Chapter 2 ice caps, video games and cigarettes

I don't own the chapter title from whatever song we decide on, nor do I own World of Warcraft from last chapter. Neither do I own Baskin & Robin's nor Kingdom Hearts nor whatever game they play at Axel's place xD

Not much more happened during the lunch period aside from Roxas getting a deeper look into the crazies who had entrenched themselves into his life against his (somewhat resisting) will.

He learned that what Sora had told him about each of them was pretty much the truth. Zexion read through a majority of the period, though if someone spoke of something he was interested in, he replied without hesitation, and usually without pause. It was as if he chose not to speak, but once you got him started, he didn't stop until he'd said what he wanted to say.

Axel was Axel and Demyx was Demyx. There were no real words to describe those two. They were who they were and they dared anybody to question that. Although, Roxas found it was a bit easier to get along with Demyx, since Axel seemed somewhat bipolar.

Hayner ranted and raved about the fight he'd gotten in before lunch, pounding his fists into the table and shouting for all to hear that he wasn't a coward, that he could've taken the guy blind-folded with an arm tied behind his back. It got annoying fast, but since everyone else ignored him, Roxas decided to follow their example.

Fuu was the only one he couldn't quite figure out. She remained silent, staring at her food instead of eating it. Every time Roxas tried to strike up a conversation with her, she'd send him a death glare that immediately had him snapping his mouth shut for fear of facing her terrifying wrath.

Sora was the one who kept the conversations rolling, changing the subject whenever he thought it was getting too touchy for someone and being a bright, smiling ray of sunshine. Pence sat next to him, nodding in agreeance to whatever Sora spoke of, an absent smile on his face as he typed, eyes forever trained on the screen of his laptop.

Aside from the constant insults they threw randomly at each other, they seemed pretty stable people. Well, by high school standards they were stable. And Roxas decided that he had found a decent group he could truly call friends…once he got to know them all a little better of course.

-Zexion's POV-

First day of school, and already I was more than ready for the year to be over.

It wasn't for any real particular reason other than the cess pool of prepubescent angst and insecurity came to be a bore quite fast, and, after all, no matter what kind of cess pool it was, you did not wallow in one for long before you became a permanent part of it.

The halls were cramped and loud, as usual, and looking around at them all, running about like headless chickens, only they spoke, I couldn't help but be reminded of cattle. The student body I mean. The bell rang and they herded themselves into one pen after another, disguised cleverly as classrooms, it rang again and they immediately did the same thing as before. Occasionally they were let out to pasture, more commonly known as lunch period, and that was when things got a bit out of hand. Then the ball rang and they were back to being senseless cattle. Even after school was let out, most of them did the same thing every day.

And in the end, they all came back here to do the same thing, yet again, for nine months.

It was rather sad, though I couldn't really say that much about it…after all, I was part of the herd myself.

And it was with this thought that I sat in my Psychology class with a tired sigh.

"Oh, you're in this class too?"

I glanced up, flicking my hair out of my face briefly to get a closer look at who had spoken, although I already knew exactly who it was. The new kid: Roxas. He stood next to my desk, shuffling his feet, looking uncertain.

"Yes." I answered, pulling out my textbook. I flipped open to the preface, beginning to read. I wasn't trying to be mean; I just saw no further need to speak to the blond.

More people filed in, milling about with friends and grouping desks together, the din of voices growing in volume. Roxas finally stopped fidgeting next to my desk and sat in front of me, choosing to restlessly shift around there instead. I sighed again, quietly so as not to alert any of those around me. The day was only half over, and I was beat.

Fuu came in and took the desk next to mine. I gave her a small smile, since she was one of my best friends. She nodded modestly at me, not saying a word, but taking out her materials much like I had already done. She wasn't much for talking, like me, which I suppose was why we became good friends as quickly as we did. We'd only known each other since middle school, but it felt like a lot longer than that sometimes. We just got along so easily, and it was actually a relief to know she was in this class with me, though I briefly wondered why I was worried that she wouldn't be.

Another thing we had in common was our drive for knowledge. Fuu had an astute mind, which also made us easy companions, since I had met few people who shared that with me. It was awkward to be surrounded by those who were on a more average level, who resented you for your intelligence when it wasn't really yours by choice. Fuu understood that.

Roxas turned in his chair to face me, blue eyes half-closed and clouded with worry. "Is this class hard? I've never taken anything like this before…psychology…just the name is a bit off-putting, dontcha think?"

I made disagreeing sound, not looking up from my text. The teacher was a bit late…or maybe I had just been early…I just wish that class would start. The sooner it was started, the sooner it would be over. One step closer to going home. Anything to get away from school, even if it meant being forced away from the quiet sanctuary of my room to "hang out" with Axel and the others.

"Um…okay…well…"

Raising an eyebrow, I brought my eyes up to his face, waiting for Roxas to finish whatever it was he wanted to say.

Roxas had his mouth open, but before any more broken words could stream through that orifice, the teacher slammed the door, bringing everybody to rigid attention. They all, including me, stared at the man who was to teach us the art of psychology. He was average height, if a bit burly, looked about the age of thirty, and had long, dark hair that was separated into braided locks, made stranger by the large, rather ugly sideburns that nearly reached his chin. His eyes were a strange violet color that slashed through any and all who chose to meet them, though he didn't come across as cruel, just…powerful.

When all was silent, he straightened, folding his arms behind his back. The actions pulled open his suit jacket, exposing his broad chest clothed in a crisp white shirt. "Now," he began, walking towards the desk at the head of the class. "Would anyone care to tell me why I did that?" He ceased moving once he reached his desk. When nobody raised their hand or spoke, he slammed both hands, palms down on the desktop, making us all jump again. "No? Very well then, you're off the hook since it's the first day."

I actually found myself intimidated by this teacher. He was authorative, and let nothing stand in the way of exerting that authority. I reminded myself to take careful notes and not fall behind in my work for this class. With a teacher like him, I wasn't about to take any chances.

A quick look to Fuu told me that she agreed with my thinking. The stiff way she sat at attention and kept her eyes on the large man at the head of the class left no doubt in my mind that she'd come to the same conclusion as I. Another reason why we were friends. We thought alike.

"I am Mr. Xaldin. And I expect respect from you all." The teacher went on. Everyone, again myself included, nodded at his words, remaining silent.

Poor Roxas looks like he's scared, I thought, watching the way the other teen trembled in his chair, sinking lower and lower, as if to hide from those piercing eyes that kept sweeping through the room. I found I wasn't quite as intimidated as before. This was psychology class, so how fitting was it that the teacher played mind games? I was fairly good at them myself. I grinned down at my hands, folded on my desk.

I was going to enjoy this class.

-Fuu's POV-

Our psychology teacher was clearly fit to teach our class…meaning he was psycho.

I shook my head slightly, ignoring the strange looks and words exchanged by those around me, as usual. The first day had been its typical hell, and I resented the fact that I had to come back to this awful place.

The preps were just as preppy, if not more so than ever, and were still giving me those high-handed looks. Staring down their noses at the creepy, quiet, smart girl. Gah, but those people bothered me. It was like; they couldn't possibly hate themselves enough, so they had to spread that repressed insignificance around. Sharing the love and all that.

My friends weren't much of a change either…

Axel was still a bipolar freak, who still smoked. Sora was still the easily manipulated nice-guy, Hayner was still the brainless hothead he'd always been, the new kid, Roxas, wasn't any better than the rest of them…always trying to break awkward silences, only to create them. It had taken all I had to not just snap right then and there and choke him at lunch when he kept trying to engage me in conversation. When I had something worth saying, or someone worth speaking to, I'd speak damn it!

And Demyx…oooh, Demyx got on my nerves the most! He was just…so happy…all the time…well, okay, so not all the time. But he was overly optimistic. It grated on me sometimes, I suppose. And I hated how easily he got along with everyone. How easily he made friends. I'd never been like that. Always the quiet one, sitting in her little corner with her books and her useless knowledge of things nobody cared about.

At least, I had been until Zexion had come along…

I glanced over at him again. The soft smile he'd given me in greeting when I'd walked into class had made my heart flutter and my stomach clench. He didn't smile often, and I'd only ever known him to smile at me. Oh, that smile, it made me want to blush and giggle, which isn't a normal reaction for me. Far from it.

There was just something about him. His quiet demeanour, his cool, calm, one could almost say calculating, way he dealt with everything, from teachers and school work, to the other students. He had confidence, though he kept it subtle. And he was modest, kind…I caught myself about to sigh. I blinked several times, shaking my head a bit. Had I just been day-dreaming?

Mr. Xaldin slapped his ruler against the board as he lectured, catching me by surprise. I jumped, my elbow knocking my pencil to the floor with a clatter. "Gah…" I leaned over to retrieve it…just as Zexion did the same.

Our hands touched as we reached for my pencil at the same time. I swallowed nervously, feeling my face grow warm as our eyes met across the small space between our desks. He chuckled lightly, removing his hand, much to my dismay. I tried to cover my reaction by snatching my pencil off the floor and sitting upright. I ducked my head, trying to hide my face behind my hair and still see the teacher.

Not long after, the bell rang, and everyone stood, quickly filing out of the room. Roxas jumped to his feet and kept trying to talk to Zexion. Zexion nodded and gave curt, one word replies, gathering his things and heading for the door. I hurriedly stuffed my papers into my bag, rushing to follow.

We entered the chaotic hallway, parting ways with Roxas. Though he said goodbye and Zexion reciprocated, I chose not to speak. I was still on the fence with my opinion of the new kid, so he was just going to have to put up with my cold attitude for now.

I mentally cursed as I was mercilessly bumped and jostled by the crush of bodies in the narrow halls. I reached a hand forward, blindly trying to find my way through, when a warm hand enveloped mine, gently tugging me along. Once I realized who'd saved me from being trampled, my face grew hot again and I glanced away. Zexion…

"Will you be alright by yourself now?" he asked, giving me a mildly concerned look that made my mouth go dry.

"Yeah…thanks." I muttered quietly, spinning away and all but running into my next class.

I found a desk in the back and settled in. Leaning back, I brought my hand up to my chest, tracing the backs of my fingers with my other hand, still feeling that odd tingling sensation I'd felt earlier, when our hands had accidentally touched, and then just now when…when he'd helped me.

The bell rang and a rush of students came into the room, taking up the remaining seats. None of them came within two desks of me on either side, but I didn't care. I was sort of off in my own little world at the moment as I came to a realization, much to my mixed dismay and delight.

My feelings for Zexion hadn't changed over the summer…they'd grown stronger.

-Yuffie's POV-

"Stupid paperwork…gah!" I slammed the stack of papers down on the desk, watching them slide over to the other side and fly to the floor with a grin. "Ha! Take that you stupid papers!"

I sat back with a satisfied sigh. First day of school hadn't been so bad. I was actually beginning to enjoy myself. Teaching was the best job ever! Although, I could do without all the damn paperwork!

The bell rang and I boredly glanced over at the clock mounted on the wall. "Hmm…it's like, time for me to teach a class…" I yawned widely. I was going to miss all those sleepy, lazy days of summer, I just knew it. Getting up early by choice was one thing, and I did it all the time. But getting up early because you had to…now that was a different story altogether.

"Wait a minute!" I jumped up from my chair, staring at the clock. "It's time for me to teach a class!"

I shot out the door of my office, darting down the halls to the gymnasium. Damn paperwork, making me lose track of the time! I sprinted around a corner and tripped, but my super ninja skills kept me on my feet and I made it to the gym only five minutes late.

Throwing the doors open I bounced over to the milling group of students gathered together, all of them wearing black shorts and gray t-shirts of various sizes and styles. "Yoo-hoo!" I called cheerfully, waving to get their attention. The unfamiliar faces, aka freshman, all gaped at me and my smile grew. I loved having that 'awe' factor. The looks on people's faces were just so goddamned priceless!

"Wow…" one of the guys gasped, pointing at me. I knew he was commenting on my awesomeness. I was wearing my favourite outfit, consisting of gray shorts with black suspenders, a small black top, and my sweet headband. The Great Ninja Yuffie will always dress to impress!

"I'm the Great Ninja Yuffie, for those of you new here, and I'll be your physical education teacher this year! We'll have fun, I promise!" I laughed, inviting those who still looked a little bit nervous to join in.

A blond boy nudged his redheaded companion and stepped forward. He winked and let out a long, leering whistle. "Hey baby," he growled playfully. "You're lookin' hot, this year," the redhead muffled chuckles with both hands pressed tightly over his mouth.

The others started laughing along and I plastered a smile on my face, feeling my eye twitch in annoyance. Ah, the troublesome ones…they were always the most irritating…and most fun to play with.

"Oh, Tidus, Wakka, my lovelies, I'm flattered…and as a reward for making my day, you both get to run three miles."

They gaped at me and I clapped my hands, making them and the other students jump in surprise. "Y-you're serious? They were just joking around," a dark-haired boy defended. I didn't recognize him, but I wasn't about to let that stop me.

"Well…when you put it that way…" –they all seemed to relax- "I guess you'll just have to run with them!" everybody started talking at once, arguing and complaining, but I was having none of it. "Oh come on! Don't be babies! RUN!"

They immediately began running around the gym at my order, cursing and whining the whole time. I giggled and stood to the side, cheering them all on.

Yes…teaching was, indeed, the greatest job of all time!

Not far from where the freshman ran laps a group of students hung out on a bleacher, watching the poor kids suffering Yuffie's wrath. A boy with long silver white hair grinned.

"I can't believe that they never learn. Every year it's the same thing" A girl with brown hair smiled. The smile was almost sickly sweet.

"I've heard that you did the same thing when you were a freshman, Riku." The silver-haired guy, Riku, quickly snapped his head against the brunette.

"Shut up Olette, I did not." A big, muscular dude spoke up.

"She's right, ya know!" Riku just rolled his eyes.

"Be quiet Rai! I believe you Riku." The wine-haired girl who had spoken rose and seated herself in Riku's lap, arms around his neck.

"Thanks, Kairi." She gave him a hug and winked over his shoulder towards a pale blond girl. Naminé just smiled towards her.

Maybe Kairi would finally be able to catch the two year older senior, Riku, on whom she had had her eyes on since they started.

Naminé were happy for her, but she couldn't help feeling a little alone. Kairi was, after all, her best friend, as well as the only one she really trusted. Well… Hopefully time would sort things out.

She decided to take a little walk, so she rose, told the others so and walked away.

The school campus was beautiful this time of the year, since she loved the fall with all of its lovely colors.

When she reached the running-tracks she heard running steps behind her and turned around. Rai came running in 150 mph or more.

"Hey! Naminé! Wait up, I'm right there!" she stood still, waiting for the older guy to catch up. She let him catch his breath before asking what he wanted. He stood up straight and gave her a charming smile.

"I just thought you might want some company, ya know…?" Naminé felt how warmth spread over her pale cheeks before she nodded.

"Sure, company is always nice." They started walking again, freshman after freshman swishing past them every few seconds on the track next to them, but they didn't mind. They laughed and talked and Naminé felt how easy Rai was to talk too. It almost felt like she could tell him anything, if she got the chance. Like he was one of those persons you just immediately click with.

To Naminé's great disappointment she realized that the freshmen started to get done with their class. Rai was the one to point this out.

"Maybe we should head back to the others, so they don't think I've kidnapped you and raped you behind a tree or something, ya know?" She giggled and nodded and they walked back towards the bleacher where the others sat.

Naminé skipped towards her friends and missed the thumb-up sign Rai gave to the wine haired girl who nodded almost un-noticeable and then lit up against her friend.

"Hey Nam, wanna come over to my place a while?" Naminé smiled against the wine haired girl before she nodded.

This just had to be her lucky day; she were back where she belonged with all her friends, they were as nice as always, one of the most popular guys at their school wanted to walk with her and they seemed to have a lot in common and they had fun together and now Kairi wanted her to come to her place. Life was sweet sometimes.

The two girls walked the way home, stopping by a Baskin & Robin's for some ice cream which they ate on a bench in a park not too far from the block Kairi lived on. Naminé took a spoonful of her Baseball nut ice cream with hot fudge and looked around in the park. Dog-owners and small families with kids were playing everywhere, some just sitting on a blanket it the warm sun. She smiled to herself; this was life.

Kairi looked at her.

"What are you smiling about?" Naminé just continued smiling, sun in her eyes.

"Life in general…" Kairi made a mysterious smile.

"Soo… You're not thinking about a certain dark haired guy..?" Naminé blushed.

"I don't know… He's really sweet… I think.. maybe… maybe I kinda like him. I don't know, but it felt like a flutter of thousands of small wings in my stomach when we walked around earlier." Kairi smiled towards her, now a real smile. Or at least it looked like it to Naminé.

"I think someone's inloooooove" She giggled and Naminé blushed even harder.

"Am not!" Kairi raised a well-plucked eyebrow at her pale friend.

"Oh Really..?" Naminé looked down at the cup of ice cream in her hands.

"Maybe a little…" Kairi made a girly shriek.

"I'm so happy for you!" Naminé played with the spoon before she took another spoonful of the heavenly treat. Kairi also took a spoonful of her own pale blue sea salt ice cream. Silence was lying awkward and thick, almost so thick you could take a knife and cut through it.

"I don't know if he feels the same…" Naminé mumbled finally. Kairi shook her head.

"Don't be ridiculous; of course he likes you! You're an awesome girl, and you're... Well, you're kinda cute and you're really sweet as a person." Naminé failed to see the hidden taunt and smiled against her friend.

"Thanks Kai…" The wine haired girl just smiled.

"That's what friends are for, right?" Naminé nodded and they went back to their ice creams. Silence regained, but this time it weren't as awkward and… silent as the last time. It was a more comforting silence, between friends, knowing that you don't always have to talk. A silent understanding between each other.

They finished their ice creams off, threw their cups in a nearby trash can and started to walk home again. Naminé was the one to break the new silence.

"How are things between you and Riku now?" Kairi grinned.

"I thought you'd never ask! Yup.. We're together now." Naminé smiled.

"I'm glad. You've wanted him a long time." The redheaded girl nodded.

"Yeah. And no one makes me wait. I always get want I want."

Back in the teacher's lounge in the school, Yuffie came in. She smiled towards the other teacher's sitting there before jumping down on a couch next to the English teacher, Tifa.

"It's always so much fun to get new students to torment!" She grinned. Marluxia, the home ec. teacher glanced over at her, rolling his eyes before returning to correcting summer home work essays. Xigbar, the art teacher also glanced up.

"What did you make them do this time? Clean your socks? Perhaps eat your socks?" Yuffie extended her tongue against him.

"Go shove it Patchy. I made them run laps, nothing bad."

"Oh really? And how far did you make them run?"

"3 miles?" Choked laughs were heard and Xigbar cleared his throat.

"Nothing bad then." The words screamed of sarcasm, but it passed Yuffie who just nodded and smiled.

"That's what I said."

Their discussion was interrupted by Mr. Xemnas, the school principal entering the room.

"We're going have a theme-week in two weeks. All the senior and junior students are to work about the ice capes melting and global warming. We're going to show them movies, have discussions and other things that have something about the subject to do so please make your lesson fitting of the theme. By the end of the week they're going to have written a paper about it in 5000 words. Thank you" He exited as fast as he'd shown up and the entire teacher body in there looked like they didn't know what hit them.

Saïx, the foreign language teacher looked confused.

"How the hell do you make foreign language fitting to teach about that?" Yuffie snapped.

"Oh show them a movie in French or talk about it in German! How do you make physical education fitting of that subject?" Tifa patted her back.

"There there Yuffie, you will work it out. And if you don't, just talk to Professor Xemnas about it and I'm sure he can work something out." Yuffie nodded, still looking crushed, but with somewhat more self-confidence.

Before they knew it she was standing, one foot on the floor, the other on the couch, a fist in the air.

"I'm the great ninja Yuffie! I will succeed! I will prevail! Even if it's the last thing I do!"

"There you go Axel." Aerith, the school nurse put a bandage around the redhead's hand, since he crushed it pretty bad when he finally snapped at Hayner's never stopping bragging, giving the blond a crushed nose to match the black eyes. Axel rose when she was done and bowed.

"Thank you Aerith." She just made a pretty smile and collected some papers while Axel left the room. Demyx flew up when he opened the door.

"How was it? Was it bad?" Axel smiled.

"Don't worry about it Demyx, it'll be okay. It was mostly Hayner's blood." Demyx nodded and they left the waiting room before walking around in the school, looking for their friends.

They found the majority of them by the entrance. Zexion was the first to speak up.

"We're waiting for Sora and Pence. Hayner went home." Roxas looked confounded.

"What are we gonna do exactly? I just thought we were gonna walk together." Axel face palmed.

"Sorry. Forgot to tell you ROXAS, we're heading to my place, like we always do to celebrate the back-to-school-thing." Roxas sighed but before he could make a comeback, Sora and Pence decided to show up.

"Hey guys. Are everybody ready?" A unison answering "yes" echoed through the corridors. Fuu just stood quiet behind Zexion and they headed out. On the schoolyard Axel stopped the moving group.

"Cigarette break." He fished the package out of a pocket and lit it. Demyx smiled towards him.

"Feeling generous?" Axel nodded and gave him the package and the lighter. Demyx lit one up as well and they started walking again. Zexion gave Demyx a sad look, making Demyx look guilty and he looked down on the cigarette, as if to figure out if it was worth it.

"I'm sorry." He mouthed towards the slate-haired younger teen who just shrugged his shoulders. Demyx hated making people sad, his conscience ate him up from the inside and for some reason he didn't understand it always made Zexion really sad when he smoked.

Fuu noticed all of this and felt like a thousand knifes cut through her heart.

Roxas was looking around at his friends and noticed that Zexion, for once, wasn't walking around with his nose in a book. It was also the first time he saw Pence without the laptop in his face. He looked like a nice guy now that you actually could see his face properly. He had really nice eyes.

"My brother may be home, or he will later on, but it's okay, he's cool as everybody except Roxy knows." Everybody laughed, except Roxas who gave Axel a killing glare.

"Oh, Roxy, of looks could kill…" Axel snickered. Roxas just continued glaring.

"If only… Don't ever call me Roxy again. Got that memorized!" Demyx cleared his throat.

"um.. Axel.. You forgot your chin on the ground…" Axel closed his mouth before grinning and flicking the cigarette end away.

"Wow. Got some sparks in that one. I like it. Got it memorized?" He winked towards Roxas who would've lost it again, if Sora hadn't put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. The blond took a deep breath and ignored Axel.

They walked for another ten minutes before Axel stopped in front of a big apartment building.

"Alrighty then! Here we are. Papou Lane 1308 B. Commit it to memory." Roxas looked up at the huge building. It was at least 7 stories high and had 4 entrances that he could see. Axel walked up to the second entrance that had a big black 'B' on top of the door. He opened the door and they went inside, up 5 pairs of stairs before they walked towards a brown door. Axel stuck a key into the keyhole and unlocked the door, letting everybody inside.

It was a really neat apartment, big and spacey and Roxas wondered how the hell they could afford it. His parents had looked at a house nearby in this block and it had been really expensive.

It was really nice there but something was missing. Somehow it felt empty.

"Where are your parents?" Roxas asked, while looking at some old photographs hanging on the wall, with what he guessed was the whole family. Two young boys, with equally red hair, the boy to the left's a little brighter. The boy to the right looked a little older and there was two grownups; a woman with a sweet smile and long strawberry blonde hair and a stoic man with dark hair and a moustache.

When a hand was laid on his shoulder he looked up. Zexion was standing there.

"Axel's parents died in a car crash three years ago. Axel lives here alone with his two year older brother Reno." Roxas bit his lip and glanced at Axel.

"I'm sorry." Axel just shook his head.

"Never mind. Who's up for some video games?" Demyx's hand immediately flew into the air and everybody laughed. They kicked their shoes off and headed into the living room, Demyx running in first, claiming a big recliner and a control, ready to kick some virtual ass. Roxas seated himself in one of the big grey comfy-looking couches and the others dropped in as they got of their shoes.

Axel fixed with some cords behind a huge ass TV before he pushed the 'on' button on the game and the intro started.

"Who wants something to drink?" Everybody nodded and Axel headed in to the kitchen, yelling for someone to help him carry the glasses. Since everybody was so engaged in the game, Roxas rose against his will and headed out in the kitchen. Axel was standing with his back towards him. But when did Axel tie his hair up?

Axel turned around and... It wasn't Axel. The unknown redhead waved towards him.

"'Ello. Can I help you with something…?" Roxas opened and closed his mouth; the gift of speaking momentarily left him. The redhead just raised an eyebrow and looked at him, waiting for an answer.

Roxas didn't know what to say. The redhead in front of him was so alike Axel it was scary. He had shorter hair than Axel in the front, and a long tail of red hair hanging from the back of his neck. His eyes weren't as green as Axel though.

Here Roxas's train of thoughts became interrupted by a voice behind him.

"I see you've met my older brother. Roxas, Reno. Reno, Roxas." The older redhead, Reno, waved.

"Nice to meet you Roxas." The blond nodded and Axel pushed him further in to the kitchen so he could get to the fridge. Reno left the room and walked into the living room, greeting Axel's friends.

Axel gave him a bunch of glasses and lifted two big jugs of juice and they headed into the living room, following Reno who had taken Roxas' seat on the couch and were talking casually to Zexion.

Demyx and Sora was in a fierce battle on the video game, Pence had his laptop up, doing god knows what and Fuu sitting quiet in a corner. Zexion laughed at something Reno said as Roxas handed out the glasses and Axel placed the jugs on the table.

Roxas seated himself on the armrest of the couch and smiled to himself. These people might be crazy, they may smoke, they may have dead parents and creepy siblings, heck they may be crazy themselves, but he still liked them. He had become attached to them over the day, which was weird being him, since he always had a really hard time letting people in to his life.

Maybe it had something to do with Sora's open nature, Axel's teasing or Demyx's optimism but they definitely made him happy. The way they had fun and laughed together made him all sentimental. As on a cue Zexion laughed, Demyx screamed at the videogame and Axel dropped a glass on the floor making everybody fall over with laughter.

Fuu on the other hand didn't feel all that sentimental. She saw the way Zexion laughed with Reno, the way he seemed so happy, so natural. Almost like he had so much to say when he usually hardly said anything.

It was like a whole new side of himself that he hid from her. Or maybe it was something the other's optimism and jokes triggered and lurked out of him. It wasn't like him and she wanted her friend back. The cautious boy, always there, an amazing listener when something had made her break. The quiet young man that he was when it was just the two of them.

Not that he wasn't a young man right now; he just wasn't who she was used to.

And the way Demyx screamed at the videogames almost drove her crazy and she was soon ready to kill. She really didn't like the older blond. He pushed her buttons in a way no one else managed. Maybe it was the fact that he seemed interested in Zexion, maybe it was his never-failing optimism that she lacked. She didn't know what it was but it was something. She decided to go before she snapped at someone.

She rose from her corner by the plant.

"I'm gonna head home." With those words she left the living room. Roxas looked after her. That was actually the first time he'd heard her talk

In the hallway Fuu started tying her shoes but of course she weren't allowed to do this all by herself; of course Zexion had to come out in the hallway. He just stood there and looked at her, big blue eyes sad.

"Fuu, what's wrong?" She shook her head.

"Nothing..." The slate haired boy crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorway.

"Come on, Fuu. I can see that something's bothering you. I know you…" His voice was so soft it almost made her cry.

"Obviously you don't know me that good! Leave me alone fucktard!" She stormed out the door, leaving Zexion perplexed and alone in the hall. He drew a deep breath before walking in to the living room again where everybody stared at him in shock.

"She wasn't feeling that well." Everybody knew that he lied, since they had all heard Fuu's screaming, but nobody said anything. They didn't want to bother him; they all knew how much that must've hurt him. Every one of them knew how good friends he and Fuu were, how much she meant to him.

Demyx broke the silence after Zexion's words

"You wanna play..?" He extended the control towards the slate-haired boy who just smiled faintly and shook his head.

"No thank you, Demyx." Axel rose.

"Let's smoke!" He opened the balcony door and walked out, everybody following him. Roxas wondered why he followed since he didn't smoke, but when he was outside it felt nice. A warm breeze rustled their hair and clothes, extinguishing Axel's lighter.

The redhead sighed and lit it again, this time able to actually light the cigarette as well. Demyx reached for one too, but drew back his hand when he saw Zexion, sitting on a chair looking at the view, not even noticing what the others did, completely in his own world.

Demyx placed himself in front of the younger man and went down on his knees.

"Hey Zex, are you okay..?" Zexion shook his head, as if to get back to reality before he smiled faintly again and looked at the blond.

"Yes Demyx. I'm okay, just a little tired." Demyx made a sad face and stroked Zexion's cheek before rising again and joined Axel's and Reno's discussion about lighters.

Axel extended the cigarette package towards Roxas, who were just standing in a corner.

"Want one?" Roxas just raised an eyebrow, as if asking if the redhead was kidding with him. Axel shrugged his shoulders and put the package in his pocket again, after Demyx took one anyway. Zexion rose and placed himself between Demyx and Reno.

"May… I have one..?" Demyx's jaw hit the floor and Axel looked like he'd seen an alien before he extended the package towards the youngest of them and Zexion took one, lit it and coughed. Demyx smiled and patted his back.

"Careful Zexion, we want you alive out of this." Zexion made a thumb up and coughed some more before he took another drag. He soon got the hang of it and they stood there, laughing and talking, with the video game waiting for them inside.

Roxas smiled. He could live with this. He liked this. Well, except the smoke. But he could live with that too. He finally had some friends, and maybe this year wouldn't be as bad as the previous ones.

The others finished their cigarettes of and they headed in. Zexion stood still a few seconds in the middle of the room before he nodded to himself.

"You know what guys... I should head home. It's getting late and my parents probably wonder where I am." Demyx nodded.

"Yeah… I gotta get home too. Can I walk with you Zexion?" The slate haired boy nodded and Roxas went after them into the hall.

"I should get home too." The tied their shoes, grabbed coats and bags and walked out the door. Zexion and Demyx were going in the opposite direction from Roxas so they departed and Roxas walked off with the sunset in his back, smiling to himself.