Author's Note: I have officially opened up the Kaigen Academy role-play over at Greatestjournal. There's a link to the role-play in my profile, should anyone reading this be interested in joining. Original characters are welcome. Anyways, in this chapter, when I mention that Roxas' voice has a cute, husky tone to it, I don't mean Jesse McCartney's. I loathe Jesse McCartney.
Warnings: I introduce another original character. There may be some Kairi-bashing, because I honestly do not like her. I've only found one instance where I did, and that was in How My Best Friend Screwed Me Over. Very good fanfic, I highly recommend it. But anyways. If talk of lesbian threesomes, orgies, or whatnot offends you, you shouldn't read this fanfic. Because it comes up a lot.
Disclaimer: This disclaimer has been put on hold until author can come up with some witty way to say that she doesn't own the characters.

Chapter Two

The smell of dinner cooking in the kitchen welcomed Sora, Naminé and Roxas as they entered the house. The three of them kicked off their shoes and slipped on house slippers before they wandered any farther into the house.

"So, how was school?" Sora's mother, Tsukiko, called from the kitchen.

"It was good," Sora replied as he grabbed a brownie from the counter and headed upstairs to change out of his uniform.

"Good?" Tsukiko reiterated, putting one hand on her hip. "That's all?"

"Classes went well," Naminé elaborated for her cousin. "We received some homework, but not much. And there are a few new people running around campus this quarter."

"New students?"

"Well, there are at least four new girls and a couple boys for new students," Naminé explained. "But we've got a couple new teachers, as well. Miss Aeris is the teacher for the new home economics class and I hear there's someone to replace the previous sex ed teacher."

"And you're home late because. . .?" Tsukiko asked.

"You asked us to bring this to you from the main island," Naminé replied, holding up the bag from their earlier excursion to Kalohi.

"Oh, yes, that's right. Thanks for picking it up, dear. I would have gotten it myself, but I had to work."

Naminé nodded and headed upstairs to her room while her aunt went back to preparing dinner. Tsukiko watched out of the corner of her eye as Roxas quietly slipped into the kitchen and walked over to the refrigerator for something to eat. Without a word, he selected a ripe red apple and pulled out a gallon of milk. Tsukiko opened the cabinet next to her and pulled down a clean glass for her nephew.

"How was school, Roxas?" she asked, handing the blond boy the glass.

Roxas shrugged in reply, accepting the glass and pouring the milk into it.

"Did you make any new friends?" Tsukiko urged.

The boy shook his head. He picked up the milk and went to put it back in the refrigerator. Tsukiko gave a small, worried frown. She set down the knife she was using to cut up vegetables and went over to her nephew, who was currently sitting at the kitchen table with his book and his snack. She sat down next to him and put a comforting hand on Roxas' shoulder.

"Roxas," she said softly. "You have to talk to people. You can't go through life never speaking to anyone. I know you're still upset, but you can't stay like this forever."

Roxas nodded absently, as though he wasn't really paying attention to what his aunt was saying. Tsukiko gave a sigh, then hugged the boy.

"You're not the only one suffering because of the accident, Roxas. Remember that. We're all feeling the same way."

Roxas continued to stay silent, but he did look up and give a soft smile. Tsukiko returned the smile, then got up to return to dinner. Roxas finished his apple, drank down the last of his milk, and left the kitchen, heading for his room upstairs. He passed his cousin's room and overhead Sora talking excitedly, presumably to his best friend, Riku. Upon entering his own room, Roxas set his backpack on the floor and sat on his bed, turning on his radio and starting his homework from his English class.

Xaldin had assigned each student to write an Elizabethan sonnet to bring a beginning to their summer unit on poetry. Roxas stared at his notes, trying to wrap his mind around the assignment's specifications: the sonnet had to follow the set rhyme-scheme, it had to follow the theme of "romance," and it had to be the traditional fourteen lines long. He let out a groan. He had never written poetry in his life, much less any romantic poetry!

After giving it a lot of thought, Roxas' pencil came in contact with his paper, words forming in his rather messy handwriting. He had no clue if the words were romantic in any sense of the word; he had no clue what romantic was.

"Silver light from a pale full moon
Shining down on this dark metropolis;
The only light on this night in June,
In this place, the island's necropolis…"

"You know, for being a romantic form of poetry, what you've got is kinda creepy."

Roxas looked up to see his sister reading the poem over his shoulder. Naminé looked back down at Roxas' poem. Her brilliant blue eyes went over every word carefully as she tucked a stray strand of her pale blond hair away from her face.

"You've got the rhyme-scheme so far, but this is far from an Elizabethan sonnet," Naminé told him.

"What am I supposed to write?" Roxas asked, quietly.

"Something that isn't dark, angsty, or creepy?"

Roxas shrugged. "You're the one always reading those cheap romance novels; you know romance. You'll probably have yours done tonight."

"It's already done," Naminé said, sitting on the bed next to her brother. "Want me to lend you one of my cheap romance novels to get you started?"

Roxas stuck his tongue out and gagged. "Gross. Those things would give me cooties."

The younger twin gave a small laugh. "At least you still remember how to joke."

"Who's joking?"

Naminé gave her brother a sad smile. "How come you never talk to anyone except me and Sora?"

Roxas paused and looked away from his sister. "I just. . ."

"Roxas, I don't like seeing you like this. I know what happened to Mom and Dad hurt you the most, but do you have to distance yourself from people who might be able to help you smile again?"

"Nami, I'm sorry," Roxas said. "I just. . ."

"You could at least talk to Auntie," Naminé told him. "She's really worried about you. We've been here for a couple months and you've barely said ten words to her."

"You've been counting?"

"I'm serious, Roxas," Naminé said, giving her brother a look.

"Okay, okay," Roxas sighed. "If it's such a big deal, I'll talk to her. But are you sure she won't have a heart attack if I do?"

"Don't be stupid."

"Kids!" Tsukiko called up from the bottom of the stairs. "Dinner's ready!"

The sound of Sora's door banging open followed Tsukiko's call. Naminé and Roxas could hear it as their brunet cousin bounded down the stairs and into the kitchen, making Naminé giggle slightly and Roxas give a small half-chuckle. Naminé stood up and had her brother follow her downstairs.

The smell of the meal filled their nostrils as the twins entered the kitchen. Sora was already seated at the table, waiting impatiently for his cousin's to sit down so he could eat and get back to his room. Tsukiko smiled at Naminé and Roxas, told them to have a seat, and began serving dinner. Naminé looked at her brother as Tsukiko handed him a plate, silently telling him to say something to their aunt.

"T-Thank you," Roxas said, quietly. "It smells great."

Tsukiko gave him a look of surprise, like she could hardly believe he had actually spoken. "Did. . .did you say something?"

Roxas glanced at his sister, then nodded. "I said 'thank you, it smells great.'"

Tsukiko beamed. "Thank you, Roxas."

Sora stared at his cousin. "Wow. I think that's the most you've said to my mom since you were six."

"Don't be mean, Sora," Tsukiko told her son. "It's a big step for him."

"I wasn't being mean," the brunet said with a pout. "I was just saying."

"It's okay," Roxas said. "I haven't really spoken to you since coming here."

"Well, I'm glad you're talking again. It means you're recovering." Tsukiko gave her nephew a hug, then sat down to her own dinner.

§§§§§

Xaldin stood before his senior class. He wore black slacks and a black jacket over a dark grey dress-shirt. His long black hair was styled it the usual dread-locks and high ponytail. Dark eyes were narrowed at the lot of his students.

"You are here," he said, "because you either failed my class last semester or because you want an early start on my regular class. Those of you who merely want an early start, good for you. You'll learn something in this course that those of you who failed last semester obviously didn't." He turned to the chalkboard, picked up a piece of chalk, and began writing on the board. "I do not tolerate slackers. If you cannot turn a paper in on time, don't bother to turn it in at all, because it's an automatic failure. Attendance is a major part of your grade. If you are late to class, you lose half of your day's points towards your grade. Likewise, if you are not in class, you lose all points towards your grade."

Turning back to his class, Xaldin pointed the piece of chalk towards the students. "This class is not an easy course. Do not expect to breeze through it. The work will be difficult, the lessons hard, and I will not take it easy on anyone." He glanced around the room again. "Any questions?"

Not one of the students raised their hand.

"Good. Your first assignment is this," Xaldin said, gesturing to the chalkboard behind him. "You will write a Petrarchan sonnet. Traditionally, sonnets are fourteen lines long. The Petrarchan sonnet is no different. It follows an 'a-b-a-b, c-b-c-b, c-b-d-c-b-a' rhyme scheme. A Petrarchan sonnet is always given the theme of 'love.'"

A couple snickers ran through the classroom upon hearing Xaldin utter the word love. The black-haired teacher glared at the students, who immediately quieted down. He went over to his desk and picked up a teacher's guide.

"Open your books to page ninety-three," he said. "There are two examples of Petrarchan sonnets written on this page. I want you to read them carefully and study the rhyme-scheme. Afterwards, you may begin writing."

A young brunette in the front row raised her hand politely. Xaldin looked up.

"Yes, Selphie?"

"So long as we follow the main theme of love, we can write about anything, right?" Selphie asked.

"Correct."

Selphie nodded, opened her book, and began reading the two poems specified in the book. The rest of the class was doing the same, excluding a couple students that just didn't seem to care. Axel and a couple of other students that were being held back were already writing, knowing from the last semester what they were supposed to do. The red-head had a bit of trouble, being rather inexperienced with love; he only knew lust. He couldn't recall ever being in love.

The period continued while students were writing their poems. Before they knew it, the bell had rung, releasing them to their next class. Filing out of the classroom with the others, Axel hurried to catch up with Marluxia. The pink-haired boy (what boy in his right mind had pink hair?) smiled at Axel as the red-head put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hello, Axel," Marluxia said. "How's your summer?"

"Dull as ever," Axel replied. "What's your next class?"

"Home economics."

Axel rolled his eyes. "That's such a girl-class, Mar."

"Yeah," Marluxia said. "But it's a good class, nonetheless. You should take it; learn a few things about living on your own. You can't depend on your brother all the time."

Axel gave a short laugh. "I do just fine on my own. Reno's not even home most of the time. He's too busy at work."

"Well, he is a security guard for the Shinra Company, isn't he?" Marluxia asked. "I'd think he'd have a lot on his hands, especially with the new president and all."

"Yeah," Axel said. "He says the new president is a bit of a handful on his own, but with the other problems going on at the company, it's even worse."

"What kind of problems?"

"Well, don't tell anyone, but there's reason to believe that the former president was murdered, but no one's quite sure. Reno and the others are trying to sort things out, but so far they've got nothing."

"Sounds almost like what happened to the former vice president," Marluxia said. "Shinra's wife, right?"

"Yeah," Axel said. "But like I said, don't go telling anyone what's going on. Reno would have my head on a platter."

"Gotcha."

The warning bell rang all of a sudden. Marluxia jumped. "Oh, man. Gotta run, Axel. Talk to you later!"

"Later!" Axel replied, rushing down the hall to his own class.

§§§§§

The teacher was late. That was the first thing Roxas noticed upon coming into the Home Ec classroom. His sister had all but forced him to sign up for the class with her, so he was stuck taking it. At least he wasn't the only guy in there; he noticed Cloud and Kadaj, two boys from his English class, sitting in the second row. There were a couple other guys as well. Other than that, all the students were girls.

The second thing he noticed was that the only seat left was in the second to the last row, in front of Kiaran, the girl who had almost gotten herself kicked out of History the day before. Kiaran was sitting next to Naminé and the two of them were talking avidly about Naminé's drawings. On the other side of his sister, Roxas recognized another girl from the senior/junior mix History class.

Taking a seat next to Selphie, a senior, Roxas waited for the final bell to ring. Just as it did so, a very pretty young woman entered the classroom. Brilliant green eyes sparkled under light brown bangs as she gave a smile. She stood before the class, standing next to one of the many ovens in the classroom especially designed for Home Economics.

"Hello, class!" she chirped. Her voice was bubbly and energetic. "I'm Aeris and I welcome you to Home Ec. I'm really sorry I'm late, but I left something in my car this morning and ran to get it." She set the bag she held onto one of the counters and rummaged through it for a moment. "To begin with, this class is going to be a mix of cooking and learning how to run a household. Today's lesson," she paused and smiled, pulling out a basket, "is this!"

She held the basket up and took the small handkerchief that covered it off to reveal a batch of fresh sugar cookies. The class looked at her. Aeris laughed lightly and began to walk around the room, giving a cookie to each student.

"This is a simple recipe and a fun one," she said as she went around. "It'll take less time than this class is, so as soon as you're done with the cookies, I'd like you to read chapter one of your textbook."

Aeris finished handing out the cookies and then went about explaining the ovens as the class munched on their snacks. She showed the class where the sugar, flour, and other ingredients were kept and began to demonstrate how to combine the ingredients to make the cookie dough. Once everyone in the class seemed to know what they were supposed to be doing, Aeris stepped back to observe.

"Zax," one student, Joann, said. "I don't think we need the burners for this."

"I know what I'm doing," Zax, the spiky-haired senior replied.

"Somehow, I doubt that," Yazoo muttered, watching with morbid interest as Zax continued messing with the oven.

"Miss Aeris," Yuffie, the fourth in Joann's group, called. "Tell Zax to get away from the oven before he blows it up!"

"Now, Yuffie, I've known Zax for years and I have yet to see him—"

Aeris was cut off by a shout from Zax as the stove caught fire. She ran over to get the burnable stuff away from the flames as Yazoo went calmly for the fire extinguisher. The silver-haired boy got the flames out before the fire alarm went off. The class settled down as Zax sat down at his seat, not wanting to risk his group's wrath if he catch something on fire again.

Roxas vaguely wondered if it was too late to drop the class.

§§§§§

"Well, that was entertaining," Hana said as she left the classroom, following her two friends.

"How can you find a stove catching fire entertaining?" Kairi asked from behind her.

"Fire is pretty," Hana replied.

Kairi raised an eyebrow. Kiaran and Annwn snickered at the small red-head. The girl gave her two elders a glare, which made Kiaran laugh harder.

"What's so funny?" Kairi demanded.

"Nothing!" the girls said in unison.

Hana adjusted her glasses and lifted her shoulder-bag a bit higher to keep it from falling. She gave a sigh. "Anyways," she said. "Annwn, what time is your bartending class?"

"Six-thirty," Annwn replied.

"You're taking bartending classes?" Kairi asked. "Aren't you too young?"

"Legal drinking age is eighteen, darlin'," Annwn said, a sarcastic emphasis on the last word. "I'm plenty old enough to be taking bartending classes."

"You just seem so. . ."

"Say anything about me looking younger than I am and I'll hit you."

"Now, Kairi," Kiaran said. "Hurry along. Unless you're interested in a lesbian orgy with us?"

"Ew! No!" the red-head looked thoroughly disgusted.

"Good. You're not that hot, anyways."

Kairi stood there, a look of disgust and indignity on her face. She shook her head and pivoted on her heels to head off to practice for the cheerleading squad. Zax bounded up behind the three girls.

"Did I hear something about a lesbian orgy?"

"No, you can't watch," Annwn deadpanned.

Zax hung his head in disappointment. Then he perked up as he glimpsed a certain spiky-haired blond just ahead. He waved good-bye to Annwn, Kiaran, and Hana as he bounded down the hall to glomp onto Cloud with a wide grin on his face.

"Ow!" Cloud exclaimed as Zax's weight threw him to the floor.

"Hey, there, Spike!" Zax said. "Wanna go to the Blue Rhapsody this weekend? Huh?Huh?"

"Get off me!"

The three girls laughed as they heard Zax and Cloud's "conversation" from down the hall.

§§§§§

A couple days passed and Thursday rolled around. Once again, Axel was sitting between Tidus and Yuffie, listening to Xaldin rant about Petrarchan sonnets. However, this time, Xaldin was ranting about looking forward to hearing what the students had written. He called up students one by one to stand up front and read their poem; a few students were right on with the rhyme-scheme, but the sonnet itself sucked, while other students had the theme right but had actually written an Elizabethan sonnet and not a Petrarchan.

"Thank you, Selphie," Xaldin said after Selphie finished reading a sappy, but rather nice sonnet about star-crossed lovers. "Kiaran, you're next."

"You really don't want me to read my poem out loud," the blue-haired girl said.

"All students are required to read their poem to the class, Miss Kiaran," Xaldin told her. "You have a choice. Either get up here and read the poem or fail the assignment."

Kiaran sighed, but stood up and walked to the front of the classroom. She fidgeted with the pocket of the blue-plaid slacks she wore (apparently, she refused to wear the skirts), and then cleared her throat as she held up her paper.

"Your touch from this night, it still lingers…
A steady rhythm, always repeating,
Your hearts beats in your chest, beneath my fingers…
But it feels like my own heart has stopped beating.

I feel like crying out as your touch lights me aflame
Even now, as my mind keeps on pleading…
And yet I know, that I'm the only one to blame
For I am the one who can't bear this needing…

To you, my sadistic lover, this is a mere game
This pain, this pleasure…my soul is bleeding
I don't know just how much of this I can take
For me, this feeling is one of beloved shame
I know, my love, that your actions are misleading
But…even now…it's me whom I'm allowing you to break."

The class looked at Kiaran, eyes wide in shock. Xaldin turned his ice-cold gaze on her and the girl cringed under his gaze.

"Miss Kiaran, that is not appropriate for school."

"Hey, the requirements never said anything about being school-appropriate!" Kiaran said in her defense. "You just said that so long as it follows the main theme of love, we could write about anything!"

"That does not follow the theme of love."

"Sure, it does! Sex is about love!" Kiaran paused. "In most cases."

"Besides," Hana said from her seat. "She wrote it after what we did last nigh--" She caught herself mid-word and covered her mouth. "Oops."

The entire class turned to stare at Hana. Xaldin looked at Kiaran and held out his hand to take her paper.

"See me after class," was all he had to say.

Kiaran nodded solemnly before heading back to her seat. Xaldin called up more students to read their poems, listening intently. He marked down grades as the students finished reading. After the last student read their poem, Xaldin had them take out their textbooks and move onto the next chapter on poems.

The bell finally rang so they could leave and Axel hurried out. As he did, there was an announcement on the PA. The principal, Xemnas, cleared his throat and began the announcement.

"Attention, students," Xemnas' deep voice came over the speakers. "There has been an incident in the bathrooms and we are asked to allow everyone to leave the campus while they are worked on."

Well, that's interesting, Axel thought. Whatever, I'm going to the club.

Throwing his backpack over one shoulder, the red-head left campus and headed for the bus that was already waiting to take students down to the docks to catch the ferry to Kalohi. Apparently, Xemnas had been waiting to make the announcement to leave campus until the bus had arrived. Boarding, Axel noticed Demyx already seated in the last seat, nodding his head to the music playing on his iPod.

"Going to the Blue Rhapsody tonight?" Axel asked, pulling one of the earphones away as he sat down next to his friend.

"Yeah," Demyx replied, pouting slightly at Axel. "Gotta talk to Theo and make sure everything will be okay for tomorrow night."

"Right," Axel murmured. He placed the earphone into his own ear and leaned on Demyx's shoulder as he listened to the music that was playing. "Green Day. I like their old stuff better."

"This isn't a bad song, though."

"Mm," Axel replied. "Your shoulder's comfy."

§§§§§

"Why can't we just get groceries from the shop at home?" Roxas whined as he carried the bags out of the store.

"You know they don't have a good pharmacy over there," Naminé said. "We had to come here to get Sora's medication, so we might as well get the groceries over here as well."

"How come Sora couldn't come get his own Ritalin?"

"Because he's grounded, remember?" Naminé sighed. "Now, come on. It looks like it's going to start raining."

Just as she said it, raindrops began falling from the gray skies. It began as a soft sprinkle, but before long, it turned into a full-on downpour. Naminé groaned as the rain soaked her shirt. Shifting the groceries to hide her shirt, Naminé began hurrying down the street.

"We're going to get completely soaked," Roxas muttered, running beside his sister.

Naminé didn't answer as she kept going down the street. A honk sounded behind her. She and Roxas stopped and turned to the street to see a black convertible pulling up beside them. Through the heavy rain, they saw the window roll down and the familiar face of a red-haired classmate greeted them.

"Need a ride?" Axel called over the downpour.

"Please," Naminé replied.

"Backseat," Axel said as the twins rushed over. "I got Demyx in the front."

"Thank you very much," Naminé said. She climbed in and set her bags on the floorboard in front of her.

"T-thanks," Roxas told Axel, shivering slightly as he buckled up.

"Hey, Naminé," Axel said. "My school jacket's under the seat. You can cover yourself up with it."

Naminé reached under the seat and pulled the navy blue jacket out. She pulled it on with another thanks. Axel nodded in acknowledgement and let off the brake to head down the street.

"Where do I need to take you?" he asked.

"The docks," Roxas said. "We need to get back to Lanai."

"Wow," Axel said. "I think that's the most I've ever heard you say."

Roxas turned a brilliant red color. "I-I don't really like to talk."

"I see," the red-head replied. "Well, okay. We'll get you over to the docks. I don't think the storm's bad enough that the ferry would be cancelled, so lucky you."

Axel drove down to the docks and parked. He gave Roxas and Naminé a smile as they got out, grabbing their backpacks and groceries as they did so. Roxas headed over to the ferry after saying another quick thank you to Axel for the ride. Naminé turned to follow her brother, but stopped in her tracks and turned around.

"Your jacket," she said.

"Take it with you," Axel told her. "Your brother may be fine with a soaking wet shirt, but you, you've got certain aspects he doesn't, that will attract unwanted attention if you're not covered up."

Naminé blushed vividly. "T-thank you again. I'll return it to you on Monday, okay?"

"Gotcha," Axel smiled. "See you Monday, then!"

The blonde gave a kind wave goodbye and ran after her brother. Axel put his car back in drive and headed back into town.

"Interesting kids, those two are," he muttered.

"I still think you're crushing on the brother," Demyx grinned.

"I am not," Axel retorted. "Why would I be crushing on a skinny little shrimp like him?"

"It's his big blue eyes."

"If I was attracted to big blue eyes, I still wouldn't be crushing on Roxas," Axel said. "There are tons of guys with blue eyes I could pick to date."

"Right," Demyx said.

"Besides, would I have gone for you if I was attracted to blue eyes? Your eyes are more green than blue."

"You went for me because I was sexy and good in bed."

"Exactly," Axel muttered.

A few minutes passed in relative silence. Demyx played with the buttons on Axel's stereo, trying to find a good station to listen to as they drove through the city. He found something to listen to and leaned into his seat.

"Axel, you just passed my apartment."

"Oops."

Axel hit the brake and turned around in the street, thankful that there was no one else on this particular street. He turned into the parking lot and came to a stop in front of the apartment Demyx shared with his father. He turned the radio down and looked at his friend.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow at the Blue Rhapsody, then?"

"Eight o'clock," Demyx reminded him.

"Right."

"I'll look for you."

"Yeah, yeah. Get out of my car."

Demyx gave a grin, hopped out, and headed into the building. Axel shifted gears and headed for his own apartment complex.

§§§§§

Later that night, Axel lay in bed thinking about what Demyx had said earlier about having a crush on Roxas. Immediately, the red-head concluded that his friend was wrong. Axel did not crush. He lusted, messed around, and fooled around. There was no 'crush' involved with any relationships he had. Even when he was young and had found himself attracted to Yuffie, it hadn't really been a crush; more like a passing thought.

Maybe it was a bit different now. Sure, Roxas was a skinny little shrimp, but seeing the younger boy's spiky blond hair sopping wet, water dripping down his neck and down his already soaked shirt had been a bit of a—

"No!" Axel exclaimed, sitting up in bed. "I don't like Roxas."

A bang on the wall attracted his attention.

"Shut up in there, yo!" his brother, Reno, shouted. "I gotta get up early tomorrow!"

"Sor-ry!" Axel replied, irritably.

Lying back down on his bed, Axel ran a hand through his unruly red hair. He gave a sigh, turned onto his side and laid his head on his arm. He pulled his blankets up over his body.

"I don't like him," he muttered as he closed his eyes.

The image under his eyelids seemed to be trying to tell him otherwise. Roxas' shirt was translucent from it being wet, skin showing through the fabric. The boy's chest was heaving as he tried to catch his breath after running through the rain. Axel snapped his eyes open again as he swore loudly.

"SHUT UP!" Reno shouted through the wall.

"Okay, OKAY!" Axel shouted back.

It would be a while until Axel fell asleep. With his mind displaying that image of Roxas whenever he closed his eyes, the red-head was finding it hard to keep his eyes closed long enough to actually get to sleep. He told himself it was just his hormones trying to get the better of him again and that he was definitely not 'crushing' on the small blond boy.

After all, he did not get crushes on anyone.

Author's Note: Yeah, I know I kinda jumped around a bit, but there was a lot I wanted to put in. I'll try not to do that as much from now on. The rest of the story will flow a lot better than this chapter did. My only question to you, my readers, is this: should I make Reno show up more and should I pair him up with Rufus? Okay, that was two questions, but still. Let it slide?

In case you're wondering, yes Elizabethan and Petrarchan sonnets are true forms of poetry. I remember studying them in my senior class. Quite frankly, I'm amazed I kept all my notes and poems. The one that Kiaran reads out loud is actually one of the poems I turned in for credit. Somehow, I don't think the teacher actually read it or I would have been sent in for counseling.