Chapter7: Round Two of Foot-in-Mouth Syndrome.

Both of these chapters are pretty short…. So I'm just publishing them both at the same time. Enjoy!

….

At the end of class, Axel walked slowly out, dreading what he was about to do. I don't have a choice... I can't let it happen again... he headed over to the landing, where he saw Roxas waiting. Fuck, he's adorable...do I really have to...? Yes, he resolved firmly. I have to do this. He walked over to Roxas. "Let's go" he said roughly. Just turn into asshole Axel. You can do this. Just pretend this doesn't kill you.

"You okay?" Roxas asked him.

No, I'm sure as shit not okay!

"I'm fine. Let's get going already. I don't have all day to play tour guide, you know."

"Ummmm... okay. Sorry I asked. You didn't have to offer though."

Shit, I did offer, didn't I?

"Yeah, well, you're just so pathetic I had to. That's all. Not like I really give two shits anyways. "

Fuck, I hate this.

"Why are you being such a jerk? What crawled up your ass and died?"

They had reached the bottom of the stairs. Axel pointed down the hall. "The cafeteria's that way. Just follow the mass exodus of students. You'll find it." he paused. Finish it... "And if you hadn't noticed, this is how I am. You don't like it, then don't frigging talk to me."

Axel turned and began walking outside. That ought to do it. He won't have anything to do with me now.

"You're wrong."

Axel stopped in his tracks. "Wrong about what?" He asked without turning around.

"That's not how you are." he said. Axel turned to ask him what the hell he knew, but he continued. "Not inside. For some reason, you feel like you have to push everyone away, so you keep up this jerk facade. But I saw how you really are earlier. I don't know why you feel like you have to push me away all of a sudden, but as soon as you figure out yourself, I'd like to talk to the real Axel again."

Roxas turned and walked away then. Holy jeebis. The kids friggin psychic.

"I... I'm sorry." Axel said without thinking. Fuck. "I just... I can't... I..." what the fuck do I say? I can't just tell him everything right here.

"I get it. There's something that's making you scared to get close to anyone. Just... just know that when you get past that fear, I'm still here. I still want to talk to you. And hear your story."

Axel was speechless. Get out of here. Before you say something incredibly stupid. He was walking away, towards the door, without even realizing it. He stopped, and without turning around, blurted out, "Thanks. For... for saying that."

Nix the part about not saying something incredibly stupid.

Axel all but ran the rest of the way to the doors, without once looking back.

He almost missed it. The last thing Roxas said. The most important thing.

"God knows, I want to be closer to you."

So what if you can see the dark inside of me, no one can ever change this animal I have become. Help me believe it's not the real me, somebody help me tame this animal. Somebody wake me from this nightmare, I can't escape this hell.