Chapter X:

Roxy Foxworth walked towards Zell's apartment building, blowing a huge bubble from the gum that his last john gave him. He was dressed in a flamboyant outfit, and even though he'd been on the street for a few years now, he still retained his good looks and innocence he'd always had. He was 2 years younger than Zell, with bright red hair and managed to dress better than he could afford to.

Roxy knocked on Zell's door, and after not getting an answer by the third knock, just walked inside.

Zell looked up at the door from his position on the couch. Roxy and Zell had been friends ever since Zell hit the streets. Indeed, Roxy was the only one Zell could really relate to there.

"What's the matter?" Roxy asked in concern once he saw Zell.

"Oh...nothing." Zell said falsely.

"Oh, come off it...just tell me!" Roxy demanded, putting his hands on his hips. "Best friends forever, remember?"

Zell forced a smile. "It's Irvine...he wants 500 by midnight or he's going to...to kill me." Zell said, becoming emotional once more.

With a look of concern, Roxy thought for a minute. "Well, tell you what, I'll give you the money I make tonight and then that should be enough, okay?"

Zell shook his head. "No...Irvine has eyes all over the neighbourhood, you know that...if he finds out that YOU were working overtime too, he'll know I had help. He thinks that if I can't make the money myself, I'm not a "worthy investment" anymore I guess..." he said sullenly.

"Hmm..." Roxy thought aloud. "Ah! I've got it!" He declared suddenly, and without saying anything else Roxy darted into Zell's bathroom. He emerged with a bottle of peroxide and a pair of scissors.

Zell raised his brow at the younger boy in confusion. Grinning, Roxy clipped the scissors together.

15 minutes later, Roxy and Zell were one in the same. Zell bleached and cut Roxy's hair to match his own, and by the time it was done it was near-impossible to tell the two apart.

"Now we'll be able to get you the rest of the money!" Roxy said confidently, examining Zell's work in the mirror.

"Heh, I hope so..." Zell said with a tinge of hope, the first he'd felt in several hours.

Roxy stepped back and stretched. "You should get out on the street right away, but do you mind if I take a nap in your bed for 20 minutes or so? I haven't slept in 2 days."

"Oh, go ahead. Remember that I have to have the money by midnight though..." Zell said.

"No problem! You'd be surprised how much the johns dig blonds..." Roxy chuckled, walking down the hall towards Zell's bedroom.

Zell walked towards the front door, stopping just short of it. "Hey, Roxy..." He said softly, but loud enough so that the younger man could hear.

"Yeah babe?" Roxy asked, turning around.

"Thank you...so much. You're gonna spare my life." He said warmly, smiling gently. "I guess not everyone in this dump is selfish."

Roxy smiled back. "Anything for my friend. Now, go get out there and get some money!"

Zell chuckled. "Okay, I'll see you later."

He walked out the door.

As the night went on, Zell started to feel as though a weight was being lifted from his shoulders. The money was flowing unusually well, and although he hadn't run into Roxy yet, he was sure he was out on the street as well making good money.

Maybe, just maybe, he would be spared, and he could explain everything to Seifer...maybe things would be alright..

The night grew chilly, and business slowed down after a few hours. Zell looked at the clock in the town square and it read 11:15. He'd made 300 gil and decided that he would return to his apartment, hoping Roxy would be there and that he'd made the 200 Zell needed to pay off Irvine.

Hope turned to anxiousness, and anxiousness turned to nervousness as Zell neared his apartment building. By the time he made it inside the building, he was filled with a choking fear.

"Please Roxy, please..." Zell pleaded silently as he turned his housekey in the doorlock. His heart dropped when he opened the door and it was pitch black. Roxy hadn't come back yet. Flipping the living room light on, Zell tried to instill some more hope in himself.

"He's got 45 minutes to make it back, that's plenty of time..." He reassured himself, although a nagging fear kept repeating in his mind. If he wasn't back yet, that also meant that he probably hadn't made much money.

Zell decided to take a shower to try and calm himself down. He walked past his dark bedroom, tossing his bag on the bed thoughtlessly as he approached the bathroom.

Once he'd made it inside, he realized he had left his comb in his bag, and turned back towards his bedroom. This time he flicked the bedroom light on and started towards the bed.

Then he noticed the sight that greeted him.