I sat on the living room couch doing Spanish homework the following Thursday evening. Cloud was working late in the office again. He's been clocking in serious overtime hours this week. I hope we weren't running low on funds. I know dad didn't leave us any money hidden away and the only thing in his will was the house and its contents. Maybe I do need that job Namine offered me but...it would be until after Christmas when I get this damn cast off my leg.
Tuesday I had went in for a checkup and they replaced my blue cast with another colour of my choice. I happily chose a green cast. Sora damn near threw a fit when he saw my old cast had been cut off. It had been his claim on me. What a dork. I actually requested to keep the old thing because all my friends had sighed it. I made room in the drawer under my bed to put the cast I had grown fond of in. In the back of my mind I silently wished he'd scribble on this one too.
I couldn't concentrate on Spanish Adjectives and it wasn't just because I was watching some Tyler Perry movie. I had visited Luxord or Marluxia nearly every night so far running my funds through the ground. I already went through Sora's floral patterned piggy bank and Cloud's wallet we he wasn't looking. I took a puff of my joint and giggled at the telly when a scene from the film had the woman push her newly disabled ex-husband out of his wheelchair and into a full tub of water. He deserved it though because he was an abuse dickhead that also cheated on her. He should have been damn lucky she was feeding him and batheing him due to the fact his new vixen stole all his money.
That reminds me of the fact I stole from my best friend and my caring brother. I made a mental note to secretly slip some munny back where it belongs. I mindlessly chewed on the eraser of my pencil until it came off and I almost choked on it. I must be hungry. I got up and wandered into the kitchen, forgoing my homework and ransacked the fridge for an orange.
I grabbed my key and wandered out if the flat looking for some fresh air to clear my head. Maybe if I go to the clock tower Axel will be there? As much as I didn't like him I was curious about him. Maybe it was the fiery red hair or maybe it was just because he was older than all my other friends. The same kind of curiosity I had when meeting Seifer. I haven't yet had a chance to talk to the tall, tattooed man alone since his introduction to me.
I stopped by Cid's and say hello to Namine. I bought that ice cream I had promised I would get next time I was there.
"Hey, Roxas!"
"Hi Nam." I wasn't expecting to see her over the counter when I went to get sea-salt ice-cream.
"You okay? Are you sick?" My eyes must have been red and puffy from smoking.
"No...just tired." She couldn't be that naive I must smell like I've been rolling in weed.
"Do you need a ride home, I'm about to get off work in 20 minutes?"
"Umm..." I was about to go to the tower not go back home.
"We could go see a movie if you'd like," I checked my wallet knowing it was going to be empty,"Don't worry I'd take care of it!"
"But- but I'm a guy."
"Yeah? So...even though you're looking miserable and broke you're not going to let me treat you because...your masculinity is in stake?"
"No! I just...oh alright. " Axel probably wouldn't be at the tower anyway. I would be insane if I refused a cute and pretty girl like her. She was practically asking me out on a date. She texted her brother what I assume was the fact I was joining them.
"My brother and his boyfriend are meeting me there I hope you don't mind."
"Demyx is gay?"Shit, my mouth vomit causes me to talk aloud again.
"I think he's bi but yes, he has a boyfriend, Zexion!" Oh, so that's who the musician gushed about when I walked in on their practice session.
Namine's shift ended and a girl a little older than us came to relief her of her duty. I immediately let go of Nam's hand as she stopped to chat with her co-worker.
"Hi Yuna! How goes it?"
"I'm doing quite well after the whole preggo misunderstanding. I'm on the pill now because I don't think I need a kid before I'm married. My father agrees wholeheartedly after threatening my boyfriend's manhood."
"Good golly, tell him to keep it in his pants before he gets castrated. "
"Oh no, I could tell him that. I like making love to him too much. You'll understand when you get a love life...unless this is him."
"Oh no, Roxas is just a patron here and he goes to my school!"
"Where you guys going that he needed to hold your hand for?"
"The cinema to meet up with Dem and Zex."
"A double date then I was right!"
"N-no!"
After we managed to escape the tight hold Yuna had on us Namine drove us to the cinema. If I had known I was going out with her I would have dressed better than a pair of cargo shorts and a Slipknot T-shirt. Though Namine was just wearing her work uniform so I didn't mind that neither of us were dressed to impress. We're just going as friends after all.
She pulled in a parking spot near the back where her brother and his date were waiting. Demyx was bouncing on the balls of his feet while griping the arm of whom I can assume was Zexion looking unimpressed about his boyfriend's inability to stand still. I chuckled at the unfortunate duo. It was nice to see some different faces and personalities. I thought all if Axel's friends were going to be rainbows.
"Roxas, I'm so glad you came to join us! The more the merrier!" The musician let go of his purple haired boyfriend's arm finally and reached over to give me a hug. I slipped away from his grasp and hid behind a shorter Namine.
"Dem, personal space." He scolded his taller significant other and held out his hand to shake mine. Someone with common sense!
"So the other day, I saw Axel grab your arse. " I wasn't trying to get Dem in trouble...I just wanted to see their reactions.
"Oh! Ehehe...how awkward."
"Yes awkward indeed." Zexion quirked an eyebrow and cleared his throat.
"Zexy, don't pout. My booty is all yours!" The purple haired college student wasn't pouting though. At least not that I could tell.
"What movie is playing that you want to see?" Namine asked her brother as she checked the screenings on the menu.
"Suicide Squad!" The blond with the mullet did a pseudo superhero pose even though it was more of a chaotic neutral cast.
"Sounds good to me as long as its not another stupid animal film." I shivered at the thought of having to watch The Secret Life of Pets for a 4th time. It was cute and funny , then still cute and then it became dreadful because Sora wouldn't shut up and watch the film. I blame Riku for that account since he found some excuse to bail on us. Lucky bastard was most likely sitting at home feigning being tired from rugby and playing Call of Duty. Karma will get him soon enough.
Demyx was nice enough to pay for all of us since Namine and him were rolling in munny. I don't know why he only goes to the community college when he could afford any school he wanted. Something tells me he doesn't have the grades for it. Zexion on the other hand was so smart he could have rivaled Sephiroth in a Scrabble game. Said boy was being coddled by Demyx trying to feed him cheddar cheese popcorn and little pieces of candy. I sipped my drink in peace and my mood was instantly lifted when a 21 Pilots song played.
All my friends are heathens, take it slow
Wait for them to ask you who you know
Please don't make any sudden moves
You don't know the half of the abuse
"You like them?" Namine whispered in my ear.
I nodded with enthusiasm. I would marry the brothers if I could. I was that much of a fanboy.
"Dem and Axel play cover songs of them all the time. Just for fun but I bet if you get on their good side they'll play some for you."
"Dem has a bad side?"
"I know shocking but normally he's not as nervous. He's just stressed over the gig this weekend."
"Are you going?"
"No...I have a double shift because Yuna is going to support Tidus."
"Oh, that's her boyfriend?"
"Shh! No taking!" A handful of popcorn hit my backside and shoulder followed by a giggling musician.
We sat for the rest of the film in peace occasionally exchanging looks or stealing some of her brother's popcorn. The cinema was a little crowded due to it being a new release but I wasn't waiting to see all the spoilers on the internet when I could be enjoying it with some awesome people if i do say so myself.
Namine dropped me back off at my flat and we said our goodbyes.
"Oh you live in Sora's building?"
"Yep, he'd kind of my new best friend."
"He's a sweetheart."
"Kairi said your an artist. Do you mind showing me sometime?"
"Oh! Well...I suppose. I have painting class with Sora actually."
"I'll have to poke my head into the art room while I have the bathroom pass sometime then."
"I look forward to seeing you sometime then. I don't work tomorrow so don't try looking for me. Oh, do you still have my number? I gave it to you right? Maybe Dem's too just in case you can't find the concert Saturday." She was kind enough to walk me to my door. We nodded towards each other and waved goodbye.
I found myself one step closer to Axel yet again. I needed to take a step back. It was definitely the redhead thing. I decided to inviting Kairi to Traverse Town. Cloud was already home when I unlocked the door. He was laying on the couch reading a book.
"You gifted at reading upside down?" I giggled seeing as it was facing the wrong way.
"What?!" He shouted a little to loudly. He jolted upright and looked suspicious.
"You're weird. How was work?"
"It was fine, I didn't really get much done. Who's the girl you got out with?"
"Where you spying on me?"
"No, Squall just said-"
"You two gossiping about me?"
"No, I was just talking to him in the hall when he told me you were with a girl."
"I invited Kairi to go with me Saturday." I changed the subject.
"My little brother the heartbreak, 2 girls at once." I could see the devilish smirk across his face. Jerkoff.
"Ugh, you're such a twat!" It wasn't like that at all. How could he even tease me about that?
I rolled over onto my bed and stared up at the curling fan as it spun around. Did I like Namine? She was cute and good looking, not to mention rich but we didn't have all that much in common. We didn't listen to the sane genre of music, we didn't like similar flavours of ice cream and we certainly had different opinions on who the best super heroes and super villains were after watching the film. I thought Harley Quinn was a cutie and Namine though she was cliche. It didn't help that Zexion said she didn't wear enough clothes to protect herself when she fought. All Demyx said was she was scary like Larxene.
Did I like Kairi? She was a redhead, one of my preferences when it came to how attractive someone was. Her chest wasn't near as large as her younger sisters was but she had a nice, firm pair of bollocks. She was really endearing after her quest to rule over Riku came to an end and I actually learned there was more to what my eyes could see. Maybe I just needed to get to know her on a more personal level.
Kairi had texted back that she actually had plans with her family to go to the state faire that day. I perused my lips and wracked my head for someone I could take with me. I needed more friends or at least my old ones back. At times like these I wish I had access to a teleporter to get Hayner over here.
I started at my contact for Hayner and pressed it opening a blank thread of text messages. I hesitated to type anything but finally moved my fingers across the touchscreen.
Roxas: hey hayner...how are you? sorry i havent texted you bro
I gasped when I sit send, willing it to be unable to go through. I pulled my phone in to the charger and set it on my desk. After waiting 10 minutes for a reply I decided to get up and shower. I'm sure he'd text back by then. I took my time giving it a half hour until Cloud complained loudly that there wouldn't be any hot water for him. I came out in my pyjamas pants and my teeth brushed.
I had a message in my inbox and I held my breath when I opened it.
Hayner: did you fuckin' forget about me
I could feel my eyes become glossy and I quickly typed back a response.
Roxas: you could have texted me ya know.
I backspaced the reply and turned shut off my phone. I didn't have time to think about this. I was suppose to be getting a fresh start and here I am dwelling in the past. I didn't sleep that good that night, I was tossing and turning trying to find a cool spot in my pillows. Memories of my childhood played out in my head like an old homemade movie. Everyone had happy faces marred with toothy grins but I couldn't find myself smiling as our 10 year old selves kicked a ball back and forth or we ate baked cheesecake baked from scratch.
I found myself repeating the lyrics to Heathens.
We don't deal with outsiders very well
They say newcomers have a certain smell
Yeah, I trust issues, not to mention
They say they can smell your intentions
