I recently got my haircut, for anyone who follows my tumblr has seen in recent videos I post on the hair style. I got mistaken for a boy four times at work. JUST WANT TO NOTE- I am built like a girl, how do they not see my boobies is beyond me. Anyway, enjoy!
"What!? Another shift?"
"Your uncle needs to let you live like a real teenager, Lexy!"
The pine haired seventeen year old chuckled at her friends as they walked from classes. "What can I say, he needs help on the weekends." She sheepishly excused to her friends, as they tried to get her to hang out for the upteenth time.
One crossed her arms and pouted as they stopped at a street corner. "Come on, Lexy. Your uncle owes you for helping him all the time. And during the week, you're always working at that bike shop. At least ask him? It is your birthday, after all."
"Sure, thing." The street light changed, Lexy took off waving to her friends. "I'll text you tonight!"
Six years have past, Lexus has become a citizen of the city Insomnia living with her uncle Roland. It was a hard adjustment at first, but with her uncle's support she managed to maintain a normal life.
"I'm home!" Lexus called as she entered the bar, some regular customers smiled as they were being served by Roland behind the bar.
"Hey, little lexy is back- ohh, maybe not so little anymore." One teased as she approached them. The man grinned nudging his friend. "Eighteen years, she grew up so fast!"
The drinking buddy chuckled, "I'd be crying seeing my precious girl already an adult."
Roland glared his friends, "Hey, don't remind me." he turned away wiping his eyes. "I miss the little sweetheart that was my Lexus."
The teen frowned at the men, hand on her hip. "Old people are weird."
"Hey, respect your elders." One whined as he took a sip of his questionable glass.
Lexus waved it off and went behind the bar giving her uncle a kiss on the cheek. He smiled at her gesture as she helped clean some dishes. "Wouldn't you rather go out with friends than stay here and help and old man like me?"
She chuckled glancing to him. His age may have risen and some lines on his face proved it, but he was the same uncle who raised half her life. "It gets busy on weekends, besides I see them enough at classes during the week."
"Your birthday is this weekend though, shouldn't you spend it with friends?" He asked, leaning on the counter.
"Yeah, how about that kid Roland told us about?" One of the guys asked, snapping his fingers to help trigger his mind. "Ahh, what was the name? Itsu? Ian? Ignatious?"
Lexus' hands stopped moving, Roland noticed and answered for his friend. "Ignis, right?"
"Ignis! That's it!"
"It doesn't matter what his name is." Lexus stated, giving the men a look. "I haven't seen him since I was a kid, he clearly didn't want to be my friend."
"We don't know that." Roland tried to excuse. "It was a hectic day, after all.."
"...Yeah, it was."
Eight years ago- eight years ago was when Lexus' life changed. The day of the race, she was to watch her father claim victory with her mother, uncle, and first friend Ignis. Though when she returned from fetching his precious lucky charm, her father got into an accident. The weight of a chocobo is heavy enough, their claws are damaging alone. But when seven of them come barreling around a corner at high speed with no way of stopping, Varin was lucky to live that day.
He became paralyzed from the waist down, his racing career ended from then on. When it came to living in the city, it just wasn't enough for Varin. He never left the bedroom, staying in bed needing help from his brother-in-law and wife. It broke him, but mostly broke his heart for his daughter seeing him like this. While Hilda wanted to stay in the city claiming it'd be better for them, Varin wanted to go back to Liede. The decision was split, Lexus stayed in the city with Roland by her mother's request. When it came to her father's word, he agreed breaking Lexus' heart.
Seven years; seven years ago her parents left her as did her first friend.
"Hey, you're scrubbing too hard."
Lexus came back from her daze, seeing she was giving a mug scratch marks. "Oh, sorry." She placed it to the side, and took a towel to dry her hands. "I'm going to go get some homework done." Lexus took her bag and trotted up the stairs.
Lexus got out of the bathroom just fresh from a warm shower after dinner. Going into her room with a fluffy white towel around her body, and her long hair grown down to her back was under a towel being dried. The little Lexus grew up, but a lot of people mistook her for a middle school student for her young face. She sighed, sitting on her bed and picking up her phone finding a text. A frown came upon her face seeing it was her friends from today.
'Did you ask your uncle yet? Yes or no?'
Lexus put it down, not really wanting to respond. It wasn't that she didn't like her friends, she just prefer to help her uncle. She noticed he was forgetting things recently, from who he was serving to what drinks go with what mixes. Lexus pondered if it was old age or he was stressed over her well being too much.
A knock came onto the door, "Lexus?"
"Ah, just one moment." She changed into a white long sleeve with a black tank top over it, and black sweat pants. Lexus put her hair into a bun and opened the door seeing her uncle there. "Whats up?"
He came in looking down at her, he sighed with a smile. "I'm gonna close the bar this weekend."
She was taken aback by this, Lexus crossed her arms frowning at him. "Does this have to do with me not going out?"
"Actually, a couple of old buddies wanted to go out somewhere. Haven't seen in ages, wanted to catch up, y'know?"
"Well, so long as it doesn't have to do with me." She figured shrugging.
Roland grinned, "But that leaves you to be free, right?"
Lexus slapped his arm. "I knew it, it does have to do with me!"
He chuckled, shoving her arm. "It's true though! If you prefer to be here alone, I'll still be here in time to celebrate your birthday."
Lexus pouted turning away, she honestly might just stay home. Roland let out a laugh and patted her head, "You'll have a great eighteenth birthday, not wanting to spend it with old geezers, right?" Roland looked to her, seeing past him on her desk was a beige cloth. His smile faded, looking down at his precious niece.
"I'm sure you'll see him again, I can tell." He muttered, pressed a hand to her back. "You said he was someone that was hard to miss, and same goes for you."
Lexus sighed, going over picking up the cloth. "It's been eight years, Uncle Roland. He probably forgot all about me, as did my parents." Her grip tightened as her head lowered. "I doubt they'd make a surprise visit for my eighteenth birthday."
That's what worried Roland, people forgetting her. Ignis, her parents… himself. It was true, her parents hadn't event sent a happy birthday call or a card- something. He stepped over to his fragile niece, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her close to him. "No one could forget you."
Lexus turned and hugged her uncle back, she looked up at him with a smile. "Thanks."
"Of course, cupcake." He smiled, and gently pinched her cheek. "Now tell your friends you will be spending your birthday with them."
The teen whined, waving her arms out childishly. "Alright, alright! I'll go!"
Lexus nervously walked down the street wearing a ruffled skirt and tank top with her bag. Her friends invited her to spend the day out, and finally said yes. "He's not wrong." She told herself making a turn. "I'll be leaving school soon, then from there where do I go?"
Stay and work as a barmaid for her uncle? Maybe leave the city and travel Lucis? Possible even-
"Whoa!"
Lexus had dazed out again, pumping her shoulder into someone. "Oh, jeez, my bad." She waved and continued her way.
The boy she had pumped into watched her walk off crossing the street. Pine hair, could it be-
"Prompto?"
The skinny tall blond boy turned seeing his friend waiting for him. He crossed the road, causing a car to blare his horn at him. "Sorry!" He called and stopped right by his friend.
The black haired boy looked at his friend who glanced back down the road. "Something catch your eye?"
Prompto turned to Noctis with a grin, "Just thought I saw something familiar." He scratched the back of his head, earning a joking shove.
"So, to the arcade?"
"You know it!"
The teen hoped she wasn't running late, already noon when they were to have lunch by then. "Maybe I should've taken my motorbike." She pondered, then found her two friends standing in front of the foot stands.
"Hey, there's Lexus!"
Lexus walked faster, careful of her steps with her heels. "Sorry if I was late, took the long route." Once she approached the girls, she noticed three guys with them. Never had Lexus seen these guys, they looked to be… older than the teens. Were they college students?
"You're not late, Lexy! Just in time!" Her curly brunette friend, Kathy, came over to Lexus leaning to her ear.
"These guys joined us, they're in their twenties!" She pointed to each one, starting with a blond in a ponytail, "That's Lukas," then to the spiky dark haired one, "that's Felix,' and to the brown haired boy. "and that's Milo."
"So, they are older." She confirmed nodding. "But, we're still going to the mall and eating out, right?"
Her blonde friend, Christie, came over. "Yes, yes. They heard it was your birthday and wanted to join.
"So, they do know I'm eighteen and you guys are sixteen right?" When the girls looked to one another, Lexus crossed her arms. "..You didn't."
"We told them you were turning twenty-one and that we were eighteen." The two girls clasped their hands together. "Please, just for a bit! We'll get you whatever you want for your birthday, in exchange."
Lexus was now regretting on leaving her safe haven that was the bar. She wouldn't have even minded to join her uncle and his friends. Lexus sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as her hair hung around her shoulders. "..Fine, but you owe me the most expensive gift I find."
The girls smiled and thanked Lexus going back to the guys confirming it was okay. Inside, Lexus didn't know how to say no. She wanted to say 'No, I don't want them to join us' or just tell the guys they're real ages. Her eyes went down to her wrist, the beige cloth was around it look like an accessory. She didn't know why, but she wore it today feeling secure with it near. Her fingers of her other hand rubbed the fabric between her fingers.
"So, it's your birthday?" Her blue eyes traveled up to see the boys around her, her friends on each side of a boy but the middle one, Milo. "You don't look twenty-one."
She caught the eyes of her friends, forgetting for a split second the ruse she was to play. "..O-Oh! I get that a lot! Hehe!" She chuckled nervously, hands folded behind her back. "So, up for lunch?"
They all agreed and walked around the market to get some lunch. The girls at times saw foods they liked, but ignored it when the boys claimed they weren't appealing. Lexus hated this about Christie and Kathy;, anytime a guy was around they would do anything to get them to like them. Though she didn't expect them to use her birthday as one of these chances. When they found some place they all agreed on, the Christie and Kathy ended up ordering a small salad. Lexus ordered a slice of pizza, as the guys got burgers.
"You sure you girls don't want anything else?" Lukas asked, seeing they were already finished their meals.
"Yea, we don't want to gain too much weight." The blonde excused, sipping her water.
Lexus rolled her eyes eating the crust of her pizza. Milo middle grinned at her meal. "Aren't you worried about your weight?"
Lexus put on a smile. "Not really, I do jogs before class-" The two girlfriends nearly choked on their water. Oh jeez, she just admitted being a high school student.
"Class?" He asked, then Felix chuckled.
"College class? What are you majoring in?"
Lexus hadn't even recovered from her faux pas by the time the question was given But she put her drink down and gave her usual smile. "Bet you can't guess."
The lunch went okay, and the group ventured to the mall. As they passed by the food court, Lexus noticed an arcade with a few teens and kids there. She liked to play the racing games in there, made her think of the days of her father racing chocobos. Her eyes went to the others who were chatting passing by the arcade.
"Um, can we stop here?" They all turned seeing Lexus gesturing to the arcade to her right. "I like playing the racing games in there."
Lexus noticed the grimace looks on her friend's faces, this was something she wanted to do for her birthday. Was it so wrong for someone her age or the guys' age to play games?
"Hey, maybe they got some new shooter games in there." The Felix suggested trotting inside.
"Such a child." Lukas said following after with Milo. He glanced to Lexus and followed in.
Lexus raised a brow at him, but she and the girls followed inside. Some kids and teens played at the skeeballs, basketball shoots, and some zombie games. The three guys went straight to a shooting game, all debating who would go first. The girls didn't seem interested, so they decided to watch. Lexus herself looked around, finding the racing biker games. With a eager smile, she trotted over and sat down putting in some coins.
"Mind a partner?" Lexus looked to her right seeing Milo, hands shoved in his black jean pockets. He gave her a wink, "Should it be alright straddling a bike like that in in a skirt?"
Lexus glanced to her skirt, she found no trouble with it. "Feel free to race, though I will beat you."
The boy smirked, and got onto the opposing bike. "You're on, birthday girl."
Lexus found no problem balancing the bike when leaning on either side to make her turns. Milo had some long legs, struggling a bit to keep his legs up and balance in check. Soon, the four returned and watched the racing, the girls cheering on Milo instead of Lexus. What was with them, she thought. But in the end.
Player 1, wins!
Lexus shot her arms in the air, "Yes! Winner winner, chicken dinner!" she cheered.
Milo scoffed, lifting his leg over the side to lean on the bike. "I let you win, birthday girl."
Said teen got off and crosses her arm, grinning at him. "Yea, hitting that wall four times was letting me win. Sure thing."
Kathy giggled, almost in an annoying tone. "That was so cool of you, Milo. Lexus hates losing, she gets all angry and has a tantrum when she losses."
Lexus gave a look to her friend, this was getting on her nerves. "I don't get that bad." She defended.
Milo smirked and leaned over the bike into Lexy's personal space. "Would I like to see that face on you."
What did that mean? Lexus stepped away, walking over to see other games. "I'm gonna play some shooter games." She excused, seeing two boys playing one of the two shooting games.
Before reaching there, her arm was tugged back by Milo. "Hey, can't spend your entire birthday playing games. Besides, those guys have claimed that section."
She was going to protest, but the looks the girls sent her sealed her lips. Why was she so obedient to them?
The group walked around the mall for a while longer. Lexus spotted a store that was selling keychains, she wandered over spotting a moogle and chocobo keychain. The moogle looked to be riding it, the birds big blue eyes made her smile.
"Excuse me?" She called to the vendor. "How much is this key chain?"
"Oh, spotted my exclusive carnival token, eh?" The old man asked smiling at her.
"What? The, the Moogle Chocobo Carnival?" Her eyes widened, finding this keychain more of a treasure then some accessory.
The man nodded, "Long ago, I won this little thing when I was no younger than you. It's given me great luck through these years."
"Why sell it?" She asks, tilting her head curiously.
He let out a chuckle mixed with laughter. "My years of luck are over, time for it to give another some needed luck." The man picked up the key chain, holding it up as it slowly spun on its strap.
"I have no children to pass it down too, and I see your eye caught it as a special item compared to anyone else who would even blink at it." He waved his arm, imitating those who shopped there. "A small toy, they call it. Mere waste of a trinket, they claimed."
Lexus shook her head, a soft smile toward the keychain as he placed it back down on the table. "My father was a great chocobo racer years ago. I pretty much grew up with them, living at a post." Her smile faded, as her finger pressed against the cool small metal outlining the bird. "He got into an accident, rendering his legs useless…"
The old man stroked the hair on his chin, and smiled to the girl. "Take it." She stood straight reaching for her wallet in her bag, he held his hand up. "Don't think of it. Someone with such a large heart as yours deserves more than I do at my age."
Lexus didn't know what to say, she just bowed her head with a shy 'thanks'. The smile gave a toothy grin, and picked the trinket and held it out for her. She took it, and smiled back at the man widely. "Thank you, sir. This is the best birthday gift."
"Happy birthday!" He told her, bowing his head back in thanks. "Take care, young one."
Now much happier with her gift, she looped it onto her phone and beamed seeing it hang off it. She'd take the best care for it, she swore.
"Lexus! Come on!" Called one of the girls, she jogged to keep up even if inside she wanted to go the opposite way.
"Is it already dinner time?" Kathy asked as they walked along the streets seeing the sun start to fade over the tall buildings.
"What restaurant was it you wanted to eat at, Lexus?" Christie asked, hanging on Felix's arm.
"Hey, how about we treat you women to a bar?" Milo suggested walking by Lexus, who didn't like that idea.
"Milo, these two are still only eighteen, remember?" Lukas reminded with Kathy by his side.
Lexus laughed to herself, "Yea, besides I-"
"Wait! Lexus' uncle owns a bar, you said he's out for the night right?" Kathy told with a grin on her face.
The birthday girl nodded hesitantly. "Oh well, that's true. But we shouldn't."
"Alright, party at the birthday girl's bar! Free drinks!" Christie cheered and the two girls lead the way.
All the while, Lexus just couldn't find her voice to protest against all the was happening. Her uncle would kill her if he caught her touching his alcohol, let alone giving it away willy nilly. If she voiced her thoughts now, would they get mad and leave her? Lexus after all these years still didn't understand friendship. Was it doing things one enjoyed together, or doing what others liked despite others didn't favor them? She tried to think back on things her two friends did for her, not much came to mind. Some memories of them claiming it was for her own good; like sneaking out at night -or attempting to only to chicken out-, stealing their makeup back from the teacher's desk only to get caught.
Her head lowered as more memories brought back unpleasant times. Wasn't there someone who was a real friend to her?
"My name's Ignis."
He- Ignis as was her one true friend. Only met twice and he was out of her life.
"That was prompt timing of you, Prompto!"
And even that chubby boy, who saved her from those bullies. It may have been a short time, but he was a kind person to her.
Maybe, Lexus thought, maybe she wasn't meant to have friends- good friends.
"Lexus, we need your keys." Kathy said, holding her hand out expectantly.
Her eyes lifted from the ground finding that they stood in front of the bar and her home. With a sigh, she shook her head. "I-I think it'd be better if I just went to bed."
"What?" Kathy questioned with a raised brow.
"Don't end the fun just when it's starting, Lexus." Christie whined.
Lexus moved to the door taking her keys out. "Hey, I'm tired and my uncle could be home any moment. It's best to just-"
Her keys were suddenly snatched from her hands, and shoved into the lock. The door swung open with Milo cheering, "We're in!" shoving Lexus inside as the others followed in suit.
She stumbled a bit as the guys made a beeline for the bar, jumping over the counter and going into the cabinet. Milo shook the handles, noticing it was locked he looked over Lexus' keys. "What? There's only two keys and they don't go to this lock. Where's the key to this?"
"I don't have it, my uncle is the only one who has them." She told, hoping to just get them out and go to bed.
"Hey!" Cried out Christie who was ducking behind the counter, she stood up holding two bottles of booze. "I found a stash!" Maybe not.
"Alright!" They yelled, Lexus rubbed her arms as they got the glasses out. They were gonna drain down his supply, she needs to tell them to stop.
Of course, no words left her lips. Maybe chugs and shots later, and the girls were red faced and dazed. They leaned on their (un)respective guys at a booth while Lexus started putting away whatever was left of the alcohol.
"How am I going to explain this?" She asked herself, seeing the bottles not even worth using for customer service. Her own uncle wouldn't even drink out of it.
Lexus tipped one of the bottles over to pour them out into the sink, when a glass came under it saving it from going down the drain. She stopped pouring, and turned to see Milo leaned over her to get his fresh drink. He leaned back and winked to her, "Thanks sexy."
Lexus turned away about to properly pour the stuff, when a hand stopped it from tipping completely over.
"He-y, birthday girl didn't get to have any." He sang, taking the bottle from her and putting his now empty glass down.
"I-I don't want any, I don't like alcohol." In truth, she obviously never had it before thanks to her uncle's rules.
"Ohhhh, come on." He whined, his hands squeezed her cheeks making her mouth open up. Milo pressed the bottle top to her lips, and tilted it forcing the remaining alcohol to fill her mouth. Unable to spit it out with the bottle pressed to her mouth, she swallowed the horrible stuff. It burned down her throat, wanting to spit it back out even to vomiting it out.
Finally she slapped the bottle away from, as it clinked to the floor. "So disgusting!" She cried, passing by him to go upstairs not feeling well.
"Whoa, fun's not over yet." Milo grabbed her arm and pulled her back, only to pushed her against the wall of the staircase, her wrist held tightly.
"Let me go, M-Milo!" She demanded, feeling her body shiver with fear as he lowered his face toward her own.
"Ohhh! Girl is getting a birthday gift!" Felix cheered raising his empty glass, an arm around Christie from his face buried in her neck.
Lexus took her free hand to pray his off her wrist, his other hand grabbed it keeping it at the side. "No! I just want to go to bed." She turned her face trying to keep as far from his as possible.
"Bed, eh? You don't hesitate one bit." He growled, and without warning picked Lexus up and tossed her over his shoulder.
"Get em, tiger!"
"Go Lexus!"
Lexus kicked and cried, her eyes burning as her body shook in fear. What was happening?! When did she lose control of everything? She was terrified, he was planning to have her way with her!
Mom! Dad! Someone help!
"No! Stop it!" She screamed, banging on his back and struggling to get out and away from Milo.
"What is going on here!?"
Everyone froze, anyone who wasn't unconscious turned to find the owner, uncle, and guardian Roland standing in the doorway. His face was twisted with rage, shoulders tense his hands tightly clenched at his side.
"If I don't see this place empty in two seconds, I won't hesitate to punish every single one of you."
A meek 'uh-oh' was hard from one of the girls, they as well as the two boys shuffled out. Milo dropped Lexus on the steps, and ran out. Roland slammed the door, and rushed to Lexus who was curled up on the stares. Her eyes wide in shock, arms wrapped around herself as tears heavily streaked down her face dropping into her lap. Shoulder shook violently, only whimpers and small sobs would escape her lips. Roland looked down at her precious niece with guilt and anger, he blamed himself of this.
"Lexy.." He knelt down, reaching out to her shoulders. When she didn't recoil at the touch, he pulled her close and held her tightly to his chest. "I'm so, so sorry. I shouldn't have pressured you to go out when you didn't want to." His hand caressed the back of her head, holding her closer as she hid her face in his shoulder.
"I promised your mother to protect you, and I-"
"Uncle Roland?"
Finally, words were spoken. He pulled back, moving strands of her hair from her face to see her expression. Her eyes were calmer- no, they were now narrowed, brows low and a frown on her face. Her blue eyes looked into his as she stated these words to him, clear and solid.
"Teach me how to fight."
Thank you , wyattharto8, Edward Cullen's Girl, Nis'erra19, The Female Assassin, for the follows and favorites!
- Thanks! Well, the story is just starting, so you can get to know Lexus and moves into the main game story. It'll be a long while before any romance happens, sorry to say. But there will be!
Forgetful Instanity- SORRY I HATE CLIFHANGERS AS WELL- but that's the fun part of writing. Prompto is just like a puppy, right?! Chubby or grown up, all Prompto is best Prompto!
LadyAmazon- Chocobo lives! I was debating to have Ferris taken out, but it was honestly her father who got the bad end, as you can see.
Nis'erra19- Aww, thanks! Ahh, thankfully time skip is a thing in stories! Ah, I try to get those damn grammar mistakes. I type extremely fast and tend to miss out some, I apologize for that. But thanks for loving the story so far!