Pre-Author's Note: Ahem… So yeah… High school? Freshman year? Homework? Hell. All sent straight from the deepest depths of hell.

But I shall try to do my best to keep updating.

Disclaimer: Achoo?

oOoOo

Life went on, and for the students of Xehanort University things began to settle down as the first week of school came and went. Even Demyx was beginning to get the hang of his schedule. The operative phrase there being "beginning" of course.

Still, friendships were forming, sport teams were getting organized and routines were falling into place. This was true for Demyx and Riku as well.

It seemed that, aside from the two days of the week when he had early morning classes, the task of waking Demyx every morning and getting him ready for classes had fallen to Riku. Not that the silver haired teen minded; in fact, he seemed to find Demyx's haphazard morning rituals funny.

Today was, unfortunately, one of those days when Riku was not there in the mornings to wake Demyx up. So the blonde was forced to rely on Nemo and Dorothy to do the waking for him.

"Wake up! Wake up!"

"Yeah, yeah…" grumbled Demyx, swatting at his alarm clock, "I heard ya…"

He sat up groggily, shaking his head to clear the fog, he looked around the room. Riku had already left and his bag was gone.

So he's already left for class, thought Demyx. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he headed to the bathroom to wash up for the day. Just as he was brushing his teeth, and taking great care not to shove the brush down his throat, there was a knock on the door to his dorm. He spit out the paste before heading over to open the door. Maybe Riku had forgotten his keys or something…

"Um… Hello?" he asked when he spotted who it was.

"Oh hi," said the man at the door, he brushed a few strands of pink (Who the hell has pink hair?) out of his periwinkle blue eyes and glanced over Demyx's shoulder, "Is Riku here?"

"Oh uh, no," said Demyx, finally getting over the fact that there was indeed a pink haired man knocking on his door at eight in the morning, "he already left. He has classes early on Thursdays and Tuesdays…"

"Ah," said Mr. Pink Hair, he looked annoyed.

"Um, I'm sorry," said Demyx, "you want me to tell him you were here…?"

"Marluxia," said the man, "and yeah, if you could tell him I stopped by that'd be great."

"Okay," said Demyx nodding, he paused right before closing the door, "Hey, just asking um… Are you…? You're part of the 'competition' aren't you?"

Marluxia eyed Demyx coldly, "I guess you could say that… Yes."

"Oh okay," said Demyx, "I was just wondering, that's all."

Marluxia just nodded and walked away. Demyx shut the door and sighed, leaning against it. So now I've met all of them, he thought to himself. Leon, Cloud, Denzel, Axel and now Marluxia had all stopped by the dorm room at one time or another. And it was always to see Riku. So far they had all, except for Axel, treated him much like Marluxia had. Like he was a nuisance. They were probably worried that Demyx would try something seeing as he lived with the silver haired one…

"Stupid," muttered Demyx, shaking his head before getting ready for his next class.

oOoOo

Riku sighed, planting his face in his hands. This was what he got for agreeing to join Olette, Denzel and Marlene for lunch. Why? He moaned inwardly, there are plenty of other gay guys at our school… Why me? Why do they only get like this with me?

He sent another resentful glare at Olette and Marlene.

This of course only sent them into another fit of giggles. Riku sighed, leaning back in his chair and tilting his neck so that he could glare at the ceiling instead. Maybe the ceiling would be nice enough not to giggle at him…

"He's so funny when he gets all mopey," said Marlene, one hand over her giggling (Riku gritted his teeth) mouth, the other pointing one manicured index finger at Riku. Olette giggled some more before sipping her drink.

Even Denzel chuckled.

Riku, not taking his gaze off the ceiling, said in a drone, "I hope you all know how much I hate you. Because I really do hate you."

The giggling continued. Riku's teeth began to make that painful grinding sound.

"Oh c'mon Riku, you are funny when you're mad," said Denzel, smiling at him from across the table.

"Yeah," said Olette, leaning forward and patting Riku on the arm, "all we did was point out that the guy behind the counter is checking you out. You didn't need to get all bitchy on us."

Riku sat up, not noticing the way Denzel had suddenly stopped smiling, and took another weary bite of his sandwich, "…No he's not."

Marlene sighed and shook her head, "Honestly Riku, I just don't get how you can be so oblivious… He was openly ogling your ass."

Riku blushed scarlet, "W- Was he really?"

Olette and Marlene nodded solemnly, Denzel just stirred his drink; suddenly looking quite pissy himself. Riku humphed and crossed his arms, "I don't believe you two… You're always telling me people are staring at me."

Olette rolled her eyes, "That's because people are always staring at you, darling," she said as if this was obvious. Riku grumbled something under his breath.

"What was that, pumpkin?" asked Marlene, clearly humoring Riku.

"Then how come I never notice?" asked Riku, beyond exasperated at this point.

Olette and Marlene exchanged glances; Denzel was preoccupied with the ceiling.

"Well," Marlene piped up, "I guess you're just completely oblivious to subtle advances… That's why," she coughed a few times, "that's why you need a guy who will outright tell you how he feels. Without beating around the bush, y'know?"

"OW!"

Riku's head snapped towards Denzel who had just lurched forward in his seat, teeth clenched shut, and one hand on his lower leg. He was glaring at Olette.

"What was that for?"

Olette smirked, "Nothing."

"Like hell it was nothing…" muttered Denzel, he inhaled slowly, "sonuvabitch…"

Riku looked between the two, "What was that?"

"She kicked me!" Denzel wasted no time in accusing the brunette next to him. Olette stirred her tea innocently; she blinked at everyone around the table, curling her hair on one finger.

"Who me?" she asked.

Marlene giggled, "That's not gonna work on them Ollie, they're gay remember?"

"Aw, darn, forgot about that," said Olette, lightly slapping the table indignantly.

Riku smiled, he had missed hanging out with Denzel, Olette and Marlene over the summer. During his first year at college the four of them had formed a tight group. It was nice to know that after spending a whole summer apart the four of them could still go back to being friends like they hadn't been apart for a second. He made a mental note to himself that this year he had to be sure to get all their phone numbers before leaving for home. It would be fun to stay in touch with them over the summer; even though he knew he didn't have to.

Marlene chose that moment to check the time on her periwinkle cell phone, a tiny gasp left her glossy lips, "Oh gosh," she moaned, "I really should get going…"

Olette nodded, "Don't worry about it; we'll take the check once we're all done here."

"Thanks," said Marlene, breathless as she pack her bag and hefted it over her shoulder, "Bye everybody!" she said before planting a quick kiss on everyone's cheek and walking out the door hurriedly.

Olette and Riku's eyes met and rolled upwards, that was Marlene.

Denzel was polishing off his sandwich, he glanced around the table before swallowing a mouthful of salami, rye bread, lettuce and various other things, "Speaking of being done," he said, eyeing all their plate meaningfully. Olette and Riku followed the pattern his eyes were using to watch the table. Olette sat back and sighed.

"Great," she muttered, "How does she always manage to sneak away right before the check comes?"

Denzel shrugged, pushing his plate away, "I dunno, but we'll make her pay for the whole thing next time…"

Riku bit his lip, "Aw c'mon you guys, you know Marlene has to work hard to pay for college…"

This was true. Xehanort, for all its niceties, was a pretty fancy college. Tuition was hard to own up to, and living on campus didn't help Marlene at all. Most of the students therefore came from pretty rich backgrounds. And the ones that didn't worked their asses off to continue attending the school.

Denzel and Olette both came from wealthy backgrounds. Riku, born and raised on a small time Island, relied heavily on his scholarship to get him through. Marlene on the other hand…

Olette sighed, tapping her nose, "I guess…But still… If she's short on money she should just tell us…"

"Yeah," chimed in Denzel, nodding his head so that his bangs fell into his face a little more, "we're her friends, after all. I mean, what are friend for?"

Riku remained silent, considering the way they'd been brought up it was clear that the two seated across from him didn't really grasp the fact that admitting you were short on money to your friends wasn't the easiest thing to do. After all, Denzel and Olette had never been short on money. Riku however, fully sympathized with Marlene.

The conversation switched to a lighter topic and the three friends chatted away amiably until the check arrived and they all parted ways. As they were leaving the restaurant, Denzel paused and glanced back at the man working behind the counter. Said employee was currently eyeing Riku out of the corner of his eye as he rang up another customer's meal.

"You okay? Denzel?"

Denzel blinked and turned his attention to where Olette and Riku were standing, watching him. Riku seemed curious while Olette had a knowing glint in her eye. Denzel's eyes flitted between Olette and Riku, and the worker; grayish eyes narrowed as once again the employee's eyes traveled to places they definetly should not be traveling to.

"I'll see you guys later," said Denzel, "I've got a bone to pick with the cook who screwed up my sandwich."

Riku blinked, "But I thought you liked your sandwich."

"Yeah but…" Olette fought down the giggles that rose up through her throat as Denzel scrambled for an answer, "it wasn't the kind of bread I wanted."

"Oh, okay," said Riku, still looking a little unsure.

"Alright then," said Olette, taking hold of Riku's arm, "we'll see you later Denzel."

Denzel waved and watched as Olette led Riku away from the café, as they walked Olette turned back and winked at Denzel while sticking her tongue out. He returned the gesture before turning the café and taking a deep breath.

That guy behind the counter was in for hell.

oOoOo

"I'm so lost!"

Riku looked up in time to see Marluxia throw his text book on the table in front of him with a look of ill-disguised disgust on his face. The silver haired one continued to watch as Marluxia proceeded to cross his arms tightly; a pout clearly visible on his face.

It was kinda funny actually, seeing Marluxia, in all his manly pink-haired glory, sitting there like a little kid who had grown tired of a task.

Said pink-haired manly man glared at Riku as the shorter one began laughing.

"Thank you," he said icily, "for all your kind-hearted sympathy. Really. I'm touched."

Riku leaned forward across the table to where Marluxia was wound up in a sulk, and even though he wasn't laughing anymore, there was still a smile in place. Marluxia too found himself grinning a bit as Riku stretched across the table to retrieve the text book that the larger of the two had thrown in his fit. Riku let out a tiny puff of breath as he slid back to his seat; the rim of his shirt had risen when he'd reached way across the desk.

Marluxia found his eyes straying to that small portion of stomach that was currently revealed. Just as his mind began forming thoughts centering around that slip of skin, Riku interrupted him; bursting his 'happy bubble' as he did so.

"Marluxia?"

Marluxia shook his head a few times, clearing it of his 'happy' thoughts. He smirked at Riku, "What now, darling?"

Riku, blushing faintly due to the way he'd been addressed, lifted up the text book a little, shaking it in the air, "Don't throw books!" he scolded, "And anyways," he laid the book down on the table that was in between he and Marluxia, "we're here to work. And we've only got one hour too, so stop whining and try to get something done, mm-kay?"

Marluxia sighed and nodded as he leaned forward a little in order to grab the book from where Riku had left it on the table. The edge of the table pressed against his stomach a bit, but unlike Riku he didn't have to get out of his chair and stretch across the desk to reach the book. Heh, being bigger ruled.

Riku, too, seemed to have noticed the lack of effort Marluxia had to put forth to reach across the desk for he was pouting. Marluxia chuckled and patted Riku on the head several times; causing Riku's head to bop up and down each time.

"Never fret," he said in a sweet, motherly voice that just caused Riku's lips to purse further, "someday you'll be big and strong too. But for now, leave grabbing the text books up to us men."

Riku rolled his eyes, "Whatever."

"I think you've been spending just a little too much time with Leon," said Marluxia, waving an index finger at Riku. Despite the joking tone, he meant it, wholeheartedly. Riku merely shrugged.

"You think?"

The two guys had gone to the public library and rented one study room for about an hour. After all, the library had an excellent research section and getting work done was easy in the quiet soundproof rooms the library offered to students. That is, it would be easy to get work done if it weren't for a certain silver-haired distraction.

Marluxia wetted his lips as he returned t the pages of the text book, every now and then leaving his finger on the page to keep his spot as he made a comment in his notebook or scribbled a few lines on the worksheet. He glanced up at Riku… And froze.

The boy was feverishly writing something on a piece of notebook paper; his eyes focused solely on the paper and his writing. The pencil in his hand looked like it was dancing as its eraser end went up and down while the tip swirled over the white paper. Riku had clearly had one of those "brain sparks" that tended to happen when people did homework (or basically anything that required thought). One of those glorious moments where you're just struck by inspiration.

But none of that was what had captured Marluxia's attention.

No, what was holding the man's attention so aptly was the fact that Riku, in his concentration, had his tongue poking out of his mouth. Squishy and pink and caught between his straight white teeth. Now, combining that with the rest of Riku's face the boy looked downright adorable.

The smile on Marluxia's face promptly vanished when he looked down.

Oh crap…

"I, uh, gotta go," said Marluxia, standing up abruptly and making sure that he was headed towards the door opposite Riku; so that the slightly younger could not see the man's front, "be right back."

Riku's brow furrowed together, "Going to find another book?"

"No, uh…" Marluxia mumbled something about the bathroom before leaving. Riku blinked.

Then he shrugged and returned to his work. With the nervous way Marluxia had been acting Riku wondered vaguely if the pink-haired man had seen something provocative in his current book that had caused him to go to the bathroom in such a manner. Interest piqued, Riku once again leaned over the table and pulled the book Marluxia had been reading over to himself.

Marluxia was an art student… Maybe there'd been some picture of a guy naked… After all, wasn't nudity considered high class art?

Riku opened to that page that Marluxia had folded the corner of.

And promptly blushed beet red.

He slammed the book shut, squinting his eyes as if trying to rid them of an image.

After tentatively opening both eyes, he slowly opened to that same page and looked at the image there again.

And slammed the book shut.

In all honesty if someone who knew Riku, and knew all about his sexual orientation, had been watching this whole scene take place they would've probably laughed. Riku's expression could've been summed up in one word: hysterical. His eyes were shut tight and his lips were puckered together so tightly he looked like he'd bitten a lemon.

As he shoved the book across the table, Riku found himself at a total loss. If Marluxia really had gone to the bathroom because… Well… Then what had caused it?

Ah my gosh, thought Riku, burying his face in his hands, he must be bisexual!

There was no other explanation, he decided firmly; nodding himself a little as if to reinforce this conclusion. Honestly, there wasn't anything else in the room that was provocative in the slightest.

Hm, Riku tapped his lip and watched the door Marluxia had exited through. Up until that exact moment in time Riku had always assumed Marluxia was gay.

Oh well, he hummed before propping his book open again and returning to his paper, it wasn't really any of his business anyway. Marluxia's romantic and/or sexual interests had nothing to with him…

oOoOo

"Hey, Demyx?"

The aforementioned blonde looked up from his essay to look at Riku; who was seated on his bed in the dorm. Demyx propped himself up a bit, "Yeah?"

"Have you ever had a boyfriend?"

Demyx blinked, "What brought this up?"

Riku toyed with some of Namine's hair, "Nothing, just curious," he looked up and stared at Demyx, big eyes looking strangely luminous in the half light of the room, "just… if you have, I mean, um… Well how could you tell if they liked you?"

Demyx sat up further, a small frown on his face. From the direction the conversation was going, he got the distinct feeling that either A) Riku was starting to catch on to one of the guy's attraction for him, or B) Riku liked someone and couldn't tell if they returned the feelings (bless his oblivious little head).

Either way, Demyx's following answer would have a huge impact on the "competition". He wondered if there was anything he could say right then and there that would give Riku the impression that Axel liked him. Demyx had agreed to help his redheaded friend.

However he couldn't really come up with anything, so he settled on honesty.

"Well," he began, "I did have one boyfriend once… Xigbar. He was a few years older than me, and in way better shape. Um, we were together for a little over a year I think."

Riku's eyes widened, "That's a pretty long time."

"Yeah."

"What happened?" asked Riku before dipping his head a moment later as he realized that had been kinda rude of him to ask.

Demyx shrugged, "Well, since he was a lot older and bigger than me… He was…" the blonde's face reddened, "well, y'know… He was on top…"

"Oh."

"Yeah," Demyx shrugged, "I mean, that's no big deal, y'know? Someone's gotta bottom. And I didn't really mind. But after a while he and all his other huge, hulking friends started teasing me about being the girl in the relationship… At first they were just joking around and I was fine with it. It was just a joke. But after a while it just started getting old…"

Riku nodded for Demyx to continue.

"It was like— they were all so much buffer than me, so it just me feel really inadequate, like I really was weak," Demyx frowned, "so after awhile I started snapping at them, but then they'd just start teasing me about getting all pissy and PMS."

Riku's thoughts shifted to Cloud, he made an affirming noise and nodded.

"So finally I got fed up," said Demyx simply, "Xigbar flipped out when I dumped him. Kept saying I needed him," tipping his head back to peer at the ceiling, Demyx sighed, "so I told him I didn't need him and that I'd find another boyfriend.

"I hate to admit it but…" he grinned at Riku wickedly, "I'd love to be on top with my next boyfriend, just so I could walk up to Xigbar and really stick it to him."

Riku smirked, "That's almost sadistic of you, but completely justified," he added, "anyways, I think it's a good thing you left him."

Demyx looked up, startled. That was the first time someone had told him that leaving Xigbar had been justified. Usually people just told him he'd over exaggerated and ruined a perfectly good relationship.

"Well," said Riku upon spotting the look on Demyx's face, "the way I see it, if he couldn't tell that the jokes were starting to really upset you then he obviously didn't pay enough attention to how you were feeling. And if he did notice and he just didn't care, well then that's even worse.

"And anyways," he went on, "I can sorta see how you feel. Some of my friends, mostly girls, always tease me about being gay. And then they always gabber away about how uke I am. I don't really mind though."

"Hm," Demyx nodded thoughtfully, "no one's ever really looked at it that way before."

Riku shrugged, "So how did you know Xigbar liked you?" he pressed on, tucking himself under the blanket on his bed; the weather was slowly getting cooler.

Demyx bit his lip, "I guess it's hard to explain, if someone likes you… You just tell. You can see it in the way they act around you and how they look at you and stuff and— you have no idea what I'm talking about do you?"

Riku shook his head dubiously, peering out from the small cocoon of blankets he had built for Namine and himself.

Demyx gave his essay one last look of longing before tucking it away and putting his school stuff back into his bag (and wherever random crevice he stored them in). He twiddled his thumbs a bit and spun around in his computer chair. Riku watched him, silently waiting for an answer.

"Well," said Demyx, blowing out through his cheeks, he really had no idea how to answer this, "basically, you can just tell. People tend to act differently around the people they like."

Riku's brow furrowed as if he were trying to piece together a very complex puzzle in his mind. After a while he shook his head, smiling at Demyx.

"Thanks, Demyx," he said as he lay down on the bed, "I was a little worried about something but I think you just cleared it up."

Demyx wondered just what Riku had just figured out, "Uh, sure, anytime."

"Night."

"Yeah, g'night."

Author's Note: Alright, personally I don't like this chapter very much. To me it kinda dragged. But I think I am now officially back on my writing feet. :D So hopefully you won't have to wait as long to see more writing from me.

Also, um… I'm really going to need some reviews today. In a few hours I'm gonna be leaving for school (it's a late start today). And well…

See, awhile ago in my biology class we had this huge effin' project to do. And I and my group spent over ten hours working on it. Over. Ten. Fucking. Hours. I kid you not.

Well basically we got our grades a while ago and… We flat out failed. And I do mean FAILED. Fifty-nine percent. And you know what gets to me the most? He told our class that everyone got either a C or higher. How the HELL is a fifty nine anywhere NEAR a SEVENTY! I mean, I'm sorry but I just don't think that's right. It just pisses me off.

But yeah… I can accept that maybe my group did something wrong, but I just can't tolerate that he flat out told us that we all passed. So anyways, when I get to school today first thing I do I have to talk to him about my grade.

I'm really scared. Like, I feel like vomiting right now, I'm actually getting queasy. So yeah, when I get home today I'm gonna be in serious need of a pick-me-up. So, please, please, please review!

Thanks.