Chapter 4
I watched Sora and Riku through the window walk hand in hand down the sidewalk.
How cheesy. God.
Now, what to do, what to do? It was sunny outside and I decided I'd take a walk and check out the neighbourhood. I grabbed the keys and stepped into the heat of the summer. Where should I start. Well, I wouldn't want to disturb Sora and Riku so I went the other way. Maybe I would meet somebody new.
I had been walking for about 10 minutes in a straight lina to the right from our new place and so far I liked all the houses I'd seen but there were few people taking a walk at 8 a.m. in the morning. Hey! Was that a park over there? Yeah it was.
I thought it would be nice to walk in the shadows so I turned and took the path toward the fountain that I saw glittering in between the trees. There was nobody here either and once I got to it I sat down on the side of it, took of my shoes and socks and put my feet into the cool water. The fountain was beautiful: made from marble stone and shaped like a swan, spraying water up into the sky from its mouth which was stretching upwards.
The bird were singing and I laid down on the side on the fountain and looked into the sky. There wasn't a single cloud. I sighed and felt really good. This was a really nice place. I bet Sora and I are going to love it here. I closed my eyes and relaxed.
The next thing I know, I'm soaking wet and coughing, trying to get the water out of my lungs. I was lying in the fountain, cold and wet and there was somebody looking down at me and grinning.
„Get up and out of my park" a harsh voice growled at me.
Wait, he pushed me?
I got up and cleared my throat.
„Your park, huhh? I don't see your name on it. And way did you do that? I'm all wet!" I said and glared at the attacker. He was maybe 3-4 years older that me. He had blond hair and sharp features.
„Well, well, well, got a little bite to you there? Who are you? I've never seen you here before." He looked me over and then added „ My name is Seifer and I control everything around here so you'd better get out of here if you don't want to get a black eye or break a leg".
I stepped out of the water, grabbed my socks and shoved them in my pocked and slipped my feet into my shoes.
„I'm Roxas and I'm new here. And I'm definitely NOT going to listen to some punk who thinks he owns the place."
Shit. Maybe I shouldn't have said that. I felt me heart start to pound faster and my hands get a little sweaty. I also saw Seifer's eyes narrow and his muscles harden. Yes, he had muscles, something I did not have a lot of. Usually I'm not this brave. I'd just have walked away like he told me to, but now I had to finish this. I would not run away. I couldn't.
Seifer took a step closer and snorted. „If you knew who I am and what I can do, you'd slither away."
„You know, I would feel sorry for you if you weren't suck an ass. But since you are I'm telling you just to leave me alone before you do something stupid." There, that should do it. Now he knew he couldn't mess with me like that and I would go away and never see him again.
I turned and started to walk . I felt a fist thud into my ribs and I fell down and scraped my hands and probably ripped my jeans.
A moan escaped my lips and I grabbed my bruised ribs. Then another thud and this time Seifer kicked my in the stomach. That hurt so bad I tried to scream but nothing came. Instead tears started leaking from my eyes and down my cheeks.
„What did you just say!?" Seifer yelled at me and cleansed his fists, ready to give my another blow.
„You little bitch,did you think that you could just insult me without consequences, huhh?" He was shaking with rage.
„Mmghhh, s-sorry" I managed to gasp.
„Are you crying? Shit man. I knew the minute I saw you that you were a wimp but I didn't know you were such a pussy." He laughed and poked my side with his shoe.
That hurt so much I screamed. „Don't, please! I won't insult you again I promise! I'll leave your park and never come again." I yelled and tried to get up but only got to all fores when I felt him give my side a push and I rolled onto my back. He put his foot on top of my stomach and pushed down hard.
„Too late. You should have said that like, 5 minutes ago, now I'm just gonna have to-„ But I never knew what he was going to do because something big smashed into him and he fell down with that big something on him.
I just lay there in pain and watched as a man with spiky, red hair pinned Seifer's arms to the ground and growled at him.
„Seifer! What did you do that for!? You disgust me! He's, like, 15 years old!" the man yelled at him.
Seifer looked a little flushed but then his face turned red with anger and he yelled back at the red head „he was in my way!".
„I – don't – care! You – don't - tackle – anyone - to – the –ground – who – doesn't – deserve - it!" With each word the man banged Seifer's hands to the ground.
„Oww! OK! Axel, let me go, I wasn't going to do anything!" Seifer tried to get away but couldn't. Apparently Axel was much stronger than him.
Axel stood up, dragging Seifer with him and then pushed him aside and said as Seifer ran away „ And don't you dare do that EVER again!" Then he turned to me with a concerned look, crouched down and said in a serious voice „Where did he hurt you? I am so sorry for Seifer's behaviour. He is so, so...I don't have the words to describe him". He took my hand and helped me to sit up. It hurt really much and tears started to run down my face again.
„Th-thanks. This hurts a b-bit" I stammered.
„Right, a bit. What's your name buddy? I'm Axel by the way. Do you live here near by? Is there someone I can call for you?" Axel asked and scratched his neck.
„I'm Roxas. I just moved here with my friend and we don't know anybody here. He's busy though. I was just going to take a l-look around and then I guess I fell asleep by the fountain and then S-Seifer came and pushed me in and...uhh." When I started thinking about it it was kind of stupid. To just fall asleep in some unfamiliar park.
„He pushed you into the fountain?" Axel asked and his brows sank.
„...Yeah" I felt my face get red and hot and I looked down at my hands to cower it.
Axel put a hand on my shoulder and said „Can I look at your injuries?".
I nodded.
„Can you stand up by your self?" He asked.
No.
„Yes" I said. I tried but the pain was a bit too much and I fell back but Axel grabbed me into his hands and held me tight to his chest so I wouldn't fall again.
„Thanks". God.I just fell on the man.
„No problem" he replied with a smile.
Once I was standing he asked me to lift my T-shirt. Once I did he frowned.
„Is it that bad?" I asked.
„Yes. It is" he said. „I don't think you'll be able to get home by yourself. I know. My car is in the parking lot over there. I'll drive you home. How does that sound?" He said and pulled my T-shirt down.
How kind of him. „You would do that for me" I asked and felt...well, a little awkward.
„Of course. And you know, Seifer is going to get his ass kicked when I get a hold of him. That's a promise." He smiled and then narrowed his eyes a bit. „But you can't walk like that. Hmm."
Then he stepped closer, put his left hand behind my shoulders and then whipped me into his arms so he was carrying me.
I had no power to react with my injured body but my face got so red it matched Axel's hair.
„Put me down, now" I commanded but Axel just shook his head and started waking towards his car.
„It would take ages for you to walk to my car." He said with a smile in his voice.
This was so embarrassing. I could feel Axel's strong arms around me and that he was trying to protect my injured side and ribs. I felt like a baby.
„Axel, I told you to put me-„
„And we're here" he said.
He put me gently down on the pavement and there it was.
The car was AWESOME. There was really no other way to describe it. It was a yellow Corvette, from 2009 with no roof. The seats were made of black leather and it shined in the sunshine.
I gaped. „Woooooow. Cooooool. Is this your car?" I swear I nearly drooled.
„Yupp" Axel said with a proud look in his eyes. He must love his car really much.
He took up his car keys and pushed a button. The car made a clicking sound and the front lights flashed twice.
„Well, what are you waiting for?" he opened the door for me and I scrambled in with some effort. He got in too and breathed in the car-smell.
„So, I take it by the look on your face that you like her?"
„Her?" I turned to him and smiled.
„Well, it sure isn't a he" he replied and poked my arm.
„Now, where are we going?" he asked and backed the car (her) onto the street.
„Umn." I looked around. And then I realised I didn't know. I had entered the garden from a different gate than we went out of to get to the car.
„Well... I think it might possibly be...that way? Or no wait. That way" I pointed in like 5 different ways.
„Oh, your new, right? So, just tell me the street name and I'll know where it is." He looked confident and I believed him but...
„I don't know" I said sheepishly. I didn't want to look at Axel. I was SO embarrassed.
„You don't know?" Axel said and breathed out.
„Well, then there is just one thing to do. Your coming home with me and then you can call your friend and he'll help us out."
„I don't want to bother you or anything, I just...thank you Axel. Your really good to me." I said and looked into his eyes.
„No problem at all Rox." Rox?
Then he turned the car around and drove. I started by looking to my right, the town was full of shops and things to look at. Then I looked at the stereo-system in the car, which was cool, and then at Axel. He was wearing a black hoody and dark jeans. He was muscular and had a little sharp, but a nice face. When he noticed I was looking at him he smiled a little.
„What, is there something in my face?" he asked.
„No" I said and stopped staring. „You know I'm 16, not 15" I said.
„Huh?"Axel looked puzzled. „Oh, what I said in the park? You look younger you know" he said.
„Yeah, I get that a lot" I replied.
„Guess how old I am"Axel said, straightened his back and deepened his tone a little.
My face got all hot. „I don't know" I said,"23?" I suggested.
„Close, 22." He said and then „ Were here".
He slowed the car down and I gaped again. His house was so neat and cool. It was on two floors and had a huge garden around it. The house had many, big windows and was red with brown, wooden doors and looked a bit like it was a mix of the most modern houses you see in magazines and something you would find from the Victorian-times. Axel must be rich.
„You have a nice house" I commented.
„Yeah, I guess" Axel said and shrugged. He stepped out and helped me out of the car. I was feeling a little better but I'd probably have bruises for some time though.
„I can walk, thank you" I said but took Axel's arm to support me, just in case.
„There is a phone inside you can call your friend from" he said and helped me up 5 steps that led to his front doors.
„Yeah, maybe I'll call Sora." I said. Although I didn't expect much. He was probably busy with Riku at the workshop
„Yes, but in the mean time, I could show you my house if you want" Axel suggested.
This sounded like fun. „I would like that", I said, looked up at him and he met my eyes. I looked away awkwardly.
Then he took up his keys and opened the door.