass a health inspection," I said. Axel crossed his arms and stared at me blankly.
"I didn't ask you to be my fucking mother, don't look out for me," he said. I laughed. I laughed really, really hard.
"I didn't look out for you! I was making sure I didn't die in here," I managed to get out between laughs. Axel rolled his eyes.
"Oh, don't lie to yourself. We all know that you're gay for me," he said with a sneer. I shook my head.
"Never in a million years, you pig," I said. Axel looked amused and leaned down, so we were eye level.
"Must I remind you of what happened the night before I left for college?" he asked me. I immediately knew what he was talking about and my cheeks flared red.
"That was years ago! It doesn't mean anything now, I hate you and I don't have any feelings for you!" I screamed in his face. Axel laughed and turned around, obviously done with me.
I huffed and went to my bed. I threw all the trash at Axel's side of the room, loudly groaning the whole time. Then, I slithered under the covers and glared at the door.
Leave it to Axel to bring up the single worst decision of my life, I thought. I sighed to myself and buried my heads under the sheets. I knew I was blushing furiously. I was hoping that Axel would have forgotten what happened, or that he would at least have the decency to never bring it up again. Somehow, in such an embarrassed state, I fell asleep.
The next morning I frowned as light filtered in through the thin curtains on the windows. I pushed back the covers and slowly stretched out my body and checked the clock. I sat up abruptly in my bed.
It was 8:55! My first class was at 9! I shot out of bed and ran to my suitcase, throwing on a random pair of shorts and a shirt. I grabbed my school bag and ran out of the door as fast as I could. I sprinted out of the dorm building and across campus faster than I thought was possible for me. I made it to my social sciences class with a minute to spare.
I saw Kairi sitting near the middle of the room and I ran down and grabbed a seat next to hear. As soon as she saw me she burst out laughing as hard as she could. I looked at her confused.
"What?" I asked. She pointed at my face and handed me a small compact mirror from her purse.
"Was there a party I wasn't invited to last night or something?" she asked me. I gave her a strange look and opened the mirror. I stared at my reflection and screamed right as the professor walked in.
All of my face was covered in obscene sharpie drawings. Next to my mouth was an ejaculating penis. My forehead bore the word 'FAGGOT' in big bold letters. I was fuming and slammed the mirror down in front of Kairi. I buried my head in my arms and barely spoke or looked up the entire class.
After somehow managing to survive the day, I stomped back into my room. I saw Axel sitting on his bed, texting someone on his phone. Axel looked up when I walked in and entered. He saw my unhappy expression and laughed a little.
"Do you like my masterpiece?" he asked me. I walked up to Axel. I stared into his eyes for a few seconds before quickly slapping him across the face as hard as I could. His cheek turned bright red and I could make out my hand print.
"No I fucking don't! You're an even bigger asshole than I thought you were, Axel! For doing this, I'm going to ruin your life just like you ruined mine," I hissed. Axel stared at me with wide eyes, obviously surprised. He caressed his cheek gingerly.
"H-how?" he asked. I gave his shoulder a squeeze in mock friendliness.
"Oh, Axel, did you forget? You told me your big secret while we were in high school. I definitely didn't forget about it, and I'm sure your friends in the Organization would LOVE know about it," I said sweetly. Axel's jaw dropped.
"You wouldn't," he said lamely. I shook my head.
"No, I wouldn't tell. But you definitely would with enough...'motivation,'" I said. Axel looked at me curiously.
"What do you mean?" he asked. I shrugged.
"Oh, you'll find out later. Right now I have to go wash this off my face and then go hang out with Ven. I'll talk to you later though," I said while walking out of the door.
I smiled. This felt better than I thought it would.
Yes, yes, yes, chapter 2 has finally been done. Sorry for the wait, I was feeling bleh.
I hope you like this chapter, it's much better than the first in my opinion.
If you are a new reader, what do you think Axel's secret is? How do you think Roxas will 'motivate' Axel?
For old readers, how do you like the rewrite?
ALSO, IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT BEFORE AXEL LEFT, YOU CAN READ WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ONE SHOT "BEST FRIENDS" (its a oneshot prequel)