The microwave began to beep, indicating the end of its cycle. Olette pulled the plate out, offering it to me. A stack of s'mores sat on it, the marshmallow oozing off the cracker already.

I took a bite, savoring the flavor. "What do you want to do next?" she asked. "Horror movies? Paint our nails and gossip?"

I batted at her arm. "Very funny."

Olette giggled. "We haven't hung out like this in so long."

"I know huh." I leaned against her counter, sending a text to Axel.

"Will you get off your phone?!" She tackled me, yanking the phone out of my hand.

"Hey!" I grabbed it back, accidently getting some marshmallow on it. Whoops.

As I wiped it off, we walked to her living room and sat around on the couches. I loved her house; it was always warm and welcoming, and it wasn't too big like mine.

We watched two movies before she started to fall asleep. The TV was showing a torture scene when I glanced over at her. She was curled up next to the armrest, her eyes shut and her chest moving up and down slowly. I tip toed into the hallway and grabbed a blanket from the closet there, settling it gently over her.

Unfortunately I wasn't tired yet. I pulled the footrest out and stretched. I settled in to text and watch the end of the movie.

I dreaded going back home. Just a few more days, I told myself over and over again, as I waited for Axel to text me back.

Shifting a bit, my shoulder fell lower onto the cushions and I yawned. Of course, the next thing I knew sunlight was in my eyes and my phone was buzzing. My mom had called 3 times.

"Hey."

"Roxas!" I winced. Her voice was as bright and cheerful as a sunny day.

Olette had disappeared and the TV was off. "Yeah?"

"Aren't you coming home yet? Your aunt will be here any minute!"

"Yeah, yeah." I scratched my head.

"Ok, sweetie, see you soon."

I headed to the kitchen, where Olette was humming and flipping pancakes. "I have to leave," I said apologetically.

She gave me a small frown. "Eat breakfast first."

I responded with a cocky grin, lifting a pancake right off the stovetop, and taking a huge bite. It was gooey, hot and uncooked; I forced it down with a small cough.

Olette began laughing and I joined in. "Seriously I have to go. Family," I rolled my eyes.

"Alright, just finish that first." She gestured to the half pancake still in my hand.

I stuck my tongue out, and shoved it in. "If I get sick, you'll never hear the end of it."

Thanksgiving came and went. I hated every second. My family was…a weird mix. One side of the family was too loud, too drunk, and too into sports..and the other side was just like my parents. Too into appearances. They cooed over every new thing in the house, asking me over and over again about college. They would sip at their drinks, shooting dirty looks at whoever was shouting at the TV. Their eyes judged everything.

Sora halfway enjoyed himself, running around to each relative and talking about any little thing. Eventually him and one of our cousins vanished to play games. I bowed into my room after dinner, anxious to get away and maybe message Axel.

I kinda missed him. I mean, a little bit.

Going back to school was like heaven. My mom dropped me off, looking a little sad, and I bolted. I had managed to go through the whole break with minimal contact with my parents, and now I was back.

Axel was already in the room, shoving things in his drawers. "Hey," he straightened, smiling.

"Hey!" I was so happy I could hug him…which, he did anyway, looping his arms around my stomach and lifting me into the air. "Ok, ok, put me down," I laughed. Once my feet were back to safety, I called him an idiot.

"Aww, come on, you were happy to see me too."

"I'm happy to not be at home."

"How are you gonna survive summer vacation?"

"I won't," I said flatly.

"That's no good, Roxie." His bag laid opened on his bed, and he dug around it for a second. I simply shoved my stuff under the bed; I didn't really need it yet, and unpacking seemed like too much of a chore after my week.

Axel's voice dragged me out of my daydreams. "No," he said dramatically.

"What?"

"No," he repeated, holding something up for me to see.

"…organic peanut butter?" I raised my eyebrow.

"You take it."

He chucked it at me, and I fumbled it for a second before catching it. "You act like it's a bomb." I turned it over in my hands, examining it. "Kinda surprised I don't have this stuff at my house."

"Be glad. It's disgusting. All her health food is. You ever had wheatgrass?"

"No…"

"She drinks it every day."

"Eww," I muttered, opening the container and looking inside. "..is this supposed to be a liquid?"

"I know right!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up.

"It smells weird too," I said, closing the jar.

"You can just throw it out. I don't know why she even put it in my bag."

"I have a better idea."

And that's how, after a short trip to the grocery store, we found ourselves in our tiny kitchen, staring at our creation. If it tastes bad, I blame Axel.

He had dumped the peanut butter into a large bowl, shooting me grins as he added an entire carton of cool whip. "I can't believe this was your idea," he joked, now spooning some of the mix onto a chocolate poptart. He added another to make a sandwich, setting it on a plate then pouring a generous amount of chocolate syrup on top.

"Do you think it tastes good?" I asked skeptically.

"Of course!" he replied cheerfully, grabbing us two forks.

"You try it first."

"Alright," he shrugged, digging into the corner and bringing it up to his mouth. It was a sloppy mess and I was afraid that it would drip all over the floor.

…and it was shoved into my mouth. The metal of the fork scraped my teeth a tiny bit, and I jerked back, feeling the sweetness melt onto my tongue.

"You jerk," I hissed, swallowing hard and punching his arm.

He laughed. "You should've seen your face! So was it good?"

"Kinda. It's really sweet though."

Axel took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. "I like it. I'm very glad you managed to make this peanut butter edible." He gave me a giant smile, and I laughed.

"You have some chocolate on your nose."

"Oh." He blushed a tiny bit, and wiped it off. Turning away, he added, "Next time you can lick it off."

"You're so weird." I walked away, flopping down on my bed.

"Aren't you going to eat more?"

"No, it's too sweet."

"More for me." He brought it over, wolfing the thing down and wondering out loud what to do with the rest. The peanut butter cool whip mix was put into the fridge, to be used later, of course.

I was afraid that our silence would become awkward as we sat around; unsure of whether I should talk to him or just go do my own thing, I finally said, "We have class tomorrow."

Axel yawned. "I never would've guessed."

"Shut up," I muttered, sprawling onto my bed to reach around and grab my book.

Axel hopped over and stared down at me. I froze. I was laying on my back, my arms and legs at odd angles while my hand was barely clutched onto a paperback. My eyes met his, and I saw something there…

I guess he looked so serious, or…

A blush was creeping into my cheeks and the moment stretched. What the heck was he doing?

There was a movement, and it looked like he was reaching towards me. I closed my eyes, my heart pounding.

A thud startled me. "What?" I bolted straight up. Axel looked confused.

"You dropped your book." He picked it up off the floor, and handed it to me. "I'm gonna go, uh," he ran a hand through his hair, "meet up with Demyx for a bit. See ya later."

He was gone. And the same stupid scenario played out where I tried to read but all I could think of was Axel. Why does this always happen to me? Was everything a part of my imagination, or was Axel trying to…kiss me or touch me or something?

Tears sprang to my eyes, and the words of my novel became blurry. Shit.

Unsure of my emotions completely, I tossed the book aside and wiped my eyes furiously. "What are you thinking about, Roxas?" I asked out loud. Images—bad images—tried to surface, and I rushed to turn on Axel's Xbox.

The next weekend, while Axel was out, I snuck onto his Xbox again. It hadn't become a habit, at least not yet, but it helped my mind to relax. Even more than reading did, somehow; my go to had failed me, and I had turned to something that required less brain power. Unfortunately today Axel would get back earlier than usual.

"Did I say you could touch my stuff?" he teased, tossing his car keys onto the desk.

"Nope."

Axel laughed. "You don't care if you have my permission."

"That's right."

He crouched down next to me. "You have to be careful, Roxas."

"Why?" I finally glanced at him, and saw a playful smile dancing across his features.

"You're so defenseless!"

"I am not."

"Yes you are."

"I am not," I insisted. "And what am I supposed to be defending myself from, exactly?"

"This." And he tackled me. We tumbled to the left and I gave a strangled yelp.

His fingers were grabbing at my sides, tickling me. "Oh my god," I said in-between laughs, my eyes watering, "stop. Stop!"

"Never!" Axel's legs were on the outside of mine, his face leaning towards me. He was looking far too gleeful at the fact that I couldn't breathe.

"Stopppp," I begged, my stomach already aching.

"Don't use my stuff without asking."

"Ok!"

"And?"

"And what?" I spat out. The second he stopped, he was dead.

"You have to tell me how awesome I am."

"..."

"What? You can't?" His hands stilled and he gave me a smile. "Awww, come on, Roxie."

"Please stop."

Eyes widened in false shock, of course. "What did you do with Roxas? He doesn't know that word."

"Shut up."

"Make me." Axel leaned forward even more until our faces were almost—but not quite—touching. If he moved any closer, my eyes would be unable to focus on him. Suddenly it was too hot and every nerve in my body appeared to be screaming. He was on top of me. His mouth was near mine. I could feel his breath!

I was still struggling to think clearly, when there came a loud knocking on the door. It jerked us to our senses and Axel pulled me to my feet. Whoever was there was in a hurry.

The knocking didn't stop until Axel answered the door. "Hey Riku."

Riku strode into the room. "You owe me."

"For what?"

"I brought you gas after that concert."

"Oh yeah."

Riku pointed straight at me. "You fix this."

"Fix what?" I asked.

"Talk to your dad."