"He asked you to the fair?" Sora asked incredulously.

Demyx grinned. They were walking together after school, Sora going to work and Demyx going home. "Yeah, but I don't think he meant it as anything. He wants to get me to play my guitar for people.

"Are you going to?"

"I haven't really thought about it. I guess… I'm just nervous. And Axel being there certainly won't help, but I'll do the best I can."

"Ah, you'll be fine. We've all heard you play before, Dem. You really are as good as Axel says."

Demyx laughed. "Thanks. You work tonight?"

"Yep, 'til close. Same as usual. What are your plans for tonight?"

Demyx shrugged. "Guess I'll practice." They reached Demyx's house. "Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow." He waved goodbye to Sora and walked inside. His parents still weren't back from work, so he ran upstairs to his room and pulled out his guitar. In truth, he played every day. It was his passion and not a day went by that he didn't pick it up, even if it was just to tune it. Playing in front of people made him nervous, he didn't like to think of everyone's eyes on him. When he was in a band there were two other people to be stared at, and Craig and Jason were both older and better looking than he was, so there was no way people were watching him when they could be watching them. At least, that's what Demyx told himself. He sighed, strummed a few strings to check that it was still in tune, and went outside.

Demyx walked down the street with his guitar strapped to his back. There was a park nearby that he was heading to. He figured he might as well get used to playing in front of people. At least at the park there wouldn't be too many eyes on him, so this was a good way to ease himself into it. His feet cut through the grass as he made his way to a tree and sat under it, setting his guitar on his lap to play. He didn't even think twice about, he just started to play before he could talk himself out of it. The song was one he'd written a year ago, about Axel, but the song was purposely not gender-specific. He knew Craig and Jason would never agree to a song about a guy, especially when there were so many nice young women willing to throw themselves at their feet. As far as they knew, Demyx had written the song about some girl he liked. Demyx never felt the need to correct their thinking.

The fingers on his left hand ran down the fretboard, fingering the right notes and chords, while his right hand strummed. He played the opening to the song a few times before he worked up the courage to sing. Demyx started quietly at first, only someone sitting right next to him would have heard him over the sound of the guitar, but slowly he picked up in volume. He made sure not to get too loud though, he didn't want people to think he was collecting money or putting on a show. He didn't have anything to worry about, hardly anyone walked by him, and only one person who did said anything to him, which was a quick "nice" before they were on their way.

After playing a second song Demyx started to have fun, his worries gone. He remembered why he liked playing in front of people, to see the happiness it brought them. He knew he was good, he'd had enough people tell him so. Knowing he was good was part of the fun. There would always be nerves, but maybe that was part of the fun too. Showing himself he could outperform his own nerves.

Demyx just played his guitar for a while, lost in thought, no song required. When he realized he'd been playing for almost an hour he started one more song. He could tell he was getting tired, he was starting to feel it in his throat. It'd been a while since he'd sang so loudly, preferring to keep it down when he was in his room.

"Wow."

Demyx looked up, prepared to smile at another passerby admiring his playing, when flaming red hair caused his fingers to freeze immediately. The song was cut off abruptly, and the lyrics died in Demyx's mouth.

"A-Axel."

"I guess it's been a while since I heard you play, Dem. I'd forgotten just how good you were."

Demyx smiled. He tried to bring back some of the confidence he'd been feeling just seconds before he'd looked up to see Axel smiling down at him, still in his soccer shorts and a black tank top. "Finishing soccer practice?"

Axel sprawled out on the grass next to Demyx. "Yeah, it was cut short today. Dean tackled Sam – legally – but Sam got hurt pretty bad." He glanced up at Demyx. "I was on my way home when I heard you singing. I knew it was you, too, even though I thought you sounded more confident than usual."

"Yeah, playing does that to me."

Axel sat up and gave Demyx a friendly punch on his arm. "Man, don't be sorry! I like confident-Demyx. Whatever happened to him? We used to talk all the time, you would have been sunk in your math classes if it wasn't for me."

Demyx knew he was right. That's how the two of them had became friends. Other than Sora and Roxas being good friends, Axel and Demyx had never really hung out. Until Demyx had complained one day at lunch, almost in tears, about how he was going to fail his math class. Axel had offered to help him study, and with his help Demyx had just barely salvaged his grade. They'd continued to meet for the rest of the school year, and Demyx had slowly developed a crush on Axel. At first he'd panicked. He didn't know who to tell. He'd heard horror stories about people coming out to their friends and family and being cast aside as a freak. But Demyx had trusted his friends not to do that, so he'd told Sora and Riku about his feelings for Axel. They had been shocked, but casting Demyx aside had never crossed their minds, and with their help Demyx had come out to his parents too. They had been more than supportive.

But admitting his feelings had been the beginning of the problem. Now that his friends knew he liked Axel, it felt more real. There was pressure of whether Axel might like him as well, and after a while the math sessions got awkward for Demyx. When they had started high school Demyx put a stop to them, thanking Axel for his help and telling him he should be fine from then on.

"Dem, hello…"

Demyx looked up. "What?"

Axel looked curious. "You spaced out for a sec and started strumming a string on your guitar."

Demyx frowned. "Yeah, sorry, I tend to do that. Nervous habit. But you're right."

"I know. But… about what?"

"We don't hang out anymore. So, what about math sessions again? I looked over the homework Xig set for this week and I gotta tell ya, I think I felt sick."

Axel grinned. "It's a deal. But, there's a catch."

Demyx raised his eyebrow. "Oh yeah?"

"You have to bring your guitar sometimes and play for me."

Demyx looked at his guitar nervously, then back up at Axel. "I think I can do that."