10. Ignorant
Roxas was not a jealous person. He honestly felt happy for Namine when she won first place in an art contest while he left with second. He gracefully allowed Axel the praise and glory for their joint science project when he did all the work. He didn't feel one shred of envy when big brother Demyx received Mom and Dad's attention for the same grades he himself got. So why did he feel a bitter pang whenever he saw the happy trio?
The threesome paid their price for the love they shared. Riku lost all respect and influence on the football team and received a lifetime as a benchwarmer. Sora had been given unusual, and sometimes dangerous, objects in his locker. He started using Yuffie's the day smoke started seething through the gaps. Yuffie was suspended for two weeks for allegedly pushing a girl down the stairs. It was a lie, of course, and everyone knew it. The girl rolled down the steps intentionally, but what teacher in their right mind would ever believe Yuffie, the pinnacle of promiscuity?
Perhaps it was the way they accepted it. Perhaps it was the way Riku enjoyed lounging on the bench. Playing the dutiful water boy. Doing pushups in his free time. Joining in the spectators in a yelling match. Perhaps it was the way Sora loved decorating Yuffie's locker. Putting up the macaroni art he made in class. Placing silly message magnets next to her mirror. Organizing their books from size to color to subject. Perhaps it was the way Yuffie spent her social isolation with her other thirds. Rotating food trays so everyone got what they wanted from each lunch combo. Playing hooky to get an afternoon cuddle/nap. Exchanging notes so that the afternoon wasn't also spent failing class.
As if they were stupid. As if they were ignorant. As if they weren't aware of what people thought of them.
Roxas shook his head. He shouldn't care. He didn't care. Walking away from the sight of them sharing whispered secrets to each other, he ignored the foreign ache in his chest. Roxas was not a jealous person.