Chapter Two---Cruise Control

Sora sifted through the mail, wondering if he might have missed his report card. It was very important that he get that report card because if Leon saw it…well, he was going to be proud of Sora. Or at least, Sora hoped his oldest brother would be proud. If he wasn't…well, that wasn't anything new to Sora. He never quite got things right and messed up a lot but he always tried.

"Twilight University? I didn't know Leon had applied there…" Sora murmured to himself, looking at the impressive looking envelope. He really shouldn't open it. Sora shrieked as two cold fingers pinched his bare side and dropped the letter. Kadaj stood beside him grinning like a Cheshire cat as he picked up the envelope while Sora attempted a menacing scowl. He failed.

"What's this? Leon actually applied?" Kadaj sent a meaningful look to the shorter teen who nodded enthusiastically, sending chocolate spikes swaying in every which direction. Kadaj made a thoughtful noise before he opened the letter. Sora stared at him with a scandalized expression.

"What? Don't look at me like that; you know you want to read what it says. If he got accepted, we'll toss him in the trunk and go, whether he wants to or not. If he didn't, well, we don't have to tell him the stupid thing ever came."

"But…damn, you're right. Ok open it!! Wait, don't open it!" A perplexed looked crossed the silver haired boys handsome face before Sora dashed into Demyx's room and pulled the blonde out, calling for Zexion who was no doubt in the garage again. Sure enough, the amethyst eyed teen came out of the garage covered in paint and charcoal.

"Look, this is Leon's college letter…We all know why he applied there." The group nodded and looked at Sora curiously. Just where was he going with this?

" I think, if he did get accepted, getting out of Hollow Bastion is the best thing for him…you all know that."

"So open it already!" Demyx burst out, excited and nervous at the same time. Kadaj hesitated for a brief moment before he ripped out the letter and began reading, his face falling. Sora's heart sank.

"Dear Mr. Everheart…we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Twilight University!" Sora punched his brother in the arm for playing tricks before the group clustered around him to read the paper.

" Demyx, get on the phone with the realtor. We're going to Twilight Town!"

Axel sat on the porch, a cigarette between his lips as he stared at the incensed skies, storms lurking behind grey clouds. Heaving a sigh, he held his head in his hands as he heard Zack and Cloud arguing again. He stopped keeping track of what it was that pissed the blonde off these days (because lately, it was damn near everything) and kept out of Cloud's way. The yelling grew ever louder and the sound of heavy objects being thrown around met Axel's ears as he ground his teeth in exasperation.

Throwing open the door he ran up stairs, past his oblivious brothers and slammed his door, turning on the cd player. The slow melody drifted through his room as he sighed again, his foot tapping in time with the deep voice holding a hint of sorrow in its timber.

When they say, 'You're not that strong,' you're not that weak. It's not your fault…When you climb up to your hill, up to your place, I hope you will…

Axel closed his eyes tightly, gripping fistfuls of hair in his pale hands, his knuckles turning white. The struggle to hold back the tears was lost as the song continued and Cloud's yelling echoed in the background.

What you want, what you lost, what you had, what is gone, is over…What you got, what you love, what you need, what you have isn't real
Its not enough, it's not enough, it's not enough, I'm sorry…It's enough…

Rubbing fists against his eyes angrily, Axel stood and paced his room, his stomach growling and coiling with disquiet. The yelling ceased as a door down stairs slammed. Axel laughed mirthlessly. It always came down to that.

Cloud started a fight, they yelled for an hour or so, threw things and then Zack caved and left like a little bitch. He never stood up to Cloud. Over the past three years, Axel had lost respect for the brunette; he had no backbone, no spine. Axel just couldn't look up to someone who never put up a fight for what he believed in.

Pulling out another cancer stick, Axel climbed out his window and headed to the park.

Zack didn't know how long he'd been running for. It could have been minutes but it might as well have been hours for all the heaving and gasping he was doing. He hated fighting with Cloud, he really did but the blonde could never let things go. It was almost as if he liked fighting. Or maybe Zack just kept doing everything wrong. Resting shaking hands on his hips, Zack hung his head. Maybe that was it. Maybe it was really him that was starting things and not Cloud.

A burst of fretfulness overtook the 23 year old as he paced to and fro, worrying at his lip and going back and forth in his mind about what do to. Eventually, the itch that lurked beneath his skin won out and he sat at the top of Sunset Hill, pulling a small object out of his pocket. It always came down this final battle with the demons in himself and in the end, Zack always lost.

Leon came home to a suspiciously quiet living room. His brothers sat on the couch, looking rather grim and panic clutched at his heart as he sat in the recliner, waiting for someone to explain what in the hell was going on. What he'd failed to noticed upon his arrival was the masses of packed and partially packed boxes that littered the house.

"Leon, no matter what you say, you need to get out of Twilight Town." Leon remained silent but relief swept over him that something more serious had not taken place.

"Twilight University sent you an acceptance letter today." Silence ensued those words while Leon's heart stopped.

"We need to go. It'd be better for all of us if we left this place. So, Demyx took the liberty of picking out some houses close to campus that are in our price range. We're going to look at them tomorrow and you have until Friday to pick one." Kadaj's tone meant Leon really didn't have a choice. They'd just as soon tie him up and toss him in the trunk if he tried refusing. They outnumbered him anyways.

"We also called our school and had them transfer our transcripts." Silently, the stormy eyed man cursed. The little buggers had thought of everything. Except…Leon opened his mouth to pose his objection but Sora held up a slender hand.

"No, we already got a list of available jobs and have a list of that too. You have till Saturday to pick one." Sora's blue eyes were bright for the first time in a long time and Leon gave a sigh of defeat, finally looking around at the half-packed home.

"…Whatever."

A.n: Woo! Ahahah chapter two my lovelies. Enjoi and Review! Thanks to all those who've been reading, reviewing and fav'ing! The song in the first chapter is Where'd You Go? By Ashley Paker Angel and the song in this chapter is Not Enough by Our Lady Peace.

Ulti!