How I Paid for College
Summary: All Demyx wanted was to go to Juilliard. But when his father refuses to pay the tuition, Demyx finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of minimum wage, fraud, and thievery. On top of that, he has to come to terms with the fact that he may be in love with his best friend, Zexion. This is going to be one interesting summer.
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to SquareEnix. Inspiration from Marc Acito, who wrote the book by the same title. If I owned any of it legally, you'd have to pay me to read it. And I could make a living off of it. And I wouldn't have to work summers making pizza. Not that I hate making pizza. It's just not as fun as playing with the KH cast.
Dedication: For all of us out there who constantly insist that we don't need help, so fuck off. For all of us who've tried to help someone like that. For all of us who admit – reluctantly – that we need help, please? And especially for Dualism – who rocks out loud and on ice for always and is my best and favorite reviewer, Strychnine Laces - who is having my children: little Axel, Zorro and Cheza, and for TBPK, who likes the POV switching and, like me, can so totally see Demyx as Ariel, which isn't wrong at all. I think he'd be flattered. Really.
And for Koki-chan, of course, who went crazy with the genetics. Thanks, fool.
Opening Notes: Yes, I will constantly be switching POV, but it shouldn't be that hard to figure out who's talking. I'll always open with Demyx, though, as he's the main character. I have discovered that people – you, the readers – like long chapters. Since it is quite difficult for me to do that, I decided that if I use more POVs, then the chapters will indeed be longer. So in this chapter I introduce Axel's POV.
Started: November 22, 2006
Finished: November 26, 2006
Part Two: Eye
Every Tuesday, my father took me out to dinner. I began to call these "business meetings" after a while, as this was when I got lectured on the finer points of "the business". In all honesty, my father could have been ranting about pineapple thongs for all I paid attention. Sure, I'd told him once or twice that I really wasn't interested in running a water supply company, even though I did agree that providing clean water to people was an important priority. I'm going to Juilliard to become an actor. I'll perform on Broadway. And eventually I'll direct some. My father seemed to think acting was a "hobby". Like golf was for him. I often wondered why my mom left me with him. But then I think about it, and I know it's because she wanted me to have a good education. And I resolve to tolerate these Tuesday dinners.
"And that," he finished, "Is what Proxy Representation is all about." He smiled proudly at me as though he'd just revealed the meaning of life.
To avoid having to put in my opinion, I grabbed a dinner roll and wolfed it down, then worked at my pasta.
"Next Friday is your play, right?" he asked.
"Next Friday," I assented, surprised that he was going to change the conversation.
"I'm bringing a lady friend of mine. She wants to meet you."
A lady friend?
"That's nice. Mom said she might be coming."
"Isn't she in Mexico?"
"Paraguay," I corrected. "But she said she'll going to New York soon, so she'll probably stop by to watch me Saturday night."
"And this is a Shakespeare play, right?"
"The Tempest. Yeah, it's Shakespeare."
"Good. Clarisse likes him."
Clarisse, eh? "Did I tell you that the director is letting me use my sitar for Ariel's song?"
"I want it to be light blue."
Cid pulled a shirt down from the shelf and set it in front of me. I ran my fingers over it. Cotton. Perfect. I nodded, and Cid whisked it away. A moment later I heard the computer humming and the printing machine going. Cid was an old friend of mine who ran this place called Ultima Impressions, a shop that custom made stuff. I came almost every week to have a new T-shirt made. I told Sora what I wanted, and he drew it out for me, fixed it on our computer, and printed it out for me to take to Cid, who scanned it into his machines and printed it out onto a shirt for me.
"So what's new?" the old man asked.
"Principal Xemnas and my mom have decided I need to be supervised during school hours, so some new kid's going to be babysitting me for the rest of the school year."
"Ouch."
"Yeah. But if they think I'm going to let this kid lead me around by the hand, feed me my lunch, and watch me while I pee, they've got another thing coming."
"Be careful, Roxas."
"Aren't I always?"
I heard the sound of my new shirt being wrapped up in tissue paper and carefully pulled the right bills out of my wallet. I'd made this shirt special for tomorrow.
Helping Roxas get dressed in the morning was my job. Oh, he could dress himself. Mainly I was just there to make sure he chose the right clothes.
"I want to wear darker pants today. And my new shirt. And my sushi-patterned socks."
I arranged the items on his bed and went to turn on the radio for him, making a mental note to help him clean his desk later. It was a mess. I trailed my fingers across the Braille pages.
Wait.
I ran my fingers over the bumps again. Fortunately, my mom insisted I learn to read Braille, too. I wasn't as fast as Roxas was, but I managed.
C-A-N-T-I-C-L-E my fingers read. Canticle. O-F-T-H-E-R-A-I-N. Canticle of the Rain. I ran my fingers over it again a few more times. It was a poem.
Canticle of the Rain
Like tin soldiers march
To war, to war.
The rhythm in my head,
On the roof.
These tears of God,
Drip from the diamonds
In the sky
The stars shine.
"I didn't know you wrote poetry, Roxas."
He paused, pulling on a sock.
"Tell anyone and you're dead."
"Of course." I smiled. "It's really good."
"It's just a bunch of free verse..." He pulled on his new shirt, and I smiled. It was light blue, with the words "Is that my cane stuck up your ass?" written in bold black letters with a doodle of his cane.
"Do you want me to come with you?" I asked.
"If you want..."
"Of course. I'll describe him to you."
"Thanks, Sora."
I stepped forward and hugged him gently, briefly.
"That's what big brothers are for, Roxas."
He smiled. "One last thing, though. Can you get me my sunglasses?"
"He said he's bringing a lady friend."
Zexion gave me a curious look, urging me to continue.
"I'm happy for him, I guess. He hasn't dated much since he and mom split up. But at the same time..."
"Dem. Your parents aren't getting back together. There's nothing wrong with them moving on."
I nodded. Sure, Zexion didn't talk much, but when he did, he always knew the right thing to say.
"I can't wait to meet Clarisse," Larxene cuts in, sliding between me and Zexion.
"What if she becomes our stepmother?" I ask, giving her a skeptical look.
Perhaps I neglected to mention this, but Larxene happens to be my sister from my dad's first marriage. So when I say she's just a little too pushy sometimes, I say it from experience. Larxene was the one who broke my toy piano when I was five because I wouldn't stop playing when she asked (read: demanded) that I stop because I was giving her a headache. She's just jealous of my musical talent because the only thing she ever learned how to play was "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and after the first three times, mom and dad decided that she was tone deaf and either needed voice lessons or a new hobby.
So Larxene took up soccer. And if you ask me, adding a competitive element to her overpowering nature wasn't exactly a good move. But hey, she's good at it, and she even has a few scholarships lined up.
"Maybe it's time dad married again," she replied with a shrug, then proceeded to take up all of Zexion's attention. I try not to think it's because she knows it annoys me, but Larxene can never do anything innocently. And Roxas tells me that she often rants about how I always hog Zexion during school hours. But hey, how can I not? Ever since they started dating I rarely see Zexion outside of school. Zexion avoided the subject altogether. Not that it was hard for him. I think I've mentioned before that he doesn't talk much?
"Hey, Zexion!" I said suddenly, successfully filling the silence just as Larxene leaned in to kiss him, "You promised to help paint the backdrop today, remember?"
He nodded and gave Larxene a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Yeah, I did."
A dark look crossed my half sister's face. "I'll help, too," she said.
Shit. There was no way I could turn her down. But that meant no alone time with Zexion.
"Don't you have to talk to your coach, My Lark?" Zexion asked. She deflated. That pet name always got her. And he was right.
"You're taking me out after school, right?" He nodded. She smiled and was gone. Inwardly, I celebrated.
I had Zexion all to myself for lunch. We managed to finish painting the island backdrop and I ranted some more about my dad and his new girlfriend who I hadn't even met yet, and then I performed Ariel's song with my sitar. My mom had called the night before to confirm that she would come to my performance, and I told her about dad's "lady friend".
"Oh, hon, I already know," she'd said.
"And you're not mad?" I asked.
"Of course not. Your father has his own life now."
We talked for a long time after that, and before she hung up she admitted she was a little surprised, too. But that she and I could be there to provide moral support for each other. Like always.
"Just don't let it get in the way of your performance," Zexion advised as we parted to go to class once lunch was over.
"I'm going to burn all of your underwear."
Reno chose to ignore me as usual. I was a shameless attention addict and he knew it.
"Axel," he began in that I-know-I'm-not-dad-but-just-pretend-you-respect-me voice. "I'm really proud of you for passing your remedial classes and getting yourself back into a regular high school. I know you've improved a lot since..." he trailed off, not wanting to say it. Go ahead, Reno. I've improved a lot since you managed to pull me away from Xigbar and the others. "You've improved a lot and I'm proud of you. But you still have a ways to go, and that's why I volunteered you for this."
Reno was my older brother and while our parents were traveling the world, he was also my guardian. In two weeks I'd be eighteen, but I was still going to have to listen to him until I graduated. So there was no way out of this whole babysitting the blind kid thing. I was not happy. But I guess it could be worse.
The high school was nice, at least. Big and new. Not like the crap center I'd been attending for the past two years for my remedial classes and counseling. I had my own locker, Reno gave me ten dollars for lunch, and the place was teeming with cute girls and guys.
Reno walked with me to the office to get my schedule and to meet the principal and Roxas, the kid I was going to be looking after.
"Basically they just expect you to keep an eye on him, make sure he isn't doing anything that could cause him – or anyone around him – harm," Reno said as we waited for them.
Principal Xemnas entered first and shook Reno's hand, thanking him and me for helping them with Roxas.
"I think he just craves attention," Xemnas explained. "I've been told it's quite normal in children with disabilities, but Roxas needs to understand that some things he does can have dire consequences. He can't see the damage he's doing, so he can't possibly understand. We just need you to keep an eye on him, Axel. Don't let him do anything that could put anyone in danger. Especially him."
I nodded. "Sure. I'll do my best to uh... be a responsible presence for him."
"I guess it's time you met him, then. You'll have all the same classes, of course." The principal pushed a button on the machine on his desk.
"Rikku, you can let Roxas and Sora in now."
He turned to me. "Sora is Roxas's twin brother. If they were in the same grade – Roxas was skipped ahead a year – Sora would take care of him. But if you ever need help with Roxas you can just find him."
Two boys entered the office, but they were very obviously fraternal twins, since they had a slightly different build and different hair. Roxas – I knew it was him because he wore dark glasses and carried a red tipped white cane – had a head of dark blond hair that swept up and stuck out at a weird angle. Sora's hair was a crazy mane of chocolate. Sora was also a little softer in the face, whereas Roxas was all chiseled angles. Sora walked with an air of caution, but Roxas walked and held himself brazenly. Ironic since he couldn't exactly see where he was going without help.
I read his shirt and smirked. So, an attitude, huh?
"What does he look like, Sora?" Roxas asked. I shot the seeing twin a look that said I'll pay you twenty bucks if you tell him I look like Orlando Bloom. Sora shrugged and smiled.
"He's taller than you, and he's kind of skinny..." I glared. "And his hair is crazy like mine, only it's bright red, and his eyes are green. The green that used to be your favorite color..."
Roxas seems pleased with the description because he puts his hand on Sora's shoulder and nods.
"It's nice to meet you, Axel," he says, turning slightly and sticking out his hand. To my credit, I don't laugh. He's facing about three feet to my left.
"Likewise."
"Oh!" he seems to realize his mistake and sticks out his cane to find me, only to smack me hard on the arm. I might be jumping to conclusions, but I think I see him smirk a little bit at my yelp of pain. "Sorry."
"No problem."
"We should get to class, then," Sora says. "I'll walk you two there."
"I'll pick you up after school, Axel," Reno reminds me as we head out.
"We have English first," Roxas says.
"I hate English..." I muttered.
"It's Roxas's best subject," Sora added, earning him an elbow from his twin. Sora just grinned and laughed.
"I'll catch up to you guys at lunch," Sora said once we'd reached our classroom. "I've got to go to my art class." And he was gone, too.
Roxas entered the classroom and started swinging his cane around, looking for an empty seat. Noting that he was about to give a few of our classmates bruises, I grabbed his wrist.
"I'll find you a seat."
"Hey, Roxas, is that your boyfriend?" a girl with sleek blonde hair teased.
"Cork it, Larxene," Roxas said, but he was smiling.
She stood up and walked over. "I'm Larxene. Roxas's friend."
"Nice to meet you." I smiled and took her hand, kissing the back of it.
Roxas snorted.
"She has a boyfriend."
"I don't doubt it," I replied, only slightly fazed. Larxene had a petite athletic figure, and her smile reminded me of a nymph. Not my type. But she could be a friend for sure.
"I should introduce you to Zexion and Demyx," Larxene said. "You're joining us for lunch, right?"
"Sure."
She returned to her seat and winked.
"Here, Roxas," I said. "There's an empty desk to your right there."
"Yeah..." he tapped around and found it, then sat down, pulling out a tape recorder and a notebook.
"So..." he said, turning to face me, mostly. "Sora said you have hair like his, messy and all over the place. And it's red." He smirked. "So basically you look like a clown."
I glared, then remembered he couldn't see.
"Please. Clowns wish they could pull the look off as I do. It works on me."
"Right."
He stuck out a hand, and it hovered a mere inch from my nose. "May I?"
I blinked. What? Oh.
"Uh... I guess. Sure."
Fingers traced lightly over my features and I tried to keep from enjoying it. This was just his way of seeing. Too soon he pulled his hand back.
"Well?"
"What?" he tilted his head. "I was just trying to get a better image of you in my mind."
"He's hot, Roxas," Larxene piped up, and I smiled at her. Oh yes. Definitely a friend. Several people in the class laughed at the comment, and then Roxas took off his dark glasses.
It was like feeling pain for the first time. His eyes were so beautiful and I was suddenly overwhelmed at the thought that they can't see anything. It's like looking up at clear blue sky on a cold January day. So bright and piercing. Unblinking like the blind eyes of love and justice.
Okay. That sounded way too much like Sailor Moon for my liking.
"Hey, Axel?"
"Yeah?" I said once my breathing was back to normal.
"What does the board say?"
I blinked. What?
"Professor Yensid puts up a writing prompt on the board each day for us to write about before class starts."
Oh.
"It says: Describe your favorite thing. Use sensory imagery and make it poetic and figurative."
Roxas smiled and started working. I knew what I was going to write about without having to think about it.
- The Writer
Ending Notes: The other reason I don't write long chapters is because I want to write them and post them in the same day. I simply don't have time to write out 3000+ words in one sitting. So that's why I took a few days longer to update this. That and our wonderful ff(dot)net was having alert issues. But they have been fixed!
Remember, the key to happiness if chocolate and reviews! So. You supply me with the reviews and I will supply myself with the chocolate.