Chapter 2

The Same

"At the center of the earth

In the parking lot

Of the 7-Eleven where I was taught

The motto was just a lie

It says home is where your heart is

But what a shame

Cause everyone's heart

Doesn't beat the same

It's beating out of time."

I stood up and stretched, feeling several areas in my back crack, wanting much needed release. After 12 straight hours of driving, everything was feeling pretty tight and sore. I looked over at Demyx, who was loudly complaining about the cramp in his leg from pressing on the gas for so long.

"Man…hey, Roxas, I'm gonna go check into our hotel, okay? Mind running across the street and getting some snacks?"

"Sure thing."

I wandered slowly over to the crosswalk, trying to regain control over my sore muscles. Sitting for so long was surprisingly difficult. My legs fell asleep and my butt even went numb, which Demyx couldn't stop laughing at for like 15 minutes.

After waiting forever for the crossing light to tell me it was safe to go, I walked across the street to one of the many nearby convenience stores. I had no idea what Demyx wanted, so I grabbed basically every junky thing I could find. The guy ate like a pig, honestly. I snagged a couple of sodas and some gum, and checked out.

I lugged my 5 bags of crap out into the parking lot, when suddenly I was shoved to the ground. Everything spilled out everywhere, and I was not very happy to say the least. I glared up at whoever knocked me over, seeing some gothed-out chick standing over a punk dude. She had clearly pushed him down, and he must've gotten shoved into me.

I was going to say something, but the guy suddenly punched her in the face. I just kind of stared as she cussed him out and tried to scratch at him with her claw-like nails. He easily pushed her away and she fell on her ass. Seemingly done with trying whatever it was she was trying, she got up and stormed off, throwing insults behind her until she was out of earshot.

The punk guy turned to me, holding out a hand. "Sorry about that bitch."

I looked up at him, really noticing him for the first time. The first thing that I saw was acidic green eyes, outlined in charcoal black eyeliner. There was no way those could be real. Then again, people thought the same thing about my eyes. He had purplish tattoos underneath them, resembling teardrops in a weird way. His hair was insane, long, spiked back, and flaming red. It almost looked like his whole head was on fire.

"Hello? Earth to blondie?"

After realizing I'd been staring, my cheeks flushed a bit. I took his hand, brushing off my jeans as I stood up.

"It's fine…what was that all about?"

"Bitch is fucking insane," he said with a sigh. "She thinks we're dating or some shit. Clearly doesn't know what a hookup is."

"I…see."

This guy is…kind of a jerk… I thought.

"Anyway, you okay?" he asked, looking me over. "She pushed me pretty hard, and you're a fragile little thing."

I frowned. "I'm just fine, thank you. My stuff, though…"

I looked down at the snacks, sprawled out across the parking lot and most of the bags open. I sighed, knowing I'd have to rebuy quite a few things. I started gathering up the salvageable items reluctantly.

"She just fucks everything up, huh?" The guy shook his head. "No sweat, here."

He handed me a couple of bills, reimbursing me a bit.

"You don't need to do that…"

"It's fine. You don't look like you're from this shithole, so I don't want to ruin your day with stupid shit you don't need to care about."

Without another word he started walking away. I was almost upset to see him leave, even though I didn't know the guy and he was pretty weird even just from that small interaction. Pushing it out of my thoughts, I went back inside the store and rebought all the snacks, heading back to the hotel where an impatient Demyx was waiting inside the lobby.

"Dude, what took so long?"

"Sorry. Some girl knocked me over and ruined the stuff I bought originally," I explained.

"Seriously? Man, that sucks."

I shrugged. "It's whatever. Are we all checked in?"

"Yep!"

"Awesome, let's just go up to our room for now. I need a nap."

I stared at the blond kid from my hiding spot behind the dumpster. He was a little too clean-cut for my tastes, but he was still cute. He'd probably look even better with some piercings and a tattoo or something. But the way he looked all innocent was honestly way too refreshing.

Who knew that bitch would help me meet someone worthwhile? I thought.

Then again, it's not like I'd see him ever again, so I don't know why I'd think about that. Well, maybe I'd be able to have some fun with him before he left.

"Yeah right," I muttered.

I watched as the kid walked up to another blond dude. I figured they were probably just friends, but…I don't know too many guys who are just friends who come up to San Francisco together.

The blare of my obnoxiously loud ringtone startled me from my spying. Fuck, I forgot to put it on vibrate again. Angrily, I picked it up and yelled into the receiver.

"What?!"

"Damn, Ax, chill. The fuck's got you so uptight?"

That voice. I sighed.

"What do you want, Marluxia?"

"Can't a friend just call to see how you are?" Marluxia asked, feigning hurt.

"We're not friends."

"Harsh, Ax."

Well, it wasn't a lie. Marluxia and I knew each other since we were kids, but even back then we weren't all buddy-buddy. We bullied each other for years before finally forming some sort of rough truce in junior high. Since then, we've just kind of…known each other, more or less. A lot of the time, we'd end up at each other's houses after a party and just sober up together or sometimes hook up.

Basically, I had no idea what our relationship was. Not friends, not lovers, not even friends with benefits really. Probably just two victims of society: fucked-up kids.

"Anyway, I wanted to hang out."

…Well this was new.

"Hang out, huh? Since when was that something we did?"

"Since never, but let's fucking do it. Come on, you've gotta be bored out of your mind. At least come over to my place so I'm not smoking alone."

I snorted. "Really? What are you, 15?"

"I'm 20 and having fun with my life, that's what I am. Are you coming or not?"

"Ugh, fine. Just so your ass doesn't get paranoid and crawl through my window again."

"One fucking time! Just get your ass here!"

Click.

I sighed and stuffed my phone into my back pocket. I really didn't feel like getting high with Marluxia again, but whatever.

What about with the cute kid? something in the back of my head thought.

I shook the idea from my mind and went to keep the pothead happy.

Marluxia's room has always been a fucking disaster. I mean, mine was too, but shit.

What little of the floor was visible was completely covered in stains. Most of the floor was covered up with clothes, dirty and clean, and half-full takeout containers. It was a miracle that the damn place wasn't infested with ants and roaches. All the surfaces were cluttered with papers and pencils, gardening supplies, or actual plants. Most notably about 3 pot plants. The guy was obsessed with the shit.

Marluxia himself was sprawled out across his bed, a joint held loosely in his hand that hung off the bed lazily. He stared up at the ceiling with a look of blank contentment. He'd probably only just started smoking. I sat next to him and he looked over with a nonchalant grin.

"Hey, 'sup?"

"Don't act like you don't know, moron."

He held his joint out to me. "Wanna hit?"

I sighed and unenthusiastically accepted, knowing I'd probably get a little high off the damn smoke anyway. I didn't really do drugs that much, but when I did it was usually with Marluxia. He made it somewhat interesting to be high, at least.

I took a drag, feeling the smoke fill up my lungs. Different from nicotine, but cancerous all the same.

"So, how you been?" Marluxia asked, watching me.

"Pretty shit, as expected." I handed over the joint as I exhaled. "You?"

"Bored. Things are more interesting with you around."

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

He shrugged, taking another puff. "Your idiocy entertains me."

I laughed without mirth. "At least we have the same reason for hanging out together."

"Rude."

This is how we always were. It was bizarre, in the easiest definition. We acted like what others perceived as "best friends". But we were far from that. Who even knows? Maybe we both hated each other. Maybe Marluxia secretly actually cared for me. Who knows?

I closed my eyes and let the smoke in my lungs and the surrounding air seep into my system, feeling myself slowly relax and care less. Marluxia's eyes burned into my skin as I felt him stare at my face.

"Something on my face?" I asked without opening my eyes.

He chuckled. "Nope. You just have a good expression."

"The fuck?"

"Can I sketch you?"

Right, I forgot he drew. I thought he was all about planting pot. I shrugged.

"Knock yourself out."

I felt the bed shift as he rustled around with something before settling back down and flipping through what I assumed was his sketchbook. The scratch of pencil on paper told me he had begun.

This wasn't the first time he'd asked to sketch me. I figured it was just kind of an artist thing to do. Photographers always took pictures, writers always jotted down notes, and artists always drew. Or at least I figured.

"Your jaw is fucking fantastic," Marluxia murmured as he drew.

"Uh, thanks? The hell kinda compliment is that?"

"The best. You've got the kind of face that's fun to draw."

"Well, thanks, I guess."

I lay there for a while, subconsciously taking a hit every now and then, until Marluxia finally said he was finished. I turned and looked at him.

"Can I see?"

He nodded and handed the sketchbook over. It was surprisingly detailed and life-like. That art school he went to really did seem to pay off.

"It's good," I mumbled. "It always is though."

I gave it back to the very pleased-looking artist. "It's only good because you have a nice face."

"Again with that. Just shut up already."

"Whatever." He shrugged. "Dunno about you, but I'm starved. Wanna eat?"

"Damn right."

He left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more.

I awoke to the buzzing noise of television static. Opening my bleary, sleep-filled eyes, I tried to focus on where the sound was coming from. After a few seconds, I was able to recognize Demyx sitting with his face up against the T.V., stuffing his face full of chips. Real classy.

I pushed myself up and gave the back of his head an unamused look. "Dem."

He looked back at me and grinned. "Hey, you're up."

"Thanks to you," I sighed.

"Hey, so, interesting news," Demyx announced, ignoring my complaints. "I noticed when we were walking inside here that there was some flamehead staring at you. You talked to him, yeah?"

I stared at him, trying to determine how I felt about that. On the one hand, why the hell was he staring at me? The creep. On the other…

"What about him?"

"I went downstairs and asked around. Apparently he's got quite the reputation."

I frowned a bit. "Okay. So why do I care?"

"Because I found out that an old high school friend of mine that goes to school here is an acquaintance of his. And this friend just so happens to know where he is right now. Thought you might be curious."

"That's a lot more than casual curiosity, Dem. Why the hell are you stalking him?"

"So you don't think he's cute?"

I gave him an incredulous look. "I'm straight."

"And I'm a fairy princess."

We've been through this a thousand times…I thought.

Demyx had been insisting I was gay, or at least bicurious, since middle school. No matter how much I insisted I wasn't, he always just called me "closeted" and too scared to be myself. Not that I'd really be so opposed to it if I really was, but…I'd genuinely never felt attracted toward the same sex. Or either sex for that matter. Really I kinda found myself to be more asexual than anything else.

"Well, I'm not attracted to him," I started. "But I wouldn't mind learning more about him I suppose."

Demyx grinned. "So you wanna see him?"

"I mean…I wouldn't hate it."

And so Demyx sent me off to find some "Zexy" who lived down the street or whatever. I honestly had no idea where I was going, and just stumbled along through the sunset-lit streets, taking everything in but at the same time remaining blind to everything that was happening around me.