Author's Notes:
Sorry for the long wait. I didn't have time to get to the computer much, so I really struggled with this chapter. I checked for spelling errors and all, but I didn't feel like rereading it over again and again like I did with the other chapters. So... if this chapter is crap, I'll make it up in the next one. I Promise. I don't know why, but in this chapter I focused it mostly on drugs. Probably because everyone in my town is on drugs (except me, of course...) even some of my closest friends. The next chapter will have much action :D I swear it! Anyway, enjoy!
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After school, I prepared to dash home. I didn't feel like doing much of anything else with Axel, the guy got on my nerves after awhile. It was like... trying to babysit a little kid who needed some medication. Really badly. As I left the school doors, I remembered Sora wanted me to wait for him. I was in a dilemma now - should I have waited for Sora, or should I have gotten the hell outta here? There was no sign of Axel, so I decided to wait for Sora for a bit. I stood by a tree in the front of the school for a few minutes, but there was no sign of Sora.
I sighed and decided to sit down in the shade. I ripped blades of grass and tied them together out of boredom. Where the hell was he? Mom was going to have my head. She wanted us to give her a call, and he should've been out here by now. "Oh my Gawd. It's Roxassss!" I looked off into the distance. Of course, Axel was frolicking his way on over. This time Demyx was at his heels, his face buried in the same notebook. I swear, that kid had skills. He didn't crash into a single thing. I panicked a little at the sight of Axel. He caught me by surprise this time, but I wasn't in any mood to be toyed with.
Axel approached closer, attempting to grab my arm. I swirved in the opposite direction, escaping his grip. I now found this as an opportunity to escape for good or at least for the rest of the day. Tomorrow was something I didn't want to think about. I took off into the crowd of people still entering and exiting the school, just managing to hear him say, "Whoa. Someone's grouchy." His voice slowly faded away as I traveled deeper and deeper through the mounds of people, bashing my elbows several times.
I now found myself behind the school where the track and football field were. I noticed it right away, it was the first place Axel wanted to escape to during school. I didn't expect anyone to be there, but was a little disappointed to find a whole bunch of jocks scattered all around. They were all signing up for the new sports this year. I was athletic, but I just wasn't interested in football or anything for the school. I didn't fit in with the tough steroid addicts anyway.
I walked down towards the field, trying to conceal myself in the shadows under the bleachers nearby. I didn't know if Axel followed me or something. I looked around, poking my head about to see if anyone was there. Not a single Axel in sight. I sat down, feeling a little guilty. It was a little mean to just run away like that, but I had no choice. I would've just lashed out on the guy anyway. I would've just been 'grumpy' all the same.
"Did you bring it?" I heard a familiar but faint voice coming from the top of the bleachers. I looked up but I didn't see anyone, although I did hear movement. "Yeah. I got it right here! I can bring more if you want." said another voice. I recognised that one right away. I lived with that annoying voice since birth - it was definitely Sora. What a surprise. Here he was all along, right above me. Talk about dumb luck. Who was he with? I had to figure that out as soon as possible.
I now stood up, and tried to look through the cracks in the bleachers. I walked over a little to the left and a little to the right, but this guy just wouldn't show himself. I finally spotted a foot and a pair of Tripp pants, but nothing rang a bell yet. I squinted just about noticing a head of grey hair swish in the wind. It was Riku. I should've known. "Okay, cool." He told Sora. I saw his arm reach over to Sora, receiving something he was overly ecstatic about. What was Sora doing with someone like that? Dealing... drugs? It was a surprise, especially for perfect-boy Sora who'd rat out on me even if I mentioned the word drug.
"Pssst. What are we all sneaky about?" Someone just whispered in my ear. I jumped fifty feet in the air, my heart skipping ten beats. It was none other than Axel. Of course. That guy had a Roxas radar. Not even my mom could find me that quickly, which was the sad part of it all. I now lost my balance and fell backwards, banging into a metal bar. It made a loud clanging sound. It was so loud, it caught Riku and Sora's attention almost instantly. "Who's the asshole under the bleachers?" Riku snapped, peering into the cracks from above. Axel immediately pushed me into a small dark space and faced Riku man to man. "I'm the 'asshole'. I was having a smoke. Gotta problem, punk?" Riku rolled his eyes, but shook his head 'no'. "Good didn't think so." Axel sneered.
"Whatever." Riku said and motioned for Sora to follow, both leaving the area. We both came out from under the bleachers. I rubbed the spot that I had banged, and the other spot that now ached from Axel pushing me. That really hurt. I sat down by Axel, who was now searching his pockets for something. "Uhh... thanks, man." I told him. I didn't know what else to say besides that. "No problemo. Anything for buddy of mine." He replied, pulling a lighter from his pocket. I felt confused. He still called me a friend, huh? Even after I ran away and all of that? "You shouldn't push your 'buddies' into dark corners." I said, half-smirking. Really, I wanted to smile because I felt so stupid. I almost got caught back there. Who knows what Riku could've done to me... who knows what Sora could've done to me...
Axel laughed loudly. A few people in the field stared towards us, but quickly looked away as Axel glared at them. He then gazed straight into my eyes, making a strange expression. "Roxas, Roxas, Roxas. You could've been toast if it weren't for me. Think of me as your... Jesus. Bow to Jesus!" he shouted, and immediately forced me to 'bow' by pushing my head down with his bare hands. "Axel! Cut it out!" I yelled, flailing wildly. This guy was strong! I didn't think this friendship really could work out if he was my 'Jesus' and all.
He let go, sitting back down on the bleachers. "You're no fun." Axel said, putting his thumbs down. "Me and Demyx used to do that all the time." He lit a cigarette with the lighter from his pocket. "Well I'm not Demyx. And where did you get that?" I asked him, pointing at the cig. "It's a sih-gahr-eht. Got it memorized? I picked it up off the ground after I told off Riku." he said puffing away happily. "I know what it is!" I said, raising my voice, "I just didn't know you smoke. And you shouldn't pick up random things off of the ground." Axel shrugged. "I gave up on my health a long time ago. It's not like I'm going to die in ten days or anything, so chill out."
I pouted like a little child. I didn't know exactly why, though. I only met Axel today but it felt as if we've been friends for longer. That's probably because he's so outgoing and I'm just... not as out there as him. In a way I kind of envied Axel. He had no fear, he was a complete daredevil. That was something I could never be. Sure, people accepted me, but I never showed them my real personality. It was all sort of hidden. Axel was pretty much the only one I could ever be myself around. That was why I acted so... whiny. At least that's what I told myself.
As I sat there in thought, my leg starting vibrating. Someone was calling my cell phone? I reached in answered with a little hesitation. "Hello?" I asked. "Where in the world ARE you?" A voice shouted, almost blasting my ear off. It was my mom. I was too busy spying on Sora to bother to call... "I'm at school. I... uhh... signed up for a sport." I told her in desperation. I looked around the area, and found a few jocks playing football. "I signed up for football!" I took the phone away from my ear a few inches and waited for a reply. "Okay. But next time you don't call me, you're in huge trouble. You understand me! Now get yourself on back home right now!" I grunted into the phone a simple 'yes' and hung up.
"Uh-oh. Roxas forgot to call mommy. That's always rough." Axel smiled widely at his joke, still smoking away like a chimney. "Since you're on the 'football team' you better go take some steroids." I frowned. "I'm not joining any team." I hung my head, a little sorry of the excuse I made. "She's gonna have my head when she finds out I didn't join any sport. I should just tell her I didn't make the team..." Axel sat quiet for a moment, appearing as in thought. He threw his cig to the floor, stepping on it. "No don't tell her that. The team practices like... everyday after school." He said putting his hand to his chin. "So... we could hang out after school instead! Just tell your mom you were at 'practice'. This way, we'll have so much more time to get to know each other." Axel now looked ecstatic, and winked at me. I shrugged, not really liking the idea. "I guess. It could work, but what do I do when a game comes around?" I asked.
Axel crossed his arms. "I dunno. Just tell her not to come. We'll think of something." At that moment, I thought Axel was onto something. Sure, I'd be hanging out with him almost every day and all and I found him to be annoying, but it sure beat staying inside all day like I usually did. "Okay." I told him, with a half smile. Axel looked a bit shocked after I said this, something I didn't expect. "Aww, Roxas. We're gonna have so much fun. Me and you and Demyx and... everyone else is a bunch of sour heads, so guess it's just us three!" Axel kept on rambling on, but I knew if I didn't get home soon, my head would be put in a vice grip. "Axel, I gotta go." Axel stopped jabbering on. "Okay, I'll walk you home then." I sighed a little, but agreed.
We both left the football field, and Axel continued to chatter about all the 'fun' we were going to have. Something told me I shouldn't have agreed to this... We went up the street in front of the school, in the direction of my house. It was a little far of a walk, but nothing I couldn't handle. We were halfway there, when an older guy from the goth crowd was smoking under a tree nearby. His hair was bright blue, and he looked like he wasn't a very social guy. Axel took off, flat leaving me to ask him (this time a joint) for his drugs, and then came back with a big satisfied smile on his face. "Hehe, good old Saix. Always loaded." He said quickly, reaching in his pocket for his lighter. This made me angry. I didn't like to see Axel smoke, let alone smell the fumes.
I acted quickly before he lit up, and swiped the joint right from his fingers. He looked at me, raising his eyebrows. "Heeey, man. If you wanted to smoke that badly, you should've just said something in the first place. Okay, just one puff. I don't want you addicted next." He lit up the pot as I held it between my fingers. I was about to stomp all over it. I wasn't a big fan of smoking. Something told me that it was the right thing to do, although I knew it was bad for me. Was it to prove that I wasn't a mama's boy, like Axel saw before? I didn't know, I just inhaled deeply, coughing a bit.
I felt a little light-headed, and soon found myself in a bigger coughing fit than before. "Hey, Roxas. Take it easy! You almost ate the damn thing. Then I would've had to make you throw up, because that was five dollars down the drain." I continued to cough. It was mostly dramatic - to create sympathy and effect. I wanted Axel to tell me it was a bad idea, that it wasn't a good habit. Axel just took the joint from my hands and continued smoking without saying a single word. I sat down on the ground, the coughing sensation had went away. I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get the reaction from Axel that I wanted. "Time to get up, drama queen." He said, grabbing my shoulders from behind. He lifted me off the ground, as if using no strength.
"I gotta go home." I told the fire-red head sharply. He nodded. "I walk you home." We continued to walk up the street, just him and I. The sun was still shining brightly from afar, though it was now starting to sink below the clouds. We were out here for much longer than I expected, and I knew my mom would yell. I didn't really care, though. It was better to be outside here than being in my boring house. Axel was in better shape than I was, he walked alot faster than me. That's probably because he was so street smart and wandered outdoors alot. I couldn't help but study his figure as he walked a little ahead of me. He was strong built, yet had slender arms. I looked down on myself. My arms were so scrawny, but my hands seemed to be broad for my shape. The same with Sora. Why couldn't I have been built like Axel? I could've gotten any girl I wanted with a body like that. Axel didn't seem to be into girls, though, so I found it to be a total waste.
"Hey, man. Where the hell is your house? We've been walking, like, a kazillion miles." I looked at him a little shyly. It made me blush a little that I was checking him out without him realising it. "Uhh. It's over that way. We're almost there." Whew. That was close. Instead of continuing onwards, Axel stopped walking. "Heeey." He said suddenly. He put his hands on his hips and put his face close to mine, arching his eyebrows in the peculiar way he did. "What's wrong? You're all... in a daze. Is someone sleepy?" I shook my head. "No, guess again." I told him, finally snapping out of it. "Hmm. It was from before, wasn't it?" Axel smirked extra widely, his green eyes shining with delight. I shook my head even harder, my spikes flying this way and that. "No, that's not it. I just have alot on my mind. Is there a problem with that?"
Axel appeared a little hurt, but he's such a drama queen, so I didn't know when to take him seriously. "I'm just concerned about dear Roxas." He now pouted like a five year old. "You can tell your buddy Axel anything." I exhaled deeply. "Anything?" He nodded. "Yeah, anything." I knew I had to tell him something. He trusted me one-hundred percent, and I didn't really trust him at all. I felt as if telling him something would help my trust become stronger. "You know, I like somebody at our school." I said, blushing a little. Axel's eyes widened. His smirk grew into a ferocious grin. "Really? Who? Who? You must tell Axel about this." I sighed deeply. "Namine..." I whispered. Axel put his finger in his ear, cleaning it out. "Come again? I could've sworn that was just the wind." I rolled my eyes. Idiot. "Okay, sorry. You're gonna have to speak louder. Pretend I'm an old crusty man who needs a hearing aid." he said apologetically. Did everything have to be a trial with Axel? "Namine! I like Namine." I growled much louder than before.
Before I knew it, Axel put his arm around my shoulder. "Ohhh Roxas is in love! My little Roxas... a growing boy." he then went closer to my ear. "Do tell the details." He whispered softly. My ear tingled a bit. I don't think anyone's blew in my ear, let alone talked in it... It felt weird. We continued to walk, Axel still hanging on me. He threatened not to let go unless I told the details. This guy knew me all too well, so I finally caved. I told him about gym, and the beginning of school. His voice became more lively. He really loved talking about my love life for some reason...
"Sorry Roxas, ol pal. I think she's going out with Seifer." He told me. I felt a sinking feeling begin to arise. "Seifer? Who's that?" I asked. Axel giggled. "He's a head jock. Of course, he could get any damn girl he wants in our school." He then crept closer to my ear. "Between you and me, I think he's got a little somethin' a somethin' with Rai if you know what I mean. He's the captain of the basketball team. They're best buds. Probably more than buds. Hehe." Just then I realised, Axel was a gossip freak. He was like... a chick. Still, it was cool hearing about all these people I still had yet to meet.
We were now at the foot of my street. "I live down here." I said to Axel. He whistled, impressed. (Wheet-whoo?) "Classy, classy." He said. "Just how rich are you, buddy?" I shrugged. "Not very rich if I'm going to public school." He grinned widely, and nudged me in the chest. "Watch your mouth, smarty-pants." He then nudged me again. "Whoa, Roxas. You're pretty built." He then patted my chest, and attempted to caress it. I squirmed the other way. "Hey, stop that!" I shouted. Axel laughed loudly. "Oh I forgot. It's now soon-to-be Namine property." I shook my head. "She'd never go for me. I'm just a scrawny little... kid." Axel shook his head. "Oh, pish posh. You've got a nice body. She'd definitely go for some Roxas ass." I sure hope Axel was right. 'Your one damn fine piece of work.' That's what Axel told me first period. Was it true?
"This is my house." I told him, trying to change the subject. Axel studied my house carefully. "Sweet house. I live in a shack." I half-laughed. "I'm sure you don't. Besides, it's just my mom and Sora." Axel frowned, looking sad. "Well, than I guess this is good-bye, friend." I nodded. "Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow." Axel smiled a little, and nodded in return. "So I'll see you first period?" I asked. He nodded again. His eyes then lit up, as if a light bulb clicked on in his head. "Oh my gahd. We should walk to school tomorrow!" I wanted to kick myself in the face for not foreseeing this. "Uhh... guess. If my mom lets me." Axel smirked. "I'll convince her." Oh great. He'd probably just make it worse.
"Uhh... yeah. Well, I'm gonna go now. Peace." I told him. He then walked closer to me, and patted my head carefully. "Okay, see you tomorrow Roxas." He then began to walk away. I heard the front down screech behind me, and I turned around promptly. It was my mom. "Where have you been? I thought you'd be home already! The school isn't that far, for crying out loud!" She screamed. I felt my insides burst with anger. I hated when she... bitched. "I...I..." I was all out of excuses, really. "Oh, sorry. It was my fault." Axel said, walking back towards my house. "I asked him if he could come with me back to the school after signing up for football. I had to ask my teacher about something." My mom looked at Axel, puzzled. "You don't look like that type of kid who plays football." she concluded. Axel didn't smirk, but instead smiled almost innocently. "Hey, your son doesn't look the type either. I guess you could say we're pioneers in a sense." My mom now looked more at ease. Axel used bigger words when he spoke to her, and my mom always had valued intelligence.
"Oh, I see. Well it's good you and Roxas could join a sport. Maybe he'll actually open up to somebody." I rolled my eyes, but she just laughed instead. "Cheer up, kiddo." She told me. Axel patted my back. "Yeah, he's one tough nut to crack. But I think he'll be okay this year." Tough nut to crack? I didn't like where this conversation was leading. "Yeah I think he'll do okay too. He's always been good socially." My mom said, agreeing. "Okay, Roxas. It's time for us to go in. What's your name?" She asked Axel. "I'm Axel. Nice to meet you." he said politely, shaking hands with my mom. He sure knew how to put on an act. She smiled pleasantly. "Axel, doesn't your family get mad when you're outside for too long?" She asked him. He shook his head. "No, my family doesn't mind. I live right by the school, so it's no bother for them."
"Hmm... I guess Roxas would want more freedom, too." She said, thinking aloud. "Well, if he hung out with a nice boy like you, I see no problem. Okay Roxas, you can stay outside until 6 every night." I felt my spirits rise. Thank you, Axel! "Well, we Roxas and I have to go. See you again sometime." Axel smiled. "Bye." He said, waving. I waved back. This whole conversation that just went on was awkward as anything... Axel probably thinks I'm some kind of mama's boy or something like he already did. My mom and I went back inside, and we walked into the kitchen.
"It's nice you have a friend." Mom told me, going to the stove where she was preparing dinner. "Yeah, I guess." I replied, half listening. "Lighten up, Roxas. Anyway, it's a shame he wears such dark clothes. I hope you won't wear all black next? I'm not stopping you. You can be whatever you want to be. I don't want to prevent you from anything." I almost flipped backwards off of my chair. My mom? Letting me wear what I wanted? Letting me be my own person? Now that was new. As I fell slient, my mom continued on with dinner. She called Sora down when it was ready, and we all in almost completel silence. Afterwards, I went upstairs to my room.
It looked the same as this morning. Everything was still a mess - I knew I needed to clean it. I put away a few of my clothes, and was actually shocked to see the bottom of the floor. I then found Princess Tutu lying on the floor, and quickly shoved it in my dresser drawer. Good thing too, because moments later Sora came upstairs and knocked on my door. "Yeah?" I said. He entered, with a smug look on his face. "So. What's this thing you and that Axel kid have going on?" He asked. I shrugged. "I dunno. None of your business." is eyebrows arched high on his head. "Well, you know if you didn't tell me, I could always make something up to mom. Like... you're a couple or something. She'd believe me." I felt no fury like I usually did. Instead I imitated his smile. "Oh yeah, well what's this thing you and that Riku guy have going on? i can make something up about that too! And mom likes Axel, she wouldn't believe you!" As I said that, Sora's eyes widened to the max.
"Me... and-and Riku? That's none of your business!" I rolled my eyes. I knew there was something going on, there was no use hiding it. "What were you two doing on the bleachers after school?" I asked him, putting enthusiasm into the question. He looked greatly taken aback, now turning pink. "We weren't doing anything! H-How did you know about that anyway? I bet Axel told you!" I shook my head, smirking. "No. Axel didn't tell me anything." Sora's face deepened to red. "You asshole! You don't know anything!" He wailed, and stormed out of the room. 'Asshole' huh? He was already taking after Riku. I fell backwards onto my bed, felt great having won the fight. I also felt great with my cleaner room. Maybe spending time with Axel wouldn't be too bad after all. My mom approved, at least. I finally found Sora's weakness, too. Yeah, things were definitely good. At this thought, I finally shut my eyes, drifting off into sleep...