"How long do you plan to keep this up, Zexion?" Aerith asked me quietly. "Eventually you'll have to eat and drink and shower and use the bathroom. Why put yourself through the torture? Just start now, and then it'll all get easier." She said and I looked away. I knew that. I knew all of that. Dammit, I'm not stupid! She cant starve me though. I can starve myself. I can torture myself. But she's a social worker, a woman who couldn't live with herself if I died of starvation. I could last longer than she could.
"No? You still don't want to talk?" She asked and I stayed perfectly still. "Alright. Well if that's the case, I want you to know that I've already warned Axel, Demyx, and Roxas to only communicate with you if you verbally communicate first. So if you don't want to speak, you can sit there quietly while we talk." She entered her dining room with my friends as I watched.
They talked about school shit as I sat there in the living room, my stomach loudly rumbling. Occasionally, Demyx and I made eye contact, but he looked away soon after each time. Sick of being invisible to my own friends, I whimpered loudly through my closed lips.
Aerith turned around. "Are you ready to talk?" She asked and I nodded.
They all sat up and stared at me. I cleared my throat nervously. Demyx stared at me like he didn't believe I could do it; like he knew that I'd only fail again after getting his hopes up. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I coughed, made a whimper sounds, but no words.
"Tell me what you want Zexion. Just one word: food, water," Aerith suggested and I grew frustrated at myself. I really wanted to but it's not my fault that nothing came out! I tried again but still, nothing.
I looked to Demyx for comfort, but he only rolled his eyes and stood up.
"I need to use the restroom." He said, clearly just trying to excuse himself from the room. I gasped and panted, extending a hand out to him even as he took a few steps away from me.
I looked back to Aerith, who repeated herself. "Just tell us what you want."
I returned my gaze to Demyx, who continued his exit from the dining room. I could feel my heart pound, my throat swelled, and my chest ached.
No. Don't leave me. Please. I can't do this anymore. My dad left me, my mom left me, my grandma left me. No more. I wont let Demyx leave me!
"Dem!"
Wait? I yelled? Fuck, it went quiet. I put my hands out for him as he stood motionless with his back towards me. He didn't turn right away, but when he did, there were tears in his eyes.
"Zexion?" He asked, uneasily.
"Dem." I repeated and Demyx ran up to me, picked me up, squeezed me, and spun us around. I…I talked? I had to have, why else would he be holding me so happily? Yeah, I talked.
"Alright Zex!" Axel joined in.
"I knew you could!" Roxas cheered.
"We are very proud of you Zexion." Aerith smiled as Demyx put me down.
"Say it. Say my name again." Demyx smiled through happy tears.
"D-Dem-Demyx." I gulped heavily afterwards before he strangled me with another tight hug. I didn't care. I want him to hold me and make me feel good. I wanted to feel like I did something worth noticing.
"Alright, let him breathe." Axel laughed after I started coughing from a lack of oxygen.
"Sorry." Demyx apologized after he loosened his grip.
"See? You already made a giant step. Good job." Aerith patted my back and I let my face fall on Demyx's chest. What did this mean now?
"Demy." I cried as I clawed at his back.
"Shh, it's ok Zexy." Demyx swayed us from side to side as I could feel my body going weak. Why? What was his body doing to me? I shivered violently and then, I fell on my knees.
I cried out, loudly, in so much pain as I covered my face with my hands. Why are they proud of me? I talked. Big fucking deal! I'm so pathetic! I'm so hurt! Can't they see it? I'm so hurt.
"Zexion?" Demyx kneeled right before me and I felt Aerith's hand circling on my back as I wailed.
"Shhh, it's ok." Aerith cooed as she comforted me.
"We're all here Zex, it's ok." Axel said as he knelt down too, Roxas as well.
I crawled to Demyx's arms and just sat there as he held me, sniffling, chocking down tears as he quietly hummed and swayed. Why did my dad have to kill himself? That's when I really stopped talking as much as I used to. Why did my mom have to abandon me for her drugs? Why did we lose house after house cause she spent all her money on alcohol and substances? Why did my aunt hate me? Why did my grandma have to die? Why was I so much like the people I hated?
I was getting tired. Fuck, now I wanted to sleep.
We all sat there still for a few minutes before Aerith got up and offered us all food again.
"Come on Zex, you need to eat." Demyx slowly pushed me away so I could sit up. He stood up and offered me a hand, which I took and didn't let go.
We all ate, at first silently, and then some mild chat about school. They continued to talk to me, but I was still too tired and emotional to respond. It probably showed in my eyes. I just wanted to sleep and wake up and have everything bothering me disappear.
Axel's energy is contagious, as he started blabbering on about random stuff, before he paused. "You know what? We should get a cake."
"A cake?" Roxas asked, reading my mind.
"Yea. Zexion talked on his first day here. I mean, no offense Zex, but I expected you to starve yourself for days before you caved in." I shrugged, cause I agreed.
"It's not caving in! It's making a wonderful accomplishment by taking a step forward in progress." Demyx smiled at me.
"True but even you were surprised." Axel pointed his spoon at Demyx.
Demyx thought before he nodded. "It did seem too good to be true. I've been waiting to hear him talk since we met." Demyx blushed and I did too.
"Dem." I smiled and he leaned forward to kiss my hair that covered my forehead.
"Aww," Roxas squealed and even Aerith smiled.
"Alright you two. You both better finish your soup if you want desert." Aerith grinned as Axel sat up straight.
"Desert?"
Roxas rolled his eyes. "Really Axe?"
We all finished our soup before Aerith invited us into the living room. I sat on the couch in between Roxas and Demyx when Aerith asked to talk to Axel privately in the kitchen.
"Can you…?" I barely heard Aerith as her voice drifted before I heard Axel's loud response.
"Haha, awesome! Yeah, I'd love to!" Axel's voice boomed as Demyx, Roxas, and I waited in a curious silence.
"Aerith is SO awesome!" Axel beamed as he followed Aerith out of the kitchen, holding a cake.
I shook my head with an amused smile.
"Welcome home Zexion!" Aerith read the cake and I gave a shy but heavy smile. I wasn't home. Home doesn't exist, not for me. But even then, I didn't deserve this. These four people are the nicest people I've ever seen. I didn't even realized that I was frowning till Demyx broke the silence.
"Zex? You ok?" He asked calmly as I felt his arm slide around my shoulders.
"H-Ho-Home." My voice was extremely shaky as I tried to smile.
"Yeah, home." Demyx smiled and Roxas nodded.
"You going to blow them out?" Axel asked as he extended the cake closer to me with its candles flickering.
I inhaled deeply and blew out the six candles.
"Why six?" Roxas asked, pointing to the candles.
Aerith laughed, "It's all I had." She shrugged before she and Axel went back into the kitchen with the cake and came back with slices.
"Here's yours Zex." Axel handed me the first piece, then one to Roxas. Once we all had a piece, we watched an action movie, which I started to fall asleep to.
"You tired?" Demyx asked once the movie came to an end.
I nodded as I rubbed my eyes.
"You should get some rest. You all have school tomorrow." Aerith reminded us.
"Yeah, and I have to drive these two home." Axel stood up and stretched as Demyx and Roxas stood up as well.
"Bye Zexion, see you tomorrow." Roxas hugged me goodbye.
"See ya later. Get some rest." Axel hugged me next.
"Bye Zex. I'll see you tomorrow. Be good for Aerith." Demyx hugged me tightly and kissed my side bangs before my three friends left.
I helped Aerith clean up silently before I grew too tired to keep my eyes open.
"Would you like to go to bed?" Aerith asked and I nodded. "Can you say it please?"
"Bed." I whispered and she smiled.
"I really am proud of you for making your first step. I know it meant the world to your friends, especially Demyx." Aerith said before she excused me.
I quickly brushed my teeth, which I had to do with the door open, and then I stumbled into my new room and crawled into my new bed.
I wanted to sleep so damn bad. I talked, so that means that people should leave me alone, right? I didn't care anymore. I wanted calm and relaxation. I wanted pot. SHIT! I haven't smoked in a long time. Oh well, it's not like pot itself is all that addicting. Not like speed. Fuck, I wanted to shoot up. My stomach started to churn and I had to control my breathing just to relax myself before it got worse.
I needed to sleep before the withdraws officially kick in.
Author's Note: HA! ZEXION TALKED! ZEXION TAKLED! So NOW are there any predictions?
HUGE ANNOUNCMENT READ FAST: As a special treat to how many awesome reviews I have, WHOEVER WRITES THE 100 REVIEW WILL GET A SPECIAL TREAT! Yep, so write fast, cause as of right now as I'm typing this, I have 99 reviews, so the first to write a review will get a special bonus. The announcement of who wins and what the reward is will be at the end of the next chapter, but you have to write now if you want to win ^_^ This will also be done if I get to 200 reviews, so if you already missed the 100th, keep reviewing to work towards 200 ^_^
To Rawritsakookye: I would love an omlette as well! Maybe I can make a lemony one ;)
To 18plusforme: Congrats! You totally called it! But you've also read like all of my stories, so you know my writing very well lol.
To AkixYusei: HE SPOKE HE SPOKE! Lol, I was thinking about holding this back a bit longer, but you all deserve to hear him speak. But trust me, there is so much more to come.
To Otwamewliart: Awww, you pretty much had it right lol! So far? Lol jk. I'm glad that you like it ^_^ Exactly. Don't change your circumstances to better your attitude, but rather, better your attitude to enjoy your circumstances. No one can get you down except yourself.
To CloudofDarkness'sProtege: Awesome name! Awww, thank you, you are too kind ^_^ Yes, ask away! I will do my best to answer as best I can. Aww, you really are too sweet. I actually struggle at making my stories "full enough" because I have ADHD and just run through it all, but I'm glad that this story doesn't feel that way. And I am very glad that I have "drawn you in". Labyrinth? I love that label, thank you! I appreciate your compliments. I study linguistics so I do my best to let it show. I tend to over-describe things, but to me, it's just impossible not to. I am so very honored that you like the way I portrayed the characters. I want to do them justice ^_^ Luxord is in here, at the very beginning as Zexion's math teacher. I can try to add more of him in here if you'd like ^_^A LuxZex? Sounds intriguing. Sadly I have my college midterms this week, so once I post this chapter, off to a study group I go. However, I will do my best to read it once I finish my last midterm. I can't guarantee that I'll be able to provide feedback as soon as you may like, just because I'm dealing with a lot right now. But I do promise that I WILL DO IT. And I will do everything I can to be as swift and accurate as I can. And I really am honored that you would ask this of me. Thank you. And I understand how hard it is when you just feel so lost and don't know what to do. So I will do my best to help as much as I can ^_^ And again, thank you so much for the lovely compliments.
To ForeverUke: Lol…..dont kill me? …..hahahahaha, it's a nice surprise, right? :P
To Shadowridge: Lol, is this better? Happy now? Hahaha jk
To Casper: YAY! What kind of cookie? ….is this update considered 'soon'? Do I gets another cookie? O.o Awwww, ok now you get all the cookies for that nice compliment. I really am so happy, your reviews make my day better ^_^
To Akuma-Wolf-Drake: Hahaha, consider yourself the best cheerleader there is! He talked! (and he thanks you for your support) =P
To CatlinP1997: He showed them! I totally love how you understand him. It can be really frustrating when people only acknowledge results and not effort. But yay he talked!
To Cirxe145: You're welcome! Lol, now you don't need a mental ward ^_^ He talked!
To AoiZora: Aww, why thank you! I study linguistics, so I hope that my grammar is at the very least, tolerable. I appreciate your feedback, really, it is a great up-lifter during some rough times I'm experiencing. I agree, they weren't being patient enough and they weren't appreciating his efforts, but that's the way that life is, and Zexion realized that you cant always wait for people to slow down, and instead, you just have to catch up. I used to play classical guitar and could read music sheets…like 5 years ago….now I can like play a couple chords here and there lol. Hahaha, most people hate my cliffhangers, like they cant handle the suspense. Please don't die! Thank you again for your review.
Thank you everyone for reading!
Don't forget that the 1ooth reviewer will get a bonus special gift and that this story will continue for a while, so I hope to award the same prize to the 200th reviewer, if everyone reviews enough ^_^
Heart, Sarabellum