Chapter Four

Roxas

Artistic Misrepresentation

August 28, 2014, 12:33 p.m.

"Hey, Rox! Ready to be a live model in art class?" Namine snuck up on me with her question, plopping her tray down next to me.

I had almost forgotten that I signed up for that… Nothing else had been on my mind since I found out that Namine was Rosie. "Uh… yeah, I guess…" It was either that, or draw the live models… and I wasn't about to do that. I could barely draw a cartoon, much less a realistic human being.

"I'm super excited to draw you," she chattered, "Except this girl Yuffie said she might want me to model for her… I dunno if I want to, but she did ask really nicely."

"Yuffie…?" I tried to remember who she was talking about. "The girl with the short black hair?"

She nodded, "Yeah! I've been chatting with her during art class while you're zoned out. She's super nice."

Suddenly Axel appeared out of nowhere, wrapping his arms around Namine from behind. I turned my gaze down to my tray… I couldn't really handle seeing them together yet. "Hey guys! What's going on?"

"Just talking about the start of Roxas' modeling career," she joked, looking at me.

I just scoffed, trying not to meet her beautiful eyes, "Yeah, whatever… it's a one time thing."

"Ooh, is Roxy gonna get naked?" Axel prodded me in the side, sitting down in his seat.

"No!" I exclaimed, shoving his hand away, "Don't be a moron, Axe… It's just for stupid art class."

Namine blushed a little, "Actually… I heard a rumor that they want you shirtless."

"Is that even legal?" I asked her, raising an eyebrow.

"Wellllll you are 18, and I don't even think the teacher is going to be there. It seems like he isn't in the room all that often…" she trailed off, probably wondering why that was.

Axel just shrugged, "I heard he's on drugs."

"That definitely wouldn't surprise me," she said, laughing. She had the best laugh… so light and adorable.

I just huffed a little, "Well… we'll see."

"Roxas is all embarrassed about his muscles," Axel declared, making me cringe. He was right… I didn't want people gaping at me just because I work out sometimes. "He might look scrawny from the outside, but underneath there is all muscle!"

Namine looked over at me, and I could tell she was immediately curious. "Ooh… You know, I don't think I've seen you in anything other than a hoodie. Why don't you ever wear t-shirts?"

"Because… I don't like having a bunch of attention drawn to me. Like now, for instance," I snapped, slinking down into my chair a little.

She scoffed, "You're no fun… what's the point in being all muscular if you won't show anyone?"

Axel seemed offended, "Hey! I have muscles too, ya know!"

"Yeah? Where are you hiding them?" she teased, poking him in the side, "Seems pretty squishy to me!"

Of course he had to turn all macho and start flexing, "They're there! See?!"

She just giggled at him, her cheeks turning a little pink. For so long I had wondered what Rosie would look like, sound like, laugh like… Now she was in front of me and I couldn't do or say anything.

"Shit, we gotta go Rox… they want the models there a few minutes early," Namine suddenly stood up, shoving the rest of her grilled cheese into her mouth at once. Why was everything she did so cute?!

August 28, 2014, 12:56 p.m.

"Okay, so Namine… I have a huge, huge favor to ask of you," Yuffie said, skipping up to our table. "Actually, Roxas… you too."

I lifted an eyebrow, turning to face her more, "Yeah?"

"I want to draw you two together," she told us, seeming incredibly excited about whatever idea she had. "The only thing is… the pose I have in mind is a little… uhm… Well, it's like a romantic thing. School appropriate, of course!"

I glanced at Namine to see her reaction. Pretending to be in love with her was going to be more than easy for me. She just shrugged, "Sure! How do you need us?"

Apparently she was volunteering me as well. "Okay, so come over by the window a little so I have the brick wall background… Uhm… Roxas, this is gonna seem odd… but can you take just your shirt off?"

So the rumors were true… "I guess so…" I mumbled, standing up and starting to lift my hoodie and t-shirt over my head at once. Immediately I heard someone take a sharp little inhale, but I didn't catch if it was Namine since the entire class was now staring at me.

Yuffie just nodded, impressed, "Well damn… that's even better. Namine, take off your cardigan so you just have your dress on."

"Okay!" Namine chirped, sliding her little sweater thing off. She was left wearing a thin-strapped sundress, white with blue flowers. It made her eyes super vibrant, which in turn made my heart race. What was I about to get into?

"So Namine, just stand here and look forward for now… Roxas, you get behind her and kind of hug her over her arms," Yuffie instructed. I moved awkwardly behind Namine, hesitating a little before wrapping my arms around her. I was leaving a gap between our bodies, but Yuffie quickly shook her head, "Rox, you gotta get closer… She's not gonna bite you. Right, Namine?"

She just shrugged, "I might."

Yuffie giggled, a little titter of a laugh, "Well regardless… you need to actually press up against her."

I sighed a little and pulled Namine back into my arms like I'd always wanted to do. "Like this?"

"Perfect… move your arms together, keeping her hands in yours, and wrap one across her chest and one down a little farther on her waist, like you've just snuck up and grabbed her from behind."

That made me chuckle a little, "Getting a bit of a rapey vibe here, Yuffie…"

Namine just went with it, moving her arms under mine to where Yuffie said.

"Er… move the top one up a little more, almost like you're trying to reach her other shoulder," Yuffie corrected us, but then just ended up moving our arms herself. "Now Roxas… lean your chin against her shoulder a little, like you're whispering in her ear…"

I was beginning to get uncomfortable… not physically, but mentally. I moved to her shoulder and I could feel her shiver a little as my breath hit her ear.

"Now Namine, turn your head a little as if you're about to look at Roxas, then tilt it down just a bit and let your eyes flutter closed softly."

Namine did as she said, and I could feel her heart beating quickly. My own was beating out of my chest, making me wonder if I would stroke out before class was over.

"Roxas, look at her like you love her," Yuffie said, "Right now you still look like she's gonna bite you. You two are friends, right? Don't let it be weird, just… pretend she's someone you're in love with."

Yeah, 'cause I'd be pretending…

"Perfect! Hold your pose right there. I'll start drawing!" Yuffie squealed, grabbing her stuff.

This pose was so intimate… It honestly felt like I had just come up behind my girlfriend and kissed her on the neck. With no shirt… my bare skin against her. She was so warm, and I could feel her chest moving up and down with each breath she took. Occasionally they would come out shaky, which either meant she was feeling what I was… or she was cramping up and needed to move.

As 45 minutes passed slowly by, Yuffie only let us stretch a couple of times. Otherwise, we were locked in each other's arms… When the bell rang, I nearly jumped away from Namine, grateful that we were done.

"Guys, you were absolutely perfect!" Yuffie said, finishing up her sketch and shutting her book. "I have some finishing touches to make, but you'll be able to see it when they post them in the hall!"

I slid my hoodie back down over my head, groaning, "Really, you're going to put it up in the hall?"

She shrugged, "Why not? I'm proud of it!"

"Maybe because I was shirtless and looking like I was ready to rape Namine?!"

Yuffie smirked a little, "That's not at all what it looked like, Roxas…"

Namine was already back in her cardigan with her stuff packed up, "I gotta go meet Axel, see you in math Roxas!"

When she was gone, Yuffie looked at me with a furrowed brow, "Roxas, are you in love with her?"

"Uhm, no. What makes you say that?" I tried not to sound too defensive… but it was hard when I was lying.

"Look at the expression on your face, Roxas… that's like… pure love," she said, showing me the sketch. Namine looked so relaxed and happy… and I definitely looked like I was in love with her.

I thought for a moment, but I couldn't come up with an excuse, "You can't put that up in the hall. She's dating my best friend."

"How can you love her after less than a week?" Yuffie wondered, looking genuinely concerned.

"We… knew each other before she tranferred. But she doesn't remember, so don't say anything to her. As far as she knows… Axel likes her a lot. I can't ruin that for them," I told her, "Promise me you won't say anything, Yuffie."

She nodded, "I promise… but Roxas, why not just tell her that you know her?"

"It's way more complicated than you know… let's just leave it at that."

"Just be careful… falling for your best friend's girl isn't a good idea at all," she warned me, as if I didn't know that.

I just sighed, "You're telling me…"

August 28, 2014, 3:24 p.m.

luckyXIII: Rosie? I haven't seen you online in awhile…

paintingwithroses: Yeah… I just hopped on before I go out tonight.

lu: So you've made some more friends?

pwr: Just a couple. I'm only hanging out with one tonight.

lu: Sounds fun

pwr: Should be! My other friend was super grumpy today… I don't know why.

lu: Maybe they were having a bad day?

pwr: Maybe it was cause they made him model in art class.

lu: Yeah, don't blame him then

pwr: I had to model with him, actually… it was kind of weird.

lu: Why was it weird?

pwr: I dunno… it was a kind of intimate pose. Made it really awkward.

lu: Do you like him or something?

pwr: Him? Nooo… we're just friends.

lu: Good, I was about to be jealous. :P

pwr: Haha…

lu: What? Run off and find yourself a boyfriend?

pwr: No

lu: Buttt you like someone?

pwr: Nope

lu: You don't need to lie to me, Rosie

pwr: Why would you think I'm lying?

lu: I dunno. Just have a feeling.

pwr: Well… I did go on a date last night.

lu: Damn, already? Isn't that kind of soon?

pwr: I guess so… but he asked, and I wasn't about to say no.

lu: So you like him?

pwr: Yeah… the date went really well.

lu: Why weren't you going to tell me?

pwr: I think you know, Sammy.

pwr: I didn't want to hurt your feelings.

lu: I mean, it's fine. I understand that there's going to be other people in your life.

pwr: Really…?

lu: Yeah! We're still best friends, Rosie. So tell me about this guy. I need to approve his tact.

pwr: All right…

pwr: Well, he asked me out by putting a dozen red roses in my locker with a little card.

lu: Nice… what did the card say?

pwr: It was silly. :P

pwr: "Roses are red, violets are purple. I like your face. Date me?"

lu: Hahaha

lu: And you said yes?

lu: Wow

pwr: It was cute!

pwr: Besides, he was all excited and I figured I'd give him a chance before I turned him down.

lu: But then you didn't?

pwr: Right. He was actually really sweet on our date. He took me to his family's restaurant and then we saw a movie… At the end of the night we took a walk around town and… it was really sweet.

lu: Did he kiss ya?

pwr: Yeah…

pwr: It was kind of amazing.

pwr: Are you sure you're okay with hearing all of this? I really don't want to hurt your feelings…

lu: It's fine. I actually met someone at school that I kind of have a crush on too.

pwr: Oh? Tell me about her!

lu: Well… she's an artist like you. And she's adorable and sweet and down to Earth…

pwr: Awwww. Cute.

lu: Yeah, but she's taken already.

pwr: Well that sucks! Steal her away then. :P

lu: I couldn't do thattt… The guy she's with is really nice. He doesn't deserve that.

pwr: Well… that blows. But it does make me feel better about this.

pwr: Think we can still be good friends?

lu: I wouldn't want anything else, Rosie.

lu: So are you gonna hang out with him tonight then?

pwr: Ooh, yeah! I should go! Bye!

August 28, 2014, 3:52 p.m.

I logged off of my account and laid down on my bed, sighing heavily. That was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But knowing that she was happy with him was what I needed to hear.

August 28, 2014, 9:18 p.m.

pwr: Sammy! You're still here.

lu: Just got back on, actually. You home now?

pwr: Yeah, he just dropped me off.

lu: What'd you guys do?

pwr: We got Chinese food and ate it as his place, then we started a show on Netflix that we're gonna watch together.

lu: Sounds like a pretty relaxed night. Did you have fun then?

pwr: Oh yeah, definitely. It's like he knows exactly what's gonna make me happy.

lu: You seem smitten

pwr: I kind of am, I guess… When I first met him I was super skeptical. I was actually kind of more interested in his best friend. But then we went out and had a really great time.

lu: His best friend, huh? Dangerous territory.

pwr: Yeah, the one I modeled with. But that was just a passing attraction I think.

pwr: Oh yeah! I almost forgot, I finished your OC! I'll email it, gimme a sec.

lu: Oh my God, it's perfect.

lu: It's exactly how I pictured him.

August 28, 2014, 9:25 pm.

He's me. She drew me, Roxas, because the description I'd given her was so close to how I look in real life. I mean, it's eerily accurate… like looking in a mirror.

It's so hard not to love her.