The next day, the only person I really talked to was Olette, who had called to double check that I had a girlfriend. They still thought I was gay for some reason.

After getting off the phone, I pushed myself off my bed with a sigh. Axel wasn't back yet. He must've slept somewhere else last night, and skipped class..I looked over at where his backpack sat, hunched over on the floor. This wasn't good. I actually did cry yesterday, after Axel stormed out. I just felt so confused. And Naminé kept sending cutesy texts, which I hated. Maybe I should talk to her…

So I guess Axel had seen us kiss?

But I don't see how that makes Naminé a slut. I don't see how it would be problem at all.

I took turns staring at the wall, staring at the ceiling, staring at my computer screen, then staring at my most recent book. But I couldn't concentrate. A weird, nervous energy was building and I had to do something.

I turned my mp3 all the way up, and went for a walk. A long long walk. There was a definite chill in the air, and I began wishing I had thought of grabbing my gloves. I guess I would have to deal with Naminé myself; again,I did like her, I think, but I wasn't too keen on kissing. And that meant something was off. Unless we had kissed too soon? That's a thing right? I just wasn't ready, surely.

I pondered this for a few songs, looping through random streets as the sun started to set. Would I ever like kissing Naminé? I would just be happy to hang out normally…I'm just too confused right now, I decided. I'll just make sure we're not actually dating. No harm with that. We had never said anything official.

..I'm not just doing this so Axel will stop being mad?

Of course not. No. He was being an idiot, letting my brother put himself in danger. I had just realized he wasn't the person to ask for relationship advice, and with everything going on, I didn't have the time for a girlfriend. Yes. A girlfriend who liked me more than I liked her.

Are we dating? I texted her.

She quickly responded with a Yes, I think so…why? Damn it.

I started heading back to my room, my fingers getting a little numb. I don't think we should, I typed, freaking out a tiny bit. Send before you can over think it, Roxas.

Oh ok.

Oh ok? That's all she can say! I swung the door open, kicking my shoes off. I was a little peeved but..mostly relieved. Maybe she didn't like me after all! Thank god.

On Tuesday, she didn't show up to sit next to me in class, and I finally saw her after it ended. I ran through the horde of people, grabbing her shoulder. "Naminé!" I said, breathless.

She looked started. "Oh hi."

We stared at each other and I cleared my throat. "So, uh, want to go out to eat sometime?"

"Yeah, sure, I just need some time."

"Time? For what?"

"You," she lowered her voice, "broke up with me right?"

"Oh, uh, I guess."

She gave a tiny shrug. "I liked you a lot."

"I'm sorry…" I said, deflated.

"No, no, it's ok!"

"Alright…"

"I'll see you later!" She smiled, and rushed away.

So that was that.

I knew Axel was going to show up eventually, but I wasn't feeling up to it just yet. I was feeling pretty alone at this point. I thought about a rude comment my mom made once about "teenage angst" and pushed away my negative thoughts; college was just a transition. Naminé would want to hang out again soon, and I still had plenty of other friends.

Anyway, Axel was in the shower. That gave me a few minutes to decide if I wanted to leave again or put on a brave face and stay. Since I had already grabbed a bagged lunch to eat here, I stayed. I sat at my desk, balancing a sandwich on my lap, and browsed the internet. I heard Axel exit the bathroom but kept my eyes firmly on my webpage. Now he was shuffling through his stuff, a towel wrapped around his waist.

Wait not looking.

I started to scroll. I was on a blogging website and pictures were sprawled all over, showing anything from animals to anime. Axel was behind me. I stared forward.

"Roxas."

I should've put headphones on, because then I could have pretended not to hear him. "Busy," I said instead.

"Get off the computer and talk to me."

"I'm busy."

"With kittens?"

"Yes," I said stubbornly. The blog was indeed showing a large picture of an orange tabby kitten. It was actually pretty adorable.

Axel had the nerve to kick my chair so I finally looked over at him. "What?" I asked.

"Sorry for calling your girlfriend a slut."

"Good." I turned back to my laptop.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Sorry for punching you in the face, Axel."

I scoffed. "I wouldn't say that."

"I know." He stuck his tongue out, looking more like his normal self.

"Uh…sorry," I muttered. That was all he was gonna get.

"What?" he gasped, pretending to be in shock. "Roxas doesn't know that word!"

"Shut up."

"Now those are the words you know," he laughed. "And seriously, Roxas…"

"Yes?"

"I know you hate me for it, but I really don't think you should baby your brother."

I gave him a look. "Getting him away from illegal activity is not babying."

"Even so. He's the only seventeen year old I know whose idea of a good time is watching five Disney movies in a row."

"A lot of people would love doing that."

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered. Ok, so maybe I did baby Sora a bit. But he needed it! Without me, he'd probably be dead in a ditch or curled up in a ball crying somewhere. I'm sure he'd grow up eventually, and would need me less, but…maybe that was already happening. Axel was walking away too quickly for me to ask. "Axel?" I asked anyway.

"What's up?"

"Two questions. Maybe three," I said carefully.

He looked up from where he was bending over his dresser. To my horror, he began getting dressed with a cheery, "Ask away."

I focused my eyes away from him so that none of him was in view. "Uhh…"

"Yes?"

"Hold on a second, I forgot what I wanted to ask."

He chuckled. "Am I too naked for you?"

I blushed. "Uh..oh, do you think Sora is growing up right now?"

"Of course."

"Alright..and uh why aren't you mad anymore?"

"No reason to be."

"Oh ok. And how do you break up with someone but still hang out with them?"

Axel was coming towards me, throwing a shirt on over his head. "You broke up?" he asked, confused.

"Uh maybe."

"No."

"No?"

"You can't break up with her just because of what I said!"

"No, that wasn't the reason," I shook my head.

Axel fell onto the floor in front of me, sitting. His eyes were narrowed as if he was trying to figure something out. "So what was the reason?"

The color in my face flushed again thinking of the reason. "Well…to be honest…no, never mind."

"Tell meeeeee," he whined.

"Well, you know how we kissed?" I asked, embarrassed. He was staring at me so intently, using his butt to rock forward and back a little. It was something Sora would do.

"Yep."

"Yeah…which you saw or something."

"Yep."

"Um, well I didn't like it."

"Why not? Too much tongue?"

"No tongue!" I shrieked, horrified.

"Then why?"

"I dunno." I looked away.

"Maybe you just didn't like her in a romantic way."

"Yeah."

I gave a surprised gasp when Axel wrapped his arms around my stomach, lifting me high into the air. "What are you doing?" I tried to kick him.

"My friend just had a break up. I need to cheer you up!"

"Oh, so we're friends now?" I asked wryly.

"Yep!" He started spinning me and within seconds I was dizzy.

"Stop!"

Laughing, he set me on the ground, and my stomach gave a weird flip. "Ready then?" Axel asked, clearly excited. His behavior was a complete 360 from how he had been recently.

"Ready for what? And are you happy about my break up?"

He got really close to my face. "I don't want my roomie to be in an unsatisfying relationship."

I laughed nervously. "I wouldn't call it that."

"Let's go!" He marched towards the door.

"Go where?"

XxXxXxX

We went to Axel's "hide out."

It was a dingy arcade in the mall. It was tucked into the corner, and the floors looked permanently stained. The air smelled like cheap, fruity candy, and the place was empty save for a kid with sand colored hair. He looked up from his fighting game for a split second, looking skeptical, and went back to pounding the buttons. The screen lit up his face. He must've been about twelve.

"You're kidding right?"

"Nope!" Axel said cheerfully, leading the way to a racing game. "Go ahead."

I slid into one of the seats, and Axel sat next to me, shoving coins into the slots. The game started, making the seat rumble underneath me. It jolted me around, and I grabbed onto the fake wheel. Axel creamed me in the race, which I expected if he was serious about hanging out here all the time.

We also played a few shooter games and a pinball machine, among a few random others. Axel tried to drag me onto a dancing one. I refused. He did manage to get me onto the game pad of it, but I made no moves. He did all the dancing. I watched his feet press the buttons with ease. He was jumping around, shooting me smiles, and moving his body this way and that while the poppy music played. With his lanky body, he should've been awkward and clumsy, but somehow he was the opposite.

The track ended, and Axel stopped, panting slightly. "Oh, man, I love this place."

"I don't see why."

"You don't? This place is magic!"

I looked around. That kid was gone but now one of the lights was flickering above our heads. "Magic. Yeah."

"Also, you didn't dance at all." He shook his head disapprovingly.

"I don't dance."

"You shall!"

He grabbed my hand. "Oh god, Axel, no. No—"

He was spinning me again, laughing. I stumbled along the dirty carpeted floor, Axel's warm hand wrapped around mine as he whipped me this way and that. He was out of his mind, clearly. First off, someone might see us! A few shoppers passed by every once in a while, usually paying this silly arcade no mind. Also, there was no music so there was no reason to dance and I don't dance.

His hand suddenly let go of mine, probably because of my fevered protests, and I slipped backwards, landing on my butt. Shit.

"Are you ok?" Axel rushed over to me.

I glared at him. "I'd be better if we never did that again."

"But..it was fun," he said in a tiny voice.

"At least put on music next time!" I exclaimed, getting up. I wasn't hurt, although that floor was pretty hard.

"So…there will be a next time then?"

"No!"

"No?"

"No."

"Hey, Roxas." He leaned against one of the machines, surveying me.

"What?"

"Can I say something crazy?"

"Everything you say is crazy."

"True," he laughed. "Well never mind. Let's head back."

"You can't do that!"

"Hmm?" He looped his arm around my shoulders as if I was a convenient rest, and we made our way back outside to his car.

"Start to say something then take it back."

"Oh? I can't?" He looked amused.

"That's right," I insisted, letting myself into the passenger's seat.

"I think I can do what I want."

"No!"

Axel turned on the ignition, and his music was already blasting with him singing along. "Axel!" I shouted over it.

"Hmmm? Can't hear you, Roxie," he grinned.