Part 3

The Friends

"So, how long have you and Riku known each other?" Sora found himself asking as he and Roxas sat down, Sora moved to his usual back corner while the blonde followed him.

"Feels like forever," Roxas said, "Met him through my boyfriend, Axel, and we've been dating for what feels like longer."

"Oh… really," Sora said, feeling self-conscious all of a sudden. Roxas smirked and gave a small laugh, "I'm only joking, Axel and I were dating since I was fourteen, and I met Riku when I was fifteen," he smiled, "it just feels like forever, you know."

"Oh… so umm you and Axel, was it, is he like… the one?" Sora asked.

"What a weird question to ask…" Roxas muttered. Sora blushed but Roxas smiled, "Yeah, he is," Roxas smiled, "in fact, look at this." He displayed his hand, which had a simple silver ring on his ring finger, with gold rings on his pinky and middle finger. "Axel gave them to me," he said. "We're practically married," he declared smiling, "I mean we should be after all the times he sucked my bl—cock… sucked my cock."

"O-ohh…" Sora felt awkward and turned to face the teacher, his face beet red. "Do you… do stuff like that often?"

"No-no, I mean yeah but—sorry, shouldn't have said that," Roxas apologized. Sora's face was still red as he glanced towards Roxas.

"Will Riku ex—"

"No, no I mean you guys just met right?" Roxas said quickly.

"Yeah but… I feel strange around him…" Sora confessed, "he calls me his kitten and he just kissed me and—this is the most human contact I've had since my brother left."

Roxas frowned. "How does it make you feel?"

"Happy… I think," Sora confessed. "I don't know what we are doing, what we are… we just met but," Sora took a deep breath, "is it wrong that I want more? I want to hear him call me kitten more…kiss my cheek and maybe my lips… I feel like I'm falling fast for him and we only just met."

"I know that feeling," Roxas nodded, "it was the same with me and Axel," he smiled and relaxed in his chair. "We met in the morning one fateful day and by the end of it, I was his puppy… still am," he smiled, "I remember one day early on, I actually licked him after he called me puppy—it was funny and strangely hot, you should have seen the look on Axel's face!" He laughed to himself, which caused Sora to smile and chuckle along. "I would honestly say don't worry about it Sora, let what happens happen, I did and I found the love of my life."

Sora nodded he mimicked the relaxed pose Roxas was in and closed his eyes, "Let what happens happen… sounds good Roxas," he smiled.

Roxas made a noise of approval. Sora glanced at him and smiled. The professor walked in and class soon started, Sora was happy to have a class with Roxas, he was able to focus on the professor while glancing at the blonde every now and again, smiling secretly as the word friend drifted into his head, larger and stronger than his anxious thoughts. The class went smoothly and Sora and Roxas left it together, Sora looking at his schedule.

"How many classes are you taking this semester?" Roxas asked.

"Five, the three today, Wednesday, Friday and I have two Tuesdays and Thursday, one of those meeting twice a week and the other meeting on Wednesday also," Sora said.

Roxas gave a low whistle, "Damn Sora, that's a lot," he said, "I only have four classes… what major are you?"

"English, I want to go into publishing," Sora said, "why? What major are you?"

"Art," Roxas smirked, "Mine's more useless than yours in the world!" He laughed. Sora chuckled and gave a soft smile. "How are your parents?" He asked, "With you being an Art major?"

"They're okay," Roxas shrugged, "They told me, as long as I find something I love and make money to support myself comfortably, they're fine."

"Oh…oh," Sora said, his smile deflated a little and his shoulders slugged, feeling a little heavier. He bit his lip and pulled his phone out, "Hey it's uh almost three already… "

"So it is," Roxas nodded. "You got work?"

"Not really… but I am looking around for a job," Sora admitted, "I'm just… not the most hirable person."

"Why not?" Roxas asked.

"They all want people with extra curricular activities, hobbies and clubs… and that just wasn't me," Sora said. "In high school my brother was my friend, his friends were mine… they were all in the same year and when they graduated I was alone."

"That's awful!" Roxas gasped, "which school did you go to?"

"Private school, Holy Ansem's Academy," Sora said.

"Private schooler," Roxas whistled, "fancy, Axel and I went to public school, Twilight High. Its by Hollow Bastion."

"I know where it is," Sora gasped, "I pass it every time I umm go watch the castle."

"You watch the castle?" Roxas asked.

"Yeah," Sora nodded. His cheeks flustered however he found that he did not care, "The stories about it… I like those the best. I want to explore it one day, write about it—like a children's story about it. Not a young children's story either… maybe something like Neil Gaiman? Or Lemony Snicket—older kids you know!"

"Yeah, I get you—do you uhh see anything?" Roxas asked. Sora shook his head, "No, I don't get too close to it either, the adults always shoo me away."

"That's good," Roxas sighed in relief, "I mean, you don't want to get in trouble with Hollow Bastion, right? Who knows what's up there… heh."

"I want to find out… one day I will," Sora said with determination. Roxas had a strange look in his eyes but smiled at his new friend. "So uhh, do you have any more classes?" Sora asked.

"Nope, free for the day too," Roxas shrugged. He stretched, "And so are the other two I think, though I have work soon."

"Really? Where do you work?" Sora asked.

"The nearby Starbucks," Roxas said, he gasped and turned to Sora, "You should join! We're looking for a new barista!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, and like I'll teach you everything it'll be awesome! I'm friends with the boss so it'll totally work!" Roxas smiled, "Come on! It's the Starbucks on campus so it'll help you too! It'll get some of your student loans away!"

"I'll think about it," Sora shrugged, "but I really should get home now… my parents are expecting me."

Roxas looked a little disappointed but shrugged, "Alright, well I'll tell my boss about you and see what he says—that's right, give me your number?"

"My number…" Sora said slowly, it took him a moment to realize that he meant Sora's cell number. Jumping slightly, he pulled his phone out and handed it to Roxas. Sora watched as Roxas put his number in Sora's phone and texted himself.

"I'll text you later, alright?" Roxas said, "I gotta go now—see ya Sora!" He waved and ran off. Sora stood awkwardly in the hallway watching Roxas for a while until he disappeared behind a pair of doors.

Sora felt a little awkward, he did not know what to do. Should I wait for Riku? Should I text him? He wanted to talk with me some more… should I just come home? He stood there for five minutes, his brain fried from anxiety and indecision before his feet decided for him. He walked out of the hall, into the stairway, and out of the building into the quad. All around him, friends were grouped together talking, laughing, throwing a football or lounging underneath the shade of the nearby trees.

Sora looked around, found no one recognizable or any silver hair, and his feet moved, carrying him away from the quad, down a set of stone steps that led to a pathway that connected to the road. Feeling oddly sad and disappointed, Sora walked home, stopping for just a moment to put earbuds in to listen to music.

I'm so stupid, what was I even expecting? This was just a one day thing… they don't care about me, he thought to himself as his house came into view half an hour later. He lived in a nice house, a conventional two story home with a lawn and small garage. His mother had off today, and so was waiting for him when Sora came home.

"I'm home," he said, closing the front door behind him. He took his shoes off and walked into the small hall, which contained two open arches on his left and right, and a stairway on his left side which hugged the wall. "Mom?"

"I'm in the kitchen, how was school?" the voice of Sora's mother called out. Sora followed it through the left arch into a long room with a family table with six chairs placed around it, on one side of the room, a large island in the middle full of cooking utensils, and a stove and doubled door fridge next to each other, along with a second oven, on the far side, away from Sora. Sora's mother was by the island, chopping vegetables.

"School was alright… I made some new friends actually," Sora smiled.

"That's nice dear, did you sign up for the business course your father and I talked about?" his mother asked, not looking up at Sora.

Sora frowned. "No…"

"Sora, we told you about this, being an English major isn't going to be a good investment," his mother sighed, "you can do one semester of it but I really think you should join a business class—you might enjoy it! I know that Leon didn't but look at him—top of his class in criminology! But the important thing is that he tried."

Sora shifted awkwardly from foot to foot.

"Anyway, how are the rest of your courses?" his mother continued.

"Fine… I like my English and Art courses, history's boring but I made a new friend there—his name is Riku and he's really cool!" Sora said, "he actually gave me his number and—"

"Did you remember to check if they had jobs posted?" Sora's mother interrupted him. "I'm happy that you're having friends but you have to remember money is important too."

Sora bit his lower lip, "Actually yeah… my friend Roxas told me about the Starbucks on campus that needs more workers."

With a loud and final cut, Sora's mother looked up to Sora. "Honestly Sora are you even taking this seriously?" she demanded. "I understand your … curiosity of being an English major but now you want to work at a coffee shop? Do you have any aspirations? This is your first day of college—four years which will defy the rest of your life! Do you want that to be being a barista at some Starbucks on a useless degree—or do you want to be like your brother and do something useful? Look your father and I love you but you have to grow up Sora, you're not a kid anymore."

"I know I'm not a kid," Sora grumbled, his hands tightened into a fist and he found his arms shaking. "I just thought that you would be happy for me."

"For what? Becoming like every other college gay in the world?"

"For actually having friends for a change!" Sora yelled. His nostrils flared, his body shook, and he gave a yell as he turned and slammed his fist against the wall before storming away, out of the kitchen and up the stairs, down an open hallway where his bedroom was. He slammed the door behind him and fell onto his bed, screaming into his pillow, tears hot and heavy.

They never cared, they don't care, he thought to himself. I'm not Leon, I can never be Leon—why can't they stop comparing me to him?

Only the sound of his phone vibrating stopped him from crying as Sora reached down to pull his phone from his pocket. It was a text message from his brother. He couldn't help but smile sadly as he opened it.

Leon: Hey Sora, how was class today? Hope it was good, Cloud and I miss you.

The teen sniffled and rolled onto his back as he wiped his eyes before answering.

Sora: It was good, I made some friends today.

Leon: That's awesome! Tell us all about them—I'm with Cloud rn, we just finished classes too.

Sora's smile grew. Leon and Cloud, his brother and brother's boyfriend, the two people in life that truly knew him for the longest time, and the two he trusted the most above all other.

Sora: Can we face time so I can tell you about it?

Leon: Not rn, we're returning back to our apartment, but we can talk later tonight.

Sora: Okay, anyway I made three friends, well two and a friend's boyfriend. There's Riku, he's this really nice guy with silver hair. I think he might be flirting with me, but I like it. He makes me feel nice and safe—and there's also Roxas! He's like me, short and blue eyes but with blonde hair, we share a class, and I share a class with Riku but none so far with Roxas's boyfriend Axel who's this really tall guy, super tall, with red hair!

Leon: Sounds like an interesting pair, just take your time with this Riku person. I'm coming home the first break Cloud and I get to visit so you'll introduce me then.

Sora: Okay.

…

Sora: Mom made me mad today. She says I have no aspirations.

Leon: Mom just wants the best for you, you know that. She just have a horrible way of phrasing it.

Sora; I miss you.

Leon: I miss you too Sora, but I'll be back before you know it.

Sora: Mom and Dad wants me to be a business major.

Leon: Sora! Ignore mom and dad's wants. You want to be an English major, so be one! Be the best you can be so that Leon and I can brag to our friends that Leon has the best writer in our city this side of Hollow Bastion! -Cloud

Leon: Sorry, he stole my phone…

Sora giggled, his tears drying.

Sora: It's okay, tell Cloud I love him and thanks.

Leon: Will do. Anything else happen today?

Sora: I think I got a job offer, it's at a Starbucks, my friend Roxas works there.

Leon: That's good, got to start somewhere right? How's your writing doing by the way?

Sora: YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT!

Leon: It was a secret?

Sora: LEON!

Sora blushed wildly as Leon sent several laughing emojis. How did he find those? he groaned to himself. There was a small vibration, and Sora read his new message.

Leon: Relax, they were good… even if certain scenes were a bit too explicit for my tastes. Cloud liked it tho.

Sora: LEON!

Leon: I'm happy that you're finding friends Sora, honestly, you deserve them.

Sora: Thank you Leon, I love you.

Leon: Love you too Sora, will talk later tonight.

That was the last text message. Sora sighed and let his phone fall on his chest, he was feeling a little happier now that Leon texted him, however he still felt sadden by his mother's response. He felt tired and wanted to sleep, as he closed his eyes he felt his phone vibrate once more and he lifted it to see a text from Riku.

Riku: Hey kitten, doing anything tonight?