I've been running into writer's block... the few times i did get ideas I was drugged up on sleeping meds and fumbled down the stairs...so... my appologies. The next update will probably be late as well. Penna also needs updated once I think of a good idea for it... I just hope my fangirls won't jump me and eat me, but review instead. please.
The summer sun was high. The water finally warm enough to support life was lapping at Roxas' shins. He sighed, watching Hayner, Olette, and Pence splash around a few yards out.
"Roxas!"
It just didn't seem right... Axel was the type... to know what he wanted and to take it. Since when did he ever have to think things over? And without Roxas... it just didn't make sense.
"Roxas!" The group called again, this time catching his attention.
"Oh, right! I'll be right there!" He forced a smile and ran towards them, battling off the tide.
As summer passed and the days grew shorter, so did Roxas' memory. He became convinced that Axel had been faking him the whole time. Suspicious of some other in another place. Hurt by all of the smiles that were assumed fake, all of the laughs, jokes, and pats on the back. Angry that he was played, used, as easy relief in so-called passion. In this way, he grew to hate Axel and everything attached to him.
The windows of the sandlot glared down at him with green-curtained eyes. The television attempted to seduce him with calming love songs sung from tender lips. The clouds of the sunset mocked him with fine red streaks and curls. Everything, it seemed reflected his pain.
It didn't take much to pick up on the boy's spoiled mood.
"Hey, Roxas, relax." Hayner approached him one time. "This is our last summer together. After this... once we're graduated... who knows where we'll go. Let's enjoy this while we can."
He stared into his friends brown eyes, loose bleached hair falling before them in small clumps. His hard expression softened, sapphire eyes growing kinder. "I know... but that's what makes it hard." His hand came up and rubbed at the start of a tear. "What the heck am I going to do once I'm out of here?"
"Cheer up." The elder smiled. "You can come stay with me if you're homeless."
"Yeah, and how are YOU going to make a living?" Roxas' eyes gained a sly look. "By delivering mail and leeching off of me for the struggle prize every year?
Hayner wrinkled his nose. "Hey! I plan on winning the lottery. With my luck I could do it. Never have to work a day if I ration it right."
"What makes you think you're so lucky?"
Chocolate eyes studied his friend's face down the bridge of his nose. "Because," he said, "I have you... three." And he smiled, turning back and heading behind the faded curtain.
"At least somebody thinks so." Roxas sighed, but then broke into a smile himself. "Hey, Hayner! Wait up!"
The kids would laugh. They would joke. They would wipe away every memory of Roxas' lover. All the loneliness, sorry, anger. Every memory of corn chips, popcorn, and MTV. Each laugh, smile, touch of warmth, and glance full of stars, forgotten.
Forgotten enough that Roxas could move on. The girl from the accessory shop down the street had had eyes for Roxas since she opened up and met him. The two made an adorable couple. The sweet and skiddish, yet responsible girl with the naive and rash Roxas.
But with school looming ahead, that broke. It was for the better anyway, as Roxas had missed his friends.
Seifer had stopped picking on Roxas. And, though he and Hayner still quarreled, he had the becomings of a close friend about him.
There was a fireworks display on the last day of summer that year. The last summer that the teens would ever enjoy.
Roxas sat between Seifer and Hayner on their clock tower. Pence was on Hayner's right with Olette next to him. They were all smiling, grinning, enjoying company and lights.
"Hey, Roxas." Seifer leaned over, eyes still ahead on the sky.
"Yeah?"
"When you watch fireworks, what do you look at?"
"What do you mean?"
Seifer shook his head. "I like to watch the smoke. Not many people notice it, but to me it's more interesting than the burst. Look at how it moves and reflects the bursts, huh?"
"I like the embers."
"Humm?"
"Watch, when one goes off, little pieces of ember, still glowing red, fall down. They look kinda like stars."
"Oh." The elder nodded with a smile. "I get it." After a while of silence the man spoke again. "Hey, after we're graduated, after this year, we'll have to get together like this again."
Roxas nodded and smile. "Right."
The finale sounded and they stayed attentive until the last boom echoed behind them. Their hands burst through with approval before Hayner carefully made sure that each of them, with the exception of Seifer, got down safely. Hayner let the outcast make his own safe was down. And the group started back to the usual place before dispersing to their homes. Roxas was slightly behind them, watching them all blissfully.
"You know what MY favorite part about fireworks is?" Two strong arms wound around the boy's waist. "It means I'm home."
Roxas' back went ridged, his eyes watering in hate, in love, in anger and sorrow. "Get off of me." He scoffed coldly, taking an arm to break away the others. As he jogged to catch up to the others he could feel mint green eyes in the back of his head, across his shoulder. Staring in confusion, in disappointment, in sorrow.
Roxas fell asleep in a state of mixed emotions. His friends had cheered him up, but his anger had pulled him down.
The next day, the first day of school. New classes, new classmates and teachers. Roxas had a few classes with his friends. He wasn't really alone in any of his classes this year, luckily. The day was a rattling hour after hour drill of the same rules repeated period after period.
Soon enough the bell rang out. The group hadn't chosen a new gathering place yet, they'd save that for another day. For today they were stacked with new books and just wanted to go home.
Roxas started along the sidewalk, hands on his shoulders to help hold up his backpack. A sleek black car pulled up beside him, creeping along with him as the driver rolled down the window. He pretended he didn't notice.
"Roxas, come on, you're not still mad are you? I'm back now, I promise I'll make it up to you, just let me-"
"Shut up!" The blue eyes snapped. "What do you want from me! Another free fuck! I'm still in high school, you have bigger and better things ahead of you than a school boy, don't you! Buzz off and leave me alone, pervert!"
Axel was held in a startled stare. Soon his head drooped and he smiled sadly to himself. "I-I thought that I meant more to you than that, Rox." He pulled into a driveway, blocking the sidewalk. "Come on, give me a chance to prove myself."
Roxas stubbornly walked around the back of the car, being pulled back as Axel exited and grabbed his arm.
"Please?"
"Hey! You!" Both heads shot up to see Seifer running towards them, sharply wedging himself between them. He glare up at Axel sternly. "What's he doing, Roxas? You know, I won't allow trouble makers in this town. Especially around you."
"Oh, I see how it is." Axel gave a sad smirk. "You really have forgotten all about me now, haven't you. Alright, I'll go." The man sat back into his car. "But I won't give up on you, Roxas." He whispered in a somber way to the green eyes in his review mirror. "You mean to much to me."