"Xion? What are you doing?"
"Making pancakes."
"It's like two in the morning."
"I felt like pancakes."
"At two in the morning."
"Yes."
"I... you are so weird."
"Thanks, mom."
"Just... keep it down."
"Man, I'm so bored... don't you have any porn?"
"No," I said, frowning. "You're welcome to the laptop, just don't give me any viruses."
"Your laptop sucks dick."
"Duh."
"Can I shove this needle through your tongue?"
I glanced at her warily. "Why do you have piercing needles?"
"Well, I was going to ask Roxas, but... he kind of puked when I did."
"That's... a strange reaction."
"Tell me about it," she said, rolling her eyes. "So, can I, or no?"
I stuck my tongue out.
"Fuck, I love you, Xi," she said, grinning.
"Hey, dyke! What the hell are you doing in here?"
"Um... changing."
"You can't change in here! I don't want some dyke looking at me," she said, grimacing.
"Don't flatter yourself," I said, rolling my eyes.
I may have been being a smart ass, but I don't think that justified being shoved into the locker, shoved down on the track, having my things thrown in the trash or the toilet, or being constantly harassed in the locker rooms.
I didn't want to be there any more than they wanted me to be.
"Hey, lookit what I scored!" Larxene said, holding up a small bag of off-white powder.
"Shit, Larx, I love you," Axel said.
I had a bad feeling, and I looked at Roxas, who shrugged. It wasn't anything too out of the ordinary. They'd done a lot of drugs.
Larxene stumbled over to the couch where Axel was. They'd already been drunk, having downed enough to kill a moose all in one sitting.
Nonetheless, the two thrill seekers shot up.
Larxene took more than we thought she did.
"She's so stupid," the girl with the pig-face said, as if I couldn't tell she was talking about me. "I mean, all she ever does is sit there and stare at the wall. She's probably retarded."
"Yeah, have you ever heard her talk? She doesn't even speak English," another one said. She was so orange she was purple.
"What's with all these Chinks in our school? Like, they should go back to like, China."
"She's staring at us," the pig-faced girl said. "What's wrong, squinty? You miss your girlfriend? I heard she finally got sick of you and offed herself."
I growled.
"Ooo, kitty's mad," some guy with fish eyes said, laughing. "Better watch out, she might have rabies."
"I don't blame her," the pig-faced girl said. "I'd kill myself too, if I had to deal with someone as ugly and stupid as you."
"Shut up! God, you fucking pig-faced bitch," I screamed in my head.
"Ms. Finnegan, if you would be so kind as to give us the answer to problem fourteen?" The teacher asked.
I stared at him. I'm pretty sure my eye was twitching. Not only was he blatantly calling me the wrong name, but I wasn't a fucking miss.
"Ms. Finnegan?"
"Ooo, guys, I think she's gonna snap," the purple-orange girl said.
"If you would kindly stop calling me the wrong name, I would gladly share with you. Until then, I will refrain." My last name was not, and never was, Finnegan. It was O'Fionnagain. There was a difference.
Rather than correct himself, the teacher simply asked someone else.
"What the fuck kind of Asian name is that, anyways? Finnegan."
"It's not even Asian," Pig-face said. "Her parents must have been so ashamed they tried to be white."
"Will you shut up?"
"Are you going to make me?"
"Becca, maybe you shouldn't-"
"Shut up, Kaitlyn," Pig-face said. "I bet your parents probably hate you. They probably wish they'd never been cursed with such an ugly, stupid, worthless little dyke like you."
"Will you shut up?"
"Larxene only dated you because she felt sorry for you."
"You don't know shit."
"I bet she was cheating on you."
"Your mom smoked when she was pregnant with you."
"What the hell kid of argument is that? You're so stupid. Why don't you go kill yourself?"
"Why don't you go play in traffic?"
"I bet you're too afraid to die. Too scared your little lover wouldn't want you in hell?"
"Shut your god damn mouth."
"I bet she's happier burning in hell than spending time with you."
"Shut up."
"She was such trash. It doesn't surprise me that she was a drug addict."
"Shut up! You don't know anything! God, you're so stupid!"
"Oh, I'm stupid? At least I can read and write. That's better than you could ever do."
"You think you're so fucking great? Why don't you shut your dirty little mouth and fight me, bitch?"
She stood up and yanked me up by the hair. "What, you think you're so tough?"
"Hey! What are you doing back there?"
Pig-face turned around. "Oh, I'm just trying to help Xion fix her hair," she said.
"Well, save it for after school. You have work to do."
"Sorry, Teach."
I hated gym class. I hated it because I was forced to go into the girls locker room, and as if that wasn't humiliating enough, Becca and her squad of spray-tan abusing barbies were always there to make my day one thousand times shittier.
Sometimes they were somewhat civil, saying things like: "You might be pretty if you wore makeup and dressed like a girl," or, "You should grow your hair out, so it'll cover more of your face."
But on other days, they would shove me into my locker.
Yet again on very special days, when we were forced to go swimming, and therefore shower, Pig-face would go use the shower on the other side of the wall, and because her friends weren't there or able to hear her, she'd be... kind of sweet, really. I didn't mind her on those days. She wasn't horrible, when her friends weren't around.
She soon proved herself to be a whole new breed of horrible that I don't like to think about.
"You've been staring at the same spot on the wall for over an hour," Namine said. "I don't think it's changed."
I slid my eyes over to her. "Sorry- I guess I spaced."
"If something's bothering you, you can tell me."
I smiled. "Thanks, but... some things are better off kept inside."
Namine frowned.
Every year, Larxene's parents held a Christmas party that they, (for some reason) always invited Larxene's friends to, despite the fact that Larxene was six feet under.
And every year, Roxas and I went. We didn't know why we went, whether it was because Larxene was still a large part of us, the person who essentially brought us together as friends, or whether it was just to humour her ageing parents, who despite having never liked us, always pretended to love us like their own children.
I think they were just lonely.
Either way, Roxas and I upheld our promise to go eat their food and fill their home with laughter like we did when Larxene was still around, just like we did every year. This year, like most years, Axel wasn't with us. However, this year, unlike the others, we brought Namine with us, because she had never actually been to such an event, having never celebrated Christmas before.
"Oh, come in, come in-how are you, Roxas, honey?"
"I'm great, Mrs. Adams," he said, laughing as she pulled him into a hug.
"That boyfriend of yours still skipping out on us?"
"Yeah- he's up in Marquette with his parents and sister again."
"That's a pity," Larxene's mother said, shaking her head. Her eyes locked in on Namine, then. "Oh, and who is this?"
"I'm Namine," Namine said.
"Oh! It's been so long- I didn't even recognize you!"
Namine smiled politely.
"Oh, and of course Xion- my, have you grown?"
I shrugged.
"Oh, you- always the quiet one," she said, shaking her head. "What have you been up to?"
"Not much," I said, grinning. "Still working at Payless, still bored with it."
"Oh, Xion... what are you going to do with your life?"
I shrugged.
Larxene's mom sighed, shaking her head. "It's good to see the three of you in good health," she said. "There's cookies on the table, Roxas, Namine. And you're welcome to whatever food you find in the kitchen, Xion."
We all grinned and gave our thanks.
I always thought these gatherings were awkward and strange, personally, and I was sure Roxas probably thought the same, but we did it anyways.
"I remember, I was so sure you were gonna be an artist, like Nami," Roxas said, laughing. He'd had a bit too much to drink. I guess it's a good thing we brought Namine over this year.
"Yeah, right- I sucked at drawing," I said.
"I thought they were the shit," Roxas said, ruffling my hair. "I remember that time you drew that picture of me, I still have that bitch up on my wall."
"You're like a parent with a little kid," I said, rolling my eyes. "'Oh, Xion, Honey, that's such a good drawing!' and it's like a bunch of scribbles or something."
"Naw, dude- you were really fuckin' good. Nami, Xion used to be a really fucking awesome artist."
Namine smiled. "Yes, Roxas, I'm sure he was." In other words: Yes, Roxas, you are completely wasted, and I'm not really listening to a word you're saying any more.
"I failed art class, dude. I think it's safe to say I sucked."
"Your art teacher was a cunt. You were great," he said, and attempted to flick me on the nose, but instead flicked me just below the eye.
Bastard.
"Whatever," I said, rolling my eyes. "And you were a great stripper, but I don't see you doing that any more."
"You two are so silly," Larxene's mom, who was completely and utterly wasted, said, hiccuping. "Roxas would never be a stripper, he's not tall enough."
I snickered. "Here that, Rox? You're not tall enough to be a stripper."
"I am too tall enough!"
"Nope, you're too short."
"Don't call me short!"
"Okay, shrimp."
"You're the same height as me!"
"Not if we shave your head."
Roxas grabbed his hair, a look of pure terror spreading across his face.
"Is it okay to just leave him there like that?" Namine asked, staring down at her brother-turned-vegetable that laid on the floor.
"Yeah- he'll be fine. We do this every year," I said, grinning. "Marluxia would be worried if there wasn't a blond passed out on his doorstep on Christmas eve."
"All right..."
I grinned and rang the door bell, grabbing her hand and hiding in the bushes.
"Hello-oh. It's you," the pink haired man nudged the blond with his foot gently before proving that he was truly a beast and picking the blond up with practically no effort.
"I didn't know you used to draw," Namine said as she drove us back home.
"It's not important."
"I'd love to see some of your work."
"I don't have any."
"Oh. Why not?"
"Threw it out."
"Why?"
"Because it was stupid."
Namine frowned. "Roxas didn't think so."
"Roxas is too nice to say it sucked."
Namine sighed.
"Xion! Mistletoe! Mistletoe!" Axel said, pointing at the archway.
"Uh, so?"
"XION, LAUNCH!" Axel said, shoving me very roughly in the direction of the archway so I smacked into the wall, successfully scaring the heck out of one very unaware (and now mildly concerned for her safety) Namine.
"Axel, play nice," Roxas scolded, smacking the redhead upside the head.
"I am! Look, now they have to kiss, see!"
"Oh my god, Axel- I don't force your sister to kiss Yuffie, so don't force mine to kiss Xion."
"You say it like it's a punishment," Axel said, laughing. The humor fell from his face instantly as he glanced back at us. "You two. Kiss. Now."
"Oh my god, Axel."
I rolled my eyes and kissed Namine on the cheek as I walked into the kitchen.
"No! That is not okay! Get back here, you little twerp!" Axel said, storming in after me and pulling me back into the living room.
"Hey, Axel, you know you just went under the mistletoe with Xion, right?" Kairi said, raising an eyebrow.
Axel scowled and planted a kiss on my mouth. Sort of.
"Ew, Axel germs," I said, wiping my mouth off and then wiping my hand on Axel's shirt.
"Don't wipe my kiss off on me!" He said, wiping his shirt and wiping in on the side of my face.
"I don't want it!"I said, wiping my face and wiping it onto his face.
"You can't re-gift my kisses to me!" Axel said, returning it to my shoulder. "No givebacksies!"
I wiped it off my shirt and stalked over to Roxas, who had been absorbed in a conversation with Zexion and Demyx, (whose house we were currently loitering in for a new year's party) and rubbed my hand on the side of his face.
"Xion? What the-"
"YOU CAN'T RE-GIFT MY LOVE, XION!" Axel shouted, tackling me to the floor.
I screamed in a very manly fashion as I was showered with Axel spit via him licking my face.
"Down, boy, down!" Roxas said, kicking his boyfriend. He shot an apologetic look towards Zexion. "I'm sorry about them, they don't know how to behave like normal human beings around each other."
"I'm not a human being! I'm an alieeeeennnnnnnnnn!" Axel shrieked, (sang?) before I managed to roll back onto my shoulders and kick him in the face, sending him backwards. "You little- get back here!" He yelled as I ran away, cackling maniacally.
I dove behind the couch, crawling away from Axel's hands which reached for my ankles. Of course, he caught one and dragged me out from behind the couch so he could begin his torture. I screamed bloody murder.
"Alright, you two. Knock it off," Kairi said, rolling her eyes as she somehow managed to drag Axel off of me despite being a 4'11 twig.
"Aw, we were just playing, sis," Axel said. "Right, Xion?"
"I need an adult."
Axel scowled at me.
"How would you describe your relationship with Axel?"
"I hate him, but he's one of my best friends."
"I see... isn't that a bit contradicting?"
I shrugged. "That's just how we are. We fight more than we get along. He's like the flame-haired big brother I've never wanted."
"Don't you have a brother?"
"Yeah, I fight with him, too."
"Is there a reason?"
"He's a psychopathic little scum-bag."
"And... why do you say that?"
"Because it's true."
"Do you feel the same about Axel?"
"Not in the least."
"I see."
"Just 'cause we try and kill each other doesn't mean I think he's a scumbag. If I thought that, I wouldn't hang out with him."
"I see," Zexion said. "Would you say that you look up to him?"
I frowned. "No, I think I look up to Roxas more than Axel. Axel... isn't really a good role model."
"Why do you say that?"
"He hangs out with Demyx."
Zexion scowled.
I grinned.
"Omnomnom."
Namine jumped as I attacked the side of her face with my mouth in greeting. "Xion!"
"Sorry, I couldn't resist."
Namine giggled. "How was therapy?"
"Zexion can't take a joke," I said, jumping over the back of our standard meeting spot. "Other than that, good I guess."
"You really shouldn't piss him off," Namine said, sighing.
"Yeah, probably not," I said shrugging. "What's with all the sighs?"
"I don't know- I think it's the weather."
"It's snowed once so far," I said, frowning at the mud. "This is the weirdest January ever."
"I agree," she said, leaning her head on my shoulder. "I can't draw today."
I frowned. "Maybe you should take a break and try again later," I said, leaning my head on hers. "We could go see a movie, or something."
"I don't even know what's out."
"That's never stopped me before," I said, grinning. "We can go watch whatever crappy film is out, if you want?"
"Yeah, it might inspire me," she said, sighing.
A/N: ew, OCs. ewwww. I couldn't think of characters in kh that would work for them, though. -sigh-
egyptian1995: xD I'm glad it's interesting, at least?
Yeah, it's a good thing Roxas is a bad brother. :D
