Riot

Roxas sighed when he realized he wasn't late, but early. He had, had a rough night and couldn't sleep for some reason or another. He had woken up, having not heard his alarm, and didn't bother to look at the time, since usually it meant he over slept, and he didn't want to know how late he had that time. Once he had gotten on school grounds, he had been overly relieved he wasn't late, but then annoyed that he was early. Could've had a couple more hours of sleep. He thought with annoyance. Putting a book into his locker, he scanned the small space for the one he needed and reached for it.

He was so lost in his thoughts he wasn't aware of the two approaching him, or the pissed off looks on their faces. Or the kids that backed away out of fear of what was going to happen. When Gaige and Dillon were pissed and side-by-side, nothing good was going to come of it. A lot of people had learned that, and those that didn't warned the people they were next to, or friends with. Roxas had just pulled his arm back in time, the locket barely grazing his arm, the sound of metal slamming against metal echoing down the hall.

Roxas jumped and snapped his gaze to his left, his eyes narrowing. As if the day hadn't started off a little on the bad side. "What do you want?" He asked, glancing between the two. Dillon's pissed look faded, and a little smile graced his lips. Roxas wasn't dumb, though. That smile was dangerous. He didn't have much time to react as Dillon lifted his hand and swung, catching him off guard, and in the eye. Gaige took that opportunity to catch Roxas by the arms, move behind him, and hold him up, arms locked like hooks around his arms.

"What did you do to Piper?" Dillon asked in a way too calm of voice for the situation as Roxas tried to get a feel for what exactly had just happened. It took him a second to realize he was being held back, and instantly knew he was going to get his ass kicked if he didn't get free, or a teacher didn't come along to stop this.

"What the hell are you talking about? I haven't seen her in a few days, since she dropped by my place un..." He trailed. Just fucking great. He growled, dropping his weight a little, before pushing back, shoving Gaige into the lockers behind them, barely avoiding the fist that came flying for his face again. Gaige groaned, but was on his feet again in no time, grabbing Roxas by the sleeve of his jacket, jerking him back, slamming his knee into the blond's stomach.

"That's dirty!" Someone in the crowd called. Not many liked Roxas, and not many really knew about him, but it was a code that was never really written. Fights amongst students were to be a fair one-on-one ratio.

Roxas doubled over from the pain, wrapping his arms around his stomach as he dropped to his knees. Dillon made Gaige step back and walked in front of him, kneeling so they were eye-to-eye, forcing Roxas' chin up. "If I catch you near Piper, or even hear of it, I swear to God, Strife, I'll push your ass off the highest building in..." He trailed as Roxas' face paled, and his eyes widened with horror. The blond really hated how sensitive he was when it came to threats like that. He could feel his stomach turning at the thought of his own body hitting the concrete.

He lifted a hand and covered his mouth, closing his eyes with a weak nod. Dillon did not expect this kind of reaction out of Roxas. He had figured the blond would fight back, like he had started to, figured he would take that opportunity to slug him in the face as pay back. However, Roxas just sat there, one hand over his mouth, one arm over his stomach, eyes screwed shut. The blond could feel his left eye throbbing from the pain, and he was sure it was going to bruise before long, if it hadn't already.

"Screw the threats, Dillon! Beat his ass!" Gaige growled. Dillon stood and stared down at Roxas for a moment, before he smiled, drew his leg back, and kicked the blond into the lockers, before turning to walk away. Gaige just stood there for a moment, glaring at Roxas. Hearing a teacher, though, he turned and made a break for it. There was no way in hell he was getting caught that soon. Roxas groaned and sat there a moment. He went from holding his stomach to nursing the back of his head. It had hit the locker pretty hard, and Roxas was surprised he hadn't passed out.

Piper came running down the hall, her eyes widening when she saw a satisfied look on Dillon's face, and a rather annoyed Gaige, making gestures, as if asking him something. Piper stopped where she was and waited until they got close to her, arms at her sides. "What did you do?" She asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"Gave him a simple warning." Dillon replied with a shrug, looking away. "No one hurts you and gets away with it."

"Ah!" Piper screamed in pure frustration, stomping her foot, her scream echoing down the halls. "Would you just listen to me?" She yelled, looking up at them. Both of them, needless to say, looked a bit shocked at the sudden outburst from her towards them. Sure, they were use to her temper, but something was different this time. "Jesus! I'm not helpless!" She growled, her eyes never leaving them, narrowing dangerously. "You wanna know what happened? Roxas was ranting about how people like you are constantly judging him, and he wasn't paying attention. He looked genuinely hurt, and a little pissed, needless to say! He was going to cross the road, but a car was speeding down the street! If I hadn't pulled him back, then he'd be dead, and I'd feel responsible! We fell and I cracked my head on the sidewalk. If he was such a bad guy, he would have left me to bleed to death! Gah! You're treating him like people use to treat me!" She all but screamed at them, shoving past them and running down the hall.

Her words rung in their ears, and they turned and watched as she disappeared into the crowd of curious and amused students. And both of them felt horrible. She was right, they were jumping to conclusions and judging. Something Piper wasn't very fond of.

Piper growled, tears of frustration still making an occasional appearance on her cheeks as she made her way towards Roxas' locker. That was where they were coming from, right? She was right. She reached the area in time to see a couple of people knelt at his side, helping him stand, with a bit of difficulty. "Dude, come on. You need to go to the nurse's office." One of them tried, but Roxas just shook his head and tried to brush them off.

"I'm fine. I can't afford to miss any more school." He said, pushing away from them, stopping when his eyes landed on Piper's. Silence fell over them, and Piper felt a sudden coldness in his eyes as he turned away from her, but there was small hint for her to follow, and she did. He led her towards the auditorium, through the stage door. And she followed, growing nervous. She paused when Roxas turned on her with cold eyes.

"Roxas...Are you ok-" She didn't get to finish, the look in his eyes got colder, and he almost looked lifeless for a moment.

"That...Was low."

"Wait, no! You have it wrong, Roxas. Please, listen! No one else is today, and it's really..." Her voice got softer and she had to bite the inside of her bottom lip to keep more tears from falling. Roxas looked genuinely hurt. Not physically, because the way his eye was turning black had to be a dead give-away of the physical pain he felt. But he looked heart-broken, almost. "They wouldn't listen to me, Roxas. I'm sorry! I really am sorry!" She pleaded, her voice cracking. Standing there and looking at Roxas, she was reminded of her past in elementary and middle school. How she felt back then, even though she had her friends; alone, lost, hopeless...

"Whatever, Piper." His voice was hollow, and she imagined it was just a defense mechanism he developed. It made her wonder if his whole life had been like this. Rumors, threats, constant fights, always being judged.

She had no idea how bad the past couple of years for Roxas had been, and how it felt like eternity to him, but Roxas was no way in hell going to sit back and just let things like this continue to happen. "If they come near me again, they won't have lives to live anymore. Got it?" He asked, walking past her, covering his throbbing eye. Maybe he should just go home. Piper spun and glared at him. She was mad at him, at Gaige and Dillon, and frustrated, and upset. And no one seemed to care that day. She should have just stayed in bed.

"Are you giving up your end of the deal?" How she regretted those words as he looked over her shoulder.

"Tell the whole damn city for all I fucking care. Being in jail would be better than living in a world full of fake people that just love to hold shit over your head." He growled out, walking from the room, letting the door slam shut behind him. He felt his heart starting to pound against his chest harder than it had when Gaige and Dillon ganged up on him. He had just signed a death-wish, and he knew it. But he was in a bad mood. Maybe she'd give him a day to explain himself, and apologize. If not, he would know just how much of a bitch she had turned out to be, what with all the bullying in school and all.

Roxas, you dumb-ass! Find her and apologize! Now, before everything you've worked for goes down the drain! The voice in his head didn't sound like his own, but like Ventus' when he would scold Roxas for making a wrong decision.

The rest of the day, Roxas and Piper were scarce when it came to friends, or class in general. The day came to a slow end, and Gaige and Dillon were feeling guilty for their little display that morning, while Midna felt almost as bad. She would have been right beside them, if it weren't for her best friend needing her attention. Still, though. Roxas found himself walking to the exit of the school he knew Piper was going to be exiting, and waited. He'd deal with her friends if he had to, but he needed to talk to her. He just hoped the two that didn't know, didn't wanna stick around for their conversation.

Sure enough, Piper came out of the building. Alone, to Roxas' surprise. Shaking the thought, though, he reached out and grabbed her arm before she could get too far. She whirled around, ready to hit whoever it was, and didn't stop when she saw it was Roxas. "Don't touch me!"

"Ow...I deserved that, but please, hear me out." He begged, slowly lifting his head to meet her dangerous looking gaze.

"Talk, and make it quick." She replied, folding her arms. Noticing the uncomfortable look on his face, she rolled her eyes and led him around the school building, where they had some kind of privacy. "Now, talk." She demanded.

"My reaction this morning was way out of line. There's been a lot going on lately, and it's had my nerves on edge. I shouldn't have, but I automatically assumed you told them it was my fault. You have absolutely no idea how sorry I really..."

"Are you just saying that because I hold your future in my hands?" She asked, tilting her head.

"No! I swear, Piper. I really am sorry. These past two years have been nothing but hell." His eyes held a pleading look, mixed with fear and emotional pain she knew all too well. And suddenly, she wanted to abuse her power over him even more. She deserved it, didn't she?

"You're still taking me to the dance?" She asked, and he nodded. "Then you're safe." And she could see how much more stress she was putting on him. For some reason, though, at that moment, she didn't care. Maybe it was just her bad mood talking, and she was possibly going to regret it later. But she just couldn't bring herself to care as she brushed past him. "I'll see you tomorrow, Roxas." She said with a small wave, and Roxas let himself lean against the school building. He knew in that moment, the rest of the school year was going to be nothing but a hell worse than his last school. He had too much at stake this time. Back there, everyone knew almost everything about him. Here? Well, here, no one knew a damn thing about him. Except Piper and Gaige now, who was holding his drag racing over his head.

He pulled his cell phone out and sent a text to Axel, the guy that always informed him of races, and pleaded to know that there was a race going on that night. He needed a distraction, in a bad way. Somewhere in the back of his head, he was thinking that by the end of the school year, he would be an alcoholic, drowning his sorrows in the alcohol, and forgetting everything he had worked so hard for.

He was relieved to get a text back letting him know there was a high amount of money at stake, and Damiyan wanted to race him for more than just the money...

Roxas accepted. Somewhere, in the very back of his mind, the morbid little Roxas that had been born that day was hoping he would crash and be hospitalized...

~Panda~

Aw! Poor Roxas! He just can't catch a break, can he? Well, review to see what happens next, kays?

(Chances are, we'll update before anyone does anyway...This story is fucking AWESOME!)