AN: Here is the next installment :D I think I might set a day of the week where chapters come out… what do you think?

Summary: Being 17 wasn't easy. No one respects you, your parents pick fights, and hormones fuck you over at every chance they get. How was Roxas supposed to find his way to happiness? Maybe friendship could lead him through it.. or maybe more? SoRoku/ AkuRoku/ and more!

Warning: Sexual themes, angsty teenage drama, drug/alcohol abuse, and maybe more. Rated M.

DISCLAIMER: I own Square Enix, just like I have a million dollars; I have no money, so…

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

When I got home, I immediately added Axel's number to my contact list. Knowing he was at work, I texted Sora. It read, "Hey Sora! Guess what happened to me today?!"

I waited a while on my laptop, editing a video for my probending tournament*. It was an hour later when I received a text from Sora finally. "What happened? And sorry, I was with Riku all day so I didn't have time to answer you ):"

I rolled my eyes. I smiled, texting the reply to my best friend, recalling the memory of Axel giving me his number. "Axel gave me his number! Well, I mean I asked for it… but still! This is awesome! Now I can text him all the time and eeeek!" I sent it, and a while later Sora replied back. He seemed irritated.

"Whoa, ok. Uhm sooo.. what have you been talking about then?"

"Nothing.. he's at work so I haven't talked to him yet."

"Oh, ok. Well, I've gotta go. I have chores and shit. I'll see you tomorrow ok? Bye Roxy! ;P"

I frowned. I had intended on Sora being excited for me, but here he was being a bummer. Sighing, I threw my phone to my bed. I got back on my laptop and tried making a video, but I had no concentration. My news to Sora didn't have the expected results. What was his problem? Was he mad at me for trying to rub my crush in his face, like I was right? Irritated, I growled and flopped onto my bed. I didn't want Sora mad at me. But maybe he wasn't mad; he said he'd still see me tomorrow, right? Right—so no worries. I pulled the covers up to my chin and curled up in them, drifting to sleep thinking of bright red hair…

When I woke up, it was a little after eleven. I groaned, getting out of bed begrudgingly. Yawning, I followed the daily routine of shower, clothes, food. When I went upstairs to the kitchen, a certain brunette was waiting for me. Shocked, I raised my eyebrows and stammered.

"Dude, what the fuck? I've been calling you all morning. Did you forget about me?" he teased. I rolled my eyes in fake annoyance.

"I was sleeping, moron. What, you couldn't wait to see my beautiful face? Is that it?" I smirked and Sora turned red with a scowl.

"No! That's not it! I just thought you forgot about our plans was all," he looked away, embarrassment plainly staining his face.

"Ha! Ok, then, bro; whatever." I went to the kitchen, fully intending on eating some waffles. I looked to my best friend. He seemed to be spacing out. I sighed, clapping my hands together in his face. He jumped in alarm, then proceeded to punch me in the arm.

"DUDE! Not cool, Roxas!" I laughed whole-heartedly.

"I was going to ask if you wanted some waffles, dork!" I play-pushed him and he smiled. There was the old, familiar Sora.

"Duh! You know how I love my food!" We shared a laugh and started eating some nice fluffy waffles. I looked to Sora, contemplating asking him about Axel.

"So, Sora… I have a question," I started. He raised his brow, "Yes?" he drawled.

"Uhm, does me talking about Axel make you mad? You seemed all weird yesterday." His face became a tad stony, seriousness clouding his cerulean eyes.

"No, I just had a long day yesterday. I didn't mean to offend you," he laughed airily. I eyed him suspiciously. He sure was acting weird lately.

"Anyway," he said, "tell me about yesterday! Like, was Axel all over you with his number? Did he make kissy faces at you, hm?" He fluttered his eyelashes and made the dumbest kissy face I've ever seen. I laughed a big boisterous laugh, grabbing my stomach.

"No, idiot! I just asked for it, like an idiot. You should'a seen me! I was acting like a total 'tard!" He laughed at me, and we continued to goof off all morning.
_

"So," Sora began, "I have a really random question."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Yes?" I drawled.

He kind of frowned before smiling, as if he was faking it. "What would you think if I chased after our dear old friend Riku?"

I blinked at him, a little shocked. "Riku?" I asked. He nodded.

"Since when were you interested in Riku?" I frowned. Sora never, ever, ever kept secrets from me. I never even knew he liked Riku as more then friends. I pointed that out to him, and he breathily chuckled.

"Well, I mean, it was only recently. It's not like I was keeping it from you or anything, I just never found the time to say anything I guess." Sora looked into the distance over my shoulder spacing out.

"Well," I began, "go for it, man. I'll have Axel, and you'll have Riku. It'll be awesome!" I suddenly got excited, and I barely registered his scowl. "We can, like, double-date!"

He rolled his eyes at me, smirking faintly. He got up and held his hand out for me to take. I took it and got on my feet, looking at him for some kind of retaliation.

"Hey, Rox?" I quirked my head a bit.

"Yes?"

He smirked, a devious twinkle in his eyes. I shivered, having never seen such a dangerous look on my best friends face. If he wasn't my best friend, I would think it was sexy.

"We haven't smoked any cigarettes in forever." My eyes dilated at the thought of sweet, wonderful tobacco.

I laughed, "I just smoked this morning, actually."

He crossed his arms at me, saying "Yeah, but not with me you didn't. Let's forget talking and just chill."

I nodded, walking out of my house behind him to find someone who could buy for us.

We were on top of the clock tower, puffing away and letting the smoke drift into the warmth of the radiating sunset. I looked over to Sora. His face was troublingly blank and spaced out. I frowned at him, thinking about what could be wrong with him. He didn't say anything, just took one drag after every exhale. I bumped him in the shoulder with my elbow, studying the face that turned to me.

He smiled faintly and started speaking, finally. "Hey, Rox?"

I smiled back. "Yeah?"

His smile left him as he turned to the sunset and dropped his cigarette over the ledge, my own following suit.

"Thanks, you know."

I knit my brow together, looking at him, trying to understand what he was thankful for.

"What do you—" He stood, his stony face staring into the sun**. He seemed to snap out of his stupor and finally turned to me gleaming.

"Race you to your house, freak!" I smiled at him and ran behind him down the steps.

"No fair, cheater!" Our laughed filled the empty corridor, mixing together in harmony.

**This is in reference to KH, in the beginning with Kairi and Sora. Who picked this up?

So, Sora is depressed and spacey. But why? I'll let you guys find out soon enough!

Also, I'm sorry if underage smoking bothers anyone. I wanted these two to seem devious instead of innocent little babies. They're 17 anyways, so it shouldn't matter much XD

I hope everyone enjoyed this new installment! If you did… please REVIEW!