No. Absolutely not. This could not be happening to him. It couldn't. He refused. Never, not in a million years.

"Roxas, would you pass me the book, please?"

With a permanent scowl on his face, Roxas picked up the lab book and passed it to the student beside him, purposefully not looking at him.

"Thanks."

Stop it! Stop being so nice to me!

It didn't make sense. His first interaction with that jerk since the party, and he was acting like an innocent puppy. Of course, some of what had happened could be chalked up to the alcohol, but Roxas wasn't willing to let that be an excuse.

"Axel, you're going to start the book on fire if you keep holding it that close to the burner."

"Oops! Sorry. Thanks, Zex."

Roxas living his worst nightmare. Chemistry with Professor Vexen was already a difficult class, but now it was even worse. Now he was being forced to do a group lab with none other than Axel, and Axel's friend Zexion. He wasn't particularly interested in being in such close proximity to the redhead, especially considering every time he looked at him, he felt like he was trapped on that couch all over again.

"All right, Roxas," Zexion cautioned, "steady."

As carefully as he could, Roxas picked up a piece of steel with a pair of tweezers and dipped it into the boiling chemical mixture they had prepared and were now heating over the Bunsen burner. The three students watched intently as the metal changed colors before basically disintegrating. Roxas removed what was left of the steel from the solution before it could fully dissolve and dropped it onto a plastic tray as Axel wrote down what had happened on the worksheet Vexen had given them.

"Perfect." The blue-haired senior's tone was oddly satisfied, considering how irritated he'd been with his group mates for the beginning portion of the lab. No one could blame him, of course. Zexion hadn't exactly been happy about being in a group with Axel and Roxas. It wasn't that he minded working with them, but it was the combination that irritated him. Axel was doing his absolute best to try to win Roxas over by being overly nice and polite, while the blond was doing his absolute best to ignore the older student as much as possible while still working on the lab. It wasn't what Zexion would consider a favorable situation. However, they were finishing the experiment at a decent pace and so far had experienced no major complications.

There had been a small moment of panic when Axel purposefully turned the gas on the burner too high so that the flame nearly singed all the boys' eyebrows when he lit it. Zexion had the sneaking suspicion that Axel had been trying to show off for Roxas, though how he intended to impress the younger boy by nearly causing an explosion was beyond the limits of Zexion's comprehension. Some things, like crushes, just didn't make sense to him.

Roxas hurried to put away the supplies that were his responsibility so that he could sit and not have to talk to Axel anymore. All he wanted was a little peace and quiet, but Axel kept reaching in front of him so he had to pause, kept bumping him a little to try and gain his attention. It was all rather annoying for the blond, and he knew he wasn't going to be able to stay calm if the senior didn't take a hint and back off.

I don't see why he's trying to be all buddy-buddy after the stunt he pulled. He already knows I don't like him, so why can't he just leave me alone?

Finally finished, Roxas retreated to his place at the table he—unfortunately—had to share with Zexion and Axel for the day, and buried his nose in a book in an attempt to discourage any further interactions with the older students.

Axel dropped into the chair beside the blond. "What are you reading?"

Curse him.

"Pride and Prejudice." He didn't look at the other student, knowing that if he did, it would put his face less than a foot from the redheaded senior's.

"I haven't read it. What's it about?"

"This girl who has all these guys proposing to her. She keeps telling them no because she doesn't like any of them, but they won't take a hint." Roxas hoped Axel took a hint and left him alone.

"Well, if they really like her, then I understand why they don't give up."

"They don't even know her that well. They just think she's pretty."

"Maybe they want to get to know her."

If you wanted to be my friend you wouldn't have tried to make out with me while you were drunk!

"Then they should do that instead of trying to get her to marry them right off the bat."

Axel grinned. "Too bad it's just a book, huh?"

"It's more realistic than you'd think." As if that settled things, Roxas settled back in his chair and went back to reading.

"How does it end?"

Roxas had to resist the urge to growl. "She ends up falling in love with one of the guys and marries him."

"So one of those guys wasn't like the rest. What does it take for the girl to realize he actually likes her?"

He doesn't really think he can use the storyline of Pride and Prejudice to get back on my good side, does he?

"One of the girl's sisters runs away with a guy—which is horrible and could ruin the girl's whole family—so he secretly arranges for the sister to marry the guy and pays for it."

"He seems like a good guy. Why's it take so long for him to win her over?"

"He made an ass of himself in the beginning," Roxas stated flatly. "He said she was 'barely tolerable,' insulted her family and ruined her other sister's chances of getting married. Then he asked her to marry him without spending any time with her or apologizing."

"Hm. Well, it sounds like a good story."

"It is."

Go away.

"Could I borrow it when you're done?"

Crap.

Roxas was reluctant to lend his book to the senior, especially since he knew it was most likely just an excuse for Axel to talk to him again. His upbringing demanded he be polite, however, and so he felt he had no choice but to agree. "Uh, sure, I guess."

Axel grinned. "Great." He leaned back in his chair, propping his feet up on the table. Roxas' nose crinkled in disgust.

"Could you please not do that?"

"What? Oh, sorry." The senior took his feet off the table and sat up, instead leaning forward and placing his elbows where his feet had been.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

Sitting on Axel's other side, Zexion couldn't help but roll his eyes. He wasn't going to say anything, but he thought it was rather pathetic of Axel to suck up to the younger student the way he was. The kid didn't like him—why couldn't he just accept it? What drove him to keep trying, even though he knew how slim his chances of success were? It didn't make sense.

There was no logical reason for Axel to continue pursuing Roxas, yet he did. Perhaps he felt guilty about the party and was only trying to redeem himself. Zexion could understand that—it was similar to why he was basically stalking Demyx—but making up for past wrongs and kissing ass were two very different things.

XXX

Silence surrounded the table and the students who sat there. They'd been talking and laughing like normal until a moody blonde and his timid twin had arrived. Everyone knew something had upset Roxas, but no one was brave—or dumb—enough to ask what, and so they ate in silence.

"I can't believe him!" the disgruntled teen suddenly burst out, slamming down his fork. The others jumped at the abrupt noise, startled.

"Seriously, what is he thinking? I don't get it. He thinks he can just be my friend, after what he pulled?"

His friends exchanged glances. "Uh…Roxas? Who are you talking about?" Sora ventured.

"That pig-headed, pushy, conceited, drunken jerk!"

Another look went around the table.

"You mean Axel?" Kairi asked calmly.

Sulking, Roxas slumped back in his chair and nodded, his meal forgotten.

"What did he do?"

"Talked to me."

Kairi put on her "disapproving mother" face. "You're this upset because a guy talked to you? Roxas, you're being childish."

"No, I'm not!" he protested. "Would you want to talk to him if you were me?"

"Probably not, but that doesn't mean I'd throw a fit about it."

Frustrated sigh bursting forth, Roxas let his forehead thunk against the table. He didn't understand why he was sup upset, either. Maybe because he knew Axel hadn't given up on him. Or maybe because he had to lend him his copy of Pride and Prejudice. It could be that the redhead simply irritated him. Whatever the reason, Roxas was in no mood to talk to anyone, not even Sora.

Finally, Namine decided to break the silence. "Do you all know what you're going to dress as for the Masquerade?"

"Yep!" Sora answer instantly, beaming. "Rox and I are going to match!"

Namine smiled at him. "Cool! Kairi and I are doing a theme." She looked at her cousin as the redhead grinned.

"What about you, Riku? What are you going as?" Sora asked the older boy, excitement and curiosity shining in his blue eyes.

"I'm not."

"Not dressing up? But don't you have to?"

Riku rolled his eyes. "No, idiot. I'm not going to the Masquerade."

The smile vanished and Kairi saw Sora hold back a wince at the word, though she doubted the others had noticed.

"Why not? It'll be fun."

"I'm not going to waste my time at something as silly as that dance. Besides, I don't have a date and anyone who goes alone looks like a loser." The silver-haired teen's tone was casual, but his words hung around the table like a thick fog.

Kairi could tell Sora was fighting to maintain his composure and felt sorry for the brunette. Every time Riku said something negative or degrading about something Sora was excited about, it was like the younger boy's happiness was stolen right out of him. His smile would falter, he'd turn and talk to someone else or fall silent completely. Sometimes, Kairi wanted to smack Riku for paying so little attention to Sora's feelings.

"There's nothing wrong with not having a date," she countered on her friend's behalf. "We're all going as friends, anyway."

Sora flashed her a grateful smile. "Yeah. It really is going to be fun, Riku."

The teal-eyed boy shrugged. "If you say so. I'm still not going."

Sighing dramatically, Sora pouted at his reluctant friend. "You never do anything fun."

"That's not what you said last night."

Instantly, the brunette blushed darkly and looked away. Roxas' head shot up off the table and he stared at Riku in shock as Namine studied the remains of her spaghetti as if it could provide the meaning of life. Kairi just smiled and giggled, a little embarrassed.

Oblivious, Riku glared around the table. "What?" he demanded. No one answered and he growled in frustration. "What?!"

Sora laughed awkwardly without meeting the other's eyes. "Don't you, uh, realize how that sounded, Riku?"

"How what sounded?"

"'That's not what you said last night.'"

"Well, it isn't. What the hell are you looking at me like that for, Roxas?"

"It sounded like you were fooling around with my twin!" the blonde blurted out, then turned a deep shade of red.

Riku stared at him in confusion. "Fooling around…" In quick succession, realization then horror appeared on his face. "What?! No! That's not—! I didn't mean—! I'd never do anything like that with Sora!"

The brunette in question grinned cheekily. "But, Riku, what about all those times in the locker room? You know, when it's just the two of us?" His tone was very, very, suggestive.

Roxas choked on air at his twin's words. "What?"

Furious, Riku's face was an even darker red than Sora's had been, though not as dark as Namine's was. The blonde girl was sinking lower and lower in her chair as if she couldn't withstand the blatantly sexual turn their conversation had taken.

"He's lying! I don't even know what he's talking about!" the older sophomore sputtered.

Sora's bottom lip poked out. "Don't you like what I do, Riku? I like what you do." He smiled flirtatiously.

The silver-haired teen glared at the younger boy as Kairi attempted to smother a fit of giggles. It was incredibly difficult, considering how positively glee-full she was that Sora was teasing the older boy for once. She would never admit it to Riku, but she loved seeing him put in his place.

An innocent smile replaced Sora's flirtatious one and he glanced at the clock. "Uh-oh! Guys, we'll be late for class if we don't hurry!" Before anyone could stop him, he gathered his things and left, depositing his dishes at the tray dump on his way out. He was several yards down the hall by the time Roxas caught up to him.

"Wait a minute, Sora! What were you talking about just now?" he demanded, obviously confused. "What do you do in the locker room?"

Sora grinned. "We give each other muscle rubs with this pain-relieving cream when we're sore from training. It works really well on knots."

"Oh." The blond was clearly relieved it wasn't anything worse. "Okay."

"Geez, Rox, what did you think I meant?" Sora teased him. His twin blushed.

"Nothing."

Laughing, Sora led his embarrassed brother to their next class. He'd definitely pay for that joke during P.E., but it had been worth it to see the look on Riku's face. That expression had been absolutely priceless.

XXX

Bored nearly to death, Axel gazed at the ceiling of his dorm, inspecting the little gray flecks against the white background. He had homework to do but no motivation to do it—most of it was for the whore's class anyway—and didn't feel like getting up to watch TV or play videogames. Even the internet held no appeal to him, and usually he wasted multiple hours on it daily. Therefore, he was lying flat on his back on his bed with his long legs stretched out and his hands tucked under his head.

Maybe if he looked closely, he'd start seeing pictures in the groups of specks.

Damn, he was really desperate for something interesting to happen. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like that was going to happen, especially considering his roommate was Missing In Action and Axel had no idea when the blue-haired senior meant to return.

The ceiling grew fuzzy as the redhead's eyes slowly drifted closed. Maybe a nap would give him the energy to actually do something.

As quietly as he could, Zexion opened the door to his dorm and slipped inside, gently closing the door behind him. One glance told him Axel was sound asleep, so he relaxed and set down his bag. He wasn't in the mood to talk to the other senior, and didn't have the time to, either. Keeping an eye on the blond junior was going to start affecting his grades if he wasn't careful, so he set all his homework out on his desk and dove in, determined to finish all of it that night.

Over half an hour passed with only the sounds of turning pages and Zexion's pencil to break the silence.

"Where have you been?"

The sudden voice made Zexion just about fall out of his chair. Thankfully, he managed to remain in control of himself and turned to look at the yawning redhead. "I've been right here, working."

Axel gave him a look that meant he wasn't in the mood for any of Zexion's word games. "No, I mean before." He glanced at the clock. "You weren't here forty-seven minutes ago."

"I was in the library."

"Again?"

"Yes." Finished with the conversation, Zexion turned back to his desk and resumed working.

"Huh." Axel didn't push it; he knew it wasn't a good idea to bother the other senior when he had work to do. But he couldn't help but wonder why his roommate had been spending so much time in the library lately. It didn't surprise him, exactly, but Zexion preferred solitude and silence while he worked, and the library tended to be pretty noisy in the early afternoons. During the day, Zexion only went there to pick up books. If he stuck around, it was usually after dark when the other students had already retreated to their dorms. He knew it wasn't the books or the atmosphere that had caught the blue-eyed senior's interest.

Could it be…? A slow grin spread over Axel's face.

"Hey, Zexion?" the tall boy practically purred, sitting up on his bed.

Irritated at being interrupted again, the addressed student didn't turn around. "What?"

"Is there any…special reason you've been hanging around the library so much lately?"

Zexion froze, his pencil poised in mid-air. The other boy's tone made it obvious what he was asking about, but the shorter senior feigned confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, is there something in the library that isn't here? Or someone, perhaps?"

Thoughts racing, Zexion struggled to come up with a suitable answer. "Why do you ask?"

Axel shrugged, standing and going over to look out the window. In the courtyard below, students meandered back and forth, relaxing after a day of classes. "You just seem more preoccupied than usual, which is saying something. I know it isn't classes because you're never stressed about school. So, it has to be something else. Zexion," he turned and grinned at his roommate, "I think you've got a crush."

The word made Zexion's normally pale face turn a delicate shade of pink. "What? I do not."

"Oh, yes you do!" Axel crowed triumphantly, pointing at the other's blush. "I can tell just by your face! So, who is the lucky girl? Do I know her?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

Zexion gave his friend a blank stare. "I am not having this conversation with you."

"Aw, Zexy, why not?"

Whirling, around, the blue-haired senior glared at his roommate with all the ferocity and cold fury he could muster. "Don't you dare call me that," he growled threateningly. "Ever."

Axel held up his hands in defense. "All right, all right, I won't call you that. Seriously, though, why won't you tell me? Or is it because you can't? I mean, I know I can't exactly be open to everyone about the fact that I like Roxas because of Larxene, but you don't have problems like that."

"Axel, I don't have a crush. Honestly. Besides, who at this school would I be attracted to?"

The redhead paused, trying to think of someone, but couldn't. He sighed and dropped into his desk chair. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Zexion smiled in an attempt to lighten the mood. "Did your friendliness during Chemistry work?"

"Not really, but I think I'm making progress. Who knows, maybe he'll actually look me in the eye by graduation."

"I'm sure he will, Axel."

"I hope so." The redhead turned to his desk and glumly began on his homework. After a moment, Zexion began working again as well, though he couldn't get his roommate's words out of his head.

It was true, he'd been spending so much time in the library because that's where Demyx always was, and he'd only returned to his room because Demyx had gone back to his—he'd made sure the blond gotten there without any run-ins with a certain pink-haired teacher. But he was only doing it to protect the kid, not because he had a crush on him. Though he had to admit, Demyx was cute, and Zexion often found himself watching him more than was necessary. However, that didn't mean had a crush on the younger student.

Did it?

Oh, shit. This cannot be good.