AN: WOOO! Sorry this chapter is slightly shorter, but I FINALLY sat down and mapped out what i'm doing with the plot. So if things don't make sense, GOOD. You aren't supposed to know what the accident was, or who exactly it effected, or even the cause...yet. All in good time. For now, please overlook my hideous writing mistakes as I am writing on wordpad. Enjoy! Also, I am trying to develop the characters as evenly as possible...there will be Sora/Riku, and hopefully you'll get to know Demyx, Kairi, and Namine, as well as the other characters that are going to be thrown in later.

The fire was blazing.

It lapped at my clothes, rising in a flurry of embers and falling like pixie dust. I was screaming, thrashing around wildly, trying to find a way to get myself out. It was everywhere, constricting me, binding my words. Dark figures stood on the outside of the fire. I wanted them to help me, to put out the fire, to kill me so that the pain would just stop.

"Roxas, why did you do it? Why did you do this to me? Why did you hurt me like this?"

"Roxas?"

"ROXAS?"

I sat up quickly, gasping for air. Sora stood at the edge of my bed, grabbing the sheets around my legs. "Roxas?" He asked again, blue eyes full of worry. I sighed.

"It was just a dream." I noted dully, raising my eyes to Sora's in an apology. It hadn't seemed like a dream, but it must have been. Sora nodded, grinning slightly.

"Maybe some breakfast will make you feel better, let's go!" He chirped as I quickly threw on the school's uniform. Again, I found myself staring at Axel's door as we walked down the hallway. He had left the rooftop quickly and without explanation last night, leaving me to sit there in confusion. Was he mad at me? I groaned, realizing my prospects for today sucked. I would have to face last period, meaning I would have to face Namine.

When we entered the cafeteria I looked around warily for Axel, even Demyx, but they were no where in sight. Namine, too, was absent for Sora's table, (which I was eternally grateful for.) Still, as Sora sat me down at his table and started a conversation on the english essay we had been handed, I couldn't tear my mind off the missing fiery redhead.

"So has anyone," Sora mumbled, is mouth full of food- "Even attempted to start that essay? I mean, Mr. Strife is crazy! It was a first day of school, how am I supposed to write and essay on the most influental moment in my life?" He swallowed, his voice becoming clearer. "I don't even know what that means! Isn't infulental a kind of flu?" I stared at Sora, choking on my eggs.

"You're kidding, right?" I asked, the corners of my mouth raising in a smile. Kairi shook her head.

"Unfortunately, Sora is a dumbass. We all love him anyhow." She smiled warily at me and I smiled back. Riku sat down then, smashing his tray against the table.

"I can't fucking belive this!" The silver haired boy hissed, shoveling some hashbrowns into his mouth. Kairi sighed.

"More soccer team drama?" She probbed, resting her face in her hands. She was obviously used to the boys constant whining. Riku grunted, setting his fork down.

"That red haired skinny assed prick is trying to take my spot as team captain!" Riku almost broke into a scream, narrowing his eyes. "I've been captain since I started here freshman year, and now coach is having a fit over who to pick."

Red haired skinny assed prick? I almost laughed, knowing it could be no one other than Axel. Riku broke the silence again, this time turning to me.

"You're his friend, right?" He asked, staring into my eyes. I nodded. "Pass him on this message, and tell him it's from me: If he thinks the team is going to be his, he's sorely mistaken."

With that, Riku leaped up from the table with Sora behind him, obviously trying to calm him down. Kairi laughed quietly.

"It's like this every year when soccer starts. Don't mind Riku, he acts like a hardass, but he's got his moments." She adivsed, dumping her tray in the trashcan behind her. I looked over to where Sora and Riku were standing, locked in a tight embrace. Kairi noticed me watching and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, and by the suprised look on your face, I suppose Sora has failed to mention he and Riku are 'more than friends.'" She rolled her eyes. "Sora will deny it everytime, but we all know they are. Just don't be too tough on him about it, okay? He's really sweet, and his feelings get hurt eaisly."

I could already tell Kairi was the mom of the group, and as she spoke she got a certain fondness in her eyes. I nodded. Riku and Sora? Really?

"Well, Roxas, it's been nice metting you, but i've got to find my friend Namine." Kairi smiled, walking in the opposite direction and giving me a wave. "See ya later!"

First period, and still no sign of Axel.

I was furious with him. He couldn't just stalk off in the middle of a conversation and leave me with no explanations! In fourth period science, his desk was empty. In P.E, there was one less person on my dodgeball team. By the time the last period bell had rang, I was fuming and ready to rip my hair out. Why did his abscense piss me off even more than he did? It was almost enough to make me forget about Namine, who I encountered as soon as I entered the doorway.

"Oh. Roxas. Hello." She said politely, and I nodded. What was I supposed to say to her? 'Hi, can you please explain why I have no memory past a year ago?' I simply shut up and followed her back to our table. Namine sat down, sighing as I started a conversation again.

"Namine, who I am? You didn't awnser me yesterday. You know who I am, I know you do! And don't just say Roxas, please." I begged her, dropping my voice an octave. She stared up at me, her eyes filled with a flash of grief before she smiled sweetly again.

"What are you talking about, Roxas? We never talked yesterday. We simply introduced ourselves. I've got no clue who you are." Namine said this carefully, smiling again before going back to her drawing. I groaned, digging my fingernails into my palms.

"Namine, please. I got my ass handed to me by some kid named Seifer, who claims I know all about some people named Hayner, Pence, and Olette, two of which are dead. Yesterday you acted like you had seen a ghost when we met. I knew your name. All I know is that I just got here a year ago and this is my first time at this school- ever." I dropped my voice again. "So please. Please tell me who I am."

Namine took a deep breath, shaking her head slowly. "You know far too much already, they're going to be angry."

They? I thought, tracing circles in the desk. Was it really going to be this difficult? I looked up, locking eyes with Namine. She seemed to hesitate before scribbiling on a piece of paper and handing it to me.

The bell chimed, signiling the end of class.

"Meet me there tonight, eleven o' clock. Sharp." Namine paused, hovering at the door for a moment. "I may not be able to tell you everything, but I can try."

As class let out I made my way to Axel and Demyx's room, intent on figuring out where the red head had been all day. With Namine's paper still clutched between my fingers, I knocked on his door, half suprised when he opened.

"Roxie." Axel said, attempting a smile. He looked tired and dishevled, opening his door wider to let me pass. I slipped the paper in my pocket.

Now, Sora was kind of messy, but our dorm was nothing compared to his. It looked like the worlds largest tornado has stormed through, ripping everything to pieces. Axel side stepped everything carefully, sitting down on a couch and flipping through channels on a small TV.

"Where were you today?" I asked, sounding angrier than I had meant to. Axel blinked, motioning for me to sit next to him.

"I was, uh- tired. Yeah." He yawned, stretching his arms out and resting them on the back of the couch behind me. I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, whatever. You skipped and I know it." I dropped the subject after seeing a look of anger sweep over Axel's face. I wasn't sure if it was from me, or from whatever he had been doing today. We made small talk until I looked over his shoulder, noticing a piece of paper slightly open. Suddenly, a large scream of profanities flodded into the room from the hallway. Axel laughed.

"I'll be right back, Dem got a dollar stuck in the soda machine down the hall and I can hear him flipping shit." He grinned, sliding out of the room. I got up, stepping over mounds of clothes, and grabbed the paper I had been observing earlier.

Dear Axel,

You've stated Roxas has made good progress, but you have not given me the information I seek. Meet me at my manor on the dates of 7-

The letter was suddenly ripped out of my hands, and I stared right into the face of Axel, who looked furious.

"What was that?" I asked, utterly confused. Why did Axel have a letter asking about me? It seemed to take a few seconds for Axel to regain his composure before awnsering coldly.

"It was a novel i'm trying to write. I liked your name, so I used it for a character. Do you want me to change it?" He raised an eyebrow, slowly crumpiling the paper. Axel had never really been mad at me before; and the embarrasment of being caught snooping had just hit me. Still confused, I bit my lip.

"N-no!" I stuttered, backing away. "I'm sorry, i'll go-"

Suddenly Axel grabbed me from behind, swinging me around. We were inches from each others face, and he stared at me with a look i'd never seen cross him before.

"Why is it that everytime we really start talking, you run away?" He whispered, leaning closer. I was shaking, pressing my fists into the top of my legs. "I- I don't know?" I said slowly back. The real question should have been 'why was it that everytime I was around Axel, I acted like a retard.' He laughed and wrapped his arms around my waist, our faces still dangerously close. What was going on? I was not gay, I was not gay, I was no-

My thoughts were interupted as his warm lips pressed themselves to mine. All my thoughts dispersed as I melted into him, wrapping my arms around his neck and digging my fingers into his hair.

I was so gay.

He pulled back from me, laughing at the expression on my face. "You...just kissed me." I accused softly. Axel pushed my hair back from my face, pressing our noses together.

"Very observant, Roxie." He joked, leaning into kiss me one last time. I didn't know whether to push him away or pull him closer. I didn't have to make a choice as the door opened and Demyx waltzed in, his jaw dropping.

"Well..." Demyx said awkwardly as Axel turned around. "I got my soda?"

"I have to go." I mumbled, my arms slipping from Axel's neck as I walked out of the door. As I turned around to wave goodbye, Axel grinned, Demyx still in shock behind him.

Even with their dorm door closed, I could still hear them both errupt into cheers, causing my face to turn bright red.

I had just kissed Axel. Axel. After a day of being pissed off at him, I had just waltzed into his room and he kissed me- but I kissed back.

It was almost enough to make me forget about tonight with Namine, but as I remembered, I sobered up immediately. With my head still light, I slipped the scrap of paper out of my pocket, reading it as I opened my door.

Tongiht. 11. Meet me at the clock tower.

"The clock tower..." I mumbled to myself.

It was a start.